38. Chapter 38
Sophia
I leaned over the counter of the kitchen, completely enthralled with everything Cameron was telling me. How the heck had he and Sebastian been getting hot and heavy without me knowing? And, why didn’t he tell me sooner? Also! Why wasn’t I invited?
Ugh. It seemed like everyone was able to get Sebastian to have sex with them other than me.
It couldn’t have been that I wasn’t his type. I was hot, smart, and funny. That made me everyone’s type!
“So, you seriously not only rejected the chance to fuck both of them under the stars, but you told him you couldn’t do it anymore?” I gasped. Then, I realized that couldn’t be where the juicy details ended. “What did he do then?”
Cameron scratched his head and looked down. “I uh… I think I hurt his feelings. But, it’s hard to tell with him.”
Awe, poor Sebby.
“He’s sensitive,” I commented, remembering what it was like to grow up with him. “He’s always been… well, awkward. But, I don’t want to hear how you hurt his feelings! I want the nitty gritty. What did you say? Did you two kiss and make up? Did yo u–”
“Can you two quit fucking drooling over my brother?” Lucian snapped, placing two cups of coffee in front of us.
A smirk twisted my lips as I realized Lucian was back to being a disobedient little pup when he had absolutely no ground to stand on.
I reached over, snaking my finger into the loop of the collar I’d forced him to wear this morning.
It seemed like a fitting addition to his punishment seeing as we metaphorically had to keep him on a short leash.
I tugged the ring closer, causing the chains on the front to pull, drawing the leather taut. Lucian glared at me as he leaned forward to prevent me from choking him. He looked like garbage today.
His normally deep olive skin was pale, a sheen of sweat caked to his forehead. Dark circles hung under his eyes, and I knew he just wanted to be in bed. But, only good boys got to rest.
“Lucian, Lucian,” I tsked, pouring as much sweetness into my words as I could. “Maybe if you could be a good boy and not make our girlfriend cry, Cameron and I would drool over you instead.”
His gaze narrowed. “You’re a bitch.”
I gasped and covered my lips. “Where are your manners!”
Maybe I should add no swearing to his new list of rules… but, if I did that, he’d probably fail in a day.
“Apologize, now .” I snapped my fingers for dramatic effect.
His eyes burned with defiance, but he knew better than to push me right now.
“Sorry,” he muttered through gritted teeth.
“There’s my good boy.” I rubbed the tip of my nose to his before releasing the ring on his collar. “Now go make breakfast. Remember, enough for five adults and two gremlins.”
He paused for a moment, counting something on his fingers. “I don’t eat breakfast.”
“You do now,” I purred. “Now, go cook before I change my mind.”
It was fun to be this mean to Lucian. Maybe I should do it more often .
Lucian stomped away, muttering something under his breath in Spanish.
The way he obeyed had me beaming. If he wasn’t in so much trouble, his submission would be so hot.
But, he was in trouble. That meant I couldn’t drool over Lucian, even though he was equally as delicious as his brother, just in a different way.
Cameron watched Lucian leave before turning to me. “I think you’re enjoying this too much.”
I shrugged. “Now, back to more important matters… What did Sebby do then?”
“He asked me to explain–”
“Did you?”
“Soph, let me talk,” Cameron warned.
I rolled my eyes but gestured for him to keep speaking.
“I told him that I wasn’t big into hook-ups–”
“That’s a lie!”
Cameron shot me a look, and I mimed zipping my lips. But, how was I supposed to stay quiet when this was so darn exciting?
“And, I told him if he wanted to keep foolin’ around, that I’d want to get to know him a little better.”
I leaned in a little closer, barely containing my excitement. “And then…?”
Cameron closed his eyes and heaved out a breath. “He got real quiet for a minute before laughing at me.”
“Oh that laugh had to be sooo forced.” Knowing Sebby, he probably just wasn’t sure how to react.
“Ya think?” Cameron seemed genuine in his question.
God! How were men always so dense? If it wasn’t forced, what would Seb have to laugh at? Someone respecting his boundaries and being genuinely interested in him?
Something on my face must have conveyed just how silly Cameron was being. Because his expression changed and it looked like he was genuinely reflecting on the night .
“I guess he did seem a little off after that… I just thought I offended him,” Cameron admitted.
Men.
I was one second away from delving deeper into just how oblivious Cameron was, but the patter of little feet filled the air, and Mason’s voice followed soon after.
“Jasper! Juniper! You’re not done getting dressed!” She sounded exhausted, and I wondered why she was even up.
She didn’t actually climb in bed and fall asleep until like three. It wasn’t even seven yet. That meant she needed at least a few more hours of shut eye.
“Masie can’t catch me!” Juniper squealed before dashing down the steps.
“Yeah! Masie can’t catch Juni!” Jasper giggled, but instead of following his sister, he stopped at the top of the steps and grabbed onto the railing. “Sorry Masie.”
Mason trudged into view, completely out of breath. She drug a hand down her cheek as she looked down at Lucian’s son.
“It’s okay, mon caneton .” Her tone waivered just a little as Jasper wrapped his hand around hers, and they slowly walked down the steps.
While that was a very cute moment, Jasper wasn’t the only gremlin running around.
Juniper had this terrible habit of not looking where she was going.
This aforementioned habit left her to run directly into my leg.
And, of course, in traditional toddler fashion, when she fell backwards and bumped her head, she looked at me like it was my fault.
I sighed as I leaned down and scooped her up before depositing her on the counter.
“You know… if you watched where you went, you wouldn’t bump your noggin.” I tapped her nose as I looked her over once, making sure she had no mortal wounds or things that would warrant a hospital visit.
With big, fat, crocodile tears in her eyes, she looked at Cameron.
“Papa, Mommy hurt me!” she sobbed.
Cameron chuckled before kissing Juniper's forehead .
“No! Do not baby her!” Mason shouted as she and Jasper finally caught up to the tiny tornado. “She literally jumped on top of me!”
I shot her a warning look, and Lucian finally walked back over to tame his terror.
His expression hardened and he said something to Juniper in Spanish. Juniper crossed her arms and huffed. Her little brow lowered as she shot Mason the dirtiest look I’d ever seen a toddler give.
“Ahht! No. She’s going to be your Stepmom one day. Respect her,” Lucian warned.
“I don’t want a Stepmom or a baby sister.” Juniper huffed.
“I want both,” Jasper commented, hugging onto Mason’s leg like his life depended on it.
Cameron ruffled Jasper’s hair before turning to Juniper. “Junebug, you don’t always get what’cha want. Plus, your baby sister ain’t up for debate. She’s already made.”
Juniper’s defiance morphed into a pout as she tightened her arms to her chest.
Cameron sighed. “I’m gonna take her until she’s calmed down a bit.”
“Can you force her to put pants on too?” Mason pleaded.
Cameron tossed Juniper over his shoulders like she was an ornery sack of potatoes and shot Mason a thumbs up. My gaze slid to Lucian who was now leaning against the counter, covering his face.
“She’s your kid,” I told him.
My moms always used to tell eachother that when my siblings or I got in trouble as kids. At the time, it seemed like a cop out, but Juniper was one hundred percent of Lucian’s attitude in a third of the size.
Lucian shot me a look.
“I’m Daddy’s kid too!” Jasper chirped.
A snort of Lucian’s laughter was the next sound to follow.
Part of me wanted to remind him that this was what he missed by not coming home last night but Mason was right there and I didn’t want to bring up any bad feelings.
No need to stress her out when she was literally one wrong sneeze away from having Rosie .
“Lucian, are you okay?” Mason asked, causing Lucian to look up from the counter.
He gave her a tight lipped smile and motioned for her to step closer.
“Just tired, mi corazón. ” His voice was hoarse as he pulled Mason in for a hug before greeting her with a quick kiss. “I’m sorry about last night, by the way.”
Mason’s lips quivered for just a beat before she looked away.
“It’s fine.” Her voice was as gentle as a breeze, but I could tell she was lying through her gapped teeth. “I’m not worried about me, I’m worried about you. You don't look just tired… plus, you’re never up right now.”
Lucian sighed as he looked at me, his shoulders slumping as he mouthed, “What do I say?”
I shrugged as I smiled. If he could lie about when he was coming home, he could lie about this.
His eyes squeezed shut as he shook his head.
“I woke up because I wasn’t feeling well and Sophia is forcing me to make breakfast.” The words tumbled from his lips, and instantly, I wanted to beat his butt.
Mason’s eyes widened as she looked at me.
And, I realized Lucian had lodged me in a proverbial corner.
If I told her he was lying, she’d want to know what actually happened.
And, that meant I’d have to tell her just how much trouble Lucian was in.
But, if I agreed with him, I looked like the bad person.
He’d be lucky if I didn’t make him scrub the bathroom later. On his hands and knees. Maybe even with his toothbrush.
But, for now? “That’s exactly what happened.”
She looked at me not with anger, but pity. “Sophia, I know you can't cook but you could have woken me up.”
If that comment had come from anyone other than Mason, I would have taken it as an insult. But, I knew she was just being sweet.