I would never understand why, but everything felt a little easier when I knew my best friend had my back. Adding Seth was just a bonus. We'd screw this up together, or maybe - just maybe - we'd figure out how to be exactly the kind of men she deserved.
CHAPTER 39
I woke up on Saturday morning between Pax and Trent, tucked between them as the middle spoon. It was oddly nice, although getting out of bed without waking them up was impossible. The moment I stirred, Trent sucked in a breath and shifted back, giving me space.
"Morning," he managed, his voice hoarse from sleep. "I set your stuff by the door last night."
So I rolled over to face him. "I didn't mean to wake you," I whispered.
He smiled, the look amazingly tender and sweet. "Mm, but I like waking up beside you."
Then Pax rolled over to wrap his arms around me. "Morning, honey. How do you feel?"
Ok, I liked this. Everything about this. The fact that I was lying naked in bed with two men. The fact that they made me feel like they cared. Even the fact that the other guys knew I was here and were ok with this. It felt... liberating. Then there was the other fact, that for all I knew, I could be infected with lycanthropy right now, and then I'd become like them.
In that moment, I understood why Gabby had convinced Roman to bite her. Alone in this room, without the realities of life that were waiting outside, the fantasy of perfection was a little closer. For just a second, I could pretend that nothing else mattered, and somehow being a wolf would make everything better. I knew it didn't work like that, but I let myself enjoy the feeling for just a moment, aware that a smile was taking over my lips.
"What?" Trent asked, seeing it.
"What if I'm going to become a wolf?" I asked, looking back at Pax.
"Mm." He snuggled a little closer, then kissed my arm. "Then I'd get more blow jobs?"
"Pax!" Trent snapped.
"Kidding!" Pax said, letting me go so he could flop onto his back. "Relax, Trent. It was a joke."
"Jesus, you're a pig sometimes," Trent told him. "But, Elena, I'm hoping for it. I can't even say why, because it won't change anything. I still like the idea of you being..."
"One of us," Pax finished for him. "So, if you get a headache, or start to feel like you're coming down with something, let us know, ok?"
"Ok," I said, sitting up. "Think anyone will care if I use the shower?"
"All yours," Pax promised, moving so I could get out of the bed. "Breakfast?"
"You don't have to do that," I insisted.
Trent chuckled. "It was more a question of what you want, since we're going to make our own anyway. Eggs? Pancakes? A full spread?"
"Surprise me," I decided as I grabbed my bag and headed to the door. "Oh, and, uh... Thanks for last night."
"Anytime," Trent promised.
Pax just let his eyes run across me, silently saying the same thing. So, before I could blush like an idiot, I grabbed a towel from the floor, wrapped it around myself, and headed to the bathroom. I didn't know why. All of these guys had seen me naked, and there weren't any kids in the house, but old habits die hard.
Thankfully, the hot water helped wake me up and soothe muscles that I was pretty sure would ache later. In the heat of the moment, I'd bent in ways I probably shouldn't have. I also regretted nothing. Being in the middle of both of them? Letting them take turns with my body like that? I could only imagine having all of them on me at the same time, and it sounded like that was an honest possibility.
More than that, there was this feeling in my chest. That foolish excitement that made me want to giggle. I actually felt comfortable with those guys. I liked them. In all honesty, I didn't really know them as well as I wanted to, but the parts I did know, I was pretty fond of. Any one of these men would make me happy. They were all enough on their own, but together? How had I gotten this lucky?
When I was done, I threw everything back into my bag and pulled out my phone. As I headed downstairs, I checked to make sure that Gabby was still ok. I'd gotten a message from her while we were all having