“You coming to the party?” Royce asks when he hits the landing.
“No. I’m tired.”
He grins and whispers, “Liar. Don’t forget, we got eyes everywhere, RaeRae.”
Ignoring him, I head into the room and change into a T-shirt and sweats. I lie on my bed giving the illusion I’m going to sleep so I don’t get too much shit from them for not going out.
It doesn’t work.
They come in, all fucking three and laugh.
“We’re not dumb, but you should know that there are dogs in the orchards. You try to walk out of here at night, you might just get a chunk taken out of your calf,” Royce joyfully informs me with a wink before they disappear from the doorway.
And I’m stuck with no escape.
With a groan, I flip over on the mattress. Of course it’s the most comfortable bed on earth.
I sigh.
Shit’s gonna get interesting.
I hear them when they come in.
Their laughter is loud as they joke with each other, talking about different events of the night.
I find myself smiling.
These boys, there’s no competition between the three other than good fun and time spent on the courts, but not the kind that grows jealousy and hate.
It’s a rare bond, one I hope they never lose.
They start up the stairs, laughing as they attempt to get Royce to the top without him falling over.
“We should have left his ass on the couch,” Captain laughs.
“No way, man. I don’t like waking up down there by myself,” Royce admits, and I chuckle quietly.
He’s such a little boy under all that, well, horniness.
“Be quiet, Raven’s sleeping.”
“If she’s even still here.” Royce snorts. “Doubt she believed the shit about the dogs. I mean, dogs would bark, right? That’d be obvious.”
My jaw drops, and I punch at the mattress.
Son of a bitch.
Of course dogs would fucking bark! Damn it!
“Shut up, Royce,” Maddoc hisses.
Oh, too late, big man. I heard.
A few shuffles sound, the faucet turns on and off a couple times and then three doors quietly close.
And then mine pushes open and Maddoc slips inside in nothing but a pair of tight ass boxers that fit his strong thighs like a second skin. He closes and locks my door, steps up to my mattress, and waits.
With a deep breath and an ease I should try harder to fight, I pull the comforter down and with a frown, he slips in.
Maddoc wastes no time pulling me to his side. His left arms slide under my pillow, his right gripping me behind the knee. He pulls my leg over his, then lifts the covers to my shoulders.
When I shift, he jerks, and gently removes the earbud from my ear.
“Metal’s cold. Move the knife, Raven.”
Can I? Better question, should I?
I pull the knife from my shorts and set it behind me.
He moves us back to the exact same position.
“I knew you were awake,” he whispers, his chin sliding across my hair. “But you won’t be long. Close your eyes.”
His hands shift, now locked behind my back.
After a few tense minutes, my mind shuts off and my body takes over allowing me to completely melt against his.
A sigh escapes, but I don’t care.
Sleep is finally coming.
“Bacon,” I whisper, my eyes still closed, but the chuckle beside me has them flying open.
“Captain rises with the sun.”
Good God, I’ll never get used to his morning voice. So scratchy and deep, it belongs on a dirty hotline.
His eyes wander across my face, before settling on mine. His instant frown has me laughing.
“What?” he asks.
“Nothing.”
“Just say it.”
“Fine. Every time you look me in the eye, you glare.”
He shifts his stare to the ceiling, not denying but not bothering to explain either.
I change the subject. “Your brothers know you’re in here?”
“Don’t know. Didn’t announce it, didn’t try to hide it.”
“Maddoc.”
He looks at me.
“Why did you come in here?”
“Because I wanted to.”
Because he wanted to.
Just like that. Well, okay then.
“I’m hungry.”
He grins, standing to stretch. And damn if my greedy eyes don’t follow along.
A private, erotic dance is the only way to explain the way his muscles move during this simple act. His back tightens, sides bulge and the definition to his biceps prove carved to perfection – not that it wasn’t obvious before.
When his hands come down, I follow, squeezing my legs together when he mindlessly grips his morning wood to adjust. He’s standing half sideways, so I can only see his knuckles but the width at which they’re bent does wonders for my imagination. It was too dark to actually see his dick when it was hanging in the wind at the cabin, but I’ve got a good read on what’s under that satin now.
His eyes dart to mine and I realize a small sound made its way up my throat.
He pops a cocky eyebrow and I shrug. Can’t deny what he so clearly heard.
But the longer he stares, the hungrier I get – not for bacon.
I slip from my bed and walk past him for the door, but he grips me by the wrist and pulls me back.
“Where you goin’?”
“Food.”
“Put some clothes on,” he orders.
“I will.” He lets go slowly and I run out the door, shouting, “Later when I need to!”
I grin to myself when he growls from the hall.
I go into the kitchen to find a huge spread already set out across the kitchen island.
“Raven.”
“Packman.” I steal a piece of bacon. “So, you the house cook when you’re not hungover?”
“We all cook.”
“Really?” I scrunch my nose, and I leap up on the stool. “Even Royce?”
“Hey!” A groggy voice comes from behind me then two arms are around me. “Heard that. And yes, even me. I happen to make a mean ass lasagna.”
I spin lightly, and he grins. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“How’s tonight? Just gotta ask Cap for permission to use the kitchen. He likes cooking on the weekends.” Royce kisses my hair and pulls away.
I spin back around. “Let’s make it happen, Captain.”
He scoffs. “Cute. Because I never heard that one before.”
“Where’s Maddoc?” Royce pours a glass of chocolate milk.
Right then, Maddoc enters, having slipped on some sweatpants. How the sweats look better than the boxers, no fucking clue.
He moves for the coffeepot, a regular ass Mr. Coffee one, not some fancy espresso machine or one of those one cup contraptions.
“Only one scoop today, huh?” Captain observes, and I lean against the counter to watch them move around.
But I can’t help and notice how Maddoc grows tense at his brother’s words. “Yeah.”
I look to Royce, tipping my chin at the two across the kitchen, he leans over.
“Cap leaves the coffee making to Maddoc, so he can decide how strong he wants it.”
When I make a face that screams as if that explains it, he chuckles and leans over again.