16. June
June
Iopen my eyes to a note sitting on the pillow next to me.
It was rather strange to go to sleep without setting an alarm, and having no consideration for when the hell I woke up. And even more so that I wasn’t woken up thirty-seven thousand times by my annoying ass roommates.
If anything, my current roomies either have soundproof walls, or they have been tiptoeing around not to disturb me. A thoughtfulness that is totally foreign.
Princess, text me when you wake. Love, M.
I climb out of bed, plopping gently onto the plush rug at my side.
I slide my feet into the slippers tucked barely away, and head to the massive, attached bathroom.
I make quick work of brushing my teeth and splashing cool water on my face to wake me up.
I stand up straight, only to recognize the familiar feeling between my legs.
Shit.
Instinctually, I start opening drawers, my heart sputtering when the first one is lined with various feminine hygiene products, quite literally saving my day.
I grab a tampon and close myself into the little toilet room.
Although, there’s nothing little about it.
It’s rather large, almost the size of the entire bathroom at my prior apartment on the other side of town.
The one I got freaking kicked out of because Carter is a royal prick.
I finish up, washing my hands and drying them on the plump towel that is somehow already warm. I slip into the sweatpants I had stolen from Magnus and hug my arms to my chest. I could easily rummage through the clothing they got for me to find a sweatshirt, but I’m dying for a cup of coffee.
Making my way down the stairs, I hear rustling in the kitchen. I round the corner to find Magnus with his back to me, jotting something down on a piece of paper.
“Morning, you.”
He turns, his eyes a bit wide. “No! Go back up. You were supposed to text me. You had one job.”
I laugh and continue toward him. “You’re literally right here.”
He juts out his bottom lip and pouts, but pulls me to his chest, wrapping his arms around me.
A person clears their throat behind me, either making their presence known or insinuating we’re too close.
Both things I ignore on purpose, hugging Magnus back and relaxing into him.
“Oh, don’t look so gruff,” Magnus tells the newcomer. He holds out his arm. “Do you need a hug, too?”
“No, I don’t,” Dominic tells him, making his way over to the fancy coffee machine on the counter. He pushes a sequence of buttons and it quietly comes alive. “I could use your assistance though. We leave in five.”
“What the hell, I thought I was on princess duty?” Magnus grips me tighter.
A smirk settles on my face.
“June doesn’t have work, meaning she’ll be home, where she’s safe. She doesn’t require your surveillance here.”
The smile fades. “She is right here.” I loosen my hold on Magnus and stroll across to where Dominic is standing, waiting for his coffee to finish. I reach for it the second it’s done. “Thanks.”
Dominic glares at me through his thick lashes before pulling out another mug and repeating the steps again.
Magnus turns away and attempts to hide the laugh that bubbles up out of him. “Oh man, I could get used to you living here, princess.”
“Don’t get your hopes up,” I tell him. “It’s only temporary.” Although, I have no idea what that even means. How long will their war be going on? What if it never ends? Would that be such a bad thing?
Yes. Because this goes against everything I am.
I’ve already stayed longer than I normally would, but given the circumstances, I don’t exactly have a choice in the matter.
I don’t have a place to go home to, and I don’t have enough money to go out and get one.
Plus, the very real possibility that I’m a walking target that could be eliminated at any moment if I step outside alone.
Or maybe that’s what they want me to believe, to keep me here.
Dominic checks his watch. “You now have three minutes.”
Magnus groans and walks to the fridge. He pulls out a tray with a beautiful assortment of cut fruit with yogurt and granola with various toppings in small glass containers. He places it on the counter beside me. “Your breakfast.”
I glance at it, then at him, then at it once more. He made this, for me?
Not caring that Dominic is watching, Magnus plants his lips on my cheek. “I’ll see you in a bit.” He pulls away and winks. “You look good in my sweats.”
I catch Dom’s hardened stare out of my peripheral.
“Do not leave this house,” he orders me.
“Dude, chill, she’s not going anywhere.” Magnus slaps him on the shoulder. “Right, princess?”
“Mmhm.” I sigh, the heaviness of my period looming over me.
If I weren’t so fucking tired, I’d leave just for the sake of defying this man who thinks he can control me.
I’ll have to save that recklessness for another day.
“But only because I have nowhere else to be.” I point toward the vast open area. “Where’s Coen?”
“On a job.” Dominic grabs the replacement cup of coffee. “There’s more food in the fridge.” He nods toward a large double door. “And in the pantry.”
Magnus walks into the living room and snatches the remote off the spotless table.
“TV here. One in your room. The projector downstairs is pretty easy to use but if you’re not feeling tech-savvy, I can show it to you later.
” Each step he takes, his tattooed muscles bulge the white shirt he’s wearing.
Black fitted jeans highlight his strong body.
It’s a simple look, and somehow, it’s sexy as hell.
Dominic on the other hand, is the complete opposite.
He’s got a dapper kind of thing going on.
A white collared shirt unbuttoned at the top, revealing a bit of hair on his chest. A sleek dark vest overtop, with a matching set of pressed slacks, and a perfectly polished pair of obviously expensive leather shoes.
He slides his thick arms into his jacket, repositioning it at the top.
His beard is speckled with grey, and his hair is perfectly in place, like he put careful consideration into every single aspect of his appearance.
It’s dramatic, but it’s Dominic. Totally fitting to his incredibly serious demeanor. He’s all business, with that rough, don’t fuck with me vibe. And yet, that’s all I want to do—disobey him.
He plays it off like he hates it, but I know deep down he loves that I challenge his every move. I’m not afraid of him, not the way everyone else is, and if I had to guess, that’s why he’s drawn to me. He’s not used to being seen as anything other than the ruthless man he presents himself to be.
“If you need me, I’m just a call away.” Magnus meets Dominic at the door, pausing to look at me.
I climb onto a stool at the kitchen counter and bring the beautifully arranged tray Magnus put together toward me. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry. I won’t leave, I promise.”
“Good girl,” Dominic says before walking out.
Did I hear him correctly?
I flit my gaze up as they leave, my cheeks giving away the slightest blush, his words catching me a bit off guard.
They disappear on the other side of the garage door, leaving me alone in the kitchen with my thoughts and this delicious spread.
I consider taking it into the living room, but my luck I’d spill something on their expensive couch and that’s not a risk I’m willing to take.
Instead, I sit here, sipping the coffee I stole from Dom and stirring some berries into the yogurt.
I force myself to slow down, to eat my meal with intention.
It’s not like I have anywhere else to be, and it’s been a while since I've truly felt safe in a space. I never felt welcome around my old roommates. Sure, it was my place, too, but it was never home. There was no comfort, no solitude from the outside world. It was just another layer of my life that was unstable. I was constantly on guard, watching over my shoulder and holding my breath for the next stupid thing to happen. It wasn’t like that in the beginning, but I should have seen the red flags go up and get out when I could.
Who am I kidding though? I see blaring red flags and make it a point to go headfirst into them. I’m attracted to all things bad, especially men. Honestly, Cora is probably one of the few good people in my life, possibly the only one.
Which is why I’m certain that it’s only a matter of time until the three men I’m currently staying with turn on me.
Realize I’m a burden to their life. That I no longer serve a purpose and am only adding to the negative.
It’s what humans do. They use others and discard them when they no longer need them.
I’m guilty of it, too. That’s why I never stay long enough for someone to do it to me.
Loss isn’t something I handle well, so I avoid it at all costs. If you don’t get attached, there’s nothing to lose, no risk of allowing yourself to get hurt. It’s rather foolproof.
Until now.
With each passing day, I’m more drawn to these men.
I grow comfortable with their existence.
It’s comforting. Hell, even Coen, who will barely speak to me, brings me some level of contentment.
It’s like I’ve been lost at sea, and finally have something to hang on to, regardless of whether it’s fleeting and will pass with the storm called life.
I must be cautious though, otherwise, I’ll be pulled out too far, unable to make it back to shore on my own.
Finishing the rest of my breakfast, I hop off the stool and scoot my dishes toward the sink.
I rinse them off and load them into the dishwasher, careful to pay attention to how it was already organized.
The last thing I want to do is make someone angry for putting them in wrong.
It’s petty, but if I’m going to be staying in someone else’s house, I’d like to not fuck with the way they do things.
Apparently taking Dom’s coffee is acceptable, but messing up the kitchen is not.