Chapter 17
Jaxon
When my alarm sounds a little after seven, I roll over with an exaggerated moan into my pillow.
Last night, after Holly let me ‘check’ her over real quick and pull my shirt over her head, the little tease actually kicked me out of her room with nothing but a peck on the lips and a hard-on.
I snatch my phone and swipe frustratedly at the little x to turn it off.
I should be used to this after years and years of rising at the ass-crack of dawn or earlier, but let’s face it: I am not a morning person at heart.
I flop onto my back, running my hands down my face before doing a double take to my right and smiling.
She couldn’t sleep without me.
I roll over onto my side and slip a hand under the blankets, pulling her pliant-with-sleep little body up against mine so I can spoon her.
She mumbles something unintelligible and sighs.
Now, how the hell am I supposed to get out of bed?
Ten more minutes, then I’ll slip out and go shower.
Maybe she’ll still be asleep when I get back.
Snuggling close behind her, I inhale her soothing scent and close my eyes.
I’ve definitely been spoiled these past two mornings.
Twenty minutes later, because I started dozing off, I force myself out of bed for the quickest shower of my life.
When I open the bathroom door, I’m faced with the inquisition.
“Morning, Jane.”
“Good morning. Have you seen my bestie?”
“You’re going to have to be a little more specific,” I tease.
“You know, somewhat tall, long legs, gorgeous hair.”
“Trystan?”
Jane snorts. “Damn, I’m gonna have to tell him that one.”
“Yes…” I mull for a second. “She’s still asleep. In my bed.”
Jane’s eyes light up, and she grins.
“No, nothing like that happened. She just couldn’t sleep and crawled in at some point during the night.”
Jane pouts, and I mirror the pout before smirking. Her inner turmoil over Holly and me is comical.
“This is going to be a thing. I just know it.”
“That’s up to her.”
“But you’re totally in it?”
“Perhaps…” I answer, not giving her what she wants as I saunter off to my room in my towel, laughing silently when I hear her huff in annoyance as I close the door.
Plopping on my bed, knowing full well she’s about to get an eyeful of all this, I kiss her shoulder peeking out from the collar of my tee before slowly pulling the blankets back a smidge.
Holly lets out a noise of discontent and attempts to pull the blanket back up. She likes to sleep in too. Noted.
“Wakey wakey, sleepyhead.” I look over at the clock. “It’s almost eight.”
“I’m about to pull a Tommy Boy in two seconds,” she mumbles, and my shoulders shake with laughter as I picture the motel scene where Richard pretends to be housekeeping.
“I’m not housekeeping, and I won’t fluff your pillow. The other option I can get creative with, though.”
Holly turns with a sleepy smile and pushes her hand against my bare pecs. I catch her hand and pull her into my arms. She sighs happily as she puts her head on my chest and inhales deeply.
“Mmmm, you smell deliciously fresh.”
“Better than that motel shit, huh?”
“Much.”
“You smell like sleep and blankets, and it totally makes me want to crawl back under the covers and tell everyone else to fuck off so I can snooze the day away with you.”
“Aren’t you a charmer? I need a shower and a toothbrush.”
“Two more minutes. I love your sleepy cuddles.” We're both quiet for a pause.
“You are very naked under that towel.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I haven’t really taken the time to look at it in the light of day, you know.”
Blood rushes to my dick, and Holly chuckles as she starts to undo the knot at my waist. She flicks it open and sighs.
“Damn, that’s a pretty cock.”
“Please tell me you’re going to touch it after that.”
Holly snickers, pressing a kiss to my pec while her hand travels south to grasp me. I lean my head back against the headboard and growl when a knock sounds on the door.
“Jaxon! Wake her up! Breakfast is ready,” Jane hollers through the door. Did I lock it?
“How’d she know I was in here?”
“I ran into her in the hallway.”
“In your towel?”
“Jealous?”
“No, happy Jane got herself a morning view.”
“I’m still out here!” Jane hollers.
“I’m awake now!” Holly hollers back.
“Good!” Jane echoes.
“Jane, leave them alone,” I hear Garrett admonish her for being nosy.
“Gah! They’re killing me. Surely, if she plodded over to his room in the middle of the night to snuggle, they’re going to be an item, right? I just want all my friends to be happy.” Jane pouts as she moves away from the door.
“You’ll find out soon enough, dear. Charlie, tell Mommy to stop being nosy,” we hear as their voices disappear down the hallway. Holly and I share a look and laugh before looking down and realizing our ‘moment’ has passed.
“Go get that cute butt in the shower. I’ll meet you downstairs.
” Holly smirks and jumps off the bed, bending over to grab her phone from the floor and giving me a peek at said cute butt in her thong.
I blow out a breath, pulling my towel back in place as she winks and slips through the door and across the hall.
???
Holly
Pattering into the kitchen, I grab a glass from the cupboard and pour some orange juice. When I turn around, four very intrigued faces stare back at me.
“You were in his bed this morning,” Jane states with a wide grin.
“Are you okay? You disappeared last night,” Brynleigh reaches out toward my hand on the island where they sit.
“In his bed? What the hell did I manage to miss?” Sydney wonders aloud.
“I think they covered the bases. I’m listening,” Ava declares.
“I couldn't sleep,” I answer innocently, shrugging my shoulders while sipping the sweet concoction.
“So you just went and crawled under his covers?” Ava asks incredulously with a teasing smirk.
“Yup. I feel safe with him. He'd never do anything to me without permission. Besides, he didn't even wake up.”
Looks are exchanged amongst them as if they're wondering whether or not to believe me.
“Did you get a peek at him in nothing but that towel this morning after his steamy shower? Girl, the beads of water on his skin were…” Jane sighs. I get it. They were good, and I got more than a peek.
“Nope, he was dressed when I woke up. You're telling me that man was naked in the room with me, and I missed it?!” I gasp in fake mockery as I hold my hand to my chest. Jane thinks she got the first peek. I'll let her have it.
Ava eyes me warily but doesn’t say anything. Her lawyer’s bullshit radar is on point. She lifts her mug of coffee and looks out the window down toward the lake.
“Ava, did your talk go okay last night?” Brynleigh asks before peeking over at me. I let it pass like nothing happened, curious to know what Mark said.
“Yeah, it did.”
“Okay, I'm no longer going to bed early,” Sydney mumbles.
“Ava got ballsy and blurted out she wants a baby,” Jane announces. Sydney's eyes widen before she grins.
“AND?” Sydney asks the question all of us are dying to know.
“I'm coming off my birth control.” Ava smiles softly behind her mug as Jane crushes her in a hug, spilling the hot brew all down Ava's pajama top.
“Ooh hot!”
“Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I guess I got a smidge excited there.”
Brynleigh slides off her stool to grab a hand towel to help wipe up the mess. Ava grabs it with a mumbled thanks and dabs the tawny liquid up. Sydney sucks air in through her teeth–long enough that all eyes are on her.
“I'm good, just another liver kick. My Braxton Hicks contractions aren't helping any. I think these two are almost ready.”
Brynleigh reaches forward, rubbing Sydney’s bump.
“You two be nice to your momma.”
The sliding door whooshes open, and Trystan steps in with his shirt in his hand, wiping the sweat from his face and neck. Looks like he went on a run.
“Now, this appears vaguely familiar,” Jane mutters appreciatively as Trystan flashes her his dimples and reaches into the fridge for a bottle of water.
“Good morning, hens. Thanks for the ego boost.”
We all snicker as Brynleigh slides up next to him and pinches his butt, earning a sexy smirk that says game on. These two…
“Take that shit upstairs,” I tease.
Brynleigh spins on her heel toward me with raised brows before whispering not so quietly, “Don’t mind if I do!” She tosses a spicy wink over her shoulder at Trystan as he chokes on his water.
“Um, excuse me, ladies,” he mutters with a wicked grin before scooping Brynleigh up and tossing her over his shoulder, fireman-style.
She giggles, and we all chuckle in unison as we watch her blonde hair sway over his back with every step as she pinches his butt on the way out of the kitchen.
The hearty laugh that ensues as we hear Bryn squeal with delight and a door slam is interrupted by another very shmexy specimen.
“What'd I miss?” Jaxon asks, setting his coffee mug into the dishwasher.
“Just Trys & Bryn shenanigans, except this time they don't have to hide it,” I answer. He cocks a brow and nods before heading for the stairs.
“Whatever you need up there might want to wait. I wouldn't go up for at least twenty minutes,” Sydney notes, pressing her lips together while avoiding eye contact.
Jaxon grins just as Garrett comes bopping through the door with Charlotte strapped in her carrier against his chest, as happy as can be. The whole dad vibe totally suits him.
“There’s our favorite little squish!” I announce, walking over to snatch her from her confinement.
“That’s better. Mine,” I declare up at him as he smiles back.
When I turn, Sydney’s giving me the puppy eyes.
“Yours will be our favorite little people too, no worries.
Charlie just so happens to be right here, right now.
Ain't that right?” Charlie lets out a happy baby noise at me that has all of us fawning over her.
Mark and Colin step inside with their poles.
“Any luck this morning?” Syd asks.
“The bass were pretty eager today.”
Jaxon and Garrett growl sourly, knowing they missed the fun.
“There will be plenty more fishing Sundays, you guys,” I say, addressing their boyish behavior. Jaxon walks up and takes the orange juice from my hand, downing the last quarter of the cup while eyeing me. That was pretty ballsy of him.
“Hmmm, just curious…if I get Sundays with them, what do I get with you?”
Jane leans forward on the counter, totally invested in my answer, as Charlie and I both look up at Jaxon's lighthearted stare. He winks at me before grinning at the little beauty. She makes another noise of contentment as Jax scoops in to steal her.
“Mine,” he squawks in Finding Nemo seagull fashion, and the whole room bursts into raucous laughter.