Page 67 of Bonds of Fate

When he’s done, he’s so close that Nix wants what he always wants when his mates are close. “Kiss?”

Luca kisses like it’s the last time: all tongue and teeth, and it’s wet—his chocolate taste makes Nix even gladder for the thin barrier of those ruffle panties, probably soaked through by now. But he pulls away before Nix can throw caution–and the possibility of Gideon’s ire–to the wind.

As if with a sixth sense for his soulmate, he says, “We should go, Gideon is wondering where we are. Are you ready?”

Taking a minute to really check in, he looks at his partner-in-crime and grins big. “Yes.”

And it’s easy with Luca’s hand in his.

“Hey, you never explained about calling Jamie ‘Daddy?’” He can hear the din of their mates’ voices, especially Gideon, who’s grumbling good-naturedly.

“Oh, yeah. He likes it. I mean, I’m the only one who does it, but if you want to break that iron control when you fuck, try it. You will not be sorry. Good times,” he sighs.

Good to know. Good. To. Know. Because Nix Rena has just about had enough of Jamie Rhodes’s legendary self-control.Nine years is a long time, and Nix thinks a good hard fuck from his true love might be just what he needs.

Before he has to gothroughthe hard parts, but he’s not making room for that tonight. That’s a problem for tomorrow’s Nix—and his wolf.

Looks like they’re just in time. Gideon is already getting up to retrieve them when Luca pulls him into the room.

Everyone’s sitting in the same places as yesterday’s dinner, and Nix keeps his eyes down.

He’s not sure where his confidence went. Not that he’d had it in spades or anything, but the gold shimmer had made him feel special, and Leo’s reaction had helped.

Now, the room is dead silent.

He’s closest to Gideon and Jamie, and the combined scent of rain-drenched forest hits him so fast it goes straight to his head.

“I was just coming to find you. We sent Leo up ten minutes ago.” It’s a bit hoarse, and Nix glances up to see Gideon’s throat bob as he swallows. Nix giggles quietly at the memory of how fast Leo retreated.

“Leo took one look at us and locked himself in his bedroom. He says to startdinnerwithout him. He’ll be a few minutes. I think he likes our dresses.”

Luca raises Nix’s hand in a twirl so the pink dress flares out, and they can all see his tiny ruffle bottom cheeky panties. He hopes the wet hasn’t seeped through yet. He’s sure he’ll never get used to it. “Nixie likes the ruffles.”

For the first time in days, Nix sees Rowan; there’s a twinge in his belly, and he’s struck by how much he wants him, but he’s beenrutting,as Gideon calls it, and he’s not sure whether he’d be welcome so soon after.

But the young alpha throws back his wine in a single gulp, refilling his glass, eyes tracing his body in the silky dress. Only tohear Gideon chastise him. “Rowan, enough. You want to play—you drink in moderation.”

The young alpha nods and gives his new glass to Grayson, who has no qualms about shooting it back. “Ya! That’s a three-hundred-dollar bottle of wine, you heathens.”

The others chuckle, and he can feel their eyes on him.

He has no experience knowing whether it’s good attention or something else entirely. Disgust? No—they wouldn’t, couldn’t think that.

Whatever it is, he can’t tell, and he’s suddenly craving that floaty place where his wolf is in charge, and all he has to do is feel.

Luca seems to sense that Nix is out of his element and gives him a gentle push toward the one person he can always count on—the one he knows by heart: Jamie.

“Daddy, Nixie is shy.”

“Jay,” Gideon growls. “Get it together.”

In that second, Jamie has his hand out, and Nix is climbing onto hard thighs and resting the satin front of his panties against a hard cock.

Pushing his face into his alpha’s neck, he breathes deeply of the woodsy pine scent and feels Jamie’s lush mouth right up against his ear. “Baby boy. You are fucking hot—I think I’m going to die.”

It’s ridiculous and makes him feel so good he gives a happy wiggle.

He’s happy to sit facing Jamie and to sneak nips of his jaw and earlobe to distract himself from the anticipation. He’s going to come in front of all his mates, and just the idea has him grinding down on Jamie’s hardness just to hear him pant.

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