Chapter Sixteen
Haven
Iwondered why I woke up alone, with the blankets tucked around me.
Now I know. After a quick shower and dressing casually, I walked out of my room and sensed a different vibe in the room.
They greeted me, but haven’t said much since.
Lawson is dressed, sitting beside his brothers, looking serious.
They are hesitant. It doesn’t fit their personalities.
I jump when there is a knock at the door.
Bane moves quickly to answer, and I gasp as he helps the man on the other side bring in canvases. I slowly stand.
“He got them all,” Bane rumbles, and I blink.
“My mom’s pictures.” I swallow and want to hug him. “You promised, and you delivered.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Bane asks. I stop fighting the urge and walk to him, slide my arms around his waist, and hug him tightly.
“Thank you,” I whisper, grasping the back of his shirt tightly. He wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“I didn’t paint them,” he mumbles. “Thanks, man. Pay him.” I tip my head back to see Bane looking toward the couch. “My hands are full.” I bite my lip, and he looks down at me. His eyes narrow on my lips, and I part them. “Are you giving out a reward?” I frown, and he tightens his arm. “Hugs.”
“We can call it that.” I smile.
“I’ll take it, even though you don’t need to pay me back for doing something nice.” He leans down. “And you can hug me anytime, for any reason.”
“Noted,” I say, still grinning.
“Mmm…” he hums, bending further. “I changed my mind. I want another reward.”
“Okay,” I whisper. I expect a kiss.
“Move in with us.”
“What?” I gasp.
“You say I’m tactful,” Lawson grumbles.
“Your father is a dick,” Bane continues.
“He searched your place after our guy was there. We don’t know what kind of threat he is, and until we do, we'll have him watched. You need to be safely behind our doors with the four of us. It never fails that when someone in this family finds their mate, shit happens. I haven’t seen it every time, but I’ve heard stories about it. Nothing will happen to you.”
“My father was there?” I whisper, my stomach cramping.
I knew it was a possibility, and it explains why I feel watched more often than not.
My place is under surveillance. I’ve been living my life ignoring the hints of his presence and telling myself I've put him in the past. Brian must have admitted that we broke up, but luckily he doesn’t know where I was going.
“He had two guys with him,” Hunter says. I pull out of Bane’s arms, his eyes narrow, but I avoid his gaze. “Who are they?”
“Big guys? Suits? One with blonde hair, the other with brown?” I ask.
“Yeah. That was the description we got,” Bane says.
I glance at him quickly and then away.
“They have worked for my father for several years. Slick is the one with blonde hair. I don’t know his real name.
I started calling him that because of all the gel he uses in his hair.
” I wrinkle my nose. “He smelled. The other man is Matt. I don’t know their job description, and I never asked.
I always thought it was better not to ask about the things my father does. ”
“He’s in real estate?” Remy asks.
“Sure,” I mumble.
“Haven?” Bane tilts his head.
“I didn’t question him. He does sell houses, but I’m fairly confident that's not all he does.” I shrug and look at the crates propped against the counter.
“We’ll know soon,” Hunter says.
“So, you want me to move in?” I don’t want to talk about Father anymore. He’s ruining my morning.
“Yes,” Lawson says, and my cheeks heat. I can remember how he felt inside me, and I want it again.
“You all live together, right?” I ask, nibbling on my lip.
“Yes, recently we bought a house,” Hunter says.
“There would be a lot of convincing,” I say, looking at Hunter.
“Huge amounts.” He grins.
“That sounds nice.” Am I ready to be surrounded by four men, their habits, the good, bad, and the dirty? I look at each of them. I feel a deep connection to them, which my head has a hard time understanding, while my body and heart tell me I’m falling for them.
“You know you want to,” Rylee says as she walks out of her bedroom, her hands in her hair, wrapping it in a bun.
“Shifters aren’t like humans.” She stops in the kitchen.
“They are still men, though, so us girls will be here when you need a night away from them. I'll miss the food.” She brushes loose strands away from her face. “But I’ll survive.”
“Rylee—” She shakes her head.
“Don’t worry about me. They're your mates. You belong with them. Get to know them, complete the bond, and have lots of babies. I want to be an aunt.” She smiles.
“I think I need your guy to go back to my apartment.” When they asked if I wanted anything else besides the paintings, I said no.
I wasn’t ready to accept that this was real.
Looking at them now, I see their seriousness.
Being with Lawson and Remy last night was an experience I would love to repeat for the rest of my life.
Lawson opened his heart and shared things I don’t think he would tell just anyone.
“You’ll do it?” Bane asks gruffly.
“Yes.”
“Thank you, Princess,” Hunter says, kissing my forehead.
“I’m glad you're happy,” Rylee says, turning to the fridge. “What’s for breakfast?”
“I’ll cook,” Remy says softly. He comes close, kisses me briefly, and joins Rylee.
“Sunshine, you won’t regret it,” Lawson says, and leans down to brush his cheek against mine. He steps back, and Bane takes his place.
“I’m proud of you,” he whispers, and I melt.
“Why?” No one has told me that since my mom was alive.
“You're brave.” He tugs on my hair. “Living with the beasts.” He grins widely. My whole body tingles. He’s smiled at me before, a little lift of his lips, but never a full-on smile.
It’s powerful.
“Don’t ever smile at other women,” I blurt out, and he chuckles. “I’m serious. Please.” He leans down so his face is close to mine.
“Promise,” he says roughly. “All my smiles will be for you.”
Do they give shifters a rulebook of all the right things to say to women? I’ve been wasting time trying to find a human to treat me right.
All I need is my jaguars.
Twisting my hands in my lap, I stare out the window, waiting to see the house that will soon be mine.
The brothers didn’t waste time. Remy cooked breakfast, and I packed my things.
They carried everything downstairs, and I said goodbye to Rylee.
She was lounging on the couch, stuffed from breakfast, mourning the loss of her private chef.
I’m nervous, but not because I regret my decision.
They are my mates. I'm in a world I didn’t know existed outside of television shows, and a spicy book I enjoy.
Living in the human world was easy; I knew the laws and guidelines I should follow.
Human men have been less than thrilling.
I wasn’t looking for a long-term partner, and hadn’t found one that stirred me in the way I thought I should be stirred.
Was I happy?
The only thing I had been looking forward to was this trip to meet Rylee.
My days had been routine. I did little things that brought me happiness.
I dyed my hair different colors. At least once a week, I devoured a bag of chips while watching dramas.
I escaped into paranormal romance and pretended I was the main character.
I glance at Hunter in the driver’s seat.
I guess I don’t have to pretend anymore. Why shouldn’t I enjoy it?
“We’re here,” Hunter says, and I look away.
“Holy shit.” I don’t know exactly what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this.
Four brothers living in the woods shouldn’t own a sleek house.
I startle when my door opens, and Remy holds his hand out to assist me.
Placing my hand in his, I rely on him to guide me, since my legs are tingling. This is not normal. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Thanks, Princess,” Hunter says, grinning.
“You can change anything you want,” Bane says, stepping beside me.
“I highly doubt I'll want to,” I mumble as we stop at the front door. The front of the large house is covered in glass, long windows that I can’t see through. They are framed in light-colored wood.
“There are three floors, five bedrooms, and six bathrooms.” Hunter enters numbers on a small keypad, swings the door wide, and reaches inside to turn on the lights.
I step inside and fall in love. To the right is a living room with a fireplace and several deep brown pieces of furniture.
To the left is a kitchen-dining room combo with a long table.
Everything is wood, and warm. “Your bedroom is on the second floor. The rooms on the main floor are an office, bathroom, and a gym. The rest of the bedrooms are on the second and third floors.” I step slowly and turn as I look up.
The ceiling is high, and there are several lights.
“There is a half bath down the hallway right before you hit the stairs.”
“It’s amazing.” I smile at them. “My father had a big house, but it was cold. I couldn’t touch anything.”
“Feel free to touch anything in this house,” Bane says dryly, and Lawson laughs.
“I’ll do that,” I smirk and wander down the hallway. They follow and stop behind me as I do. The bathroom is simple, but just as welcoming. I grin over my shoulder as I move toward the stairs. I glide my hand over the wood of the railing as I ascend. At the top, I pause in the hallway.
“Second door on the right,” Remy says, and I walk toward it. I eagerly open the door to what I’m assuming is the room they have assigned me.
“We cleaned it recently,” Hunter says as I step over the threshold. “The bathroom is attached. Bane’s room is the first door, and mine is down the hall and across the hallway. Lawson and Remy are on the top floor.” I feel like crying.
“Is this the smallest room?” I ask.
“No.” Hunter tugs my hair and walks past me and deeper into the room.
“How is it this big?” I murmur.