Sugar Coated

17

Andres Ibarra 

Delaney sat between Em and me on the couch, we'd moved there after Em's admission and the startle it had given the little Beta and the distraction of a movie would help to break up the intensity of the moment. Em still shot desperate glances her way under his lashes though, and she did a valiant job trying not to be affected by them.

Jax ran the tips of his fingers in circles on the inside of Em's knee to keep him grounded, it was a little bit saucy but nothing untoward at the moment. If we hadn't been on high alert trying not to fully scandalize Delaney he'd have had his hand down Em's pants by now I'm sure. I ran my hand along her side, the heat radiated off of Em's body, pressed as close to her as he was. 

Frankly, I didn't even know what movie was on the screen in front of us, I'd been side-eyeing the both of them so aggressively and I'd be willing to bet that Jax was in the same boat even though he'd been the one to put on the movie. 

Delaney's fingers lingered on her phone. I'd seen it light up once or twice, she'd spared it only mild interest at first, but as the night drew on it got more and more active, the green icon of a message flashing across the screen every 10 minutes or so. Finally, at quarter to 12, she'd had enough, surreptitiously she unlocked her phone and her fingers flew across the screen and settled in her lap. 

I glanced away out the window that looked at that same brick wall I'd caught her ogling while Jax and Em fucked in the downstairs office. It wasn't much worth looking at if I were being honest. 

My phone chirruped in my pocket and I fished it out.

Doll: "Rosie chill tf out. I'm watching a movie. Think I might end up spending the night too not sure yet, tho. They didn't outright ask or anything, but I'll let you know."

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep the smile off my face. The eagerness in her message would undo me if I gave it a chance, but I let the feeling flood our bond. I wished for a moment that I could save that message and also delete it, to save her the embarrassment I was certain would end up bowling her over once she realized she'd sent the little quip to our group instead of whoever that Rosie was.

Jackson wiped the smile off of his face with a careless swipe of his hand. His phone disappeared back into his pocket just as quickly.

"It's getting late, Doll. How are you feeling?" Jax's timber was deep in the way that it tended to get before we all retired for the night whether that was with one another or alone.

I could feel her shoulders tense underneath my arm. Our alpha had navigated her into my arms on the couch with a mild nod as if he'd weighed which one of our group would be able to treat her gently...or at least less aggressively. 

It was a shame I wanted to ravage her just as badly as the others, and that discomfort I felt building in her shoulders felt like a shield she was putting up waiting for rejection, "Don't want to send you home late at night if you're sleepwalking. You're more than welcome to stay here tonight and we can drive you back to your place in the morning if you'd like?"

It was all Em needed to throw himself into her personal space again, flinging himself across her lap to grab at her hands, "We would absolutely love it if you'd stay the night. We can show you around the space and the den and you could see my ne--"

"We have an extra bedroom if you'd like it," Jax interrupted Em before he barreled into an offer to join him in his nest. Em didn't miss it either if his pout said anything, but he was turned away from our Alpha so I settled for sending a tart look over the top of their heads Jackson's way.

"I think I'd love that."

The bond rejoiced and even if Delaney couldn't feel it, she could definitely see it on Em's face and the way he shined up at her, his fingers tangling with hers in her lap, "Really?"

There it was, the tightening in her shoulders that hint of worry that crept in if you gave yourself too long to think about it. I knew the feeling well and Jax could smell it like blood in the water, a sixth sense for knowing when to give a tasteful order, "I insist."

It soothed her worries just as much as it would have mine, maybe even more if her gusty sigh said anything or the way she squeezed Em's hands back. 

Jax would be beside himself tonight even with just the knowledge that the curvy little beta felt safe enough in his territory to spend the night. If Delaney stayed in her own bed I'd be willing to guarantee that our Alpha wouldn't, though he wouldn't find his way into her room, he'd end up in one of ours. The question was whether Em would let him in his nest if he was antsy from Delaney's proximity, or if Jax would end up in my bed -- or better yet dragging me back to his.

He looked like the devil again, you'd see hints of it in an oversharp smile during the day, but as the sun set so did the softness in his blond curls, cutting dark shadows along the angles of his jawline and darkening his eyes whenever they looked at you. I wouldn't say he looked "more the alpha" that tabloids always speculated on, because he was as much an alpha --even more so-- with his softness, and I loved him either way, but sometimes this side of him made me ache. 

I hoped it would do the same with Delaney, the way his eyes tracked her movements and her hushed conversation with Em that still ended up with too much animation on his side. 

Jackson Sinclair was made to be ached for

***** A/N *****

You know what's an odd thing to think about? This story has 17 parts and 10k views. When I started First Contact, I had 300 views at part 24. What a long strange trip this has been.

I'm humbled by your interest in this story. Thank you, truly from the bottom of my heart.

I was up in North Florida this past weekend. Interestingly, I also saw and killed the biggest mosquito I've ever seen in my life. It was easily the size of a quarter and was sucking my blood through my pants like an absolute nightmare.

Thank you,
~Layla