Page 65 of The Rust in Her Hair

Lyra leans in close while Owen talks. She's wearing one of his old college shirts, and a pair of my shorts. Her long hair flows loose down her back, teasing the top curve of her ass.

Every inch of her is stunning.

"Shut up," Lyra says, laughing, and God, she's pretty when she laughs. Her eyes go bright and her cheeks flush pink.

"I'm just saying." Owen bumps her with his shoulder. "A woman who eats fruit loops with raisin bran has officially lost the right to judge how I make tea."

"I still think you would have loved it," she says with another breathy laugh.

The sound lights me up, making my heart practically swell in my chest.

What I would give to be able to wrap them both up in my arms right now.

I want to hold Owen from behind and kiss the side of his neck, and then turn to her and do the same, tucking her right up against my chest.

Then a hand cracks across my back, nearly sending me into the doorframe.

"Quit hogging the doorway, hoss." Mack shoulders past me into the kitchen, loud and easy, as he pulls his shirt off, showing off all that impressive alpha muscle.

Lyra’s smile goes tight as the big alpha moves toward her. I half expect her to take a step back from my intimidating mate, but she takes a deep breath and holds her ground.

"I’m Mack." He taps his chest once. "Resident charmer. I might come across a little strong, but you'll get used to me." He winks, then his voice gentles a notch. "Good to see you up and around. Had us a little worried there."

The last of Lyra’s smile falters, then it pulls sideways into a grimace. I watch the guilt twist between her brows as she speaks.

"I'm so sorry for all the fuss," she says sweetly. Like she really means it. "I really didn't mean to cause any trouble."

"Trouble?" Mack snorts once like she made a joke. "Darlin', you've been the easiest houseguest we've ever had. Slept the whole damn time." He laughs a little louder. "You didn't eat a thing, say a word, or hog the remote." He grins, turning all that alpha charm on her. "Best kind of company there is."

Lyra lets out a small, polite laugh, right on cue. It makes me smile as I wonder how many times she's laughed at a bad joke from an alpha.

Probably thousands.

"You said you’re the resident charmer?" Lyra tilts her head, curious.

"Yes, ma’am." Mack puffs out his chest. Proud.

"So you live here too?" Her big brown eyes flicker from Mack to me. "With Owen and Nico?"

Mack's grin catches and his mouth slowly opens, clearly not sure what to say. Behind Lyra, Owen winces, and I know in that second he didn’t explain our living situation.

Why does that make me sad?

"I, uh." Mack rubs the back of his neck. "Well, see, the thing is⁠—"

"Mack and Adrian rent the apartment over the garage," Nico says as he slips past me, making his way to the fridge. He talks as he opens it, grabbing a bottle of water. "The AC unit out there died last summer." He turns to Lyra, twisting off the cap. "They've been staying in the spare room ever since, waiting on me to fix it."

"Oh." Lyra smiles for half a second, then her expression slips and her eyes go wide. "Oh, no." She presses a hand to her chest, looking from Mack to me. "Have I been sleeping in your room?" She looks horrified with herself. "I’m so sorry. I should have slept on the couch, or gone to⁠—"

"Sweetheart." Mack crosses his arms, chatting away. "I can sleep damn near anywhere as long as there’s air conditioning. Hell, I'd take the kitchen floor over that oven." He leans in, turning on that charm. "Trust me, sleeping on the couch isn’t an inconvenience at all."

Lyra smiles sweetly at that, then she says, "Well, I've been told I could sleep through a marching band, but even I draw the line at ovens." She grimaces. "It doesn’t sound fun at all."

"It's like trying to take a nap inside a mouth." Mack laughs, completely in his element.

Lyra presses her lips together like she's trying to hold something in, then gives up.

"That's genuinely the grossest thing anyone has ever said to me," she tells him, "and my own mother once told me the only thing I had worth protecting was between my legs. So the bar for gross is pretty high."