Page 65 of Ember

He twirled me to Alejandro, taking the spatula and passing me to the alpha. Alejandro pulled me against him as I sang, bumping his hips against mine as I belted out the song like an anthem. He pulled me close, burying his face in my neck and giving me a little nip that made me miss a note.

Alejandro twirled me, bringing me back to Rian and Ben. Rian sang along, keeping his voice husky and in his own vocal range. Part of me worried this was too far, too extra for even them.

Singing along and dancing with them when we weren’t even pack? I wasn’t a professional singer; I did it for fun. They would think I was too weird.

But the worry disappeared as Rian stepped up to me, singing along as the music stopped and it was just Juliet’s voice, repeating the bridge of the song without backup.

The song ended with me in Rian’s arms, Ben swaying behind him, and West and Alejandro behind me.

I wanted to jump up and down. I had too much energy and I didn’t know what to do with it.

“You should come downstairs. We can play around,” Ben said, breathing hard. “We play ‘guess that song’ a lot.”

I looked at West and Alejandro. “That would be fun.”

We went back to cooking, back to talking about our jobs and hobbies, but energy simmered inside me. We sat down to dinner, and it was filled with jokes and laughter, and for the first time in a long time, it felt like I could really be myself around people who weren’t my family.

Instead of scaring me like it probably should have, I just felt giddy and light, like I was made from air.

After dinner, Rian asked if we wanted to go downstairs into the studio. West said yes before anyone else did.

I fought not to grin at my omega. Things were clicking together.

Chapter 25

Ember

We piled downstairs, and Ben immediately turned into a bossy alpha. He sat at the piano and patted the bench next to him. “Ember, you sing along. West and Alejandro, you too.”

Alejandro took a seat on the couch near the piano, and West sat next to him.

“I couldn’t carry a note if you gave me a bucket,” Alejandro said. “I’m just a pretty face and a good cook.”

“Doesn’t mean you can’t have fun,” I said. “If this isn’t fun for everyone, we can watch a movie.”

“No, please go on, mi vida.” He gave me a heated look. “It is a delight to hear your voice.”

Heat flushed through me at the sexy things his voice promised.

Rian sat on the couch with other two, pulling an acoustic guitar out of its case.

“Yes, Rian’s going to back me up.” I clapped. This was so much better than going to a movie or some restaurant. “Best date ever.”

Rian looked surprised. “I thought you’d be a lot harder to impress.”

“What, music?” West scoffed. “Between the musicians and the chef, you’ve got all her favorite things covered. I should have thought of this years ago.”

“Yes, you’re the mastermind behind this all, honey,” I said, watching Ben run his hands over the piano keys. I wanted those long fingers on me.

He started with a few soft opening notes, Rian lightly strumming, and I tried to place the song. “Oh, it’s on the tip of my tongue.”

“‘Burned My Name,’” West said. “The acoustic version.”

“Yes, thank you, West.” I blew him a kiss.

“No cheating,” Ben said, amused.

“You never said I couldn’t help,” West said defiantly. He was looking at Ben like he was having the same thoughts about his fingers.

---