Chapter 13 #3
In a way, it was like a blessing in disguise that I had come here.
If I could help in any way, then that’s what I’d do for my guys.
So that was my plan, to make this place feel more like a home once I was done with my day at school.
It was surprisingly comfortable being here with the guys.
Though neither of them seemed bothered when one of them would stop what they were doing to kiss my head, or in Lee’s case, pull a pouty lip, puppy-dog face on me, claiming he needed extra snuggles because he was injured.
I laughed, rolling my eyes at him, but gladly laid on the couch with him, snuggling up as we had at Meredith’s while Shaw played his video games on the other end.
It wasn’t until late that night, when we were getting ready for bed, that there was a hint of jealousy between them.
I changed into a pair of grey cotton sleep pants and a pale blue top, when Vail came into the room and stripped down to a pair of boxers while Shaw narrowed his eyes across the hall from the washroom.
“You got your time last night, ass!” Lee shouted from the other side of the wall he shared with Vail.
I awkwardly stood by the dresser, brush in hand, in the middle of combing out the knots when this all happened.
Vail stalked across the room, his hand brushing against my ass as he passed, and stuck his head out the door shouting back, “We agreed I would share my room since it’s the biggest!
It’s her room now, so it just makes sense that she sleeps here! ”
“You’re such a dick!” Lee yelled back.
“Eat shit!”
“Blow me!”
Meanwhile, Shaw leaned against the bathroom counter, brushed his teeth, and cast Vail some serious stink-eye.
I was tempted just to choose to sleep in his room because he was being such a baby about the whole thing.
I caught Shaw’s eye and raised my brows at him, to which he nodded.
Quietly, we passed Lee’s room where he and Vail were still shouting obscenities at each other and softly shut the door behind us.
His room was definitely the smallest, but he’d arranged it comfortably so that his bed faced the door, and it was covered in pillows and blankets, like a nest, which totally made sense for him.
It was like protection against the shadows, something to hold when the memories forced their way back into his mind.
He didn’t have a desk or anything personal.
Just a dresser for his clothes, the top of it covered with piles of books, and an open closet, displaying his knife collection, all arranged on stands set up along the length of the wall.
The sight of his vast collection didn’t bother me in the slightest. In fact, it only made me feel safer being here, as I knew Shaw could handle each and every one of them.
He changed out of his hoodie, choosing to wear sweats and a t-shirt to bed.
I clambered over the mass amounts of blankets and pillows and snuggled in while he shut the curtains and turned off the hurricane torchiere table lamp by his bed, where he then crawled in beside me.
However, before we could get truly settled, the door to his room swung open with a bang, and Vail stood there, glowering at the sight of us together.
“What?” I snapped at him, squinting from the hallway light that shone behind him. “Close the door, we’re sleeping here!”
But Vail didn’t say a word. All he did was storm into the room, scoop me up out of bed, and left, carrying me down the hall back to his.
“What the hell is up your ass?” I snapped at him, kicking my legs a little. “Put me down, you psycho!”
He entered his room, kicking the door shut behind himself, and practically threw me into the bed. I landed with a bounce and crawled to the other side, fully intending to skirt around him and go back to Shaw’s when his fingers wrapped around my ankle, and he dragged me back to him.
“Let go , Vail!” I rolled onto my back and slapped his shoulder, but all he did was move me to the head of the bed, so I was resting on the pillows, then forced my legs open.
He laid between them, leaned over to turn off the light, and rested his head on my chest over my heart, his arms wrapped around me tightly.
I was so freaking tired I didn’t bother physically trying to overpower him.
I’d only lose. But I still muttered under my breath about him being an alpha-asshole.
“Shush, darling. I’m trying to sleep here.
” Was all he said in response and pressed a kiss to the hollow at the base of my throat before settling back down again.
His weight wasn’t uncomfortable or suffocating, despite how much bigger he was.
It was oddly cozy, warm, and most of his weight was in his pelvis anyways, which was settled just below mine on the mattress.
The sneaky bugger had to use his dead weight to keep me with him, knowing there was no possible way that I’d be able to leave now without him waking up.
“You know, Lee had a point,” I goaded him. “Technically, you and I slept together last night, so tonight is someone else’s turn.”
His hand came up, his index and middle fingers pressing against my lips to silence me, and he muttered against my skin, “Shaw got to nap with you today. That means his turn is over. Lee kept you at his side all day pretending to be a whiny bitch because of a couple of bruised knuckles. That’s his turn over. Now it’s mine again.”
“Are we seriously going to do it that way? All ring around the rosie, hot potato style?” My words were slightly muffled against his fingers, which were still pressed against my mouth.
“For now? Yes. But since I’m the leader of our tribe, I get the final say.
” He tapped my lips before sliding his arm back around me again, shifting a little to get comfortable.
His stomach pressed against me, and for a moment, my girly bits seemed to stir a little.
I couldn’t help squeezing my thighs a little to relieve the ache, though his bulk prevented me from actually easing that itch.
All I did was tighten my legs around the small of his waist, and then the feel of his hard muscles pressing into me only rubbed a little harder.
Fuck, not now. Or maybe…? No! He was being too much of a douche to just fall into that.
He hasn’t earned it yet, the bastard. I debated back and forth with myself, my pussy begging for attention, while my brain was telling her to calm the fuck down and just go to sleep.
I couldn’t just cave when he was being such a turd about his dominance in our group.
Ultimately, he decided for me when I heard his breathing deepen and his hold slackened as he fell into a slumber.
Well, I guess that settled that internal war for me.
So I relaxed beneath him, my eyes adjusting to the darkness of the room.
Outside, I could hear the wind blow, the cold arrival of Fall coming in with the promise of snow.
In the distance, the sound of sirens grew louder before disappearing in the distance, and I felt my eyelids beginning to droop.
Old sounds from the past lulled me to sleep, and soon, I’d passed out in Vail’s arms, finally home.