< Chapter 89
<b>Chapter </b>89
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**Paige’s POV **
Remy carries me into the bathroom, which is already filled with steam. Ryder was right. I am in fact unable to walk. When I had tried to stand, my legs were like jelly. Parker had caught me, steadying me, before Remy had scooped me into his arms. I had protested that I’d be fine to walk if they just gave me a few minutes, but Remy ignored me, carrying me down the stairs with a grunt.
The bathroom mirror is already fogged over, which is probably a <i>good </i>thing; I can imagine how terrible I look right now. Remy lets me stand, but he holds <i>me </i>close while Callen moves around the bathroom, pours the salts in the water and tests the temperature. My <i>legs </i>still feel shaky just standing here; my body is heavy but sated. Ryder brings fresh towels in and ces them next to the tub before leaving again without a word. When Callen is finally happy, he looks over his shoulder and holds out a hand to me. I don’t hesitate.
“Come on, baby girl,” he says softly. “Let me take care of you.”
Remy releases me as I step toward him. He guides me into the tub, and the hot water soothes my skin, promising to ease the ache in my muscles. I sigh as I sink into it; the tension melting away. Callen slips in behind me. He pulls me back against his chest, and I rx into him instantly.
I look over to Remy, expecting him to join us, but I only see a glimpse of him as the door closes behind him, leaving me and Callen alone.
The bond thrums between us, new and bright. It’s not overwhelming, not wild like the first bite, but steady now. Every breath I take feels fuller, every heartbeat stronger with him pressed against me.
“You’re glowing,” Callen whispers, his lips brushing the top of my head. “Not just from the heat, but from the bond. Can you feel it?”
I nod, smiling as <i>my </i>eyes flutter shut. “It’s like… being wrapped in something warm. Like I found a missing part of myself.”
He exhales slowly, his handsnding gently on my shoulders. “That’s what I’ve dreamed of. Having this with you. Not just the bond itself, but to have you resting against me like this, trusting me to hold you.”
I tilt my head just enough to see his face; his eyes are softer than I’ve ever seen them. I try to find the right words for him. Because I see him now, better than ever, he might be the jokester, who has a very dominant streak in him, but like this, he’s soft and sweet; he’s mine.
< Chapter 89
“You’re so much gentler than you let on,” I tease.
He huffs augh. “Don’t tell anyone. It’ll ruin my reputation.”
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I smile and close my eyes again as his hand moves slowly, carefully washing me. Every touch leaves a trail of goosebumps as he rubs soap over my shoulders, down my arms, across my back. It’s not rushed or heated, just careful. A ritual almost, like he’s memorising every inch of my body.
“You don’t have to…” I begin, but he hushes me with a kiss to my temple.
“Let me,” he murmurs. “You’re my mate. I want to take care of you.”
I sink deeper into his arms, letting him wash away the remnants of the heat and sweat. Between the heat of the water and the strength of him behind me, my mind and body finally go quiet.
When the water starts to cool, Callen helps me out, wrapping a soft towel around me before drying me off with the same careful tenderness he bathed me in. I don’t fight it. I just let him care for me and soak in this new thing between us.
He leads me back upstairs, one arm around my waist, steadying me when my knees wobble. I expect the others to have retreated to their own rooms for the night. Instead, the sight that greets me makes me stop in the doorway, my throat tightening.
Parker’s bed has been dragged into Ryder’s room and pushed up against his. The sheets pull tight, nkets spread across both mattresses, and pillows pile high, forming a makeshift nest that takes up most of the space. Ryder is leaning against the wall, his arms folded, with a small grin on his face. Remy sits on the corner of the bed with a smirk, and Parker is fussing with the pillows. I bet he’s rearranged them three times already, trying to make sure they’re perfect.
Ryder pushes off the wall. “We thought we should all stay close to you tonight.”
Parker nces up, smiling sheepishly. “So we made you a bed big enough for all of us. Just for tonight.”
<i>“</i><i>Or</i>,” Remy adds, still smirking, “longer, if you want it to be.”
My heart swells so full it aches. “You did this… for me?”
“For all of us,” Callen corrects gently, pressing a kiss to the side of my head.
I let them guide me into the bed, the mattress sinking beneath ourbined weight as, one by one, they wrap around me. Ryder and Callen sandwich me between them. Remy curls around Callen, reaching over toce his fingers with mine. Parker crawls up to lie on his side
< Chapter 89
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between my legs, using my stomach as a pillow. The heat of them surrounds me, my mates warmer than any nket.
I listen to the steady rhythm of their breathing, the low murmur of their voices as they quietly discuss the possibility of a permanent arrangement. They talk about moving furniture, knocking down walls, and custom–made beds. I don’t offer any suggestions, too exhausted
to even speak.
I smile, feelingpletely content surrounded by the only ce that’s ever felt like home since I lost my parents… right here, in the arms of my mates.
I don’t fight the pull of sleep as it takes me. Thest thing I hear is Ryder’s low <i>voice</i>. “We’ll figure it out. Whatever it takes, we’ll do it. She deserves to fall asleep knowing she’ll never wake up alone again.”
I wake up buried under a tangle of limbs, heat, and way too many heavy bodies. For a second, I panic, thinking someone has caught me in some kind of restraint. Then I realise it’s just my mates. My veryrge, very warm, very sprawled–out mates.
Ryder’s chest is pressed against my back, his arm hooked protectively around my waist. Callen’s leg is slung over both of ours like he’s physically trying to pin me to the bed. Somewhere near my feet, I feel Parker, and Remy has somehow imed the entire top half of
the bed, stretched out like a smug king across the pillows.
They’vepletely boxed me in. It’s a miracle I can breathe at all.
I try to wiggle free, but Ryder growls in his sleep and tightens his grip. “Mine,” he mutters, low and possessive.
A snort escapes me before I can stop it. “Yes, big bad Alpha, I’m yours. But unless you want me to suffocate, you’re going to have to let me up at some point for air.”
Callen cracks one eye open from his side of the bed, his voice groggy with sleep. “Good luck with that. Ryder doesn’t share well before breakfast, not even air.”
“Neither do you<i>,” </i>Remy grumbles.
“Excuse me,” I whisper too loudly, trying not tough. “You’re all smothering me. Someone is going to have to make the ultimate sacrifice and roll away.”
“Not it,” Parker mumbles, without opening his eyes.
Iugh at the stubbornness of them all, and Ryder finally stirs, pressing a kiss into the back
of
my neck. “Fine,” he growls. “But only because I don’t want my mate passing out before I’ve had the chance to kiss her properly this morning.”
< Chapter 89
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He pushes Callen back before he rolls away, which makes Callen swear and Parker chuckle. I sit up, my hair sticking out in about twenty directions, and feel the room tilt slightly. My muscles ache in ways that make heat flood my cheeks when I remember why.
Callen looks at me and smirks. “Blushing already? Goddess, you’re adorable.”
I throw a pillow at his face. He catches it effortlessly,ughing.
Breakfast ends up being chaotic in the best way. Jaxon wakes up requesting pancakes, and suddenly all four men are in the kitchen like it’s some kind ofpetition. Ryder insists on making the batter, and Parker hovers like a watchdog to make sure he does it right. Callen. flips pancakes with ridiculous ir, nearly hitting the ceiling at one point. Remy just leans against the counter with coffee, pretending he’s not interested, while secretly stealing bites off Jaxon’s te whenever he thinks no one is looking.
“Remy!” Jaxon squeals, swatting at his hand. “Those are mine!”
Remy ruffles his hair before popping another stolen strawberry into his mouth. “They were yours,” he teases.
Jaxon gasps, but his eyes twinkle with amusement, and Ryder growls at Remy while Callen mutters about bad examples. Parker just shakes his head and slides another pancake onto Jaxon’s te like it’s no big deal.
I sit at the table, chin propped on my hand, watching them all with a stupid smile on my face. My little boy is glowing with happiness,ughing so hard he nearly chokes on his orange juice, and my chest swells so much it almost hurts. This is exactly what I’ve been craving for me and Jax. A real family, stability and love.
Ryder’s phone buzzes on the counter, and he grabs it. He nces at the screen, then his entire body goes rigid.
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