Page 121 of Ember

“It’s going to be boring,” Ben said for the hundredth time. “I’m sorry.”

I stole a kiss. “I’m fine. I have my laptop and enough food to withstand a month-long siege.”

I parked myself on the soft, comfy couch that smelled like Ben and Rian, and I opened my laptop. I had a bunch of coding to do since the parts of the website that Terran and I had fixed were still messing up. Somehow.

If I didn’t check twenty times over, I would have said someone hacked our servers and screwed things up on purpose.

I ignored the slight rush of fear, knowing someone was out there watching me.

It was nice. Rian came and sat with me when he wasn’t recording. It was very sexy, watching both of them get so engrossed in their work. After I asked what they were recording, Ben switched on the studio sounds so I could listen.

“I’d warn you that it’s the same couple of songs over and over.” He grinned. “But I hear how you repeat one song all the time.”

I grinned. “It’s fine.”

It was fun watching Kinsey sing. He sang into a massive, flat, black microphone, swaying with the beat. In the corner Rian played guitar, with his own headphones on. They had good energy together, Kinsey waving his hands and Rian swaying back and forth.

The song was a catchy bluesy ballad that was sure to be a radio hit, and I found myself bopping along to the beat.

Needing a break, I went stand next to Ben. “Am I bothering you?”

“Not at all.” He pulled me into his lap in a rush of dark spicy woods. The black currant note was sweeter today, and I rubbed my nose into his neck. “We’re recording some tracks, so I’m not actually doing any mixing right now.”

“Yes, I know what that is.” I nodded.

Ben laughed and rubbed his cheek against mine. He gestured in front of us, at the massive mixing board of little slidey things that I saw in every music video when they showed the musicians recording the song. “Usually we record several different tracks to the song before I layer them together. It gives the song more body.”

“So they’re not doing a hundred takes because they’re perfectionists?”

Kinsey tapped his microphone. “I didn’t hit that one the way I wanted. More volume?”

“Also that.” Ben gave me an amused look before tapping a button. “Go ahead.” His voice echoed a bit in the studio.

Kinsey looked at Rian. “You can take five if you want.”

“Why don’t we both take five?” Rian gestured at the glass window where Ben and I were watching. “There’s enough food to feed an army.”

Kinsey chuckled, and the omega and alpha came out of the recording booth.

Kinsey rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry you had to hear that.”

“Am I making you nervous?” I frowned. “I can leave.”

“Not at all.” The burly alpha shook his head and took the tacos Rian offered. “I’m just struggling to hit the right note.”

“What do you think, alpha?” Rian asked.

Kinsey and Rian both looked at Ben.

Ben shrugged. “How does the song sound in your head? It sounds fine to me, but if you’re not reaching the emotion you want…”

“Saying stuff like that is why you’re so good at your job, love.” Rian patted Ben’s shoulder and brought me a plate. I stayed perched in Ben’s lap and stole a quick kiss from Rian.

I made sure Ben had room to eat, since eating a taco with me in his lap was probably not the most comfortable position, but he squeezed his hand around my waist when I tried to leave.

“Can we do a playback?” Kinsey frowned at his taco. “Damn, this is good. I see the pack is coming along very well.”

Rian and I had identical smug looks on our faces. “Alejandro takes good care of us,” I said. “Thanks for noticing.”

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