CHAPTER 108 : GROWING CLOSER

Bryan sighed after their laughs had subsided, looking around the room for his clothes. "You were supposed to leave, Aiden," he said, although he was just joking despite his words.

"Oh, please," Aiden shot back. "You were joking, obviously, and I'm sure you didn't believe I really left. Plus, when do you ever want me gone?"

Ignoring Aiden's question, Bryan shook his head, chuckling softly as he pulled his boxers off the floor. 

He and Kira's clothes were scattered around, and thinking about it made him smile widely as he slipped into his boxers before grabbing his trousers and shirt to start dressing.

Aiden, who was still half-in and half-out of the room, finally stepped inside, shutting the door, although he remained near it. He crossed his arms, leaning lazily against the door, as he quietly watched Kira and Bryan.

Meanwhile, Kira had dropped the pillow she was holding onto earlier and had now wrapped herself in the sheets. 

She had not been feeling so self-conscious earlier, but being naked with her mates suddenly made her feel shy, and lots of thoughts started racing through her mind.

"Why is my heart beating so fast?" She asked herself inwardly, feeling overly flustered.

"These two," she muttered to herself as she knelt to grab her clothes, picking up the ones on the floor and bed quickly while avoiding Aiden's gaze.

"They were here, weren't they?" Kira wondered silently as she set aside her clothes and kept looking for her underwear on the bed. 

Unknown to her, the sheet slipped slightly, and Aiden's eyes caught the movement. Kira had not even reached for the underwear when she finally found it, just as Aiden's voice rang out.

"Love, you can remain that way," Aiden said smoothly. "I'm quite enjoying the view," he confessed, and the way he tilted his head slightly, paired with the low tone of his voice and that smile, made him look dangerously attractive.

Kira froze, then turned her head to look at him. She shot him a glare, her face feeling extra hot. "Aiden!"

She was already trying to stop feeling so flustered, and here he was making it harder for her.

Aiden raised a brow as if daring her to argue, the ghost of a smirk now playing on his lips.

"You are incorrigible," she muttered, grabbing her underwear.

"And you love it," Aiden quipped, his voice like velvet, causing Kira to roll her eyes as she started to dress.

"He is a pain in the ass, I tell you." Bryan joined in, groaning and throwing a shirt over his head. "A real pain."

"Ouch," Aiden said sarcastically, turning his attention to his brother, who was now fully dressed. "Was that supposed to hurt, brother?"

"Kiss my middle finger, Aiden," Bryan shot back. "And make sure to take your time kissing it."

Shaking her head at their childish banter, Kira dropped the sheet completely once she knew their attention was no longer directed at her.

Kira's hand moved swiftly as she slipped into her underwear, her cheeks flushing with a mix of amusement and shyness. She bit back a giggle at her own absurdity, muttering under her breath as she tried to compose herself.

Once Bryan and Kira were dressed, Aiden pushed himself off the door frame, ending his banter with his twin and walking towards them with his hands casually tucked into his pockets.

"So," he began, his tone teasing as he glanced between them. "I leave you both alone for what, ten minutes? Twelve? How many exactly? And this is what I come back to?"

"Oh, stop being dramatic." Bryan said to Aiden as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Well... it happens?" Kira uttered, her voice innocent, but the way she reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and shrugged nonchalantly betrayed her.

Aiden's gaze narrowed playfully as he watched her. He gave her a long, skeptical look, as if he were trying to figure out how everything had happened and piece the scene together.

"I don't believe for a second that my brother initiated this." He continued, his voice dropping a notch.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kira’s brow arched in confusion. "What exactly are you implying, dear mate?"

"I mean," Aiden replied, his eyes darting toward Bryan before flicking back to Kira, "we just rescued you. You were in danger some hours ago, shaken up and all. I know Bryan can be unable to control himself"—he shot a pointed look at his brother—"but..." He then sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth, his hands out of his pockets as he tapped his chin as though in thought. "I don't think he'd be the one to start something like this. Unless..."

His gaze slid to Bryan, his eyes narrowing dramatically, as if accusing Bryan of a crime. "Did you?"

"I literally have more control than you," Bryan thought, not saying it out loud as he stared at his brother in disbelief, although he knew Aiden didn't mean what he was saying and was just teasing.

But still, Bryan opened his mouth, wanting to respond. But before he could, Kira stepped forward, hands raised in mock surrender.

"I started it," she confessed, trying not to laugh. "I was the one who initiated everything," she said, waving off Aiden's dramatic look. "And before you start scolding me, I am fine. I'm not some delicate flower that always need..." She stopped, not sure if she knew what she was saying. 

"Anyway, ignore that. Now, as I was saying," she continued. "Yes, I was shaken up at first, but I am fine now. And you should have seen the way I punched Dave in the face."

"Honestly," she continued, no one interrupting her, her hands gesturing animatedly as she spoke, and her expression softening. "Eating together earlier, laughing, being around everyone... sleeping... It all helped. It made me feel so much better, especially knowing there are people who care for me this way, you know."

"And that's why you decided to take advantage of my brother?" Aiden questioned, cocking his head and ruining the whole mood that was starting to feel emotional.

His question came so suddenly and was delivered with such seriousness that Bryan burst out laughing, shaking his head at his brother.

Meanwhile, Kira's mouth dropped open. "Excuse me? Took advantage?" she sputtered, her indignation quickly giving way to laughter. "I took advantage of my mate?"

"Really Aiden?" Bryan joined in, backing Kira up as he leaned back on the bed, still laughing. 

"Yes, really," he answered Bryan, but his eyes were still fixed on Kira. "You wanted him, and that's why you decided to jump my brother, right?" 

Aiden was doing an admirable job keeping his face all serious when he knew he was dying inside from how hard he was trying not to laugh or even crack a smile.

Kira, whose hands had been raised in mock surrender, slowly lowered them. But instead of lowering them fully, she ran her fingers through her hair in a slow, confident gesture, flipping it back as though she were some mischievous femme fatale.

"Yes," she declared with a sultry edge, owning up to the accusation, her voice unwavering. "I took advantage of him. I wanted him, and I got him."

The confession was so bold, so unexpected, that it stunned both Bryan and  Aiden.

Bryan didn't know if he was supposed to laugh because it was quite amusing, or if he should just remain stunned; his lips already parting in surprise. "You—"

At the same time, Aiden, who had been caught off guard, tilted his head slightly, his brows lifting in disbelief, before a smirk broke across his face. He was starting to enjoy it.

"And do you know the best part?" Kira continued, her confidence still on full display, even as a little voice inside her head screamed at her to stop.

"What's the best part?" Aiden asked, urging her on, his smirk growing wider as he recovered quickly from his initial shock.

She met his gaze, her own smile deepening. "When he was begging for—"

"Alright, that's enough!" Bryan interjected loudly. "And Aiden, didn't you have a call with the leader of Reykholt? What was it about? I would like to know."

It was an obvious and desperate attempt to steer the conversation elsewhere, and both Aiden and Kira caught on to it, obviously.

"Oh, Bryan," Kira giggled, shaking her head as she let herself fall back onto the bed. "You're too easy to tease."

"Aiden?" Bryan called to his brother, wanting his attention. "Tell me, what did he want?"

Aiden knew what Bryan was doing and was definitely not going to back down. Now more than ever, he wanted to know what Kira was going to say.

Without warning, Aiden walked over to Kira, his hands darting toward her sides. "You think you are funny, hmm?" he asked, his fingers tickling her mercilessly. "Spill everything! What's the best part, huh?"

"Aiden, stop!" Kira squealed, twisting on the bed to escape his hands. "I am not telling you anything!" she shrieked, laughing so hard that tears pricked her eyes.

"Alright, that's enough," Bryan said, moving closer. He was already laughing softly at everything that was happening as he grabbed Aiden's arm, trying to pull him away from Kira. "Stop torturing her!"

"Oh, so you're defending her now?" Aiden shot back, laughing as he tried to fend off Bryan while still tickling Kira.

Kira, who was suffering the most, writhed on the bed, gasping for air between bursts of laughter. "This is all Bryan's fault; attack him, not me. Have mercy!" she managed to say, her voice high-pitched from all the giggling.