She goes quiet at that, and we embrace the quiet for a few more moments. Ray shifts and snuggles closer before talking again.
“Henry isn’t really my brother,” she says quietly. “But he may as well be. He took me in a few months back with the support of his family, and they’re super nice.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” I match her volume and speak quietly as well.
“My mom died a while back. She wasn’t bad, but I’m not sure she ever really wanted me. When she passed, I stayed with my stepdad, who used touch withholding as punishment. If he thought I was bad, I didn’t get any kind of touch. He always found a reason for me to go without.”
I hum in understanding, knowing there aren’t any words that I can offer her. Sometimes words aren’t enough. Sometimes the only way to feel understood and seen is to have someone sit in silence with you. Knowing that they understand your pain enough to endure it with you in silence is comforting in a way words can never be. A few moments later, there’s a light knock at the door. My eyes go to Ray to see how she wants to handle the knock.
“I think Henry was planning to bring some snacks in, if you’re okay with it?” she tells me as though it’s a question.
“Sure, I don’t mind if you don’t.”
“You can come in, Henry!” she calls out, more confident talking to Henry than she has been to me.
The door opens, and before I can see his face, Henry’s scent slams into me. Cedar and eucalyptus hit me full-force and tell me whose den we’ve been using. It’s almost physically difficult for me to stay in this mini blanket nest with Ray. All I want to dois put my nose to his neck and smell him. As soon as that thought crosses my mind, I check myself.
I’ve never had a reaction to someone’s smell so strongly, except maybe Jesse. His scent was a similar overwhelming experience. The thought of Jesse immediately shames me. Not only did I drool over another man during our coffee date, but now I’m comparing him to another Alpha. I’m a terrible person. Jesse might not bemyAlpha, but it feels like a betrayal anyway. Who drools over multiple Alphas when they’re not in a Pack already?
Henry steps through the door with a wide smile on his face. His hair flops on his forehead as he tosses it out of his eyes. He sets the tray of food and drinks on a nearby table.
“Hey, sorry to interrupt, just delivering some snacks for you guys if you want any. I won’t stay, but let me know if you need anything.”
I smile at him in gratitude, and I’m pretty sure I swoon inside when he winks at me on his way out. Warmth infuses my cheeks, telling me I’m blushing like crazy. The door finally clicks closed, and my eyes linger on it for a few moments more.
“See somethin’ you like?” Ray quips, a playful tone I haven’t heard from her yet.
“Uh, no, I mean, yeah, but no, I mean… ugh.”
Ray laughs, delighted with my discomfort. I can’t help but smile along through my embarrassment, hearing her joy. She pulls away for only a moment to grab each of us a cookie and a bottle of water.
“It’s okay, he really is good-looking. If I were older, I’d be interested. Well, if I were older and he wasn’t like a brother to me.”
“Good to know,” I chuckle.
We adjust ourselves so that Ray is sitting between my legs, her back resting comfortably against my front. It’s a positionthat could easily be sexual, but with her, it’s not. It’s just soothing, even for me. Ray’s scent may not be something that I particularly like, but I find myself accepting her touch more easily than most.
The two of us spend the rest of our time oscillating between comfortable silence and chatting. Ray is bright and easy to talk with, and I’m finding myself happier to have her as a client than I would have originally anticipated. Experiencing her opening up to me is beautiful, and I’m grateful that she’s comfortable showing me this side of herself.
She chooses to stay and snuggle in the blankets when we’re done, so I wave goodbye from the doorway with a smile. Closing it softly, I jump when I realize Henry is right behind me. He holds his hands up with a sheepish grin.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to creep up on you. I was coming to check in, and you were closing the door, so I waited. Probably should have said something.” He apologizes.
I exhale and put my hand on my chest, “It’s no problem, really, I was just startled.”
“Things go okay in there?”
“Yeah, Ray really is lovely. I’m grateful to have her as a client.”
“I’m glad. She has a hard time opening up to people sometimes, so it’s good to hear she likes you enough to show her warm side,” Henry comments as we amble toward the front door.
“She mentioned some past weaponizing of touch, and that you helped her get out of the situation. Thank you for that.”
Henry’s face flushes, and I melt a little at how cute it is. He catches me watching him, and it’s my turn to flush as I glance away. He smells so damn good, I don’t think I can handle making eye contact with him when he’s that cute and smells that good.
“It’s nothing, really. She’s a good kid. My younger cousin is friends with her, and when she mentioned the situation and we found out she’s over eighteen, it seemed like a no-brainer to have her live here. She can finish high school here and then do what she wants. My whole family was supportive of the decision.”
“It takes a lot to house a new person. Don’t short-change yourself.”
