Page 30 of The Flavor of Us

He just looks to Ryder.

It’s a silent exchange, something unspoken passing between them. Ryder steps closer, crouching down in front of me so that his sharp blue eyes are level with mine.

“We need to have a conversation,” he says softly. “Because whatever this is, we all feel it. And I don’t think we can keep ignoring it.”

I swallow thickly, my throat suddenly dry. “I know.”

The words come out quiet, almost a whisper, but Ryder hears them. His gaze softens just a fraction, and for a moment, it feels like the world narrows to just the two of us.

“I—” I start, my voice faltering as I try to find the right words. How do I even begin to explain what’s been swirling inside me since they walked into this kitchen?

But before I can speak, there’s a sound—soft footsteps, the faint creak of a door opening. Tati’s standing in the doorway to the kitchen, her hazel eyes wide, her lips slightly parted, and her scent thickens in the air almost immediately.

For a second, none of us move.

She’s frozen in place, her gaze darting between me, Ryder crouched in front of me, and Ashton leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. Ashton perks up immediately, his shoulders straightening, his brown eyes brightening but he doesn’t move.

He doesn’t step forward. And I realize—it’s Ryder. Ryder hasn’t given him permission to move. The tension stretches tight like a wire between us and Tati looks like she mightbolt.Ryder clears his throat softly, breaking the silence as his gaze flickers to me briefly before landing on Tati. “Why don’t we move this conversation to the living room?” he suggests.

He pats my knee lightly before standing, his large frame unfolding with a grace that shouldn’t belong to someone that size. Ashton pushes off the counter as he follows Ryder out of the kitchen without a word. Tati stays in the doorway, stillfrozen, her hazel eyes wide as they flick between me and the two retreating Alphas.

I move to the living room and drop into the armchair, sinking into the worn cushions, trying to steady the pounding in my chest. It’s the same chair Tati had curled up in earlier, and now she’s standing there, looking hesitant, her gaze flicking between me and the couch where Ryder and Ashton are settling in.

“Tati,” I say softly, patting my thigh. “Come here, sunshine.”

Her cheeks flush instantly, her gaze darting to Ashton, whose lips curl with a hint of desire. His eyes darken slightly, a flicker of lust dancing there, and Ryder—well, Ryder looks faintly amused, his sharp blue gaze sweeping over the scene like he’s cataloging every detail.

Tati doesn’t hesitate long. She steps forward and crawls delicately into my lap, curling into me like she belongs there. I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her closer until her head tucks neatly under my chin. Her scent drifts up, mixing with the sharp citrus and warm bourbon still clinging faintly to me from earlier.

Ashton shifts slightly on the couch, his gaze locked on us, his lips parting slightly as his tongue swipes along his bottom lip. The man looks starved. Ryder, seated on the other end of the lounge, smirks faintly, his broad shoulders relaxed, one arm draped casually along the back of the couch. His icy gaze flickers between Ashton and me then lands on Tati.

“We’re all feeling it,” Ryder begins. “This… pull. The way our scents are reacting to each other. It’s undeniable.”

Tati’s shoulders stiffen slightly under my arm and I press a soft kiss to the top of her head, hoping to settle her. My instincts are drawing me to unleash my purr but I’m not sure what that would start in this situation.

Ryder’s gaze doesn’t waver as he continues. “None of us planned this. Hell, I don’t think any of us expected this. But here we are.”

No one argues. No one eventries.

Because he’s right.

Whateverthisis—it’s deep and primal andreal.

But it’s alsofast.Too fast. And for someone like me—someone who’s always had to plan, to calculate, tocontrol—it’sterrifying. I hold Tati a little tighter, my thumb rubbing slow circles against her hip.

“I know it’s sudden,” Ryder continues, his eyes softening slightly. “And I know it’s a lot. So maybe… we take it slow. Give it time. A week, let’s say—the same length as the Culinova trial. We’ll see how this feels, how it fits.”

“I think that’s fair,” I muse, breaking the silence. “A week. We’ll see where it goes from there.”

Tati shifts slightly in my lap, her hands folding nervously in her lap as her gaze flickers between Ryder, Ashton, and me. She looks flustered. Overwhelmed. Her cheeks are bright pink and her lips are parted slightly like she wants to say something but doesn’t know how.I tilt her chin up gently with two fingers, brushing my thumb over the curve of her cheek.

“You okay, sunshine?” I murmur.

She nods quickly, biting her bottom lip. “Y-Yeah. I’m okay. Just… a lot. I… I should get on those errands,” she blurts out, her voice tight.

Ashton leans forward, resting his forearms on his thighs, and his warm brown eyes lock onto her. “Can I come with you?” he asks, his voice smooth and devastatingly charming. He’s going to be trouble, I already know it.

Tati’s eyes go wide, her cheeks flushing to an even deeper shade of pink as her scent growsthickerin the room. “If you’d like? It’s going to be boring.”

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