bottom lip. As I’m watching him his head leans back against the wall, opening his body up more for my perusal.
“Laura,” Dante calls my name, pulling my attention from the darkly handsome man across from me. I blink several times, having been completely derailed from my earlier question and Ares’s confusing answer.
“Sorry, what?” The quilt barely budges as I tug it up, trying to cover more of my body. I feel a flush of embarrassment that I got caught staring at Ares. All four of them have me totally disarmed. Dante lifts his weight off the bed, allowing me the barrier before settling again.
“I think it’s important to understand we all need to be close to you at some point.” Dante looks around at the other guys, making sure they agree with what he’s saying. “While we all agreed to let you have some time to grow used to the idea of… us. It seems Oliver is much further along in the bonding process than the rest of us.” Dante lifts his hand and motions to his friend. Ollie’s head is cradled on his shoulder, but it’s leaning toward me, so much so his face is inches from the top of my chest.
Leaning forward so his arm slides down my back, his body goes with it. Falling into the space behind me. “Is he okay?” I turn so I can see him fully. Ollie curls in on himself, until his forehead meets my hip, wrapping himself around my back before falling still again.
“It’s the connection.” I look up to see Milo standing near the foot of the bed. His eyes are on Ollie, but he doesn’t look angry, if anything I’d say he looks a little lost from the slight frown marring his face and his slumped postured.
Realization hits me, I bet that’s exactly how I looked when I understood my mom was gone. “I won’t take him from you,” I blurt out. Milo’s eyes find mine, he has a slight bit of scruff growing on his chin, the whiskers are a few shades darker than the caramel brown of his hair. “I know what that’s like, and I would never take him from you.” I focus on Milo, letting him see the truth of my words. I’ve been lost for the last few days, trying to understand why my mom left, where she could be. I don’t want him to experience that same feeling of abandonment.
“It’s all changing.” Milo’s voice is thick. I nod, understanding maybe for the first time that he’s not really upset at me. I lift my arm and beckon him forward. Milo bites the corner of his lip but rounds the bed. His eyes never leaving mine. I scoot over again, sliding a leg out from under the blanket to give him room to lie down next to Ollie, but Milo places his hand on the other side of me, stopping me from moving all the way to the wall. He climbs over Ollie, and over my legs, kicking his shoes off as he does. Milo settles lying with his back against the wall, his hand reached out, over the pillows to land on Ollie’s shoulder. His eyes close as he takes a deep breath. I’m caught in the middle with them on either side, and Dante down by my feet. I look around, surprised he accepted my offer so easily.
“We aren’t going to be able to fight the connection,” Dante announces.
“I never planned on it. The sooner the better,” Ares replies, he hasn’t moved from his place on the wall. I squint, wondering if my eyes are playing tricks on me, or if the shadows are clinging to him more than they were a few moments ago.
Ares should be over here with us. With that thought my heart rate picks up, which isn’t normal. I look down at my lap, feeling guilty. I don’t think the connection is the only reason I want them close to me. I’m going to have to get damn good at smothering the attraction I feel for all of them.
My thoughts scatter when I feel fingers graze down my forearm and onto my hand. I look over to find Milo’s palm on top of mine. “This okay?” he mumbles, not really looking at me. Swallowing, I nod.
“So…” I clear my throat. “So why does the connection make Ollie so sleepy?”
“Think of it like his body’s way of adjusting to the changes that are happening to him,” Dante offers.
“Will all