Page 50 of Knot in Bloom
“Worth it though,” he says, nuzzling her hair.
The game continues, each round getting slightly more intimate. She dares Caleb to massage her shoulders, so she turns around in Reid’s arms to face him, settling between his legs while Caleb’s strong hands work magic on her tension from behind. Reid’s hands rest on her thighs, and she practically melts between them. Reid dares me to trace patterns on her arms, which makes her shiver and her scent spike with interest.
“I can’t believe this is real,” she giggles, looking between the three of us with wonder in her eyes. “Three months ago I couldn’t get a date, and now I have three gorgeous alphas in my living room wanting to take care of me.”
“We do want to take care of you,” Reid murmurs against her ear.
“I know!” She beams at him, then at all of us. “It’s like a fairy tale, except better because you’re all real and you smell amazing and you’re here.” Her voice gets slightly emotional. “You actuallystayed. Even when I was a mess this morning, you all stayed and helped.”
“Of course we stayed,” Caleb says softly.
“I want to dare myself,” she announces after several more rounds, wine making her bolder, though she hesitates slightly. “That’s... that’s allowed, right?”
“That’s not how it works,” I point out gently.
“My apartment, my rules.” She grins, then bites her lip uncertainly. “I dare myself to kiss each of you. Just once. To see how it feels with all of us here together.” She pauses, looking around at us. “If that’s... if you all want that? We don’t have to if it’s weird.”
The room goes completely still.
“Are you sure?” Caleb asks quietly, recognizing her uncertainty beneath the alcohol-fueled bravado.
“I think so. I mean, I’ve kissed two of you already, but this feels different. More... complete.” She takes a steadying breath. “But maybe we should start slow?”
“Only what feels right to you,” Reid assures her.
She turns to him first, pressing a soft, sweet kiss to his lips that makes him inhale sharply. “There. Now I’ve kissed all my alphas.”
Then she moves to Caleb, and their kiss is familiar, comfortable—building on the connection they established in her shop just days ago. There’s recognition in the way they fit together, muscle memory of previous passion.
“Still perfect,” she murmurs against his lips.
When she turns to me, there’s heat in her eyes that makes my pulse race. “Hi,” she whispers.
“Hi,” I whisper back, remembering the way she tasted when I kissed her at the bookstore just days ago. But this feels different—more open, more certain.
I lean down to capture her lips with mine, and it’s even better than our first kiss. She’s relaxed now, wine-warm and willing, no hesitation as she melts into me. The kiss starts gentle but deepens when she sighs into my mouth, her hand fisting in my shirt.
When we break apart, we’re both breathing hard.
“Still as good as I remembered,” she breathes, settling back against Reid.
“Better,” I say honestly, the tequila making my words more honest than usual. “Because now I know you want this too.”
“You taste like wine and possibility,” I add without thinking. “Like every good thing I never thought I’d get to have.”
“More wine?” Reid suggests, his voice strained.
“Yes. And...” She looks at the tequila bottle with interest, then hesitates. “Maybe it’s time to be brave? Just... a little brave?”
The tequila burns going down, loosening the last of our inhibitions. The dares become more intimate—she dares me to kiss her neck, which makes her arch and moan softly. Caleb dares her to let him trace patterns on her back under her sweater, which has her shivering and pressing closer to all of us.
“This sweater is getting warm,” she says after another shot, tugging at the hem nervously. Then she pauses, looking around at all of us uncertainly. “Is it... would it be weird if I took this off? It’s really warm in here, but I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.”
“Only if you want to,” Reid says gently. “We’re comfortable with whatever makes you comfortable.”
She hesitates for another moment, the alcohol making her braver but not completely overriding her natural caution. “Okay. Just... the sweater though.” She pulls it over her head, revealing a soft cotton tank top underneath. “There. That’s better.”
“Your turn,” she says, pointing at me with a slightly unsteady finger, then adds more quietly, “If you want to. No pressure.”
