Love Like Cyanide - ch 18

alpha idol paranormal romance

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Chapter 18: Natalie

The warm water cascading over my body is sheer ecstasy, clouds of steam rising around me as I stand in the shower. I’m tempted to stay in there until the water runs cold, but I have an amazing water heater. It was one of the few things I was unwilling to compromise about, when choosing this apartment. The boys will get worried if I’m in here that long, even if they are keeping each other busy.

I try not to think of what they’re up to out there, wanting more than anything to join them. But the solitude is unexpectedly comforting, and they need a bit of time to think of what this means for the three of us.

Normally, I get overwhelmed with a sense of loneliness that’s deep in my bones. My adoptive parents and siblings haven’t spoken with me since I graduated and moved out. It’s been nearly a decade, and I refuse to be the one who seeks them out. They got what they wanted… government checks to take care of an omega orphan. Or so they thought.

Knowing that Dante and Valentine are literally just a room away from me, and being able to feel their presence… I rest my hand over my heart, the proximity to both of them filling my soul with a warmth I’ve honestly never felt before. Nobody can see the tears that roll down my cheeks, thankfully. I swipe them away with the palms of my hands, sniffling a bit as I finish washing up.

I crank the water over to cold, air hissing between my teeth from the shock of the temperature change, but I let it roll over me for a solid minute before shutting the water off. Cold water is supposed to be good for your skin, and it’s helping wake me up.

Admittedly, I’m feeling more rested than I have since the first night Valentine’s alpha took over. Getting to nap for four hours, curled up safe and sound in Dante’s lap, was what I needed.

I towel off, squeezing my hair until it’s barely damn before wrapping the towel around me and heading into my room to get dressed. The robe needs to get washed. My sheets need to get washed. Honestly, my bedroom should probably get cleared by a hazmat team… So I’ll do what I can. I pull on a clean pair of black panties and an oversized tee shirt that hits me mid-thigh.

Stripping the blankets and sheets off the bed, I spray everything down and toss clean linens on, going to crack open the windows to air things out. Pile of dirty laundry in hand, I head into the kitchen area and shove everything into the stacked washing machine. I feel their eyes on my back, but I ignore them, puttering and doing little household chores like everything is normal. Like there aren’t two gorgeous alphas on my couch, staring holes in my back like I’m an antelope and they’re a pair of starving lions about to dig in for a feast.

I put on a pot of coffee, watching as it percolates, soaking in the sound and smell of the most precious liquid on earth filling the carafe. Grabbing three mugs from the cupboard, I pour myself one. I peek into the fridge and sigh with disappointment. We’re out of creamer.

There’s a knock at the door and I perk right up, heading over to answer it. Dante nearly tackles me to keep me from the door and I yelp with surprise, while Valentine goes to answer it.

He thanks the delivery person and brings in several bags of groceries, including more coffee creamer. Val smirks as he locks the door behind himself and goes to unload the food and beverages he ordered for us.

Dante lets me go, glancing down at me in disbelief. “Were you seriously going to just answer the door in a shirt and panties? Jesus, Nat. What if that was someone who came here to hurt you?”

I stop a few steps away and turn to meet his gaze. Level. Calm. “Just because I’m petite, that doesn’t mean I can’t fight. I let you two manhandle me because I like it. If I didn’t, believe me when I say to you that you wouldn’t get the opportunity, aside from that initial sneak attack.”

Dante and Valentine exchange a wordless glance over my head, and it low-key rankles that I don’t know what it means. But I ignore it. I only have so many fucks to give in a day, and that little look isn’t worth being down one.

“Breakfast? Food and chats? Or at least coffee, since it seems like Valentine’s brain has finally taken over his body again?” I glance at everything laid out on the table that Val’s putting away, and what he’s leaving out. I wave my hand at Dante, gesturing him to come sit at the table and get out of the way.

“Looks like he factored you being here into this one. There’s enough more food here for three other regular people.” I say, totally deadpan.

Dante smirks and walks by me, trailing fingers along my shoulders as he passes, the skating caress sending chills down my spine.

“Want a hand?” Dante asks, standing a few mere feet from Valentine, shirtless and with his arms crossed. His oversized hoodie must have been discarded at some point when they were pawing at each other. I take a second to admire the view of his torso, narrower and leaner than Valentine, but still impressive to behold. And those freckles scattered across his upper back and arms like stars…

Val nods, pointing to a pile of fruit. “Wash and chop those? Planning on pancakes. They’re quicker than the other meals I usually do for breakfast.”

Dante gives his ass a pat and squeeze as he goes to the counter beside him and does what he was asked, without any argument. My jaw drops in disbelief.

“Did I get transported into an alternate timeline while I was in the shower? What gives?”

Valentine turns around, a mixing bowl in his hands, a light smattering of flour across his forearms from the way he grips it. “We’re used to taking care of things together, Nat. Sometimes we just need a breather to remember we’re on the same team.”

Without looking, Dante tosses a blueberry up and over his shoulder into the air. Valentine squats down slightly and catches it in his mouth, giving me a little wink.

I cross my arms and pout. “I’m capable of cooking, ya know. If I’d known you’re used to having someone else in the kitchen, I would have offered to help.”

“Alphas take care of their mates,” they chime in unison.

Val comes over and presses a kiss to my forehead, smoothing my damp hair with the palm of his hand. “Just shut up and let us spoil you, would ya?”

Hoping my stomach doing somersaults at “us” isn’t detectable, I roll my eyes exaggeratedly. “Fiiiiiine,” I drawl, a crooked little smirk on my lips in spite of myself.

With the two of them working together, the food is ready in no time. And it feels like the three of us knock it down as quickly as they made it. I’m surprised at how well they work together, like part of a machine. With how they are on stage, I should expect nothing less.

I point at the two of them, narrowing my eyes in warning. “I’ve got the dishes. Don’t argue.”

“Fiiiiine,” they chirp back, the three of us sharing a laugh.

The atmosphere finally feels lighter, like I can draw a full breath again. As I finish the dishes and wipe down the table, I find myself praying it stays this way. The whiplash from them being ready to murder each other to… whatever this is has me torn between feeling comfortable enough to relax and waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Being strangely domestic with two of the hottest alphas in the international super group Inferno wasn’t on my bingo card for today, but here we are. If I’m lucky, it’s not just a dream. And if it is, I hope nothing wakes me up.

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