Page 89 of Threads of Fate

“I’m still sorry,” he whispers, sporting a little frown that makes Gideon want to kiss it off his face.

“You don’t need to be. Come here.” Gideon lifts his arm and Nix leans in, tucking himself underneath and briefly pressing his nose to Gideon’s chest.

“Okay,” he sighs breathlessly.

“Did you need anything else?” Gideon presses his nose to the top of Nix’s head in return, taking pleasure in the small show of affection with his new mate. Aside from the…thingin the car, he’d not had the opportunity to enjoy closeness with their new mate.

“Um, it’s about me and Gray—wait, are you sniffing me?”

“Yeah, you smell really good,” Gideon says.

“Why do Weres do all that up-close sniffing? And Jamie was rubbing his face all over Rowan not thirty seconds ago.” Gideon can see the two alphas now sitting on the edge of the hot tub with their feet in, talking and pretending not to watch Nix through the glass.

“Were families, or packs, like to smell each other, and we like to smelllikeeach other. We call it scenting. It shows others that we are cared for, where we belong, and it gives us a sense of belonging, too.”

“It makes us feel like family?” He asks curiously.

Family is the underpinning of Were society. It’s not where you come from, butwho.“Exactly. Do you want to try?”Please, please let him want to try.Gideon takes off his hoodie as an added incentive, throwing it on the back of the couch. His tank top riding up a bit at his belly, as his sweats ride low. It’s satisfying to see his new mate struggle to keep his eyes on his face.

“The sniffing or the rubbing?”

Gotcha, kitten.

“Both? Do you want to try it with me? Or I can get Jay or Finn or even Gray back here.”

Looking up through his lashes, he puts a strand of hair behind his ear and licks his already-red lips. “With you? Would that be alright?”

Deadly. Jesus.

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

“How do I…?” he asks, gesturing between them.

“Well, mates often do it lying down or straddling someone’s lap or from behind. The primary scent gland is in the neck on the left side, though there are also glands on each wrist. Finn told me once that they run parallel to some of the major blood vessels.” Gideon points to the spot on his neck, then each of his wrists.

“Oh, that’s cool. Is that all?” Nix shivers, eyes darting between his neck and wrists as he licks his lips.

“Well…uh.” Fuck, the other two are in the groin where the pelvis meets the upper thigh—both Finn and Jay’s favorite—or behind the knees. The rest of Gideon’s mates prefer the neck, and now that he’s thinking about it, he can’t wait to see where his kitten likes best.

Finn enters the room, clearly hearing the tail end of the conversation and failing at being nonchalant in every way. “There are a few more in the lower body as well. But I don’t think we should scent there for our first try.” Nix’s eyes go wide.

Finn puts a smaller, beige book on the coffee table next to a larger blue one, and Gideon can see that it’s about basic Were anatomy and sex education. It’s a tiny volume for such a broad topic. “This will cover some of the basics Jay told you about today. But like I said, I am happy to answer your questions.”

“Thank you,DoctorMerritt. Maybe I could scentyou?” Suddenly, Nix is a mischievous kitten with a sly smile, andFinn’s scent blooms: black currants baking in the hot sun on a summer’s day.

He’s already pulling his hoodie over his head but asks anyway, “I thought you were going to scent Gideon first?”

Nix checks with Gideon to be sure he hasn’t offended him, and Gideon is quick to shake his head because seeing the unflappable Finn flustered and sexy is one of Gideon’s favorite things, especially since Nix is already smelling like that raunchy bakery Rowan likes to talk about. “Oh please, scent our Dr. Merritt first.”

Finn shoots him a dirty look but focuses on their mate. “Okay, then, how should we do this?”

“Can you come over here? Now, down here…perfect.” Finn is on his knees so Nix can lean forward, legs open on either side of Finn’s hips. Nix’s sweater rides up the tiniest bit, baring more than is probably wise of his smooth thighs. The omega looks Finn in the eyes and gives a tiny smile. Gideon is thrilled to see his beloved nemesis like this, eyes half-closed andalreadysquirming in anticipation.

“Okay, I’m going in.” He puts his tiny hands on Finn’s very (hot) broad shoulders so he can press his nose to the left side of the alpha’s throat. “Mmm, oh wow, that’s so good. Makes my mouth water.” He’s using a firm grip to pull Finn in, and the doctor has to put his hands on Nix’s bare thighs to keep his balance, thumbs rubbing the pale skin. Gideon can only imagine how soft they are.

Finn leans in to do the same to the new Were, and soon, the two of them are making noises of contentment and desire. The living area is starting to smell like a fruit pie: vanilla and black currant pie, to be specific.

When Nix opens his mouth to bite down, Gideon gently pinches Nix’s nose. What he hadn’t expected was for the omega to growl and bare his teeth.

---