Page 78 of Obey

One day, I want to see Sloane kneel for us when she's sober, fully aware of what she's offering and just how badly we want it.

Nate steps closer, placing his hands at her waist before drawing her into his arms. Sloane immediately wraps hers around his neck and settles against his chest, her earlier tears forgotten.

She sighs, content, and holds him a little tighter as Nate closes his eyes as he returns the embrace. For once, he isn't giving an order or expecting her to follow one.

But the way Nate's hands settle against her back, his eyes briefly meeting Elias's, tells me everything I need to know. When Nathaniel Blackwell wants something, very little stands in his way. And if he can't get it himself, Elias will damn sure find a way.

Nate finally loosens his hold on her, brushing a stray curl away from her face before stepping aside. Elias takes his place, offering Sloane his hand. “Come here, Little Doe.”

She turns toward him, still balanced on her knees. “Whaaaat?”

Elias catches her around the waist and lifts her off the sofa, settling her against his chest. She squeaks in surprise before wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Time for bed.”

“But I'm not—” Her protest dissolves into a yawn as she settles against his shoulder.

“Yeah, you are,” Elias murmurs, already heading toward the hallway. We trail behind him to the guest room where he lowers her onto the bed, removes her heels, and tucks her under the blanket.

"Tuck me in too, Jace?" she murmurs, her words thick with approaching sleep as she rolls onto her side.

Elias retreats as I take his place, dropping to one knee beside the bed. I smooth the blanket around her shoulders, my thumb grazing her cheek. "You'll be the end of me, Sugar."

She just giggles before her gaze drifts to the foot of the bed. "What about you, Mr. Grumpy? Too serious for tuck-in duties?"

Nate looms by the door, arms folded across his chest, city glow carving shadows into his features. For a moment he just stands there scowling, but then he moves to the bedside. Sloane, like the true menace she is, has her own ideas.

She waits until he's close enough and grabs his hands. Nate is so shocked by the intimate move that he doesn't notice the little mischievous smile, but I do. Sloane yanks him forward, causing Nate to stumble and throw his hands out on either side of her on the bed so he doesn't crush her.

Sloane is completely unfazed as she leans up to plant a kiss on his cheek and says, “You’re not so scary, Nathaniel Blackwell.”

Nate stays braced above her for a moment, apparently unsure what to make of the woman who just pulled him down for a kiss. "Sleep now, Sloane. We'll sort everything out tomorrow. Alright?" he whispers as he withdraws.

Placing another glass of water on the nightstand, we kill the lamp, and Sloane exhales and turns into the pillow as Elias eases the door almost shut, leaving a hand’s width of a gap.

“So we hear her if she needs us,” he says, voice soft.

We drift back into the living room, and I scrub a hand over my face, half-laughing, half-groaning. “She’s fucking lethal when she’s drunk,” I mutter, dropping onto the sofa. “She didn’t have a care in the world, and not a single ounce of survival instinct.”

Elias sits beside me, pulling me against him until my head rests on his shoulder. He’s all hard muscle and quiet strength on the outside, but here, with no one watching, he’s a big teddy bear and always down to cuddle.

“She’s always been a loaded gun; tonight she just forgot the safety,” he says, his thumb working a stubborn knot at the base of my skull. I lean into the pressure, letting it drain the static from my nerves. “She’s going to be hell in the morning.”

“I’ve never seen her lose control like that.” Nate stands at the bar, pouring himself a bourbon, neat.

Elias smiles, not even pretending to disagree. “She’s also never had three men actively pursuing her. We’ve been the wolves circling for months. I’m not surprised our Little Doe finally needed an outlet.”

“So, what’s next?” I say, letting a breath out heavy and jagged as Elias’s callused palm works slow circles against my skin. “Because I don’t think I can go back to acting like none of this is happening. Not after feeling her lips on my skin.”

Elias just grunts, which I take as agreement. Nate tosses back his drink before pouring himself another. “I think it’s time we stop pretending this can go back to what it was.”

I straighten slightly. “Meaning?”

“Meaning we stop hiding what we want.” His gaze shifts to us. “And when she’s sober, we give her the choice to tell us what she wants.”

I try to hide my excitement but from the way Elias lip quirks… I've failed.

“Yeah,” he rumbles, his fingers running softly through my hair. “You’re sleeping with us tonight, trouble maker.”