Page 81 of Claimed

My fingers hover over the screen as I think about what to write to her. With the guys watching, I don’t want to be so direct, maybe just a hello and let her know it’s me, as she doesn’t have my number yet.

Hello, Erica. This is Cherry Rosewood, the wolf shifter you met a few days ago. I finally got a cellular phone and wanted to give you my number. Please feel free to text message me anytime. Sincerely, Cherry.

I tilt the screen, letting the others read it and Chase snorts. “What?” I ask. “Did I spell something wrong?” I knew my education wasn’t great, but I thought I’d done a decent job at it.

“You don’t have to be so formal with a text.”

“I think it’s cute,” Maddox says, making me smile at him in thanks.

“You can get across your message with far fewer words,” Chase tells me. “Here, let me show you.” He pulls out his cell from his jeans pocket and starts to type, his fingers moving so quickly it’s rather impressive.

My phone pings and I look at it in surprise. “What does that noise mean?”

“It means Chase just sent you a text,” Bain says as he points to the alert at the top of the screen. “Touch that and it will come up. There you go.”

Excited for my first text, I read it aloud. “Cherry Pie, you look…” I trail off, frowning at the screen as I shake my head. “I can’t understand half of this, and the other half is pictures.”

“They’re emojis,” he tells me. “And it’s easy, here.” He points to my screen as he reads his message. “Cherry Pie, you look fucking hot as hell in that dress. You make me hard as stone, and I can’t wait to knot your tight little⁠—”

“Okay!” I say, pulling it away from him, realizing what the cat emoji probably means. “I get it.” My cheeks heat and Maddox chuckles.

“That really saved you no time at all. Cherry had the right idea. Besides, a properly formed text can do a lot more than convey a message. It should convey feeling.”

“Like you could do better,” Chase grumbles.

Maddox lifts an eyebrow, clearly accepting the challenge as he pulls out his own phone and starts typing. My phone pings, and when I see Maddox's name pop up at the top, I click it.

“My beautiful little mate,” I glance at Maddox, my cheeks heating from the compliment, before I continue reading. “Every time I look at you, I’m reminded of my love for you.” I swallow the emotion welling up as I continue. “I consider myself lucky to have someone as special as you, as my eternal mate. Love, Maddox.”

I turn to him as I whisper, “I’m the lucky one.” He leans forward and kisses me. It’s brief but enough to make me squirm in Bain’s lap. When he pulls back, he glances over my shoulder at Chase and smirks.

“You tell me which text was better received.”

I turn to look at Chase, who’s glaring at Maddox. “Point taken.”

“I’ll do you both one better,” Bain says, his palm tightening on my stomach. “I can show her how I’m feeling with one swipe of my tongue.”

“Bain!” I gasp, unsure exactly where he’s thinking of doing that, and he chuckles against my neck, finding his mate mark there and licking his tongue across it.

My hips jerk against his palm as lust pools beneath it.

“See?” he says before pulling his face back.

“Is he just going to leave me hanging?”

“You need something, angel?” he asks, telling me I said that through the bond.

I squirm in his lap, unsure how to answer.

“Chase might not be able to bond with you right this second, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have a taste,” Maddox says as he reaches down my thigh and starts to drag my dress up, revealing my soaking wet panties to them.

“I haven’t had the pleasure of doing that yet,” Bain says, sounding pained.

“Me either,” Maddox admits.

“Really?” Chase asks, sounding excited. I glance at him, and he licks his lips. “Hunter did, was he the only one?”

I nod my head, unsure I can speak right now as three of my alphas surround me. Their aroused scents fill my nose as the need to be touched by them increases.