Liam chuckled softly as Cobra fidgeted, licking his lips nervously. "For what?" he prodded gently.

"For saying that I can call them our kids," Cobra replied gruffly, his voice catching ever so slightly on the simple admission.

A warm smile spread across Liam’s face as he nodded. "You are welcome, blondie."

Liam smiled squeezing some whipped cream on a strawberry and offering it to Cobra who timidly took it and bit into it while listening to Liam who spoke "So what do I call you now? Co-parent? Co-mate?"

Cobra smacked his shoulder with a low growl, but the atmosphere shifted as their playful banter ebbed into something more serious and heavy.

"Seriously though, I...I mean it." He fell quiet for a beat, gaze averting, Cobra sighed and swallowed the strawberry in his mouth "I have never... like literally never had a family before."

The levity drained from Liam’s expression as he turned to give Cobra his full attention.

The blond alpha’s broad shoulders were tense, his head bowed as he seemed to wrestle with the vulnerability of his own words.

"I never had any kind of family," Cobra continued in a low rumble. "No friends, no siblings, no lover, no parental figures - nothing. I don’t even know who my real parents are or why they abandoned me."

Without hesitation, Liam reached out and covered Cobra’s large hand with his own, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"So thank you for being here," he said fervently. "You, Anastasia, and the baby...I finally have some kind of family now too."

Liam’s eyes misted over with emotion, and to his surprise, he saw the telltale gleam of unshed tears in Cobra’s eyes too.

"Thank goddess you see me as a family now," Liam teased gently, sniffing to rein in his feelings. "Please don’t drink my blood again though."

The quip had the intended effect of lightening the mood as Cobra chuckled, the sound gradually swelling into full-bellied laughter that Liam couldn’t help but join.

"Your blood is sweet though," Cobra rumbled once they’d calmed.

"All omegas’ blood is, drink any other omega’s blood." Liam conceded with an impish grin.

"Yours is sweeter," Cobra insisted with a pointed look.

Their laughter trailed off into silence, the two alphas simply gazing at each other with a newfound sense of intimacy and connection.

Liam felt his breath catch as Cobra’s eyes drifted briefly down to his lips before flicking back up, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

The moment stretched taut between them until Cobra seemed to shake himself, making to pull away.

But Liam was quicker - surging forward, he cupped the back of Cobra’s neck and pulled him into a searing kiss.

Cobra went rigid against him, stock-still and unresponsive.

But to Liam’s relief, neither did he immediately push him away.

The alpha stayed frozen, allowing Liam’s mouth to simply move against his in a slow, chaste Press of lips.

When Liam finally pulled back, breaking the kiss but not the infinitesimal distance between them, he searched Cobra’s face anxiously.

The other man’s eyes were still tightly closed as if he were afraid of what he might see if he opened them.

"Is this okay?" Liam breathed, tentatively running his thumb over the seam of Cobra’s lips. "Are you okay?"

Cobra’s eyes cracked open to meet his, shining with an intensity of emotion Liam had never witnessed from him before.

He gave a jerky nod.

"Words?" Liam pressed gently.

A muscle jumped in Cobra’s taut jaw before he swallowed thickly. "Yes," he mumbled, voice hoarse. "I...I’ve never kissed..."

"A man?" Liam guessed, searching Cobra’s face. "Me neither."

But Cobra shook his head mutely, unable or unwilling to meet Liam’s surprised gaze.

"Anyone," he admitted barely above a whisper. "I’ve never kissed anyone before."

Liam recoiled slightly at the confession, mouth dropping open. "But Anastasia..."

"She’s never kissed me on the mouth." Cobra’s tone was tinged with regret and frustration.

"And I...I was too shy to try, afraid of disappointing her somehow. I wanted to, goddess, I really wanted to. But I was scared."

Shaking his head adamantly, Liam scooted closer once more until they were knee-to-knee.

"Cobra, Anastasia loves you - she would never be disappointed in you. No wonder she’s been so frustrated. She wants you, but she doesn’t know how to initiate it!"

Cobra’s eyes widened fractionally at Liam’s words. "Really? She wants me?"

A low chuckle rumbled through Liam’s chest.

"Obviously," he teased, unable to resist adding with an exaggerated wink, "I bet she’s had a few wet dreams about you too."

Reddening fiercely, Cobra ducked his head to avoid Liam’s mirthful gaze.

His hand lifted hesitantly until his fingertips came to rest feather-light against Liam’s cheek.

Instantly, Liam stilled - holding his breath as Cobra finally met his searching look.

"You think Anastasia would be okay with this?" Cobra rasped, the question clear in his voice.

He was asking if she would be okay with their kiss.

Licking his lips, Liam countered, "Are you okay with it?"

Cobra’s gaze dropped back to Liam’s mouth - rosy and swollen from their brief kiss.

He mirrored Liam’s earlier action, tracing the fullness of his bottom lip with a calloused thumb.

"I...I liked it," he admitted in a low, gravelly rumble. "Very much."

The confirmation was all the permission Liam needed.

A smirk curling the corners of his mouth, he reached up to tug free the hair tie restraining Cobra’s golden waves, letting the silky strands spill forward to frame his face.

"You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to touch your curly hair, blondie," Liam murmured thickly before surging forward to seal their lips together once more.

This time, Cobra didn’t remain numb.

His free hand settled tentatively at Liam’s waist, fingers flexing almost unconsciously to pull him closer as his mouth parted under the insistent press of Liam’s kiss.

With a low, needy sound, Liam threaded his fingers through the soft golden hairs they had been denied, reveling in the feathery strands tangling around his digits.

His lips parted in turn, tongue licking into the welcoming heat of Cobra’s mouth to deepen the embrace into something slow and exploratory and utterly intoxicating.

Cobra shuddered against him, the merest hint of a whine vibrating in his throat.

One large palm splayed possessively across the small of Liam’s back, keeping their bodies flush together as his other hand carded reverently through Liam’s own dark locks.

They might have remained locked that way for an eternity -

But a sudden sound at the door had Cobra flinching apart like startled fawns, eyes blown wide and chests heaving in tandem.

Anastasia who opened the door and stepped in, stood frozen on the threshold, phone still pressed to her ear as she took in the sight of her flustered mates huddled close together.

There was no mistaking the mussed, rumpled state of their hair, their swollen lips, and the matching ruddy hues staining both of their cheeks.

A sly, knowing smile curved Anastasia’s mouth as her eyes raked over them. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Yeah, Mom, take care of yourself and please watch over Alex. I will call you later, I have something very important to take care of right now," she murmured distractedly into the phone before hanging up and slipping the device into her pocket.

Moving into the room with a predator’s lazy grace, she deftly locked the door behind her before turning that hooded, suggestive gaze back on Cobra and Liam.

Cobra was redder than Liam had ever seen him - frantically retying his hair while looking everywhere but at either Anastasia or Lism.

Anastasia crossed the space to settle herself comfortably on the chaise lounge, dark eyes dancing with unabashed glee.

"Don’t mind me, guys. Pretend like I’m not even here and carry on."

Liam chuckled richly at her brazen delight while Cobra somehow contrived to flush an even darker shade of crimson. " Carry on what? We are done, right Liam?"

Liam’s rich chuckle reverberated as Anastasia asked bluntly, "You were going to...how do I say this nicely...explore each other’s bodies and insides?"

Cobra turned an even deeper shade of red. "What? No. We were just kissing," he protested weakly.

"Speak for yourself, blondie," Liam quipped with a nod downwards.

Cobra followed his gaze and his eyes went wide - he now had an obvious bulge in his pants.

Slapping a hand over his mouth in shock, he saw Liam was aroused.

"We...I...you..." Cobra stammered incoherently, overcome.

Scooting in close, Liam murmured in his ear, "Chill, blondie. Why are you so nervous?"

At the same time, Anastasia began tracing patterns on Cobra’s bare thigh.

Leaning in on the other side, she whispered against his neck, "Liam’s right...why are you so nervous, Cobra?"

Cobra trembled, his heart pounding as Liam undid his hair.

He was surrounded by their presence, flushed with nervousness and desire.

When Anastasia kissed him deeply, he stiffened at first, then melted into it with a moan.

Liam covered his neck and jaw with heated kisses and touches.

Arching between them, Cobra was undone by their dual seduction.

His senses were overwhelmed.

"I’m going to mark you," Anastasia murmured. "Tell me if you’re okay with it. I’ve been waiting so long."

"Please...yes, my love..." Cobra whimpered in abandon.

Anastasia smiled and sank her fangs into his neck.

Cobra tensed, then cried out in euphoric agony before going limp with blissful surrender.

" You did it, blondie." Cradling the dazed Cobra, Liam nuzzled him as Anastasia smirked.

"So, are we going to do what we’re all thinking?" she purred meaningfully.

The heaviness in the air made her intent clear.

Arousal and anticipation hung thick between the newly bonded mates.