Page 138 of Power Shift

Jasper kisses my neck a final time before taking a step back and moving around Ronan. I lose sight of him a beat later, but the scrape of a whisk on a silver bowl tells me exactly where he’s gone.

“Tell us your story now,” he calls to me.

Ronan steals another kiss before shifting to pull a bar stool out for me. I take the seat and lean my elbows on the island, watching Jasper move around the kitchen.

The seat beside me is taken by Landon and the other by Ronan.

“Alright, but don’t be disappointed when it doesn’t meet your expectations,” I warn.

Jasper shakes his head and sets a pan on the stove. “You could recite the alphabet and I’d be enthralled.”

“Is that your kink, Jas? A good ol’-fashioned alphabet reciting?” Landon asks, humour heavy in the words.

Jasper sneaks a surprised look at the pack leader before rambling his response, almost like he’s not used to Landon’s teasing and doesn’t want to miss his chance to reply. Or maybe he just forgot what it sounded like.

Have they all simply forgotten how to have fun together?

“That or a multiplication chart. Twos and fours are my thing.”

Ronan chokes. “There’s the nerd we know and love. Clark Kent’s here in full force.”

“Careful, Superman is my secret identity, right, Briar?” Landon asks, a hand falling to my upper thigh.

I can’t help but poking at him. “You don’t want to share?”

His eyes darken, voice smoky. “Not with that.”

The smell of pancakes cooking helps keep me from slipping off the bar stool and getting on my knees for each of the men in here right now. I’m not above begging them to bend me over this island and eat me for breakfast, either, but I’m starving, and Dash isn’t here.

“My mom used to bake all the time for Christmas when I was a kid,” I start, hoping this will be a good distraction for all of us. “She has a habit of always overbuying things when they’re onsale and filled an entire two-litre tub full of discounted, melting white chocolate. I snuck out of my room one night and went down to the kitchen and proceeded to scarf at least three cups of them. A few hours later, I was throwing them all up. To this day, I can’t even smell them without getting queasy.”

“It’s a good thing Dash’s scent isn’t white chocolate, then,” Jasper says, failing to hide his amusement.

I scowl lightly. “You’re not allowed to tease me about this!”

Landon squeezes my leg. “We’d never do that.”

“What happens if we do?” Ronan asks.

“Do you want to find out? Because I wouldn’t think you’d want to risk being locked out of the nest . . .” I trail off.

He takes my hand and threads our fingers. “No teasing.”

Jasper shakes his head, chuckling under his breath while flipping the first two pancakes before sprinkling in brown chocolate chips. “Do you have plans today, love?”

“Nope.”

“Do you want some?”

“Absolutely,” I say while my stomach growls.

“Do you have a favourite nesting store, or are you open to us choosing where we go?”

I stare widely at him before slowly looking at Landon and Ronan. They keep quiet, but Landon’s lips quirk into the tease of a smile.

“You still want to go nest shopping with me?” I wince at the surprise in my voice.

Jasper flops two pancakes onto a round plate before twisting to meet my gaze. “Absolutely.”

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