13. Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Emery
The rasp of the zipper does crazy things to my chest. I’ve transferred my things from Oakley’s handbag to my brand-new backpack. Sure, it might be a little too big for a day bag, but I need to use it. I can’t explain it; all I know is that I can’t bring myself to part with it for even a moment.
It’s got a neatly folded cardigan in the bottom—I had no idea what the fuck that was until Oakley explained it’s like a button-up sweater, but classier. I’ve also put my shitty phone, my purse with the remainder of Oakley’s cash and my student ID, and a lip gloss in there. So, the bag is basically empty, but I don’t give a fuck.
There is a faint knock at the bedroom door before I hear the latch click. “Kitten, are you ready to go?”
The crazy flutters turn into a full-on swoop at Hudson’s words. I take a quick look at myself in the floor-to-ceiling mirror fixed to the wall before answering, just to make sure that I haven’t ruined the blue dress somehow.
Nope, all good.
“Yes, I’m ready,” I call back after a final backward glance at my reflection.
Picking up my bag by the little handle on top and the original contract, I walk from behind the privacy wall and into the bedroom. Hudson has his shoulder propped against the doorway, his eyes dropping down to my feet as he scans me from black shoes to flowing hair with the slight kinks left in it from Darcy’s braid.
His chest expands on a breath, and then he smiles at me, the heat in his eyes strong enough that my skin should be on fire. “You look beautiful.”
Fuck me, why are my cheeks getting hot?
“Uh, thank you,” I reply, almost stammering over the words, not really sure what to do with the compliment.
When he holds out a hand to me, I walk toward him to take it. Hudson raises my hand to his lips and presses a kiss to the knuckles, and I swear to god, my knees almost buckle. I remind myself this isn’t a fucking romance novel. It’s just all part of their weekend fantasy.
They are going to spoil the shit out of me now. Then they are going to fuck the shit out of me later.
Yay for the symmetry.
“Come on, I think that if we keep the others waiting any longer, Xavier is going to come in here and carry you to the car over his shoulder.”
I picture myself over Xavier’s shoulder with this short dress and giggle.
Giggle. I fucking giggle, all cutesy like.
Jesus christ.
Who even am I, right now?
Balls to the wall, I remind myself.
I mentally shake off the awkwardness I’m feeling and grin at Hudson. “I’m not sure I want my panties on display for everyone like that.”
Hudson shrugs as we leave the room and make our way to the other three all milling around the hallway that leads to the door. “Have you ever tried it?”
I tip my head to look up at him. “Tried what?”
“Having your panties on display for everyone to see.”
I open my mouth to reply, but I’ve got nothing. “That’s a thing?”
His lips quirk when he looks down at me. “Yes.”
That’s all he gives me.
“Ready?” Derek asks as we approach them, and Hudson affirms that we are.
I offer Derek the papers and he places them on top of the yellow envelope that sits on top of the hallway table.
Darcy steals my backpack, and for a moment, I feel bereft without it, but he shoots me a smile and I simmer down.
It’s not until we are in the elevator and heading down to the underground parking that it occurs to me that Hudson is still holding my hand. Our fingers aren’t laced; instead, they are clasped together, much like how I would hold my younger foster siblings’ hands.
There are four cars parked side by side with 1921 spray painted on the floor at the front of each parking spot. I scan all four cars and mentally place the men in each one.
The huge, dark gray SUV is totally Derek. Big, stable, protective.
The silver sports car is so Darcy. Flashy, quick, sleek.
I flick my gaze between the blue electric car and the black sedan.
The sedan is that brand that has the rings like the Olympics, but I can never remember what it’s called. It’s almost boring, compared to the other two. It doesn’t fit either Xavier or Hudson.
However, I can totally see Hudson driving the electric car. That leaves Xavier with the sedan, even though I can’t see him in it.
We pause by the SUV, but before we get in, Darcy stops us. “Well?” he asks, and I look up at him, confused. “I saw you scoping out the cars. Who do you think owns what?”
I twist my lips and decide to let my brat out to play. “What happens if I get it right?”
A delighted look crosses Darcy’s face. “I’ll owe you a request.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Like a favor I can cash in at any time?”
He nods.
I grin and open my mouth to reply.
“But if you get it wrong, I get one hour of cock warming.”
This time, I furrow my eyebrows. “Cock warming?” That’s not something I researched.
“You’ll kneel between my legs for one hour with my cock in your mouth, without sucking. Well, minimal sucking. I can be generous.”
A vision of that exact scene appears in my mind’s eye, and heat floods my core. Darcy on the couch, watching TV, the others lounging near him, me between his legs, head resting on his thigh as his semi-hard cock rests in my mouth. The vision is so strong, I can almost feel the way his fingers would stroke through my hair.
It’s so good that I almost don’t give my real answers.
But I want my request more than I want to be used like that. But only just. Definitely something I want to try in the future though.
“The only one I wasn’t sure about was the sedan, but deductive reasoning says that it belongs to Xavier. Hudson drives that one.” I point at the blue car with the T badge. “Derek drives the SUV, and you drive the sports car.”
When no one responds, I look around at each of them and almost shrink in on myself. None of them are smiling. Oh shit, did I offend them?
“I’m sorry, I—”
My free hand is tugged until I am facing Darcy. I only get a quick glimpse of dark blue eyes before lips collide with mine in a kiss that only lasts seconds but attempts to steal my soul.
When he breaks the kiss, I gasp in a breath of air. “What was that for?”
“Does there have to be a reason?” he asks with a smirk but doesn’t give me a chance to respond. “You get your request.”
I grin back at him.
“Come on, we need to get going, or we won’t have enough time to get all of your rewards,” Derek states, dragging my attention back to everyone else.
The SUV lights up, and the thud of the locks disengaging echoes around the concrete space. As expected, Derek heads to the driver’s seat. Xavier takes the front passenger. Hudson holds the door to the back seat open, and by the time I climb in, Darcy has gotten in from the other side, and I find myself sandwiched between the two of them.
Just like last night.