Chapter 2: Purring and nuzzling
The purr was a live wire running through all of them. Nick, still submerged in the warm haze of contact, only pressed closer, his slender body arching like a bowstring between Leo and Cole. His nose was buried in the hollow of Leo’s throat now, breathing in the sweet scent there with deep, rhythmic pulls.
Leo’s soft laugh was a vibration Nick felt in his own bones. “Okay, okay, you big housecat.” He wrapped both arms around Nick, pulling him fully into an embrace, his chin resting on top of Nick’s head.
Cole watched from his own pillow, a slow smirk spreading. "Look at that. Our little mediator's finally cashing in his stubbornness for cuddles." Nick made a soft, incoherent sound against Leo's skin, his fingers curling into the waistband of Leo's boxers, the worn cotton of his own pajama pants a stark contrast against their bare legs.
"You're just jealous," Leo murmured, his voice thick with a satisfaction he didn't try to hide. He shifted, turning them so Nick was nestled securely against his chest, one of his legs sliding between Nick's.
The quiet that settled was different from before, charged and gentle all at once. Nick’s breathing deepened into sleep within minutes, the purr softening into a distant, contented rumble. Leo kept his arms locked, his nose in Nick’s messy dark hair, where the intriguing new scent was most pronounced.
Across the bed, Cole finally settled back, shaking his head in quiet amusement before closing his eyes. Nate, from his spot near the foot of the bed, observed the tangle of limbs with a steady, protective gaze.
He watched Leo’s possessive hold, the way Nick’s body had gone completely pliant in surrender. A low, approving hum resonated in Nate’s chest, an alpha’s acknowledgment of peace within his pack.
One by one, the rhythms of their breathing synchronized in the dark room. The chaos of the day had dissolved into this silent, profound understanding. Nick slept on, surrounded, his earlier tension utterly erased.
Leo was the last to fully drift off, a faint, happy smile touching his lips. He held onto the warmth, the weight, the unexpected gift of his brother seeking comfort in his arms.
He held onto the warmth, the weight, the unexpected gift of his brother seeking comfort in his arms.
Morning light eventually cut across the floor, finding them still woven together. Nick awoke to a solid wall of heat at his back and the steady thump of a heart under his cheek.
His own body was a loose, languid thing, still half-submerged in sleep’s current. He didn’t move, just breathed in the familiar spice-and-rain scent of Cole’s skin and the honeyed warmth of Leo’s.
A deep, quiet voice rumbled from the foot of the bed. “Sleep well, kitten?” Nate was already propped on an elbow, watching them with that focused, unreadable gaze.
Nick flinched, the old independence flashing like a warning signal. He tried to pull away, but Leo’s arm, still slung over his waist, tightened instinctively.
“Hey, none of that,” Leo mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. He nuzzled clumsily into Nick’s hair.
Cole stirred, his grin audible. “Yeah, you’re not going anywhere. You used us as a mattress all night.” His knee bumped gently against Nick’s thigh under the tangled sheets.
The combined alpha scent in the confined space was overwhelming, a dense blanket of musk and warmth that made Nick’s head feel foggy. A soft, pathetic sound escaped him before he could stop it.
It was halfway between a sigh and a whine. Nate’s intense gaze softened almost imperceptibly. “Just relax. It’s fine.”
Nick’s fingers, which had been resting lightly on Leo’s arm, curled, seeking purchase. The defensive walls he’d spent years building felt sand-soft and distant. He was terrifyingly, deliciously adrift between them.
Cole’s hand came up to ruffle his hair, the touch lingering. “See? Not so hard.” The teasing was there, but beneath it ran a current of pure, solid affection.
The teasing was there, but beneath it ran a current of pure, solid affection. It was that affection, so open and disarming, that finally snapped the last frayed thread of Nick’s resistance.
“Okay, seriously, stop,” Nick mumbled, pushing weakly at Cole’s chest. His voice was a sleep-rough whisper, devoid of any real force. “Just… stop touching me.”
He tried to sound firm, but it came out as a pleading yawn, his body a languid weight against them. Every limb felt filled with wet sand.
Cole just chuckled, a low, warm sound, and pinched his side. “Make us.” Nick squirmed, a feeble, uncoordinated twist that only succeeded in tangling him further in the sheets and in Leo’s loose embrace.
His cheeks flushed with a warmth that had nothing to do with sleep. Nate watched from his perch, a silent, amused guardian observing the playfight. “You’re outnumbered, kid.”
The combined attention, the tactile onslaught of it all, became too much. With a frustrated sound that was mostly a sigh, Nick used the last of his morning strength to roll. He pushed himself up on trembling arms, the mattress dipping under his palms, and crawled directly over Leo.
He was aiming for the edge of the bed, for escape, but his knees sank into the soft mattress beside Leo’s hip. Leo, whose only wearing thin boxer briefs, picked up on the situation instantly.
A firm heat pressed against Nick's thigh through the thin cotton. Before Nick could process it, Leo’s hands were on him, solid and sure.
He pulled Nick close, his grip unyielding, and rolled them both in one smooth motion. Suddenly Nick was on his back, staring up at the ceiling, with Leo’s warm, nearly-naked body a heavy, protective blanket atop him.
Leo had rolled to separate Nick from Cole and Nate, his back now a wall to their older brothers. He wrapped himself closely around Nick, one leg hooking over Nick’s thighs to pin him gently.
“Chill out,” Leo breathed against his ear, his voice a private rasp. The evidence of his morning wood was a persistent, undeniable pressure against Nick’s hip.
Nick went utterly still, a shaky exhale leaving his lungs. The intimate contact sent a bewildering jolt through his system, part alarm and part shocking comfort.
From the other side of Leo, Cole whistled low. “Whoa, protective much, Leo?”
“You were crowding him,” Leo shot back, not moving an inch. His scent of honey and wildflowers enveloped Nick, a sweet, calming shroud.
Nate was silent, but Nick could feel his older brother’s gaze like a physical weight. Leo nuzzled his forehead against Nick’s temple, a quiet, possessive gesture.
His arms tightened, making it clear this wasn’t a negotiation. In their old, unspoken language of two against two, this was Leo claiming his ally.
Nick’s fingers, which had been braced against Leo’s shoulders, slowly unclenched. The frantic need to flee bled away, replaced by a trembling vulnerability.
He was safely anchored, shielded. A low, ragged sound vibrated in his throat, not quite a purr, but something just as surrendered.
The sound was swallowed by the warmth of Leo’s skin. Overwhelmed, Nick turned his face, pressing his forehead hard into the solid curve of Leo’s bare pec. He could feel the steady, strong heartbeat against his skin, a rhythm to follow.
His hands, as if moving on their own, rose and gently fisted against Leo’s smooth, firm biceps, holding on like he was the only solid thing in a tilting room. Leo understood instantly, shifting his shoulder to block Nate and Cole’s view completely, his body a dedicated shield.
“You good under there, Nicky?” Cole’s voice came, a little too knowing.
Leo answered for him, his voice a low vibration against Nick’s ear. “He’s fine. Just back off a sec, yeah?” The room fell silent except for their breathing. Nick inhaled the sweet, wildflower scent clinging to Leo’s skin, and it slowly untied the knot in his chest.
He just didn't want all of them to see his clinginess and affection that he couldn't hide.
He just didn't want all of them to see his clinginess and affection that he couldn't hide. Leo’s solid presence gave him a place to stash it, just for a minute. The quiet stretched, comfortable and deep.
“Alright, kitten’s secure,” Nate finally said, his voice a low rumble of approval. The mattress shifted as he stood, his footsteps heavy on the floor. “I’m hitting the shower before Cole uses all the hot water again.”
Cole threw a pillow at Nate’s retreating back, missing badly. “That was one time!” He flopped onto his back, stretching his arms above his head. The motion made the muscles in his abdomen tense and roll.
Leo lay still, his breath warm against Nick’s hair. Nick felt the exact moment Leo’s body registered a new, more urgent signal. A faint tension entered the arms wrapped around him. Leo shifted his hips almost imperceptibly.
“Hey, Nico?” Leo whispered, his voice apologetic.
“Hmm?”
“I really gotta piss.”
Nick blinked, the haze of comfort receding. He made to untangle himself, to slide off the bed. Leo’s arms tightened instantly,locking him in place.
“No, stay,” Leo murmured, as if it were the most obvious thing. Before Nick could protest, Leo moved.
He sat up, taking Nick with him in a single, fluid heave. Then he shifted his grip, one arm a strong band under Nick’s thighs, the other supporting his back. Nick gasped as he was lifted clear off the mattress, front pressed flush against Leo’s.
“Leo, what the hell—put me down!” Nick’s voice was a shaky whisper, his hands flying to Leo’s shoulders for balance. The world tilted.
“Nope.” Leo’s tone was cheerful, resolute. He adjusted his hold, cradling Nick securely against his chest, and started walking toward the attached bathroom.
Nick was intensely aware of everything. The hard planes of Leo’s stomach and chest against his own. The quivering strength in the arms holding him aloft without a hint of strain. The thin, worn cotton of Leo’s boxer briefs was the only barrier between them, and the persistent, warm hardness pressed against his hip.
He could feel every defined muscle in Leo’s torso working with the motion. It was startling. Leo was his little brother.
“Jesus, Leo,” Nick breathed out, dizzy from the sudden movement and the overwhelming proximity. His own legs dangled uselessly. “Since when are you so… strong?”
Leo shouldered the bathroom door open, not breaking stride. He glanced down, a flash of something pleased and dark in his eyes. “Since always. You just never let me carry you before.”
The bathroom lights were harsh after the dim bedroom. Leo walked them straight to the toilet, still not loosening his embrace. Nick squeezed his eyes shut, embarrassment a hot wave up his neck.
“You are not doing this with me attached to you like a backpack. This is insane.”
“Why not?” Leo’s voice was all innocent curiosity. He used his foot to nudge the toilet lid up. “I’m not letting go.”
Nick felt the shift in Leo’s balance, the subtle movement of his hips. The sounds painted a vivid, unavoidable picture in the bright, tiled room. Heat flooded Nick’s face. His fingers dug into the hard swell of Leo’s shoulders.
The strength there was undeniable, a latent power he’d somehow overlooked. His younger brother wasn’t the scrawny kid anymore; he was all solid, athletic alpha, effortlessly holding his full weight.
“Your body is like… ridiculous,” Nick muttered into Leo’s neck, the admission torn from him. “It’s not fair.”
Leo chuckled, the sound vibrating through both of them. He finished, flushed, and finally shifted Nick’s weight in his arms. He didn’t put him down. Instead, he turned them toward the sink, still cradling Nick close.
“What’s not fair?” Leo asked, his lips brushing Nick’s temple.
“That you can just… do this,” Nick whispered. The fight had left him, replaced by a bewildered, throbbing acceptance. He laid his head back down on Leo’s shoulder, completely supported, completely held.
Leo reached for the faucet one-handed, his other arm locked securely under Nick’s thighs. “Get used to it.”
“Get used to it.”
The words, soft and final, hung in the steamy bathroom air. Nick let out a shaky breath, his body going limp against Leo’s chest. The fight was just gone, evaporated like the mist on the mirror.
He was so tired of fighting himself.
Leo’s arms were a cradle of unshakeable strength. Nick turned his face, his lips brushing the warm skin of Leo’s neck as he spoke, his voice a low, conspiratorial murmur. “You breathe a word of this to Nate or Cole, and I’ll hide all your left shoes.”
A soft chuckle vibrated through Leo. “What, this?” He gave Nick a little bounce in his arms, making him gasp. “My secret to keep.”
“Damn right.” Nick’s fingers traced the hard line of Leo’s collarbone, a gesture that felt both old and startlingly new. He tilted his head back, meeting Leo’s gaze. The playful alpha confidence there was still underpinned by that familiar, youthful affection. “Just remember who’s older here, pup. That doesn’t change.”
He said it with a soft smile, the words a fragile thread to the past. Then, acting on an impulse as deep as a bone memory, Nick leaned up and pressed a small, dry kiss to the center of Leo’s forehead.
It was exactly as he’d done countless times when Leo was small and afraid of the dark. A simple, anchoring touch.
Leo went perfectly still. His breathing hitched, a sharp, quiet intake. The possessive grip around Nick’s thighs softened, just for a second, into something infinitely more tender.
When Leo looked down at him again, his eyes were wide, the playful glint replaced by a depth of emotion that made Nick’s stomach flip. A faint, rosy blush colored the tops of Leo’s cheeks.
“Nick,” he whispered, the name sounding like a revelation.
The moment stretched, thick and sweet as honey. Nick rested his head back on Leo’s shoulder, the scent of wildflowers and clean sweat wrapping around him. He felt Leo’s nose bury into his hair, taking a long, deliberate breath.
Leo’s exhale was a warm, shuddering puff against his scalp. The arms around him tightened, not with force, but with a sudden, heartbreaking certainty. In that breath, Nick heard everything Leo wasn’t saying.
“You smell different,” Leo murmured, his voice rough. He didn’t pull back to look at Nick; he spoke the words into the darkness of his hair as if confessing a secret. “Like… opened stems and warm milk.”
Nick’s throat closed. He’d been noticing it himself, that subtle sweetening under the soap and skin. Hearing it named aloud, in Leo’s reverent tone, made it terrifyingly real. His fingers, still fisted in the fabric of Leo’s shoulders, loosened and spread, a silent plea for anchor.
“Don’t.” The word was a brittle chip off his old self. “Don’t say stuff like that.”
“Why?” Leo finally leaned back, just enough to meet Nick’s eyes. His gaze was unguarded, awed, and it stripped Nick bare. “It’s just true. It’s good.”
He shifted his grip, walking them the two steps to the bathroom counter. Leo set Nick down atop the cool porcelain, but didn’t step back. He slotted himself between Nick’s knees, his hands sliding to rest on Nick’s hips. The position was dizzyingly intimate, their faces level.
The tile was cold through Nick’s thin pajama pants. Leo’s body was a furnace in contrast. Nick’s breath came shallow, his mind scrambling for a joke, a deflection, anything to shatter the weight of this.
“I’m not a science project,” Nick managed, but his traitorous hands settled on Leo’s waist, holding on.
Leo shook his head, a slow smile touching his lips. “You’re my brother.” He said it like it explained everything, like it was the reason for his thumbs rubbing slow circles on Nick’s hip bones. “You just feel… smaller now.”
That did it. A hot, confusing rush of shame and something else flooded Nick’s system. He dropped his forehead against Leo’s collarbone with a weak thud. “Shut up. I’m not.”
You are, a voice in him whispered. You are, and you want to be.
Leo hummed, not arguing. He let his head rest against Nick’s, their breathing syncing in the quiet. One of his hands drifted up, fingers threading through the hair at the nape of Nick’s neck. The touch was exploratory, gentle.
“You purred last night,” Leo said quietly. “The whole time you were asleep. I felt it.”
Nick froze. He’d hoped it was a dream, that frantic, comforting vibration. Heat crawled up his neck, burning his ears.
“I didn’t.”
“You did.” Leo’s fingers pressed slightly, a coaxing pressure. “Do it now.”
The request was so absurd, so utterly Leo, that a startled laugh choked out of Nick. “I can’t just do it on command, you freak.” He tried to shove at Leo’s chest, but there was no strength in it.
He tried to shove at Leo’s chest, but there was no strength in it. His palms flattened against the hard planes of muscle, fingertips grazing the defined lines of abs he’d only ever seen from a distance. The shove became a pause, a silent cataloging of a body that had changed without his permission. Leo didn’t move, didn’t even breathe harder. He just waited, watching Nick’s face with those soft, perceptive eyes. His thumbs kept up their slow, maddening circles on Nick’s hips. “See?” Leo’s voice was a low hum. “You can’t even fake being mad at me anymore.” “I’m plenty mad,” Nick muttered, but his fingers were curling, not pushing. They inched upward, tracing the solid curve of Leo’s shoulders, learning the new topography of him. His resistance was a performance with no audience, and they both knew it. A deep, involuntary tremor ran through Nick’s core. Leo felt it, his gaze sharpening. He leaned in closer, the heat of his bare skin radiating through Nick’s thin pajama top. “Just try,” he whispered, his breath a ghost against Nick’s lips. “For me.” Nick shook his head, a tight, desperate motion. His eyes fell shut. The bathroom light was too bright, too revealing. He couldn’t think with Leo looking at him like that, like he was something fragile and discovered. His hands, acting on a will separate from his own, slid down from Leo’s shoulders. They found the smooth, firm swell of Leo’s biceps and settled there. It wasn’t a grab, not really. It was an anchor. His thumbs pressed into the dense muscle, finding a rhythm that matched the frantic beat of his own heart. A slow, deep breath left him, shuddering at the edges. Then another. The tight knot in his stomach began to loosen, unraveling under the simple, physical truth of Leo’s strength in his hands. It started low, a faint vibration deep in his chest. He tried to clamp down on it, to swallow the hum back into silence. But his body had a different language now. The gentle pressure of his palms on Leo’s arms seemed to feed it, to give the soft rumble a pathway out. A quiet, continuous purr filled the space between them, melding with the faint drip of the showerhead. Nick’s head drooped forward, his forehead coming to rest once more against Leo’s collarbone. The sound was one of utter, helpless comfort. Leo went very still, his own breathing held. A soft, wondering sound escaped him. He looked down at where Nick’s hands clung to his arms, at the way Nick’s whole body seemed to curve toward the contact. “There it is,” Leo murmured, his voice thick with a kind of reverence. He shifted his stance slightly, not pulling away, but presenting himself. He rolled his shoulders back just a fraction, making the muscle under Nick’s hands flex and harden. The change in the purr was instant, a slight deepening, a more satisfied frequency. Nick’s fingers tightened unconsciously. A slow, understanding smile touched Leo’s lips. He brought one hand up, covering Nick’s where it gripped his bicep. His other hand drifted from Nick’s hip, sliding down to splay across his own lower abdomen, drawing Nick’s attention without a word. His thumb hooked into the waistband of his boxer briefs, tracing the line of muscle there. Nick’s gaze followed the movement, hypnotized. The purr stuttered, then surged, becoming a louder, more present force in the tiled room. Leo watched Nick’s face, watched his parted lips and unfocused eyes. He kept his touch gentle, his movements slow. He guided Nick’s free hand from his other bicep, bringing it down to rest flat against his stomach. The skin was warm, the muscle beneath taut and defined. Nick’s breath hitched. His purr fractured into a shaky gasp, then resumed, stronger, more insistent. His fingers flexed, exploring the rigid landscape. “You like that, huh?” Leo’s question was barely audible, layered with a tender amusement that held no mockery. He wasn’t teasing. He was observing, learning a new and vital fact about his brother.