Page 112 of Tempting Fate

“Other side.”

“I always—”

“Please.”

He studies me for a moment, and his eyes soften before he nods. “Okay. Hurry back.”

I do. I take care of everything quickly, then stand in the hallway for a second, listening for any sounds below. Nothing, so I walk back into the bedroom and stop at what I see.

Jamie is already fast asleep in the middle of the bed. He’s facing towards the empty space next to him—not a lot of it, and we’ll have to remedy that, should all go well—with one arm reaching back to rest on Em below the duvet.

Em is lying behind him. He’s still awake, but he’s removed his glasses and now he blinks at what I assume is my own blurry shape. He’s pressed up against Jamie’s back, arm around his waist.

They look safe and warm and perfect. The feeling that rises in my chest threatens to choke me.

“Come on,” Em says. “Come sleep.”

I climb into the bed and Jamie immediately sighs and presses up against me. Em reaches out, too, fingers landing on my bare skin.

“Get the light?”

I twist and turn off the lamp next to the bed, plunging the room into darkness. Em shuffles around a little, then lets out a sigh. He sounds content, too.

“Good night, Patch,” he murmurs.

I press my lips to Jamie’s forehead. Even in sleep, he snuggles closer. “Good night, Em.”

I wake when Jamie moves, sometime early the next morning. Em is still fast out next to him, mouth half open and his face squashed into the pillow. Jamie has his face buried against my chest, and from the way his legs are moving, I think he’s halfway towards wakefulness.

I kiss the top of his head and run a hand down Em’s side. It’s hot under the duvet, but I don’t want to move. Jamie murmurs something and then lifts his head. He blinks blearily up at me.

“What time is it?”

I reach back blindly for my phone, wincing at the light that fills the room when I tap it. “Six.” My voice is like gravel. “Go back to sleep.”

“Hm. No.” He doesn’t seem inclined to move, though, beyond rolling onto his back. Well, as much as he can, pressed between us the way he is. “We need a bigger bed.”

“I think that’s a down-the-line kind of purchase.”

Jamie huffs. He looks at Em, still sleeping. “Do you think he’ll leave?”

“I don’t know.” I really don’t. Thinking about it makes me feel sick. “What about you?”

Jamie blinks up at me. He must be sweltering in all those clothes; his cheeks are pink, but I like him all soft like this. “What about me?”

“Yesterday was… a lot. Any second thoughts today?”

“I should be asking you that.”

“Me?”

Jamie’s lips twitch. “Yeah. I declared that you were both my mates, didn’t I? I made my decision. I’d have had you weeks ago.”

I rub my hand down his side, rucking his T-shirt up just a little. “I know. And I… Yeah. I want this. Both of you.”

“The pack, too?”

“The pack, too.” I laugh. “I think that was a given even before you chose me.”