(GAVIN)
I stab a glob of eggs and raise them to my mouth, but even though I felt like I was dying of starvation a few minutes ago, now, I don't know how I'll manage to choke this down.
"So you're really not going to tell us anything?" Nico asks.
"Yeah, no pointers at all?" Leo takes a drink of his orange juice. "You don't know what she likes or doesn't like?"
"Uh… I'm not sure I really feel comfortable talking to you guys about that sort of thing," I confess. "Just be gentle with her, and it'll be fine."
Leo smirks at me. "Wait–are you serious? Be gentle. Dude, I'm not sure that's in my playbook."
I glare at him. "You'd better figure it out, man. She was a virgin up until a few hours ago, remember?"
Theo jumped in, agreeing with me. "You've gotta take it slow, Leo.
Don't be trying any of your weird shit with her. Not right now."
Leo's eyes bulge. "I don't know what you mean! Everyone I know likes that kind of stuff in the bedroom. If you're not using whips and chains, you're missing out."
"You'll just have to miss out this time then," Nico tells him as he runs a hand through his red hair, and I think he is probably afraid he might lose his temper. He is a ginger, and when he gets mad, it's hard for him to hide it.
"Fine! Fine!" Leo says, raising both hands. "I'll be gentle with her.
Jeez. Why don't you guys keep your dicks out of my bedroom, huh?"
"Ordinarily, I wouldn't be telling you what to do with your dick," Theo says, speaking for Nico and me as well. "But that's our girl you're talking about." He gestures at all four of us. "She's not just yours."
"So don't hurt her!" Nicoshouts.
"I won't!" Leo yells back. "Relax!"
The four of us go back to eating, dropping the subject of Liora, but I can't help but think about how awful it would be later that night, thinking about Leo making love to her.
I want to be the only one with Liora, but I have to share her with these other three guys.
I've been with quite a few women in my twenty-five years, but I've never met anyone who affects me the way that she does.
The feeling is both exhilarating–and terrifying.
We finish breakfast before anyone speaks again. "You guys up for a game of basketball later?" Leo asks.
"I've got some work to do," Nico replies. "I need to check in with the leader I left in charge back home."
"Me, too," I answer. It is really hard to run a pack from this sort of distance, but we have to figure out a way to make it work because our Betas have to be with us as well.
I don't really trust the three guys I've left in charge not to screw everything up, but at least my mother, who is still an acting Luna, is there to help keep them on track.
"No problem," Leo says. "Maybe after lunch?"
"Sure thing," Nico agrees as he gets up from the table. "Yeah, catch you later," Theo says, also rising.
I want to take the opportunity while we are alone to threaten Leo that if he hurts Liora, I'll mess him up.
But I keep my mouth shut. I have to remember she doesn't belong to me. And I have to hope she is strong enough to speak up for herself.
"See ya," I say to Leo as I get up to go.
"Gavin!" he shouts, getting up from the table to follow me. Leo is a big guy, even bigger than me, and it takes him a few hurried steps to get all of that muscular girth over to me. "Are you mad, man?"
"No," I tell him, shaking my head. "I'm thrilled. I can't wait until you take Liora to your room and have your way with her. In fact, I can't wait to hear the full report in the morning over breakfast."
We take a few more steps before he says, "I can't help but think you're being sarcastic."
I bite back another snide remark. "Yes, Leo. I am."
"Well, I'm sorry, man, but that's kind of how this goes. We've gotta be nice to one another. We are allies, after all. Besides, Liora probably wouldn't like it if we were fighting with one another all the time."
I want to tell him that he can't presume to know what Liora will like because he doesn't even know her. But I know he's right. She wouldn't like for us to argue.
"Okay," I say to him. "Just… be gentle with her."
He bows his head to me, like I am his Alpha, and I snarl. Now who is being sarcastic?
Leo chuckles and pats me on the back before he ducks into his room, leaving me to walk to mine. My heart is heavy, and with every second that ticks by, I can't help but think I am already awfully attached to Liora. I've never felt like this before about anyone.
Am I falling in love?