I am so languid in my movements that I actually need help to reposition myself. Trevor and Bryan roll me off them and right into Darren’s waiting arms. He gathers me close to him and picks me up, carrying me out the room and down the hall to the bathroom. He perches me on the edge of the giant jacuzzi tub I saw my first night here. He showers me with sweet words and even sweeter kisses, and I just want to melt into him, but he takes his time. When the water temperature is just right, he eases me into the tub and my tired body rejoices.
“You are so fucking beautiful, Ronnie, I just can’t believe you’re ours,” he whispers as he eases in after me and pulls me to rest between his legs, my back against his broad chest. He soaps the loofah and washes me in lazy circles, his hands stroking every part of my body. I am lulled into such a beautiful state of mind that I don’t even notice when the rest of them join us. One after the other, Trevor, Bryan and Earl sit on the edge of the tub and slide in to surround us. Darren lifts my hips up and pushes his cock against my sensitive pussy lips. When I slide down his length, we both groan. I lean back against him and he rocks up into me, his hands sliding down to rub my overly sensitive clit and his teeth scraping against the side of my neck.
Hands stroking me, Darren driving into me, the feeling of the warm water. Everything coalesces to form the most perfect floaty feeling and I let go. I let myself explode gently and they catch me. Hands and lips caressing me through my climax. The burning pain flares once more and I manage enough energy to look down on my wrist. The pod mark is complete. Four triangles, one for each of my men nestled next to each other and surrounded by a gold circle that matches my ring.
I’ve come home.
CHAPTER THIRTY: RONNIE
WE EASILY COULD HAVE spent an entire week in bed, but the Surf Festival snuck up on us and Bill keeps popping in to ask me for a moment of my time, and thus I am dragged out of bed.
The guys are really uptight this morning.
I casually mentioned that Bill probably wanted to talk to me about whatever the Guardian thing was and shit hit the proverbial fan.
Earl has snapped at Chuck enough that I am legitimately concerned that the poor kid might burst into tears. Darren is moody and Trevor keeps muttering profanities under his breath. The only one who seems even remotely calm is Bryan, and he has broken two coffee mugs in the process of feigning that calm.
“You have to stay where we can see you. Promise me that, Ronnie,” Earl growls at me, stomping over to loom over me in his overprotective alphahole way. I blow him a kiss before blowing on my coffee and ignoring him.
I have discovered that aggravating Earl could be a full-time hobby of mine. Winding him up gives me a special kind of joy and Grandma Meryn always said to find joy wherever you can. Plus, unlike the consequences for being a brat as a child, there are some delightful consequences for being a brat as an adult.
“Watch it, sunshine,” he threatens softly, gripping the back of my neck with his giant hand and leaning over to take my earlobe in his teeth. Case in motherfucking point. Why would I comply when I get ear bites? Silly manimal.
“I thought I would sit on top of the stage in a thong and a tiara and wave at people.. Is that not the plan? Do we have a different plan? Maybe we should go over it again. My puny little human brain may not be able to remember all of it.” I look around innocently, taking note of the third coffee mug of the morning shattering and four pairs of eyes—five if you count Chuck—burning a hole in me.
“Sarcasm is not appreciated, Veronica.” Darren spits out, turning his moody gaze on me.
“And yet, here we are, Flipper.” I stand too and put my coffee down long enough to put my hands on my hips. “You guys are the ones who told me this shit is my destiny. Maybe trust me enough to take it just as seriously as I need to, eh?”
“We’re just worried about you, Ronnie,” Bryan’s mild rebuke pulls me out of my funk. “You are handling this remarkably well and we know you could handle yourself in your old life, but this is all new to you and being presented to the entire shifter community is kind of a big deal. You’re the most important person in our entire life; we just want to watch over you and make sure no harm comes to you.”
When he talks like that I actually feel minorly bad about being a brat. Not entirely bad, just slightly bad. Maybe he could punish me later. That would be ideal. Could take all afternoon, really. It’s important for punishments to be... thorough. Otherwise I might never learn.
“Ok. Here’s the thing though, when I first came here? I didn’t want any of this.” I gesture to where they are all gathered around me. “ At most? All I wanted was to hook up and move on.”
“But, you,” I point at Trevor. “You had to go and kiss me like a
