In the quiet stillness of their shared bedroom, James gently ran his fingers through Nikolaos' long, lush locks. His touch was feather-light yet comforting, sending pleasant shivers down Nikolaos' spine. They were alone, the other half of their triad, their Alpha partner, Theo, was away on business.

James had taken up the role of primary caretaker during Theo's absence, much to Nikolaos' delight. As he brushed Nikolaos' hair, his eyes held a tender affection, a silent promise of the pleasure they would share later that night.

The soft swish of the brush against Nikolaos' hair was the only sound filling the room until the creak of the door handle broke the silence. Both Nikolaos and James froze, their hearts pounding in sync. As the door slowly swung open, James quickly hid the brush behind his back, his heart hammering against his chest. A gasp escaped Nikolaos' lips at the sight of their imposing Alpha. Theo stood tall and broad-shouldered in the doorway, his muscular form casting a shadow over them.

His icy blue gaze landed first on James before shifting to Nikolaos. "Evening boys," he rumbled, his deep voice echoing softly around the room. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Nikolaos bit his lower lip, trying to suppress a nervous giggle while James managed to keep a straight face despite the situation. "Not at all, Alpha," James replied smoothly, retrieving the brush from behind his back and resuming his task of brushing Nikolaos' hair. "Just catching up on some bonding time."