“Looks like we came back just in time for the fun,” Kieran remarked, his voice thick with both amusement and something more primal. Ethan stood beside him, eyes glazed over, seemingly forgetting Kat was even there.
“Men,” Kat teased, chuckling softly as neither twin seemed to acknowledge her teasing remark. She quickly dove underwater, emerging moments later to swipe wet locks from her forehead.
Ethan and Kieran took a few moments to compose themselves, though the evidence of their interest was unmistakably evident in the strained fabric of their swim trunks.
“So much for that cold shower,” I chuckled inwardly.
The twins made me feel mature and sexy, banishing the insecurity I often felt. They loved me as I was, and that alone bolstered my confidence.
Drifting through the pool, I locked eyes with them as I retrieved my abandoned bikini top.
“We’re learning so much about you, sweetheart,” Kieran teased playfully. “Quick to shed your clothing. Remind us never to get you drunk.”
They didn’t ogle at my bare chest; their gaze encompassed all of me. It wasn’t just the sight of breasts that aroused them, but the knowledge that those breasts belonged to me, infusing my thoughts with possessiveness and satisfaction.
“You’re the ones who picked out this bikini for me. It’s not my fault the top is a bit small, and I don’t just rip my clothes off, Kieran,” I retorted with a hint of snark.
My attitude seemed to excite the twins even more, which I found both amusing and alluring. Kieran’s eyes darkened, and Ethan flashed a smirk that sent a thrill through me.
“Seems we should’ve called you ‘kitten’. Little thing’s got claws,” Ethan chuckled, tilting his head as he watched me don my bikini top.
“If your friend weren’t here, I’d suggest you skip the top and bottoms altogether,” Kieran taunted in his husky voice, brushing long hair from his face in a move that showcased his muscles.
“Don’t start with the sexy talk, Alphas,” Kat interjected from the pool’s edge. She pulled herself out and settled down, fixing the twins with a look that could kill. I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight, my joy evident in a not-so-flattering but freeing laugh. For once, I felt completely relaxed, free from years of constant worry. I could finally act my age and wanted to savor every moment before inevitable complications arose.
Kat looked like a fiery queen on her throne, perched at the pool’s edge as she stared down my two fierce Alphas. “Queen of the pool,” I chuckled quietly.
“Excuse me?” Ethan raised an eyebrow jokingly at Kat, his smoldering gaze utterly captivating. The way his dark eyes caught the sunlight, revealing shades of milk and dark chocolate, stirred something in my heart, leaving it a fluttering mess. If I didn’t trust my self-control, I might’ve believed a droplet of drool escaped my mouth.
“Oh, save it. That look might work on your love-struck mate, but not on me,” Kat quipped back, her gaze unwavering. “You’re not chasing me out of this pool so you can get all dirty with Sophia. Your torment is your own fault.”
“Tell ’em, Kat. They’re not getting anything from me!” I laughed, sticking my tongue out at Ethan and Kieran. Kieran shot me a look that made me clench my legs for safety, so I hastily continued, “Well, not until later.”
“You’re just as bad as they are,” Kat groaned, leaning forward and flopping back into the pool. I was far enough to avoid the full impact of her splash, only feeling a light mist on my face. Turning back to Ethan and Kieran, I was met with identical expressions of interest and amusement: raised eyebrows, twitching lips, and their endless eyes tracking every rise and fall of my chest.
“We’re not getting anything from you?” Kieran mused, then effortlessly removed his shirt with a single hand. It was a fluid motion that mesmerized me, his muscles on display across his stomach and chest. Ethan followed suit, and standing side by side, they looked like twin fallen angels sent to whisk me away. Their bodies were those of warriors, muscular and battle-scarred. Ethan was slightly leaner than Kieran, who seemed to pack on muscle unlike anyone else I’d seen. It was a subtle difference most wouldn’t notice, but I did. I noticed everything about the twins.
“I said not yet?” I protested weakly.
They knew I wouldn’t resist them. I couldn’t, even if I tried. The magnetic pull I felt towards them was too strong, too consuming. Sensing their emotions only intensified that pull.
Separating myself from others’ emotions had been a challenge. Feeling irritable when someone was in a bad mood, or angry when others were, was difficult. Slowly, I was learning to detach, but the twins were different. Our bond was too close, too difficult to magically sever. And truthfully, I didn’t mind. I enjoyed knowing their feelings, often sharing the same emotions. Their happiness was mine, and vice versa.
Before I could say more, Kieran launched into the pool with surprising speed. I barely had time to squeal and recoil before cold water splashed over me. The faint scent of chlorine mixed with the earthy scent of Kieran, masculine and faintly musky, suited his tough, silent demeanor perfectly.
Strong arms encircled my waist as Kieran submerged us. With wet hair clinging to my face, I squealed as he lifted me in his arms. The air was humid, the water cold yet crisp, and Kieran’s chest was warm against mine, warding off the chill and replacing it with a promise-an unspoken promise.
“Feisty, sweetheart,” Kieran chided, a low chuckle in my ear. I shivered against his chest, my heart pounding. Kieran felt the chill that passed through me and smirked, a hint of his canine showing, sharp and white. “You talk big for someone who can’t handle my touch without soaking her bathing suit.”
“Are you sure you won’t get anything from me?” Ethan murmured near my ear, making me jump and almost squeal. “Did I startle you, doll?”
He moved so quietly I hadn’t noticed. If I hadn’t been caught in Kieran’s gaze, I might have. Water barely rippled around Ethan, completely undisturbed-an observation I hadn’t made before. I’d only seen him in battle once, an experience I’d rather not repeat. Had Ethan always been this silent, this stealthy?
“Have you always been this stealthy?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at his cocky grin.
“You haven’t noticed?” Ethan scoffed, hand on his muscular chest. His grin turned into a dazzling smile, his perfect teeth-like his brother’s-showing sharp canines. “I’ll have to try harder to be even stealthier.”
“Don’t start sneaking up on me now,” I huffed, trying to diffuse the thick sexual tension that clearly affected the three of us.
Feeling Kat’s emotions flicker from somewhere in the pool, I was relieved they were positive. I hoped my earlier promise had eased some of her heavy feelings. I understood her emotions and didn’t blame her; she simply longed for her other half more than anything.
It made me cherish my bond with Ethan and Kieran even more. This connection couldn’t be replicated, couldn’t be fulfilled by anyone else. I wasn’t meant for just one person; I was meant for two.
Kat gave us a few more moments before intervening, claiming we were seconds away from stripping off our clothes and staging a performance. She was partially wrong, but her words had an effect.
A blush had permanently settled on my face, likely to last the rest of the night. Make no mistake-I had brushed against Ethan and Kieran at least fifty times before I was satisfied with their dark-eyed glances and poorly concealed growls.
Eventually, Ethan and Kieran ventured into the kitchen, their presence making Kat and me salivate at the enticing aroma of cooked meat, marinara, and vegetables. We lounged poolside on padded sun chairs, Kat coated in sunscreen and me pretending to work on a tan. Though I burned easily, I hoped to darken at least two shades by the end of our stay.
I found myself pondering the effects of werewolf healing on sunburns when Ethan and Kieran emerged with two plates of food. Not only did they cook, but their culinary skills were exceptional-clearly a gift from their mother, who had mastered most of her Italian recipes from her husband’s mother.
Kat audibly groaned with pleasure as she bit into a thick slice of garlic bread, playfully placing a hand on her chest and requesting another. I couldn’t blame her; their food was irresistible. It wasn’t until I was comfortably full and content that I pushed my plate away, making a mental note to thank their mom and perhaps ask for cooking lessons.
As the sun began its descent behind the trees, we retreated inside the cabin. The faint scent of chlorine lingered, now a comforting reminder of freedom and happiness for me. Settled on the couch between the twins with a bowl of popcorn in my lap, I couldn’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.
The blanket draped over the three of us trapped warmth and the musky scent unique to the twins. Ethan’s aroma had a spicy edge that suited his personality perfectly. Kat, wrapped up like a blanket burrito, stared wide-eyed at a horror movie playing on the large screen. She had devoured a bag and a half of popcorn and was still going strong, though none of us were far behind with our werewolf-sized appetites.
After three movies and laughter that left my face sore, Kat retired upstairs for bed. She was leaving in the morning, having procrastinated packing for her High Table meeting. I hadn’t touched my suitcase or the closet full of clothes either. A sickening feeling settled in-I feared this little cabin might be the last place I’d feel truly safe and untouchable.
An hour later, the twins and I ventured back into the pool. The day’s humidity had intensified, and even a few minutes outside left sweat glistening on my face. The water felt warmer now, having baked under the sun for hours. I slipped in and sighed with relief as the cool water enveloped my skin.
Ethan and Kieran joined me, Ethan as silent as ever. For a while, we swam separately, each of us floating under the stars that glittered above. Yet, inevitably, we gravitated back towards each other. Kieran’s chest pressed against my back, Ethan’s face cupped in my hands.
His lips were soft, faintly salty from popcorn but delicious on mine. His damp hair felt like silk under my fingertips, and as I tugged gently, he emitted a low growl that sent shivers down my spine. Kieran’s hands traced up my arms, toward my shoulders, his lips finding the sensitive hollow of my throat. Ethan pulled back slightly, his gaze soft yet conveying emotions words couldn’t fully express.
He loved me, regardless of the brevity of our time together. Months in a human’s life might seem fleeting, but this connection was everything. Our bond understood what we meant to each other-a profound experience rarely granted to humans.
Kieran’s emotions mirrored Ethan’s, and I hoped to find the words to convey my feelings to him someday. The twins knew, somehow-they couldn’t feel my emotions, but they understood nonetheless.
“There’s something we’ve been meaning to discuss, doll,” Kieran murmured huskily against my neck, but his words floated hazily in my mind as I relaxed into his embrace. He paused, his tongue teasing a spot that weakened my knees.
He caught me effortlessly, preventing my slow descent into the cool pool waters. The sparks that ignited whenever I touched Ethan and Kieran surged through my body like lightning bolts, all emanating from that single spot on my neck.
“I don’t think she heard a word you said, brother,” Ethan chuckled softly, his dark eyes framed by long, onyx lashes.