Mated to the Triplet Alphas

Leo's body pressed against my back as he guided my hands, his fingers warm and firm over mine. The heat from the grill wasn't the only thing making my skin flush.

"Like this," he murmured, his lips barely an inch from my ear. "You need to arrange them by density. Mushrooms cook faster than peppers."

I tried to focus on the vegetables, but all I could think about was how his chest felt against my back, solid and warm. His hands dwarfed mine as he helped me thread the pieces onto the skewer.

"I've worked in kitchens before," I pointed out, trying to sound normal despite the flutter in my chest. "I was a maid for years, remember?"

Leo chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest and into my back. "Cooking and grilling are different beasts, sweetheart. Trust me on this one."

He adjusted my grip on the skewer, his fingers sliding between mine in a way that felt far more intimate than the simple act deserved. When he spoke again, his lips brushed the shell of my ear. I shivered when his breath danced across my skin.

"Hold it like this," he whispered. "Gentle but firm."

My breath hitched. Was he still talking about grilling? The double meaning wasn't lost on me, and from the smirk I could feel against my ear, it wasn't accidental.

"Now you try," he said, releasing my hands but keeping his body flush against mine.

I fumbled with the next skewer, hyperaware of every point where our bodies touched. The vegetables kept slipping off as my usually steady hands trembled.

"I'm usually better at this," I mumbled, embarrassed.

"Are you?" His voice dropped lower, lips grazing the sensitive spot just below my ear. "I bet you're good at a lot of things, Hazel."

Heat crawled across my skin that had nothing to do with the grill in front of us. I bit my lip to stifle a gasp when his hands settled on my hips.

"Let me help you focus," he said, but his touch was doing exactly the opposite.

His thumbs traced small circles at the small of my back as I attempted to finish another skewer. When I finally completed it without dropping anything, I felt ridiculously proud.

"There you go," he praised, his voice a low rumble. "Now for the placement."

Leo guided my hand toward the grill, his chest pressed firmly against my back. The contact made me acutely aware of something hard pressing against my lower back. I nearly dropped the skewer into the flames.

"Careful now," he warned, steadying my wrist. "We don't want to ruin all your hard work."

I managed to place the skewer on the grill, but when I tried to step back, Leo kept me in place.

"We're not done yet," he murmured, reaching for the tongs. "You need to learn how to turn them at just the right time."

His free hand slid from my hip to my stomach, fingers splaying wide across my abdomen. The possessive touch sent shivers up my spine, and I struggled to keep my breathing even.

"When do I turn them?" I asked, my voice embarrassingly breathy.

"When they're hot enough," he replied, and I could hear the smirk in his voice. "You have to be patient. Wait until they're sizzling."

As if to emphasize his point, Leo's lips found the curve where my neck met my shoulder—right where a mating mark would go. The brief contact made me shiver violently, a soft gasp escaping my lips.

"Leo," I whispered, not sure if I was asking him to stop or continue.

He hummed against my skin, the vibration traveling down my spine. "Just showing you the ropes, sweetheart."

I was about to reply when Levi's voice rang out across the beach.

"Hey! Is the food ready yet? We're starving over here!"

Leo pulled back so quickly I nearly lost my balance. The sudden absence of his warmth left me feeling strangely bereft. When I turned to look at him, his expression was calm and collected, as if he hadn't just been pressed against me, driving me crazy with his touch.

"Almost done," he called back, shooting me a knowing smirk. "Just giving Hazel some grilling pointers."

I gaped at him, amazed by how easily he'd switched modes while I was still trying to calm my racing heart.

"Right," I muttered, turning back to the grill with burning cheeks. "Grilling pointers."

"Don't worry," Leo murmured, just for my ears. "We can continue your lesson later."

Within minutes, we carried platters of perfectly grilled meats and vegetables to the table. My hands still trembled slightly, and the throbbing between my legs made it hard to concentrate on anything else.

"This looks amazing," Liam exclaimed as we set the food down.

Lucas nodded in agreement, his eyes flicking between Leo and me with a hint of suspicion. "You two work well together."

"Hazel's a quick learner," Leo replied smoothly, taking a seat across from me.

Levi draped an arm around my shoulders as I sat down. "You okay? You look flushed."

"Just the heat from the grill," I lied, avoiding Leo's gaze.

The food was delicious—tender meat and perfectly charred vegetables—but I could barely taste any of it. Every time Leo caught my eye, he'd give me that infuriating smirk that made heat pool low in my belly. Whenever he reached for something across the table, his movements were deliberate, almost predatory, reminding me of how his hands had felt on my body.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, crossing and uncrossing my legs to alleviate the persistent ache that refused to subside.

"I need to use the bathroom," I finally announced, standing abruptly.

"Everything okay?" Liam asked, concern etched across his face.

"Fine! Just fine," I assured him, perhaps too enthusiastically. "Be right back."

I practically fled from the table, making my way to the villa as quickly as dignity would allow. Once inside, I located the nearest bathroom and pushed open the door, desperate for a moment alone to compose myself.

Before I could close it properly, a hand shot out, stopping the door. I gasped as Leo stepped inside, his tall frame filling the doorway.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, backing up against the sink.

Leo said nothing. He stepped forward, closing the distance between us. With one fluid motion, he reached behind me and locked the door. Then his lips came crashing down on mine in a passionate kiss.