Page 82 of Chain Me Knot

He exudes steady power, quiet authority but always gentle, always careful, never overbearing. My heart flutters, familiar stirrings of attraction whispering warmth along my veins. His eyes flare as my own scent intensifies around us, giving my thoughts away.

“Thank you.” I slip around him before I give in to my urge to drag him into my room and arrange soft blankets around the both of us.

He lets me lead and I’m hyper aware of his solid form stalking behind me. As I head into the kitchen I marvel at how safe and easy I feel walking beside someone this powerful. Someone who, a week ago, terrified me.

Thank you for your pep talk, Mira.

Phoenix’s face lights up when he sees me. He steals a kiss as he seats me at the kitchen table. Asher lingers behind me when he sets a heaped plate of roast chicken and vegetables in front of me, his large hand trailing up my arm leaving tingles that stoke slumbering embers to life. I squirm as my core pulses and slick trickles from me.

Dinner passes quietly at first, the comfortable silence wrapped around us while we eat, but then Phoenix sets down his fork, casting a thoughtful glance toward Soren and Asher. “We all need something relaxing tonight. What if we do something ordinary? Like people who aren’t fugitives hiding from a deranged, criminal network.”

A quiet laugh escapes me at his blunt sarcasm, and when Soren suggests, “We could always play board games,” my eyes widen in surprise. The suggestion sounds so beautifully mundane. Domestic. Like I used to do with my parents to pass an evening.

Asher catches my expression, smiling as he explains. “We found a decent collection stored in the cabinet. Are you interested?”

Curiosity blooms. Witnessing them relaxed and playful is irresistible. “I'd like that.”

The dishes clear quickly, each alpha moving easily around the kitchen, and then Phoenix proudly produces an unopened Monopoly box. The four of us settle around the kitchen table, arranging colorful money and tokens.

At first, I'm uncertain how this will unfold, but as minutes pass, their personalities emerge, coming to life in intriguing ways. Soren makes every property acquisition a calculated military maneuver. He plots long-term returns, examining choices from every angle. Phoenix, unsurprisingly, is all dramaticbargaining and risk-taking, happily offering absurd trades with charm, laughing even when his impulsive choices backfire.

Asher watches the board like a field general, assessing every angle. It’s an intense, fascinating contrast between the easy warmth of Phoenix, the meticulous logic of Soren, and Asher’s purposeful confidence all mingling together.

The seriousness cracks when Phoenix confidently misquotes a rule when the move doesn’t go his way. “Everyone knows if you land on Free Parking, you get all the cash from the bank on the tenth round through the game. That’s common knowledge, right?”

“I’m only going to check because I know you won’t let it go unless you see in black and white how wrong you are.” Soren sets his token down and reaches for the rulebook with a stern look that makes Phoenix’s exaggerated eye-roll comical. He begins reading. “Official Monopoly rules, chapter three, subsection five. Free parking space. No reward, monetary or otherwise, shall be dispensed upon landing here.”

Phoenix’s dramatic groan slices through Soren’s words. “See? He does this every time. Welcome to playing board games with a human rulebook.”

“Says the person who only bends the rules to suit themselves,” Soren says.

Phoenix gestures with open palms. “Why else do rules exist!”

Laughter bursts from me, bright, honest, genuine. I press a hand to my mouth, eyes widening in startled delight. Warmth spreads through my chest as Phoenix beams at me, Asher’s eyes soften, and Soren’s mock-serious frown melts into amusement.

Phoenix leans forward across the table, his eyes lighting with sparks. “Tough Girl, gods, I love hearing that laugh of yours. I think I want to hear more of it.”

I shake my head and raise my brows. “I can't just laugh on command.”

Phoenix tilts his head as he considers me. “Are you sure? Because…I mean, I could just tickle you.”

My eyes widen, nerves fluttering through my belly, the ridiculousness threatening a reluctant smile despite myself. “That definitely doesn't count.”

“Oh, it absolutely does.” He rounds the table with deliberate purpose. “It's an official rule. Like the Monopoly one earlier that Soren conveniently pretends doesn’t exist.”

“There’s no rule about tickling!” I say.

Phoenix cocks a brow, a smile playing on his full, kissable lips. “Oh, isn’t there?”

I jump to my feet as Phoenix advances, giggling like an idiot. “No—Phoenix—stay back!”

I spin around to make my escape, only to skid to a halt, the air knocking lightly from my lungs as I collide safely into Soren's solid, muscular chest. His arms lightly circle me, holding me steady.

“I wouldn't mind hearing your laughter again, either,” he murmurs, eyes sparkling down at me.

A soft, breathless laugh escapes. “You too? This is completely unfair.”

Desperate for an ally, I search for Asher, hoping to find someone to halt their playful ambush but as his dark gaze holds mine, there’s absolutely no help to be found there.

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