Page 21 of Alpha's Rise

He looked over at Nathan and shrugged before glancing back at Romi. “We can make it so that you don’t need to leave your bed for the next few weeks. Just say the word.”

Smirking at them, she walked into the bathroom and did her business before washing her hands and brushing her teeth. When she walked out to see them still standing there, she stopped. “Why are you still here?”

“Waiting for you,” Tobias responded as he stood in front of the now fixed window that had been broken last night in in her escape attempt.

“Why?”

Nathan leaned up against the large fireplace along one wall. “Because we want to be here.”

Now she was getting frustrated. “But why do you want to be here with me?”

Romi had a feeling she knew what they were going to say, but still wanted to hear them say the words. Looking at the two men, she couldn’t help but admire just how drop-dead sexy they both were. Being with the two of them would not be a hardship. If she gave herself permission to enjoy them both, she knew the experience would be life-altering. In more ways than one if what they said about her being their true mate was true.

Tobias turned to her, his lips tilting up in a smile. “We know what we said may be a lot to take in. I…” he glanced at Nathan before speaking again, “We… think it would be a good idea for the three of us to explore the city a bit more. Give you a chance to get to know us and let you ask as many questions as you want.”

Glancing between the two of them, Romi was tempted to take them up on their offer. But if she went out with them, what else would they expect from her? “First, why do you think I’m your mate?”

“Because our wolves recognized you,” Tobias said. “When I came upon you and my men in the forest, I’d already known who you were. My wolf recognized you and drew me to you.”

Nathan interjected. “I was in Pennsylvania when my wolf woke up. There was no other choice but for me to come home.”

Romi had no response to that. What was there to say? Nothing. These two strong, sexy men believed she was meant for them. It was still difficult for her to believe because she had never been meant for anyone. Even growing up, she was not the girl all the kids flocked to. She was never the girl that all the boys wanted. She was too rough around the edges. Her mouth got her in trouble daily and she’d never been considered one of the good girls.

All her life she fought for her place and that had never changed. Even in the military, she had to prove every day that she was as good as, or better than, the men. That she could hold her own in a world full of men. It became even more necessary when she understood that the men surrounding her every day could shift into large ass bears, wolves, and lions.

If the rest of the world knew what was happening around them, the shit would hit the fan. Looking at the two men standing in front of her, she knew they believed what they said. While she was not quite there with them just yet, she was willing to take a leap of faith.

“What does it mean for me to be your mate?” Walking over to the bed, she went to sit down when a low growl stopped her motion. “Which one of you is growling at me? Cut that shit out right now.”

Tobias moved his body and shook his head as if clearing his thoughts. “Sweetheart, unless you’re ready to take us both on that bed, then I’d suggest you sit someplace else. I’m already hanging on by a thread from your scent alone…”

“Especially considering you were about to play with your pussy when we arrived at your door,” Nathan added.

“We’re trying to do the right thing and give you at least a day or two to recognize exactly what you mean to us, but I would suggest you not push us.”

Romi glared at Tobias as he finished speaking. She wanted to challenge his words. She was grown and could sit wherever she wanted. This was her room, at least for the time being, and who were they to tell her what she could do? Just as she went to open her mouth and tell Tobias to go take a long walk off a short pier, she glanced at Nathan and her snappy response disappeared.

The look of heat in his eyes as he stared at her caused her core to clench in response. Nathan’s nostrils flared and his eyes began to lighten. His hands gripped the arms of the chair he was sitting in, as if preparing to lift his body. “Stop.”

Now standing, Romi’s body froze. “What do you mean, stop? I’m not doing anything.”

“You smell delicious,” Tobias spoke in her ear, making her jump.

“How did you sneak up on me?” She hadn’t heard him move from the other side of the room. Her attention had been so focused on Nathan, she did not notice Tobias walking over next to her. Tobias bent his head near the crease of her neck and shoulder before inhaling deeply.

“Mmmmmm. Mango.”

She tried to turn her head to look at him, but he grabbed her by the waist, holding her still.

“No. Don’t move. Just let me enjoy this moment.”

The touch of his hands on her waist was causing a rippling feeling in her body. Nipples tightening and core clenching, she tried to fight what she was feeling. She had never responded to a man’s touch this way before. Romi opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She felt trapped, but in a good way, because while a part of her resisted the idea of being anyone’s fated mate, she also wanted to know what it felt like to be desired so fully.

“Look at me, sweetheart.”

When Nathan called out to her, Romi lifted her gaze to him. Her breath caught in her throat at the look of desire on his face. At the whisper of Tobias’s breath on her skin and Nathan watching the two of them together, Romi let out a moan.

“How does it feel knowing that we both want you so much?”

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