Page 36 of Their Domme

“It’s just for me to use,” I warned them. I knew Maks wouldn’t let anyone else use that nickname, or any nickname for that matter, but I was too exhausted to keep the sharp warning to myself. “So tired.”

Blake chuckled, not the least bit irritated by my tone. A moment later, the bed shifted, then they headed for the door. It opened with a soft snick, and I caught them all standing outside, waiting for news, even Ansel.

How the hell did I go from being completely alone in life to having eight men waiting for the news that I was okay?

* * *

Maksim

When Blake had comeout with an empty plate, I could practically feel Sacha’s satisfaction. I swore I would never understand his obsession with food. I ate what I needed to survive; that was the whole damn point. What difference did it make what kind of food it was or who had prepared it?

I shook my head, switching my focus to Alexei instead. He stood beside me, staring off into space until Blake said our names. We looked over at them at the same time, matching expressions of confusion on our faces.

“Excuse me?” Alexei’s shocked voice filled the now silent hallway.

“Nic said she wanted to sleep with you two.” Blake arched an eyebrow at us when we stood there, rooted to our spots. “I mean, I think she’s already out, so you don’t have to, but she asked me to get you two before she passed out—in a good way this time. She managed to keep all the food down.”

“Why us?” I asked as I glanced at my lover. “She flinched away from you earlier.”

“Yes, thank you for that reminder,” Alexei responded dryly, rolling his eyes at me.

“I’ll go then.” Vas pushed off the wall, and I instantly pulled my gun, aiming it at him. Vas barely blinked, and Sacha let out a long-suffering sigh as Blake and Ansel froze in place.

“The fuck you will.”

“Then go, or I will. I’ll record it when I fuck her then send it to you so you can see I had her first.”

My face screwed up in a grimace. “Like I’d want some video of your small dick.”

“Small?!”

“I swear the two of you!” Rhodes complained as Bodhi started to laugh and leaned into Oliver, who had a hint of a smile. There was a stiffness to Oliver that showed he still was upset about the day’s earlier revelations, but a bit of it seemed to have faded.

“I’ll kill him.” Vas started for me, but a breathy laugh stopped us all in our tracks. Nicholette padded out of the bedroom to stand beside Blake. Both of them were similar in height and had dark hair, but that was where the similarities ended. Blake had short brown hair, while the black hair that Nicholette brushed over her shoulder was longer than ever. Blake was in nice, but loose, men’s clothing, looking relaxed and comfortable. Nic’s curves looked amazing in the leggings and cami she was wearing. In fact, she seemed a touch softer than before, the pregnancy already changing her body.

Dark circles rested beneath her careful eyes, and her smile faded as she leaned into Blake’s side. “You guys don’t have to—”

Alexei shook his head and stalked past Vas, Sacha, then Blake, to grab Nicholette around the waist and throw her over his shoulder. I followed at a slower pace, stopping right before I entered the room to glance over my shoulder at Vas.

“Don’t worry. I’ll send you a video of how my big dick looks like as I make her scream for me.”

“Motherfucker,” Vas growled, lurching forward as if he were going to grab me, but Sacha threw his hands up to block his brother. I happily slammed the door in his face. I thought there would always be some kind of tension between us, but at this point, pissing him off was one of my favorite things.

“Provoking Vas of all people?” Nic called out softly. “Somehow I’m not surprised.”

I turned to find Alexei sitting on the side of the bed, Nic cradled in his arms and his face buried in her hair. She had her arms wrapped around him and her chin propped on his shoulder so she could see me. Her eyes were bright in the dim room thanks to the sheen of unshed tears.

“I’m sorry,” Nicholette murmured quietly. “For pulling away earlier… It was disorienting to wake up, then you were all there, and I just… It was just instinct, I guess.”

Alexei didn’t say anything at first, but he eventually let out a long shaky breath, his shoulders dropping as if heavy tension had been released. “That makes sense. It just… You’ve been gone, and without a word… It was the longest month of my life.”

“Something we will talk about in great detail,” I said as I sat down beside Alexei, watching him and Nicholette together. Part of me wished I was the one holding her, but I knew that out of the two of us, Alexei needed her in his arms more than I did. I let him hold her close while I watched, trying to figure out when would be too soon to fuck her, him, or both because that video was definitely being sent to Vas one way or another.

“Tomorrow, Maks,” Nicholette said. I focused on her in time to see her yawn big enough to make her jaw crack. “I need sleep.”

“Doctor’s orders?” Alexei tried to joke as he pulled away, cupping her face.

“I haven’t been able to sleep since I left,” Nic admitted, trying to look away, but Alexei wouldn’t let her. “All of you ruined my sleeping abilities.”

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