felt too raw, the acceptance too new, and her body still hummed with satisfaction as lassitude set into her limbs. She closed her eyes and let her mind drift. Sleep wasn’t far behind. She stirred when one of them cleaned her with a damp cloth, but didn’t wake until dusk, and Ethan nudged her awake to get ready for the party.
* * * *
A couple of hours later, Gabby stepped to the edge of the clearing and joined Liza. The paladin glanced at the two men hovering behind her.
“Go find something to do for a bit, guys. I need a private word with my assistant.” They both hesitated, and Liza’s eyes narrowed in ire.
“Go,” Gabby ordered.
Ethan recognized the tone, and while he arched a sardonic eyebrow, he turned to obey, grabbing Harris’s arm to pull him along. Harris went, but the look he shot her promised retribution. She shivered. Maybe he’d tie her up again. When they were gone, Gabby linked her arm with Liza’s. She leaned into Gabby with a grateful smile.
“We could get some chairs,” Gabby offered softly.
Liza shook her head. “I’m fine. Just a little tired. It’ll pass.” Gabby knew better than to argue with that tone, so she looked around the clearing. She saw Caleb and Zach working through the crowd, and Caleb met her gaze, his expression a combination of worry and question. Gabby gave a slight shake of her head. She knew her alpha.
He wanted to march over and order Liza to sit or return to the house. If he did either, he’d have a fight on his hands, and it wasn’t necessary. Between Gabby and Harper, they would maneuver Liza into resting. As if the witch had read her mind, Harper stepped off the trail and approached them, smiling, her mates in tow carrying three chairs.
“Hey,” she said brightly as Jonas and Mick unfolded the lawn chairs and set them in a little semicircle overlooking the clearing. She was just beginning to show, and it was impossible not to grin at her joy. And laugh at Jonas as he glared and nudged her to sit. She rolled her eyes, leaned toward Gabby and Liza, and in a stage whisper said, “I’m helpless now, you know.”
“Get used to it. They don’t improve with age,” Liza grumbled, taking the center chair.
Harper shooed her mates off, and the three women sat in silence for several minutes.
Gabby kept a watchful eye on a group of rambunctious juveniles until raised voices from another part of the party caught her attention. She turned to see her parents arguing—big surprise—and rolled her eyes. She was getting ready to stand and intervene when her mother turned and winked at her. What the hell? Then her mother turned on her heel and stalked away from the party, her mates trailing along and grumbling.
“Did she just wink at you?” Liza asked, incredulous.
“Yeah. I think so.” She shook her head. “I’m beginning to think maybe she picks most of those fights.”
“I really don’t want to ask why, do I?” Harper asked.
“Probably not, no. I don’t either.”
Gabby met Liza’s frank, assessing gaze. “And how are you doing?” Gabby turned to search out Ethan and Harris, who’d apparently decided they’d had enough girl time and were almost back to her. She grinned. “We’re a work in progress.” She knew they’d overhear. Ethan laughed and grabbed her hand, pulling her to feet. “A work in progress? I like that.”
“I don’t,” Harris complained, pulling her from Ethan’s arms.
“Has anyone ever told you you’re grumpy and way too serious?” He cocked a very arrogant eyebrow and leaned in to whisper close to her ear. “Careful, darlin’. Just because I won’t try to dominate you outside our bedroom doesn’t mean you can get away with whatever you want out here. I will make you pay.” She trembled at the sensual pledge. In her wildest dreams. “Promise?” she whispered back.
He groaned and met Ethan’s gaze over her head. “Have we put in enough of an appearance?”
She laughed and pulled free. “No, honey. Sorry. I haven’t seen my brother yet.” She jumped away before he could catch her, and it became a game through the next few hours. Every time one of them tried to corner her, she danced free. She knew they were letting her, but she didn’t care. They were letting her do her thing, checking on the younger soldiers and trainees in her charge, socializing and gathering the gossip and news Liza would ask for later.
They were never far, but they didn’t hover or interfere.
It reassured her as nothing else could have, so at midnight, when she ventured too close to the dance area and they swooped in on her from two different directions, she accepted them with a laugh. Joy infused her. Love, laughter. All the things she’d been afraid to dream of for herself.
Ethan had her hands while Harris gripped her hips and pressed into her from behind. He leaned down to nibble that sensitive spot under her ear, and she giggled.
“Something funny, darlin’?”
She looped an arm around Ethan’s neck, then twisted to wrap the other around Harris’s.
“Not a thing,” she whispered, standing on her toes to brush a kiss over his mouth. “I’m just happy with what I found when I wasn’t looking.”
“Is that right?” Ethan drawled.
She gave him an arch look. “And I
“Then take me home,” she said softly, including Harris in her soft demand. “Maybe this time I can show you how much I love you.”
Instead of only them, trying to show her. Ethan’s smile was huge and smug. “Finally admitting it, are you?”
She rolled her eyes. “Are you going to gloat all night, or are you a man of action?”
“Oh, darlin’,” Harris whispered against her ear, dark and dangerous and sending a tendril of wicked desire whipping through her. “I warned you about the attitude, didn’t I?” Before she could protest, he moved, lifting her and tossing her over his shoulder as he stalked from the clearing. She blushed at the cheers of approval and catcalls that urged him on, but she laughed as they carried her home, and cried out her delight as they showed her exactly
