Chapter 14
SYDNEY
“Auntie Sydney.”
I smirk into my pillow at the small voice, trying to hold back my giggle when tiny fingers poke the side of my face.
“Is she dead?”
“She’s not dead, dummy.”
“But Daddy says that Auntie Sydney sleeps like the dead.”
“That’s just a saying. Plus, Grandma Rose said that dead people smell really bad.”
There’s a pause and then a tentative sniff.
“I don’t know, Becks. She does kind of smell.”
My head jerks up off the pillow and I pout. “Hey! I do not smell.”
Beckham covers his mouth and nose, grimacing. “Ew, your morning breath is worse than Shadow’s and he eats raw meat.”
I push up onto my elbows. “Oh yeah? Well you buggers better run before this dragon starts breathing its deadly poison.”
“Well I’m a knight and I’m not scared of any dragon,” Cooper declares and Beckham nods in agreement.
I lift a single eyebrow and tilt my head. “Is that right?”
They glance at each other before hesitantly bobbing their heads.
“Okay then, you asked for it.” I make a show of inhaling the biggest breath I can.
Their eyes widen and they run out of the room screaming for their dad before I have a chance to even move. Smirking, I collapse back onto the bed.
“Don’t worry, love. Your breath isn’t worse than Shadow’s.”
I turn my head into my pillow to hide my smile at the sound of his deep voice. Twisting, I peek open my eyes to see him leaning against my bedroom doorway.
“I mean, I’d know. Who needs an alarm these days when I have his hot panting breath to wake me up every morning?” He pushes off and saunters into the room, plopping down on the edge of the bed.
I push myself up and turn to face him. “Are you sure about that? I did have extra garlic on my bread last night with dinner.”
His eyes dance over my face and definite bed head. “We could always test the theory.”
My eyebrows furrow. “What—” My words break off in a giggle infused squeal when he pounces, pinning me to the bed by my wrists.
I thrash under him, tilting my head as far away from his face as I can. “I was only joking!”
His hold on me isn’t tight by any means. I could easily slip out from under him, but I don’t. And he doesn’t let go.
“Lawson!” I laugh.
“Come on, sunshine. Don’t you want to see if the boys were right? Let me get a sniff.”
The room fills with my squeals when he drops on top of me, our faces mere inches apart. His chest rumbles with laughter when I brush my bare toes over the back of his knees.
He freezes, glaring down at me. “Sydney,” he growls.
“What?” I say breathlessly, tilting my head with fake innocence.
“You know I hate it when you do that.”
“Who’s even ticklish behind their knees? Why couldn’t it have been your armpits, or your sides, or the bottom of your feet like a normal person?” He glances away and I gasp, a smile spreading over my lips. “Oh my god, someone alert the presses! Lawson Moore, the machine of a man, has a weakness!”
He murmurs something under his breath that sounds a lot like “You have no idea, sunshine.” but I shake it off and lift a single eyebrow. “So which is it, hm?”
His head jerks back. “Why on earth would I tell you that?”
“Uh, because…” I trail off and jut my chin out.
“I’m waiting,” he deadpans.
“Because you know all my ticklish spots! Why do you get to know mine and I don’t get to know yours?” He shrugs and I scoff. “Really? That’s how it’s going to be? Fine. I’ll just have to find out for myself.”
Taking advantage of his light hold on me, I thrust my hips up. The sudden move takes him by surprise and he falls to the side. Before he can react, I jump up and crawl over him, placing a leg on either side of his hips.
“Ah ha!” I throw my hands up in victory.
“Syd—”
His protest dies on a grunt when my fingers probe under his arms. He stares up at me with a blank expression and I huff with slight defeat.
“Fine. On to the next.” His jaw ticks when my nails ghost over his sides. I smirk. “Gotcha.”
His ‘tough guy’ facade breaks when I dive in, rendering him defenseless as I run my fingers over both of his sides. A laugh bursts out of him and my own mingles with it, filling the once quiet room.
“Okay, come on,” he chokes out. “That’s enough.”
“Never! I have the power!” I cheer triumphantly, doubling my efforts.
Growling, he leans up and I squeak when he wraps an arm around my waist and flips us. My chest rises and falls rapidly as I stare up at him, cheeks pink and eyes shining.
“What was that you said about power?” he rasps.
My hands drop beside my head, my fingers trailing over the inside of his wrists where he’s holding himself above me. The fabric of his jumper brushes against my chest. His breath kisses my suddenly dry lips and I’m reminded how close we are in this moment.
Me, dressed in only a threadbare T-shirt and—oh god, did I put on underwear last night after showering before bed?
I let out a breath when he shifts against me and the feel of his jeans are dulled by the barrier of cotton. Oh thank you lord.
The feeling of relief is short-lived when my legs instinctively widen, causing his hips to drop and press harder against me. My eyes widen, shooting up to meet his impossibly darkening ones.
Is that?
He clears his throat and I bite my lip.
It’s the morning and he’s a man. It’s only natural.
But maybe it’s more than—No. No. Don’t go there. You can’t go there.
Although… by the looks of him, he’s been up for at least an hour. So, maybe—
“Hey, are you two ready or—oh my god, what the fuck?” Jace yells from the doorway and both of our heads twist in his direction.
His eyes bounce over the scene. I turn my head, taking in the disheveled sheets and the position we are in with Lawson pinning me down.
As if the man on top of me finally catches on to why his best friend is staring at us with a stricken expression, he flings himself off of me and across the room.
Holding back my giggle, I push to a sitting position and run my fingers through my knotted hair. “Brother. Lovely seeing you, but why are you in my room at eight in the morning on a Saturday?”
His eyes bounce between me and the suddenly quiet shadow of a man standing off to the side before he clears his throat. “The boys wanted to have a playdate with Shadow, there’s a new dog park that opened near the cottage.”
“Oh, he’d love that!” I tilt my head, eyes glancing past him. “So, where is—”
The quick tap of paws cuts me off and I throw my hands up as Shadow barrels into the room, almost knocking both men over on his way to me.
“There’s my boy!” I squeak when he propels up into my arms, sending me sprawling onto the bed as he attacks my face with kisses.
“Are you going to have a playdate with your cousins? Yes you are. You’re going to be a good boy and listen to them and when you’re home, I’ll sneak you some extra treats. ”
Lawson grumbles and I smirk, shaking my head.
He says I spoil Shadow and I won’t waste a single breath on denying it. Because I do. Unapologetically. And I won’t be stopping anytime soon.
When Shadow finally relents and settles down next to me, I sit back up and run my fingers through his soft fur. “So you’re taking Shadow. That doesn’t explain why we are having a little get together in my bedroom, though.”
Jace huffs a laugh. “Law said he was heading over here and the boys wanted to come too. Say hi to their favorite aunt before we head back out to the countryside.”
I lift an eyebrow at the slightly guilty looking man. “Really? Using my adorable nephews to wake me up?”
“You’re slightly terrifying before you’ve had your morning dose of sugar.”
“Says the man who swears he isn’t scared of anything!”
“I’m scared of plenty. Waking you up before you’re truly ready is definitely one of them.”
Jace raises his hand and points at his best friend. “I agree. I dreaded when Mum would ask me to come wake you up for school.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re both such babies.”
“No, we both just have excellent survival instincts.”
I laugh under my breath and Jace claps his hands. “Well, our jobs here are done. Lawson, I’ll let you know when we are headed back with Shadow. Sydney, have fun with whatever this one has planned for you today.”
He’s gone before I can ask what he’s talking about. I shift my confused attention to Lawson, blushing when I see that he’s already watching me. We stay there in silence, staring at each other as the sounds of my brother and his boys fade.
“I was thinking—”
“I should probably—”
We talk at the same time and I smile, waving a hand at him. “You first.”
He swallows and folds his arms. Why are you so nervous, darkling?
“I was wondering if you’d be up for an outing today?”
“And where would this outing be?”
His lips tip up. “That’s a surprise.”
I squeal, jumping off of my bed and clapping my hands. “I love surprises!”
He chuckles low. “I know.”
“Okay! Yes. Give me like five minutes to get ready—wait, what should I wear?”
He pushes off the vanity and walks towards my bedroom door. Looking back over his shoulder with a hand on the handle, he smirks. “Something you don’t mind getting a little sweaty in.”
My lips part as he slips out of the room. I blink back into focus and jump into action. Once I’m done with brushing my teeth and my skincare routine, I stand in front of my wardrobe with my mouth twisted.
“Something I don’t mind getting sweaty,” I murmur. “That could be anything or nothing at all. Although if this is in public, I think wearing something is more appropriate. Ugh! I’m definitely overthinking this.”
Blowing out a slightly frustrated breath, I pull out a matching pink workout set. The leggings are buttery soft and the sports bra top gives my almost non-existent chest the little boost it needs.
I slip into a pair of trainers and move to the mirror. Taming my hair, I decide on a single braid, smiling when it brushes the small of my back. Snagging the dark hoodie laying over the back of my vanity chair, I toss it over my head and snuggle into its warmth as I skip down the stairs.