Possession (The Mate Games 3)

“Pick me up?” I laughed. “Alek, we live in the same house.”

“I’ll come to collect you from your room. Be ready.”

I nodded, my smile uncontrollable. “Okay.”

“We will find each other again. I promise.”

My throat constricted as tears pricked my eyes. “I’ll hold you to that, Viking.”

With a wink, he left me. My heart was lighter, my tears no longer sad, but hopeful. He’d promised. Alek never broke his promises.

“Ugh, nothing fits.”I glanced down at the small swell of my belly and ran a palm over the bump. “This is your fault. You’d better be cute.”

I knew the baby would be. There wasn’t a possibility otherwise, not with how handsome my men were. Would she have Kingston’s wavy locks? Noah’s intense amber eyes, or maybe Alek’s blues? Caleb’s perfect mouth? Would it be obvious who her father was once she was born? I didn’t want that. I liked the idea of never knowing. That way I could pretend she belonged to all of us equally.

I tugged on the hem of the too-tight dress and scrunched my nose. “Nope.”

I pulled off my eighth choice of the night and selected something a bit looser. The floral maxi dress was more appropriate for warmer weather, but at least it would be comfortable.

A sharp knock on the door had my heart lurching with the thrill of possibility.

“Come in,” I called as I selected a leather jacket from my closet.

Alek opened the door and peered inside, his expression filled with the same excitement I’d been trying and failing to tamp down myself.

“I’m almost ready,” I said, smiling as I pulled the jacket on and tugged my hair free from the collar.

“You’re... perfect.”

My cheeks burned under his attention. “So are you.”

He looked like he’d just stepped out of the pages of a men’s magazine or maybe a romance novel. He’d dressed up for the occasion too, with a fitted black button-up, nice trousers, and a belt. He’d even taken care with his beard and pulled his long hair back into a low knot at the nape of his neck.

The smirk that twisted one side of his mouth made me wish we were past this awkward stage already. Even when we’d first met, it had never felt this forced between us. Being with him had always been so natural; I just wanted to go back to the way we were.

“So, Viking, where are we going?”

He crooked his elbow and offered me his arm. “Come with me.”

I felt almost giddy as I wove my arm through his and let him lead me out of the bedroom. We’d only taken a few steps when I noticed how quiet the house was.

“Where is everybody?”

“Thorne mentioned something about giving us space.”

“Oh... that was nice of him.”

Alek’s brow furrowed, and then he let out a low laugh. “I must admit, I’m still trying to wrap my head around how to navigate a relationship with a woman who has other men. Do we need to ask permission if we want time alone with you, or...”

“No. Never. You all have me, and I have you. Whenever we want. This only works if that’s the arrangement. As much as they play at being jealous, none of them really are.” I frowned as we walked down the stairs. “At least, I don’t think they are. I don’t really know. This has just happened so organically. They’ve never made me choose.”

He hummed low in his throat. “Perhaps you’re not the person I should be asking.”

I chuckled. “Maybe not.”

He shook his head, still smiling. “That’s going to be a fun conversation.”

“I’m glad I’m not the one who has to have it.”