I’m emotionally exhausted by the time thewyer leaves. Ridge tries to be a good sport, but he’s physically exhausted, and he kinda copses on the couch for what he calls a prenned mid-morning nap.

    Technically, it’s probably closer to noon. I don’t mention that, though. Ridge needs rest to heal, and watching King try three times to get up on the couch makes me smile. He finally gets enough momentum with his fourth try, or maybe he realizes Ridge can’t lift him to give him a boost. Either way, he struggles his way onto the couch and lies down next to Ridge’s stomach.

    Even as exhausted as he is, Ridge lifts a hand and moves it to King’s back to pet him as he falls asleep.

    That man is going to make a damn good father, and I once again try not to obsess about how lucky I got in finding him.

    Or I guess how Trigg led Ridge to me.

    Whatever.

    I’m counting my blessings without fixating on them.

    Trigg has to leave to handle…something.

    I’m not sure I want the details about what it is he has to do, so I don’t ask.

    Even when I spot the weird metal briefcase he’s toting toward the door, I still don’t want to know. He seems annoyed that Ridge won’t be going with him, but Trigg is always hard to get a read on, so maybe I’m just misinterpreting his focused expression.

    I linger near the archway that leads from the entryway into the living room as I prepare to say my goodbyes to Trigg.

    Hartley has something set up all over the living room, but I want to give that my full attention when I finally get to see what it is. Since Trigg is leaving, I figured I should address this first so my brain doesn’t obsess while he’s gone.

    “Were you nning to give me a goodbye kiss?” I ask, poking out my lower lip as he reaches for the door handle.

    Trigg freezes, and it’s easy to see how tense his muscles are. He sets the case down by his feet and spins around. His jaw is tight, and there’s something intense about his eyes that makes me lean even farther into the wall.

    Yeah, there’s no doubt about it.

    Trigg is a natural predator.

    My instincts can sense it.

    It’s a strange feeling because I’m not afraid of him per se, but I still have the urge to run as he appraises me.

    “I apologize,” he says, his face twisting into a predatory smile that makes goose bumps break out down my arms. “Of course I want a goodbye kiss. I got too focused on what would be expected of me.” Hees to a stop and brushes his hand over my stomach while the other moves to cradle my cheek. “Make sure you eat something nutritious for lunch. I’ll do my best to be home before it gets dark.” With that, he dips his mouth to mine for a quick but tantalizing kiss. “And when I get back, you’re finally going to open one of my courting gifts.”

    “I can’t wait,” I say, struggling to catch my breath. “Please be safe.”hr

    I make my way into the living room and approach Hartley. He’s got stickers everywhere, open glue sticks, and scraps of paper littering the table.

    A silly smile crosses my face that I can’t help. “You look like you’ve been to war with the craft supplies,” I say,ughing.

    “Yeah, I’m just not sure if I won or lost.” Hart snags my wrist, pulling me toward him.

    I almost think he wants me to sit on hisp, facing the table, but he directs me to kneel with my face toward him. The baby, who really needs a name, is busy wiggling around, and with my stomach resting against Hartley’s abs, I’m not shocked when he can feel it.

    “Jesus, that’s crazy.” He smiles and works a hand between us to chase the movements. “I love being able to feel her moving.” He’s so damn handsome with his eyes sparkling, and his blond waves falling over his forehead.

    “Me too,” I agree, keeping my voice low, just in case Ridge did manage to fall asleep.

    “My gift isn’t as fancy as what Ridge or Trigg got you,” Hart says, chasing the baby as she stretches or rolls.

    “I’ll love it just as much,” I assure him.

    And it’s true.

    Hartley is the kind of guy who puts in time overvish gifts. He’s the one who stood around talking to me about the future when the restaurant was slow. He helped Ridge build all the furniture, and if I’m not mistaken, he made a memory book for the baby.

    Even before I knew he was interested in me, I used to muse about what an amazing husband that he would be to some lucky woman someday. I just never imagined that woman would be me.

    You don’t drop your life to move states away to help out your brother with his business unless you’re the kind of person who puts family first.

    I’ve had a hell of a crush on him for ages, but I’m pretty sure the light fluttering in my stomach thates any time he smiles at me is proof that I’m falling in love with him.

    And I think now more than ever, he needs to hear that.

    “I understand how important courting gifts are between alphas and omegas, but I already know I’ll love your gifts no matter what they are because you’re the type of person who puts thought into everything you do.” I wrap my fingers around his jaw, brushing them through his fluffy beard as I tilt his face down to mine. “Presents are nice, but you’re the prize I’ve got my eye on.” Okay, that was cheesy. It’s how I feel, though. I smile, stretching up on my knees until I can reach his mouth. “You’re brave and loyal and so damn handsome it makes my brain melt. I love you, Hartley. I started falling for you when I thought we were just friends, and it’s so much more now?—”

    A low growl rattles out of his chest, and he shoves his lips to mine. Pulling his hand from between us, he relocates it to wrap it in my hair. The way he holds me in ce and sucks on my bottom lip sends a pulse through the bond that settles directly in my nipples and clit. My new iming bite is tender, but I find it fascinating that any of them can send such a reaction through the link.

    My head gets hazy as our kiss goes on and on until I find myself grinding over hisp.

    Everything about Hartley just does it for me. Working my hands between us, I catch the bottom of the long-sleeve shirt he’s wearing and tug.

    He chuckles and gives me one more open-mouthed kiss before leaning back. He tugs the shirt off with a hand at the back of his neck and drops it on the carpet. “By the way, beautiful, I love you too.”

    My heart thunders, and I grin at him like a total goofball, which might be how I miss what he ns to do next.

    His hands wrap around my back and ass, and he manages to stand while lifting my not insignificant weight with his.

    “Hart!” I squeak. “Holy shit! You’re going to destroy your back.”

    “My back is fine,” he says, striding over to the couch. He holds out a hand, and I twist to find Ridge is awake. “You’re just as bad as your dog with the one-eyed peeking. Are youing or not?”

    “Far be it from me to turn down that kind of offer.” Ridge sps his hand in Hartley’s. “Sorry, King. You gotta stay down here. I can’t be responsible for scarring your innocent eyes.”hr

    Undressing three bodies can be chaotic, but it can also be a lot of fun.

    Ridge’s facial hair digs into my cheek as he sucks on his bondmark. Fun fact, while anyone can send a pulse through the bond, it’s way more intense when they tease their own iming bite.

    I’ve already helped him out of his shirt, and I fight back a smile as I get his jeans undone. They fall down his muscr thighs, and he’s once againmando. I have no idea why, but I find that super sexy.

    My fist wraps around his length, jerking it as he shakes out of his jeans and kicks them aside.

    Hartley crouches behind me, helping me out of my underwear.

    I squeal as he bites my ass cheek, and Ridge chuckles, brushing his palm over my stomach and pushing his lips to mine once more.

    Hartley’s hands skim up my thighs and over my waist as he stands. He tugs me backward, causing me to break the kiss with Ridge.

    “My turn.” Hart spins me to face him, and I have no choice but to release Ridge’s hard shaft.

    I barely have time toment that loss before Hart cradles my cheeks in his massive hands and kisses the hell out of me. It’s a good thing alpha saliva can seal a iming bite because neither of them has been particrly tender with my new bondmark. It’s not like I’m coherent enough to mind, anyway.

    My spoiled little omega heart is content having both of thempletely focused on me. They’re both very aroused, and their scents sit heavily in the air, causing my head to get foggier with each gasping breath.

    “You, lie down,” Hartley says between filthy, open-mouthed kisses. It takes my hazy mind far too long toprehend that he’s speaking to Ridge. “Stay at the end of the bed and let your legs hang off.”

    Hell, I barely notice that he’s guiding me toward the edge of the bed until the backs of my thighs bump Ridge’s knees.

    Hartley lifts me without breaking the kiss, and Ridge helps by positioning my feet toward his head.

    I end up hovering over Ridge’s hard cock with my front vertical to the end of the mattress.

    My clit pulses almost painfully as Hartley cups my tit, flicking his fingers over my already hard nipple.

    “Fuck,” Ridge growls. “She’s literally dripping on my cock.”

    “You might want to do something about that before my patience runs out.” Hart smiles dangerously as he pulls back from our kiss.

    My lower lips glide over the bottom of Ridge’s shaft, and I wiggle enough to reposition him at my opening.

    Hartley fists my hair, pulling my head to the side. It bares my throat to him as my hair falls down my back. “All this perfect skin just waiting for me to mark it up with my bite.”

    I groan, and my core contracts around nothing. I need them both in a way that’s hard to exin.

    “I’m about to lose my goddamn mind with how bad my dick is aching to be buried inside you.” Ridge moves from lying t on the bed to sitting up behind me, and I relish the brush of his strong chest against my back. “Come on, Mama. Sink down on my bare cock.”

    “Do it,” Hartley growls, raking his teeth down my neck.

    I sob, grabbing Ridge’s length. Once it’s perfectly positioned, I fall on my knees, impaling myself on his extreme girth. “Oh, God.”

    “That is never going to get old,” Ridge groans, reaching around to tease my clit.

    He sends something through the bond. It’s hard to decipher exactly what that emotion is when my head is hazy, but it almost feels like yearning.

    The bond is instinctual, but it doesn’te with an instruction manual. I focus on sending him my desire for him in return and pray it works.

    “I want you too. Both of you.” My hand is wet with slick, and I grab Hartley’s shaft, doing my best to jerk him. His sticky tip bounces around my stomach, and I work on trying to find a rhythm. He’s so hard in my palm, but so is Ridge as he stretches my pussy to what feels like its limit.

    “You’ve got us, beautiful,” Hartley murmurs. “Enjoy the moment. No rushing things your body isn’t ready to amodate.”

    All of that sounds very rational, but I kinda want to be irrational at the moment.

    I could spin around, and Hartley could totally stand on the mattress behind Ridge. If he were at that height, I bet I could get him into my mouth.

    The thought makes my mouth water, and my body sizzles. Something is very wrong with my system because all it can seem to focus on is how hot it would be if they took turns jerking off on my face and tits.

    “Goddamn,” Ridge hisses.

    I’ve been clenching my inner walls at the thought of that naughty little fantasy. I rx and focus on riding him, but my cheeks heat.

    Slick sounds fill the air with every gyration of my hips.

    Their warm skin feels almost cool against mine, and sweat breaks out on my forehead and between my breasts. Hopefully I get my endurance back after I give birth because this is embarrassing.

    I’m doing the best I can, but dammit, my thighs burn.

    Despite my exhaustion, the pleasure building under my skin spurs me on, and I swear Ridge’s crown ends up firmly lodged around my ribs. I don’t care if it’s physically impossible. It happens.

    I’ve never felt as full as I currently do, and that’s the best way I can think to describe it.

    “Such a beautiful, sweaty mess.” Hartley licks and sucks away the light sting his teeth leave on my throat, and he moves to teasing my other breast. “All I can smell is your pussy. It’s about to do my fucking head in.”

    “Her pussy is about to do me in,” Ridge grunts. His desire and need toe fill the bond, proving they aren’t just empty words.

    Feeling his emotions only seems to heighten my own need. The bond is crazy and overwhelming at times, but it’s the most intimate connection I’ve ever experienced.

    My pheromones tinge the air, and both alphas let out wicked growls in response. Having both of them surrounding me helps me feel safe in such a spacious room.

    Could I talk them into spending the next six weeks exclusively in the nest? It would feel safer and smell more strongly of them at all times.

    Ridge continues teasing my clit and leans his mouth close to my ear on the opposite side from Hart. “That’s it. Keep grinding just like that. You’re going to soak up every drop of my cum like the naughty little omega you are.” The low timbre of his voice sends a shiver through my system, and he picks that exact moment to pinch my clit. “Scream for us, Mama.”

    He’s still injured.

    I know better than to fall against his chest as pleasure rips through my nerve endings, but I’m not even sure this is real life. Embarrassing sounds spill from my lips, and I lock down on his length.

    Ridge’s shaft swells to nearly painful proportions, but it also amps up my bliss. His knot brushes my lower lips with every swivel and grind of my hips.

    My skin is oversensitive by the time Ie back to reality.

    “You good?” Hartley asks.

    “Yeah,” Ridge says, sounding winded.

    I open my eyes, but that doesn’t help much with how hazy everything is. At some point, I dropped Hartley’s cock, and I make a mad grab for it.

    He pulls his hips back and lifts me. “Spin around to face Ridge.”

    I hear the words, but my body makes no move toply.

    Hartley has it under control, though.

    Ridge is once again on his back, and Hartley guides me onto all fours over my injured alpha.

    “No weight on the baby,” Hartley says, running his hands over my ass and hips.

    “I’ll make sure.” Ridge moves to cradle my cheeks in his huge palms and brushes my sweaty hair back.

    My hands rest against the mattress next to his ribs, and I smile at him.

    “Life is better with teamwork,” I hear myself slur.

    “You’re so fucking cute,” Ridge says, cracking a smile.

    Hartley grips the top of my ass near my hips and pulls my cheeks even farther apart. His hard tip nudges my opening, and I wiggle my hips.

    “Please,” I sob, nodding frantically.

    He either knows what I’m asking for, or he’s just as desperate to get inside me because he ms deep.

    I wail, my face falling forward against Ridge’s chest. He hisses, and I freeze, which causes Hartley to still as well.

    “I’m good,” Ridge growls. “She needs more.”

    “I do. Fuck me deep.” My arms tremble, but I keep myself upright and look over my shoulder at Hartley. “More, please.” Or that’s what I mean to say. Ites out mostly incoherent to my own ears, but I clench my core and glide on my knees, forcing more of him inside of my aching pussy.

    Hartley’s jaw tightens. His blond waves stick to his forehead with sweat, and I contemte how hard it would be to tackle him. Those ck gauges in his ears and tattoos from his neck, down his chest and arms are such a vibe. He’s stupidly hot, and I want him so badly that I sob.

    “She wants you to bite her,” Ridge says, and there’s no hurt or malice in his tone. “That’s what you want, right, sweetheart?”

    I whine, and Hartley’s hands tighten on my hips. He finally starts to thrust, and every m of his hips into my ass rocks me to my foundation.

    Ridge continues cradling my face, and my insides light up as he murmurs soft words of encouragement and praise. “Such a good girl. Look at you. Wrecking him like you just did me.”

    I moan, wishing I could tease my clit.

    If my stomach wasn’t in the way, I could grind my pussy against Ridge’s cock, but at this point, I’m surprised my knees and arms haven’t given out.

    Hartley works me into a frenzy, his crown brushing my G-spot with every rabid thrust. The next thing I know, he’s leaning over my back, and something sharp strikes my right shoulder.

    Euphoria rips through my system, radiating out through my cells.

    I wail, and the bond snaps into ce.

    “Shh, you’re okay,” Ridge coos.

    Apparently, I epted the connection?

    Or possibly my soul did?

    I don’t care.

    I never would have denied a bond with Hartley.

    His shaft jolts deep inside me, and Ridge teases his thumbs over my cheeks.

    “We’ve got you. You’re safe.”

    The two of them are the only things grounding me in the moment, but even then, it’s a thin tether.

    I need more.

    We just have to switch positions because I don’t know how much longer I can hold myself up.

    Hartley retracts his teeth and licks over the bite on my shoulder. “You’re all mine, beautiful.”

    He’s right, and that thought fills my entire being with joy.

    The only thing that could make this moment better would be to have Trigg here with us, but I’m going to get him to sink his teeth in as soon as he gets home.