"Nothing changed," Kieran said, deflecting. "You were exhausted too, and—" He couldn’t finish the thought before Leia stepped forward, pressing a finger firmly against his lips to silence him.

"Be quiet," she murmured. "You always complain that I divide my attention between my other two mates and leave you behind. Now that I am actively choosing to stay right here, you’re trying to push me out the door."

Kieran stared down at her, the tension draining from his shoulders at her blunt honesty. The resistance melted away entirely as he leaned forward, letting his forehead slide down until his chin rested heavily on her shoulder.

"Then I won’t ask you to leave," Kieran conceded, his voice muffled against her skin. "My ruts are never usually like this, this intense, this erratic. But it’s different this time. I think it’s because it’s my first time experiencing it with my mate nearby."

Leia’s free hand found its way to his broad back, her palm flat against his spine as she offered slow pats, letting him feel comfortable in her presence.

After a few minutes of quiet, he pulled back, his fingers sliding down her arm to grasp her hand securely. He led her back over to the bed, the heavy silence lifted but replaced by a practical curiosity.

"Leia, what about that boy you wanted to help?" Kieran asked, his eyes tracking her as she reached into the bag for another chip.

"I already told you, I’m going to talk to Lucien," Leia replied casually. "He’ll handle."

Before he could question her further, she reached up and firmly popped a chip into his mouth to cut him off. Leaning back, she let her head sink against the padded headboard, completely at ease.

Kieran smiled, watching the tension completely leave her frame. Inside him, his wolf stirred with a sudden, restless warmth, matching the comfort of the moment. He stretched out on the mattress beside her, propping his head up on his hand. "Leia, tell me... what kind of wedding do you want to have?"

"A wedding?" Leia arched an eyebrow, looking down at him. "I haven’t really given it any thought."

"You can think about it now," Kieran said, reaching over to steal a chip from the bag.

Leia stared at the ceiling for a moment, letting the idea settle. "I suppose I do have a dream wedding in the back of my mind. I want to get married in the forest. Surrounded by deep greenery and massive, ancient trees. I saw a ceremony like that in a movie once, and it just felt incredibly calming and beautiful."

"Then that’s exactly the wedding we’ll have," Kieran said without hesitation.

"For that to happen, you actually need to propose to me," Leia countered, a playful glint in her eyes. "And by you, I mean all three of you."

She reached for another chip, but Kieran didn’t answer. He simply watched her, his gaze locked onto her face. Closing the small distance between them, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against her cheek.

Leia froze, her hand pausing mid-air. As she began to turn her head toward him, Kieran shifted, catching her lips with his own. The kiss was deep and deliberate, tasting faintly of the salty crunch of the chips she had just been eating.

She pushed against his chest gently, creating a few inches of distance. "I just ate. I don’t want to kiss right now," she murmured, a faint smile touching her lips.

"Really?" Kieran’s brows knitted in a slight frown, though he immediately respected her boundary and began to pull back. "Fine."

Before he could fully shift away, Leia leaned forward and caught his lips in a quick kiss. "Don’t look so upset," she whispered against his skin.

To prove her point, she began showering his face with light, rapid kisses. on his jaw line, his cheek, and the bridge of his nose, until the serious expression melted from his face and he started to giggle.

As she distracted him, Kieran’s hands slid down to her waist, his grip tightening. With a sudden, fluid motion, he rolled onto his back, pulling her up with him until she was settled directly over him on the mattress.

"Kieran," she breathed, a soft sound escaping her throat as his lips found the sensitive curve of her neck. His fingers cradled the nape of her neck, his thumb tracing her jawline.

Driven by the sudden ache of her own wolf and the demand of her body, she reached down, taking his hand and pulling it flat against her chest, silently urging him closer.

Kieran shifted instantly, shifting his weight to roll them over once more. The mattress met her back, and he hovered directly above her, his gaze dark with intent.

He renewed his slow assault on her neck, sending a shiver through her. At the same time, his hand slid beneath the hem of her top, his palm resting against the bare skin of her waist without pulling the fabric up, anchoring her beneath him.

"Mmm."

The quiet sound escaped her lips as she leaned into the touch. Reaching down, she guided his hand, moving it slowly up along her skin while her other hand tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck. She pulled him down firmly, closing the remaining distance between them until their chests pressed together, the rapid, synchronized rhythm of their heartbeats echoing in the quiet room.

For Kieran, the proximity was overwhelming. Inside him, his wolf surged forward, breathing in her scent and pushing hard against the surface, desperate to claim her right then and there.

But a sharp memory cut through the haze, the promise he had made to himself to wait until she was entirely ready, rather than letting his own instincts dictate the moment.

He leaned his weight into her, his hand shifting to press firmly against her side, drawing another breathy sound from her.

"Leia, I want to mark you. Right here," Kieran murmured, his voice thick and strained. He leaned down, the very tip of his tongue tracing the exact spot on her neck where his teeth wanted to sink in.