Chapter 283: Waking up in their arms

The first thing Theo noticed when she woke up was that familiar, delicious cold, the kind that belonged to one particular man and had somehow become her favourite thing in the world.

It surrounded her from the front, a strong arm resting across her waist while a broad chest rose and fell beneath her cheek.

The second thing she noticed was the heat. A very familiar arm was wrapped around her from behind, and a large hand rested over her stomach. The owner of that hand was practically glued to her back, one leg tangled with hers.

The third thing she noticed was that she couldn’t feel her legs at all.

Theo opened her eyes, closed them and then opened them once again with a mortified look on her face.

Oh, dear Moon Goddess.

Last night was coming back to her, and she remembered EVERYTHING.

After the breakdown in the rain, Zeke and Sylas had carried her inside to the room where they had wrapped her between their arms. She’d eventually calmed down even more. It’d been nice... but then, the night grew deeper and, well, let’s just say they started to do more than just cuddle.

Her face immediately disappeared into Sylas’s chest.

No.

Absolutely not.

She was going back to sleep.

She would remain here until the next century if necessary, because there was no way she was opening her eyes and acknowledging the fact that she’d spent the entire night between her two mates.

Between them.

Her soul tried to leave her body again as she recalled more and more of what happened.

She remembered Zeke’s lips against her neck. She remembered Sylas whispering those maddening things in her ear. She remembered the way they’d looked at each other over her head, the silent communication between two men who knew one another far too well and had apparently decided that sharing a woman also meant sharing the responsibility of driving her absolutely insane.

And the worst part? She had encouraged them.

She had actively encouraged them.

There had been a moment when she’d looked at Sylas, then at Zeke, and thought... Well, I’m already in trouble. I might as well make it worse.

And she’d done exactly that.

She pulled the blanket over her head, her face burning.

"Good morning, Venom."

Theo went rigid.

"Venom?" His voice came directly above her.

Nothing, then his hand moved gently through her hair, "Are you awake?" He asked.

"No."

"Interesting." She could hear the smile in his voice, "Then I suppose the woman currently attempting to suffocate herself beneath my blanket is someone else."

"Go away."

He laughed. It sounded more like a tease.

"SYLAS." She cried.

"Yes, my love?"

She nearly died right there.

Behind her, Zeke stirred, "What is going on?"

Theo squeezed her eyes shut, praying that the Moon Goddess would take her now.

Zeke lifted his head, his hair a complete mess, and blinked at the sight of the blanket covering Theo’s entire head.

She already knew he was going to laugh at her, and he did not disappoint.

Zeke pulled himself up onto one elbow, looking thoroughly delighted with himself, "Is my Hellcat embarrassed?"

"No."

"You’re hiding under a blanket."

"I’m cold."

Sylas’s hand paused in her hair, "You’re currently wrapped around me."

"You’re cold. It makes sense."

"And Zeke is practically lying on top of you."

"He’s a very large blanket."

Zeke stared at her, then he looked at Sylas. Sylas also looked at them and then both men burst out laughing.

Theo wanted to open the earth beneath the bed and swallow all three of them, "You two are horrible people." She exclaimed.

Zeke leaned forward and kissed the top of her covered head, "Aw. Don’t be like that, Hellcat."

She tried to kick backwards, but her leg only moved approximately three centimetres before she gave up.

Zeke looked at her foot, and his grin turned positively evil. "Oh, Hellcat, are you sore?"

Theo’s face went from red to something that probably qualified as a medical emergency, "ZEKE!"

"What?" He looked genuinely innocent. "I’m asking a perfectly reasonable question."

Sylas, who had been stroking her hair with the patience of a saint, finally spoke, "He’s right. How are you feeling?" The teasing had left his voice too.

She slowly lowered the blanket until her eyes appeared.

Sylas was watching her carefully, his silver-blue eyes searching her face. Zeke had shifted closer too, his expression still playful around the edges but his attention entirely on her.

"I’m okay," she murmured, feeling warmth spreading in her chest.

"That’s not quite what I asked." Sylas said, and brushed his thumb over her cheek.

"I’m tired. Very tired." She admitted. "And a little sore."

"Anywhere that hurts badly?"

"No. Nothing like that."

"You’re sure?" Zeke asked.

She nodded.

Sylas leaned down and pressed a kiss to her temple, "If anything changes, you tell us. No pretending you’re fine just because you don’t want to spoil the morning."

Theo stared at him. It was genuinely unfair that this man could sound so tender after spending the previous night making her forget her own name.

And Zeke wasn’t helping.

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and kissed her cheek, "Besides, we’ve got all day to spoil you."

Theo’s heart did something embarrassing, and the goddamn man grinned again, "Though, for the record, you were the one who—"

She slapped a hand over his mouth and growled, "FINISH THAT SENTENCE AND I’LL END YOU."

His eyes crinkled with laughter above her fingers.

Sylas gently removed her hand from Zeke’s mouth and brought it to his lips instead, pressing a cold, magnetic kiss on top, "Threatening your mates before breakfast. How charming."

"You’re both enjoying this too much." She rolled her eyes.

"Immensely," Zeke said.

"Zeke! YOU—"

Sylas kissed her before she could finish. It was a gentle kiss, almost absurdly sweet, his hand cupping her cheek while his lips brushed hers with none of the wicked urgency she’d become so painfully familiar with the previous night.

When he drew back, his forehead rested against hers, "Good morning, Venom." He repeated.

She stared into his eyes, and her anger dissolved into nothing.

Damn him. Damn both of them.

"Good morning," She whispered.

"Where’s mine?" Zeke asked, leaning over Sylas’s shoulder.

Theo turned to him, "Your what?"

"My good morning kiss."

"You’ve already had approximately seven."

"That was before I woke up properly."

"That doesn’t even make sense!"

"Neither does refusing to kiss your very handsome mate."

She rolled her eyes again, and Zeke waggled his eyebrows. Then, she gave in and kissed him. It was supposed to be a quick kiss, just enough to shut him up.

Unfortunately, Zeke had other ideas.