Page 39 of Corrupt Me

I’ll have to dig out my sketchbook first. It’s always the first step. I draw and then I search for the perfect paint and canvas. And then I create.

“Buttercup, you look like a doll when you smile. I think I’m falling in love with you.”

Silence falls between us as I meet his gaze, Sasha’s elbows propped up on the table, his hands cradling his chin. “Sasha, you just-”

“Yes, I think… no. I’m not falling in love with you. I’m already there. I think I’ve always been in love with you. I just had to find you. Or rather, you had to find us.” Disregarding any etiquette, he sits up on his knees and leans over the table to drag me into a tongue-licking kiss that only ends when Amiri pulls him back. I sit there, confused and embarrassed as I sift through my feelings.

There’s that bubbly emotion, the one that’s taking over my entire rational mind. It’s strangling my heart in the best of ways and telling me to focus on what I want, not what the world tells me I should want or need. When I finally figure out what to say, everyone is staring at me again.

“I love you too, Sasha. I… I love all three of you. It’s too soon. We barely know each other but it’s comfortable here, like we’ve been lovers for a lifetime and not days.” And when I meet each of their eyes, surrounded by my family, I only see love and adoration. There’s a lot of shuffling at the table as Kolsen pulls me from the booth and Amiri excuses himself beside Zana to gather me between them. Their tight embrace reminds me of every moment they protected me this weekend and the words they’ve shared that promise a lifetime.

“You are more than loved, sweetheart. You are cherished and you will be worshiped. I love you, Camila Thomas.” Amiri steals my lips in a soft kiss before Kolsen’s rumble against my neck.

“You are precious and so caring. Your heart is so big and you are beautiful. You are ours. I love you doesn’t do it justice but I do. I do love you, Camila.” Then Kolsen kisses me, Amiri pressing up against my back until the moment takes a sharp turn that isn’t appropriate for the public.

Reid is clearing his throat as Zana is sprawled back, enjoying my happiness. Sasha is sitting there like a giddy child watching his favorite movie and Ethan’s pupils are blown wide, a sloppy smile on his lips. “You found your happy ending,” Ethan whispers as I wiggle away from my mates and to my brother. He wraps his arms around my shoulders and stuffs his head into my neck. “You found it. I knew you would, sis. I knew it.”

Tears coat my skin as I hold him, feeling the best I have in years. “Yeah, I did.”

Perfection doesn’t even begin to describe this moment. I’ve said I love you for the first time in years and truly meant it. And my family was here to see it.

We say our goodbyes and I promise to stay in touch, everyone making a joke about how I won’t keep my phone charged long enough for that to happen. Knowing that Zana already knew my Alphas and Ethan immediately accepted Sasha, I’m sure I made the right choice. It’s Reid, though, that cements my decision. As we head out to the cars, Reid turns to me and asks me if I’m truly happy or just trying to run away from another problem.

“I am. It was a little terrifying at first. I didn’t know what to feel. There was so much emotion. But they’re caring and observant and they want me to speak up. They want to hear me, Reid.”

He chuckles, bringing me into a hug. “It’s a very different feeling being the center of attention, isn’t it? It’s addicting. They ever start treating you different, you come find me and Zana.” He pulls away and there’s a flicker of sadness in his eyes.

Reid hasn’t ever spoken much about the time before he met Ethan, and Zana and my brother have been pretty tight-lipped as well. His advice is always just a little too perfect, though. I see that he’s weathered a few storms as well and he found the best happy ending. Instead of asking him to spill a story he doesn’t want to, I just wrap him up in another hug. “You ever need to talk, Reid, I’m here too.”

“Of course. I think we both somehow struck gold. Go on before the big guy comes to see where you are and tries to carry you off.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” I mutter before running off to the car where my mates are waiting.

Chapter twenty-four

SASHA

The rest of the day consists of cat naps and finger foods that Amiri brings into the nest. I have little energy for anything else after a particularly violent spike that renders me absolutely useless. Pleasure is thrumming through my veins and my entire body is trembling with the aftermath as Camila curls into my side, feeding me little ham sandwiches. I’ve taken to calling her Momma Bird over the last hour whenever I’m hungry, her nose scrunching up in the most adorable way. She hasn’t told me she hates it but now I’m imagining her belly round, holding our children, as she waddles through the hallways.

Goddess, she’ll be perfect.

“Stop thinking about me pregnant, Sasha. That’s not happening for a long time.”

I frown and look up at her. “How do you know that’s what I was thinking?”

She laughs and points to where my hand is resting on her bare stomach, my fingers splayed out. “No babies. I’m barely handling myself.” Camila leans down to press a kiss to my forehead. “They sent me in here to ask if you’re up for going to Temple or if you’d like to rest a little more.”

I narrow my eyes at her, wondering why they’d send her in as a scapegoat. Then it clicks. Both my Alphas enjoy my heat. They love taking me apart again and again as I scream for them to knot and fuck me to my heart’s content. I don’t hate my heats but it takes us away from the business we’ve curated. The suppressants also make everything more pronounced when I come off of them.

One look at the way I’m sprawled in my nest and both Amiri and Kolsen would have me on my hands and knees, stuffed in both holes.

“I’m fine. I just need to grab a shower.” I need more than that and I’m teetering on the edge of my sanity at this point. Maybe a few more days if I’m lucky. I shouldn’t have even gone to lunch at the club but I’m too stubborn for my own good. This will also be Camila’s first day and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

She helps me to my feet with a worried expression plastered on her face. I ignore it and stumble to the bathroom, making sure to slather a healthy dose of scent blocker over my gland after my shower. No need having a stupid Alpha try anything because I’m close to my heat. Twenty minutes later, I approach the front door, Camila eagerly waiting for me to meet our Alphas downstairs.

When I slip my hand into hers, it feels like everything is right with the world. “I love you, Camila.”

Her cheeks pink as she brings our hands to her lips. “Love you right back, Sasha.”

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