Page 17 of The Honor of Being Hers
Tyler and William were obviously still deeply asleep, their breathing slow and even, but Ryan’s fingers had begun tracing lazy patterns across her stomach through the thin fabric of her sleep shirt, a gentle exploration that made her skin tingle with awareness.
“Morning, love,” Ryan murmured, his voice rough with sleep and contentment.
She said nothing in response, but when she didn’t pull away from his touch or tense under his caress, he smiled against her hair, the expression she could feel rather than see.
“How did you sleep?”he asked softly, his fingers continuing their gentle exploration.
“Better than I have in years,” she admitted quietly, not wanting to wake the others.
“Good.That’s what we want, for you to feel safe enough to rest properly.”
His hand moved slightly higher, fingers splaying across her ribs just below her breast, and she felt her breath catch.Through the thin cotton of her shirt, she could feel the heat of his palm, the careful restraint in his touch.
“Is this okay?”he asked, stilling his hand.His palm was warm and broad against her ribs, and she could feel the slight calluses on his fingertips through the cotton—evidence of whatever practical work had shaped those hands.
“Yes,” she whispered, then surprised herself by adding, “More than okay.”
The next few days settled around them like silk, smooth and luxurious and surprisingly natural.
The structured activities that had initially felt like obligations–the communal meals, the grounding hours, the one-on-one time that was supposedly meant to stabilize her Omega biology–had gradually transformed into genuinely pleasant habits.She found herself looking forward to these moments, craving the connection they provided.These routines made her Alphas happy, and their contentment in turn fed a yearning part of her soul that she’d never known about.
More importantly, she was beginning to understand how the pack hierarchy worked in practice rather than in theory.Ryan was clearly the Alpha, the leader whose authority the others deferred to instinctively.However, that leadership manifested itself in protection and guidance rather than domination.When he made decisions about her care, the others supported them not because they had to, but because they trusted his judgment.
Tyler brought therapeutic expertise and emotional insight, his gentle nature providing the perfect counterbalance to Ryan’s intensity.William offered security and practical protection, his background and current occupation making him hypervigilant about her safety.Together, they created a support system more comprehensive than anything she could have imagined.
The Rules & Protocols document remained posted discreetly in the upstairs hallway.She found herself referring to it more than once, tracing over phrases like “defined caretaking boundaries” and “reinforced Alpha proximity support” with something approaching fondness rather than resentment.
Her body no longer felt like a ticking bomb waiting to explode.Instead, she was starting to crave even more caretaking than their carefully negotiated contract had outlined.There was no question anymore about her willingness to spend individual time with any of them; if they weren’t kissing or cuddling, they were talking, sharing stories, getting to know each other as people rather than just biological archetypes.
The mornings had developed their own gentle rhythm.She was naturally an early riser and had fallen into the habit of sharing a light breakfast with Tyler before joining William for his morning walk around the extensive estate grounds.Then they would all gather for a proper breakfast together before she’d retreat to work for a few hours.At some point mid-morning, whichever Alpha was scheduled would steal her away for their one-on-one time, reading together in the sun-drenched conservatory, working out side by side in the estate’s well-equipped gym, or simply talking in whatever space felt most comfortable.
And at night, they cuddled and kissed like their lives depended on the contact, exploring each other with growing confidence and boldness.They were still frustratingly careful about not pushing beyond certain boundaries, but she was beginning to appreciate their patience even as her body craved more.
All four of them slept tangled together in the massive bed now, a configuration that should have felt crowded but instead felt like coming home.
Everything changed the night Ryan asked if he could take her out on a proper date.
“Just the two of us,” he said, his voice carefully casual despite the hope she could see in his eyes.“Dinner on the terrace in the garden.Completely private.I’ll handle all the cooking myself.”
Her Omega nature pulsed with warm pleasure at the idea of being specially chosen, of being courted properly even within the boundaries of their unusual situation.The traditional romance of it appealed to something in her psyche that had nothing to do with submission and everything to do with being cherished.
She said yes without hesitation.
Tyler helped her prepare for the evening, brushing her hair in long, soothing strokes while she sat on the cushioned stool near the bedroom window.The bristles of the brush were soft against her scalp, and she could feel the gentle tug as he worked through her light brown waves with infinite patience.His touch was meditative, calming, designed to ease the nervous energy she couldn’t quite shake.
“You’re different,” he observed quietly, his hands never pausing in their gentle rhythm.
“How so?”
“You’re not checking the exits every ten minutes anymore.You’re not cataloging escape routes nor are you calculating the distance to safety, either.”
She considered this, recognizing the truth in his words.“I still feel like I’m about to make a terrible mistake.”
“Then make it with us,” he said simply, his reflection meeting her eyes in the vanity mirror.“We’ll catch you if you fall.”
His hands moved to her shoulders, kneading gently at the tension there.“You know,” he said thoughtfully, “there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.”
“What’s that?"
