Page 163 of Cost of Courting

Okay, now we’re talking.

I go over and investigate a set of nipple clamps that vibrate and then pick up an octopus tentacle.

Wow!

I put them back and move to the closed cupboard against the other wall. I open it. Inside is a fridge fully stocked and, on the other side, a cupboard stuffed full of snacks. I stop when I see the first aid kit.

I don’t know why that hits me the strongest, but the snacks and everything else are just, you know, nest things, but the fact that they have made sure there’s a first aid kit means they intend to take care of me, too.

I walk backwards until I’m sitting on the massive bed. It’s so big, and when I lay down, there are fairy lights in five distinct spirals pinned to the roof.

I feel him but don’t acknowledge him until he straddles me.

“Do you hate it? Did we fuck up?”

“I love it. I love how much you care. How perfectly you’ve thought about everything.”

Mael nods his head. “We did.”

He reaches past me and presses a button. The side of the bed pops open. I turn my head quickly and see a draw full of weapons.

“Mael Donahue Dread, what the hell is that?”

He laughs. “Do you love it?”

“YES!”

“Good. Now come upstairs and trust that we’ve created you the perfect home.”

My eyes burn, but he pulls me straight up and wraps his arms around me. I lift my legs and allow him to carry me up the stairs.

He drops both of us on the couch, pressing me into it, and, to my surprise, it feels amazing, and it smells good, too.

“All right! All right! I love it!” I shout.

He chuckles and kisses me, his lips lingering against mine.

“Happy?”

“I am now,” I whisper back.

“Good.”

He pulls back, and I roll my head in time to see Kingston, Bailey, and Edric walk in with take out.

They set it up on the coffee table and start dishing up plates. I sit up and take mine.

“I know you guys were looking forward to making this house a home,” I say softly, my cheeks burning. All four of them have stopped and are watching me intently. “But can we just have a sit on the couch and go to bed early night?”

Kingston chuckles. “Thank you. I was trying to rally up the energy, but I’m beat.”

“Same,” Bailey says and flops back. “Getting a house ready to inhabit it in a couple of weeks has been grueling.”

“So, we’re agreed? Let’s just watch a movie?” I ask.

“Yes. Food, movie, sleep.”

I wake up when the movie finishes and find my alphas curled up on the couch asleep all around me.

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