Page 61 of Ember

“Right?” Rian said. “You want the tour now or should we relax first?”

“Tour please,” I said. “I’m nosy.”

Rian led the way, Ben following to the side. The main floor had a massive living room that led into a kitchen and breakfastnook with a formal dining room to the side. To the side of the living room was a spacious office. Between the office and living room was a door, and when Rian opened it, he revealed a small nest.

“I have them all over,” he said. “I get urges to nest everywhere. I know that’s weird.”

“Not weird,” West said. “We basically turned the couch in a mini nest.”

It was nice being around another omega who understood our urge to layer scent and pillows everywhere.

I fell in love with the décor right away, and I couldn’t help but ooh and aah over the colors. It was a beach coastal scheme, but most of the time the color scheme felt too airy or sterile for my taste. But the living room had a mint green couch with light pine wood floors, soft blue walls with a fireplace that had a tile mosaic going around the mantle in all sorts of shades of blues and greens. It was soft and warm, and I understood Rian’s random urges to nest everywhere.

“I love the color palette.” We passed a hallway that was layered with oil paintings of the beach with a thick white rug as a runner.

“I worked really hard on it,” Ben said. “Thanks.”

I laughed and touched his arm. “You did a great job.”

Ben seemed much more comfortable at home and moved around without his cane. West kept giving him puzzled looks, until Rian gestured at the state-of-the-art kitchen. “Ben doesn’t use his cane at home since he has the place memorized.”

“Makes sense,” West muttered and looked away.

“If you could do me a solid and not leave chairs sticking out or rearrange the furniture, I’d appreciate that.” Ben shifted closer to West, not quite touching him.

“I suppose so.” West’s voice was dry. “The first thing I do whenever I visit another person’s house is redo their floor plan.”

“Doesn’t everyone?” Alejandro wondered, stroking his chin. “But for you, my alpha, we’ll make an exception.”

Ben grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “I appreciate it.”

Rian included spare bedrooms on the tour, which were spacious, and also what was clearly their bedroom judging by the massive bed and the strength of their scents together.

We didn’t walk inside, and I was grateful because the smoky woods–sweet amber combination made desire race over me.

Judging from West and Alejandro’s scents, they weren’t unaffected either. Rian also opened the door to a few other nests, one that looked like a bookshelf nook, and one that was like a cave. I squealed at how cool it was to almost crawl into the nest. How satisfying would that be, to be removed from the rest of the house? A secret tunnel nest, considering how personal it was. But instead, he almost seemed to want my and West’s approval.

Downstairs was a small music studio. I clapped my hands. The walls were lined with records, hanging guitars, and a piano tucked away in the corner. It was funky and cool, like a recording studio from the seventies.

“Sweet magnolia cupcakes, this is amazing.” The rug was thick, and the wood paneling I assumed was soundproofing.

“We like to play around down here,” Ben said.

“I bet you do,” West said, his voice heated. He stood near Alejandro, occasionally brushing his hand over the alpha’s arm.

Ben smirked. “That too.”

The entire place smelled like Ben and Rian. It was heady and erotic, but with a layer of safety and comfort.

“Do you want to go upstairs?” Rian looked at us. “We could watch something or eat? We have a firepit, a heated pool, and a Jacuzzi off the back porch.”

I looked at Alejandro. “You know that doesn’t mean cook for us, right?”

He took my hands in his. “I know that, carina. Maybe I’ll let you order takeout on the next date, yeah?”

I gave him a quick kiss on the mouth. “Fine, but we’ll hang out in the kitchen.”

“Awesome,” Rian said, glancing around again. I wondered if he was nervous. Or horny. Maybe both, judging by the strength of his scent, and I remembered that he was worried about being the third or fifth wheel. Silly omega boy. Grumpy and aloof was basically my catnip.

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