Page 28 of Pack Baines

What’s not comforting is the way his sweats rub against another bare part of my body when he shifts to get comfortable on top of me, the hardened evidence that he’s just as affected as I am rubbing against my quickly slickening core. I know I’m perfuming like a leaky faucet, too, because there’s no other scent in the room but mine, the faintest wafts of sea salt and fresh air, and heavier but still faded notes of sandalwood, cedarwood, and coconut. But mine overrides everything in the room, casting us in a fog of sugary-sweet perfume that I haven’t smelt since the first time my designation came in. Since I found out I was a lost and hopeless omega left to fend for herself. And now I’m smelling it twice in as many days.

“Fuck, Juno, you smell divine,” he whispers as he pulls his mouth away from mine, allowing me to catch my breath while I try to fight the desire coiling through my body. Like he can tell what he’s doing to me, goosebumps breaking out over my body, wet heat pooling between my legs, he gives me a seductive smile that heats me from the inside out. I’m sure he can feel the wetness seeping through his sweats, and that seductive smile turns somewhat feral, and I shiver when that desire triples. “So sweet, you know that? Like a chilled piña colada on the beach. Fucking delicious.”

“Creek,” I plead. For what? I don’t actually know. All I know is that there’s an accompanying whine and I can smell my perfume thickening around us.

“Shh,” he hushes softly, dropping another kiss to my mouth, but pulling back much too soon. “It’s okay, beautiful. I know. Let’s go down and talk to the others before this turns into a heat spike, okay? I’ll still be right here if you need me.”

I ignore the pangs of disappointment that coil through my chest like a serpent, knowing he’s right. I don’t want anything more to happen between me and the guys before we’ve all spoken and when I’m not out of my mind with need for them. I feel like I only got a taste of what they could offer from the twins last night, but I need to know what the hell is going on before I let go entirely. All I know right now is that they’re mine, they’ve always been mine, but am I still theirs?Lowie said as much yesterday, but there’s a niggle in the back of my mind that begs for the reassurance I know only they can provide. I need to hear them say it. To tell me they still want me, despite the eight years that span between us.

“Don’t suppose I can borrow some clothes?” I ask quietly, feeling my cheeks blush when I realize how badly of a compromising position we’ve found ourselves in.

Creek is still sprawled on top of me, elbows digging into the bed on either side of my head. The lower half of his body pins me to the bed, still pressing against parts of my body that are all too awake and needy, a steady heat thrumming beneath my skin. There’s nothing to be done about the scent that emanates from me, but having every inch of Creek’s manliness lying on me isn’t helping.

Clearing my throat, I ignore the smile he still wears, and continue, “And if you could get off me sooner rather than later, I’d be grateful. I’m in a whole world of struggles right now, and you lying on me like you are, pressing against my pussy when I’m clearly going through some weird heat thing, isn’t doing me any favors, no matter how much I like it.”

Creek bites his lip, like he’s trying to hide his amusement, and I glare at the jackass without the usual venom it would include if it were anyone else. Then he opens his mouth and prods, “You like me lying on top of you?”

I huff out a heavy breath and decide that honesty is probably better where my guys are concerned. After eight years, there’s no room for lies and bullshit. Before I was shipped off and away from them, there were never any secrets between us. I’m not about to start forming them now. “Creek, you could do anything to my body and I’d beg for more. I’m liking you lying on top of me a little too much, and therein lies the problem if you want me to get out of bed, eat breakfast, and have an actual conversation with you all.”

“Music to my ears, Juniper Baines. Music to my fucking ears,” he laughs, pressing a swift peck to my lips before hauling us both back off the bed. As soon as we’re standing, he points at theadjoining bathroom and says, “Bathroom’s through there if you want a shower or whatever. Spare toothbrushes and other stuff you’ll need in the cupboards under the sink. I’ll get you some clean clothes.”

I nod, biting my lip, suddenly feeling nervous. Not that I should, because it’s Creek. It’s Lowie, Leylan, Evron, and Geo. The five guys in my life that have always had my back, always been there for me, constantly made me feel safe and wanted, and have held my heart between them for as long as I can remember.

Heading to the bathroom to freshen up and attempt to wrangle my body back under my control, I run a hand through my knotted purple hair, only to stop when Creek calls my name. I turn, finding him in the doorway to the guest room, and his smile softens the moment my gaze clashes with his. Then my heart melts into a puddle when he says, “I know we just found you again, and I know things are uncertain and rocky. We don’t know all you’ve been through, and I’m sure things have changed, but I’m glad you’re here, Juno. I want you here, with us, for however long you’re willing to give us, okay? That won’t change, no matter what happens after our chat. You’ve always been the center of our universe, beautiful. So, freshen up, get your thoughts together, and come down when you’re ready.”

Slowly, my head nods, even as my heart thunders at his words. Hope flares to life inside me, a hope I grip with both hands, and I carry it with me all through my shower, hair drying, and everything else I waste time on before leaving the bathroom.

A black shirt and black sweats lie on the bed ready for me, paired with boxer shorts, white fluffy socks, and a hair tie. I dress quickly, grateful for the clothes that smell like a mixture of Evron and Creek, and tie my hair in a pathetic ponytail, my baby hairs escaping their prison and tickling the back of my neck. The sweats are too big, so I roll them at the ankles and at the waist, my borrowed boxers showing above the folded waistband. The shirt practically hangs on me, too, so I tug the ends up and twist it into a knot just above my navel before I decide that’s as good as it’s going to get.

As soon as I’m decent and have nothing more to prolong this inevitable chat, I head out of the guest room and make my way downstairs. I follow the same path as I did before, stepping down the stairs on light feet, heading toward the kitchen where everyone seems to have congregated.

The moment I step into view, the room goes quiet, and I look over each of the guys as they stare back at me. Creek sends me a sweet little smirk, while Geo smiles softly at me as he mixes pancake batter. Evron winks from where he stands near the oven, gray mitts over his hands as he pulls out a pan of freshly baked muffins that joins in the overwhelming mixture of scents that swarm around me deliciously.

It’s only when my eyes meet Leylan’s soft, sky blues that I blush, his shy smile causing my stomach to somersault with both nerves and desire. That blush and somersaulting only deepens when I catch Lowie’s eyes, my cheeks undoubtedly heating while a sweetness thickens the air.

Great. Now I’m stinking up the place with my arousal, and there isn’t a damned thing I can do to stop it. I can, however, ignore it. Something that’s made a little difficult when Lowie’s nostrils flare and a slow, sexy smile tugs at his lips.

“Fuck, that smells nice,” Evron blurts, shucking his mitts before rounding the island, beelining straight for where I’m still standing statue still just outside of the kitchen.

His arms are around me before I can even comprehend that he’s standing in front of me, the shock of movement having my own arms banding around his shoulders. Ev tucks his face into the crook of my neck, inhaling mere milliseconds before he begins to purr, and the effect is immediate. My body relaxes into him instantly, almost like every cell in my body knows he’s mine and he’s safe, and I sigh deeply before inhaling his oak and hazelnut scent.

“Alright, man. How about we don’t maul her before we have a very important discussion,” Creek snorts, knowing damn well he practically mauled me upstairs.

“Pretty sure I can maul while we have a conversation,” Evron mumbles into my neck, and my lips twitch with a repressed smile that begs to be set free.

“Get your paws off her, bro. She needs to eat,” Geo huffs, the sizzle of batter hitting a hot pan caressing my eardrums, causing my belly to rumble with hunger.

That sound has Evron releasing me with a displeased grumble, and he ushers me into the kitchen. Lowie is off his seat not a moment later, gripping the knot in my shirt and tugging me into a gentle kiss, keeping sure not to wind my body up into the state I found myself in last night. When he pulls back, he whispers, “Morning, Angel.”

My lips twitch with a smile, and I whisper, “Morning.”

Low’s own mouth twitches with a repressed smile, but he leads me to a seat at the island. The moment my ass meets the plastic of the fancy stool, Leylan offers me a sweet smile and asks, “What do you want for breakfast, Juju? We’ve got cereal, toast, muffins, and pancakes when Geo finally figures out how to make them without burning one side.”

I snort, turning to look behind me, catching Geo watching me and not the pancakes I can already smell burning. I wince, and he frowns, before the smell hits him and he curses colorfully and snatches the pan from the electric stove. “Fucking A.”

Biting my lip, I slide off the stool and sidle up next to Geo, gently taking the pan from his hands. “How about I make the pancakes?”

Geo groans. “This was meant to be a treat for you.”

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