Ash blinked innocently, his voice trembling as if he might cry.
"Please...let me sleep with both of you. Don't leave me on the couch."
Lucien laughed softly, murmuring, "Who could deny such cuteness?"
Adrian simply stood and walked to the bathroom. Lucien smiling as he made his way to the bed, waved Ash over. "Come on, then."
Ash trailed after him , unease knotting in his stomach. He hoped the supplements would hold back his scent until morning.
At the bed, Lucien gestured for him to take space. Pulling off his shirt, his lean chest and abs came into view. Ash's throat tightened; he quickly looked away. The bathroom door opened , and Adrian stepped out wearing shorts, a towel draped over his shoulders as he rubbed at his damp hair. Droplets clung to his skin, catching the light before sliding down. Ash's eyes lingered a moment too long before he swallowed hard and quickly turned away, heat rising to his face.
Lucien noticed, smirking.
"Are you blushing? Seeing Adrian's abs like that?"
Ash's breath hitched, words failing him. Lucien leaned closer, voice playful. "Mine aren't they just as hot as his? You can touch them, see how firm they are."
Ash's shuffled backwards on the bed, his pulse racing, but Lucien only leaned further until...
"Stop it, Lucien."
Adrian's voice cut through, calm but sharp. He sat before the mirror, watching them through the reflection.
Lucien chuckled and straightened, raising his hands. "Relax, I wasn't serious. Just teasing him."
Still grinning, he walked over to Adrian, grabbed the hair dryer, and began running warm air through his damp hair.
Ash sat frozen, trying to steady his breath, sweat dotting his temples. He looked at them, Lucien drying Adrian's hair so casually and his thoughts twisted. How close are they, to act like that...even sleeping in the same bed together half-naked as if it's nothing?
Lucien glanced at Ash through the mirror, smirking. "Are you hypnotized by Adrian's hair too? Why don't you come warm it?"
Ash snapped out of his thoughts, flushing red. He quickly pulled the blanket over himself, hiding shyly. Lucien chuckled at the sight, murmuring "Cute," just loud enough for him to hear.
Buried under the blanket, Ash squeezed his eyes shut. I can't share the same blanket with them...I can't handle their skin brushing mine. If it does, I'll totally die...
The hum of the hair dryer clicked off. A chair creaked. Ash's heartbeat thundered as footsteps drew closer.
Then Lucien's voice teased, "The way you've covered yourself; who are you hiding from? You're acting like an Omega. Good thing you're a beta...if you were an omega, do you really think we'd let you sleep here with us?"
The bed dipped on both sides as Lucien and Adrian slid in. Ash's chest tightened at the thought of lying trapped between two Alphas. Panic bubbling, he uncovered himself and scratched his head awkwardly.
"Err...I'd rather sleep on the side."
Lucien shook his head lightly.
"No, you might fall. It's safer between us."
Ash shook his hands quickly, stammering. "No, I always sleep pinned. I don't roll over lazily, so I won't fall."
Before Lucien could answer, Adrian's calm voice cut in.
"Let him sleep at the side. I'll sleep between."
Ash slid to the far side of the bed, keeping as much distance from Adrian as possible. He tugged the blanket tightly around himself, his body stiff, while Adrian cast him a puzzled glance before shaking his head faintly.
Lucien picked up the remote and switched off the lights. The room fell into soft darkness, only the faint hum of the night filling the silence.
Lucien's thoughts stirred: He's so cute and captivating...and he's just a beta. If he were an Omega and Adrian decided to cheat on me with him, I wouldn't mind. It's understandable...hahaha.
Adrian's gaze lingered in the dark. I don't know why he pulls my eyes like this...he's just a beta, not an Omega. So why do I feel so drawn to him?
Ash meanwhile, squeezed his eyes shut, his mind replaying the images of Lucien's bare chest and Adrian's damp skin. How can they both be so hot like that? I can't even breathe around them.
...
Morning light filtered faintly through the curtains when Ash's eyes fluttered open. He blinked, still groggy, until the weight around him registered.
Adrian's arm was snug around his waist, holding him against his chest, while his other arm rested over Lucien. Ash's leg had somehow hooked over Adriana's hip during sleep and Lucien's leg was draped there too. Their hands, tangled carelessly, lay across Adrian's thighs.
Ash's breath caught. The warmth, the closeness; it was too much. Then he froze. Something firm pressed against his raised leg. Slowly, realization struck. Adrian's length was hard against him.
His chest tightened; panic rushed in. He went rigid, then suddenly jolted up with a startled cry, scrambling out of the bed.
Adrian's eyes opened slowly, though he didn't change his position. His calm gaze drifted to Ash, who stood frozen at the side of the bed, staring wide-eyed at the hardness pressing against his shorts. Lucien stirred next, blinking in confusion. His eyes followed Ash's stunned expression, then dropped to Adrian's obvious arousal. In an instant, he understood.
A grin spread across his face before he burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Don't tell me...you're startled because of that?" He pointed openly at Adrian's length, still shaking with laughter.
Adrian remained calm, his face unreadable, while Ash's ears burned red, words tangled in his throat.
"I...I need a coffee," he muttered, slipping away. Lucien was still laughing as Ash hurried out of the room. In the kitchen, the quiet felt like a relief. He busied himself with the kettle, spooning coffee into a cup. The steam rose, curling softly, and for a moment he let himself breathe.
Then the front door creaked open.
Before he could even turn, a sharp slap! landed across his cheek. His whole body trembled, the hot cup sliding from his hands, shattering against the floor.
A cold, cutting voice followed. "So...you're the reason my brother and my fiance didn't attend the family dinner."
Ash slowly lifted his gaze, stunned; straight into the blazing eyes of Celeste.