“He…he has?”
“Not like an entire book’s worth of information or anything, but he mentioned you make furniture. I design office spaces for a living, which is why I remembered.”
“Oh.”
Teal frowned, saddened by Sorcha’s consternation that he was well-regarded not only by the McGinns, but also Niall. The expression on Ronan’s face was also unmistakable. He was disgusted by what Sorcha’s uncles had done to the young man’s self-esteem.
Teal hoped relaxing with them in the backyard would help Sorcha feel accepted.
Zayne went back to playing with his brothers and Sorcha sat next to Niall at the table. The beta threw a careless arm around Sorcha’s chair and pulled him closer. “I told Jax about those magnificent bar stools I caught you rehabbing last year. Oncewe move into our new place, maybe we can commission you for some one-of-a-kind pieces.” Jax nodded enthusiastically.
Sorcha’s face lit up before resolving into a grimace. “I’m flattered you’d even consider it. Unfortunately, my uncles keep me busy. I don’t get much opportunity to work on my own stuff.”
“Ah,” Niall said, clearly having drawn the same conclusions about Dale and Abe that Ronan and Teal had.
The mention of his uncles seemed to renew Sorcha’s insecurities. “You’re absolutely sure I’m not intruding?” He directed his question to Ronan.
The big alpha eyed him with a penetrating gaze. “You’re never intruding, Sorcha. You are always welcome in our home.”
Niall and Jax shuddered visibly at Ronan’s gruff alpha voice. His powerful, gravelly rumble descended over the patio like a cloud. The betas watched, mesmerized, as Ronan’s stare bored into Sorcha, firm but warm, until the young omega settled into his chair, sighing deeply. Ronan gave a definitive nod and turned his head back to watch Garin and Kino play leapfrog.
Teal’s arousal ignited at the way his husband gentled the other omega. He knew why Ronan’s display had affected Niall and Jax. The alpha rarely made hisalphanessknown.
But now Teal felt it acutely—in the twitching of his cock and the trembling of his chest, in the peppery sage of Ronan’s scent that assailed his nostrils. He inhaled the delicious aroma.
Except there was another scent as well, elusive, tinging the air. Teal strained to get a whiff. The faintest hint of blueberries and jasmine. Teal could barely pull the sweet notes from the air.
Sorcha.
It was heady, taking in the aroma of another omega. It had never happened to him before. An omega detecting another’s scent was incredibly rare.
The scent called to him like a beacon. Teal wanted to touch. And he could feel the desire radiating off his husband. Sorcha inspired the same powerful reaction in both of them.
Across the table, Niall gave Teal a knowing glance.
Chapter Sixteen
Jax
Jax stole glances at the other four men.
They’d all felt it. When Ronan had usedthat voice. He hadn’t heard many alpha voices in his life. Growing up in a beta neighborhood, he’d almost forgotten they were a thing. It wasn’t as though alphas used them in the workplace or out at the grocery store.
Alpha voices were for providing comfort to loved ones. For taking control. Hearing Ronan’s felt intimate in a way he hadn’t been expecting.
“Give it back, Kino!”
The more rough-and-tumble twin, Garin, interrupted Jax’s thoughts. The irate boy hauled after his brother, who had snatched a ball away.
“Gents!” Niall called out. “If you can’t play nicely, without arguing,yourball is going to becomemyball very fast.” He turned to Jax, giving him a clearthis is what I put up with all daylook.
“Sorry, Niall,” Kino called out. “I was just messing around.” He gave Garin the ball back and the three boys started shooting baskets at the mini hoop on the side of the patio.
The kids’ antics relieved the tautness that had descended on the table a moment ago. But even without the overt tension, an undercurrent remained.
Ronan and Teal eyed their young omega neighbor seriously. Jax thought about how the couple had welcomed Niall into their bed. Were they interested in Sorcha? From their body language, he gleaned that the three men were not already lovers. Sorcha practically reeked of innocence. But based on the way he’d responded to Ronan, along with the clear bond between him and Teal, it was obvious the young omega shared their desire. Even if he didn’t realize it yet.
Jax had never met a couple like Ronan and Teal, the way they loved so freely. All afternoon, Jax watched Niall interact with them. The way Ronan squeezed Niall’s shoulder in thanks after the beta tracked down a missing spatula. An amusing moment when Teal swatted Niall, teasing him for having a third portion of casserole. And this was in addition to the times Niall seamlessly helped with the kids, cutting up Zayne’s hot dog or making Garin use his napkin. So many instances illustrating how at-home his boyfriend was in this house.
