Chapter 8 - Valpine

                                    

                                          
Home sweet home
I had finished my story, and the room became quiet. It was the first time I had opened up to someone about my past, and honestly, it felt good. When Benji and Max didn't reply, I started to feel nervous. Was this too much for them to handle? Anxiety crept in, and I began trembling, but the second I did, I found myself sandwiched between Max and Benji. They hugged me so tightly I almost couldn't breathe.
"I'm sorry my silence made you nervous," Benji said. "I just didn't know what to say."
"Val," Max chimed in, "please come live with us? We have a secret penthouse in the office building. It's so much safer than this. If something happened to you, I don't know what I'd do."
"Move in with you?" I asked, confused. I had never lived with anyone except my mom, but the idea kind of appealed to me. It meant spending more time with them and being safer in the process. So, I agreed.
"Are you sure?" Benji asked.
I looked at him and smiled. "I'm sure."
"Good," Max said. "Then let's get packing."
"Easy there, tiger," Benji teased. "You do realize our mate is still sick, right?"
Max shot Benji a look that could kill. "What did I say about calling me 'tiger'?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I forgot that was a sensitive subject," Benji replied with a smirk.
I burst out laughing. These two were so comfortable and playful with each other, it made me feel like I could be too. They said what was on their minds, and I liked that. Maybe I could finally start doing that as well. I couldn't resist teasing them back - I didn't want to be the only one staying silent. 
I got up and looked at my two mates, mischief gleaming in my eyes. "I'm actually feeling great, so how about we start packing now? I don't own a lot of stuff, so it won't take long. Mr. intimidation, will you grab my backpack from the closet in the hallway? Then Mr. Tiger and I can start gathering my things."
They both stared at me with a look I couldn't quite understand.
"What?" I asked innocently. "Come on, we don't have all day."
They both stood up, smirking. Max was the first to speak. "If you keep looking at me with those mischievous eyes and calling me 'tiger,' I'll have no choice but to punish you," he said, his expression turning predatory, like he was about to devour me. I blushed hard.
"Careful now, Val," Benji teased. "If you poke the bear, he might poke you back."
Both men disappeared to do the tasks I'd asked of them, leaving me with a strange feeling between my legs. Did they mean what I think they meant?
I took a minute to compose myself before following after Max. He was helping me gather my clothes, so I went into the bathroom to grab my basic necessities. When I came back, he was just about to open my underwear drawer. I quickly ran over and pushed it closed.
"What are you trying to hide, Princess?" he asked with a smirk.
I looked away, trying to hide my red cheeks. "My... underpants," I mumbled, barely above a whisper.
Max started laughing. "Princess, I'm your mate. Do you really think a pair of your underpants is going to scare me?"
I shook my head.
"They might turn me on, though," he added with a wink.
My mouth dropped open, completely flustered by his words. I aggressively opened the drawer, accidentally hitting him in the process.