Chapter 7
I’ve Got No Roots
GREER
Roarke actually leaves me alone to unpack my bags. I’m not sure he won’t tell the others what happened at the apartment. The orgasm or the crying. But their offer was no strings attached. So it shouldn’t matter?
When I finish unpacking and separating out what needs to be cleaned, I don’t have any other reason to stay in here. It feels odd to even have a room. I leave my flip-flops and decide it’s okay to wander barefoot. After all, this is where I live now.
Fuck, I live here. In this gorgeous house with gorgeous men. I can’t fuck this up.
I need a purpose, so I figure I’ll go check what’s available in the kitchen. If I’m going to cook, I’ll need to know what I’m working with. Maybe I’ll even go outside and put my toes in the grass. Or walk on the pier that leads to the ocean. A little tingle of joy races through me.
Quietly, I move through the house. It’s been a while, but I’m used to feeling like a stranger in a new home. Usually someone watches me, at least the first day. One of the kids or even one of the adults. So it surprised me when Roarke set my bags down and kissed the top of my head before wandering off.
I don’t know where the others are. I’m not sure if anything is off limits. Anxiety winds around me, just waiting for something to happen. I may be used to starting over, but it’s never a comfortable feeling.
When I get to the kitchen, movement outside draws my attention. Someone is swimming laps in the sparkling pool. I step toward the open doors but stay in the shadows of the house to avoid being seen.
Aiden’s long arms cut through the water like butter as he races to the end before turning like a champion swimmer and going back the other way. Is this part of his sobriety? Or maybe just his regular routine? Routine and exercise are important in a lot of ways.
I need to find out Aiden’s routine so I know when he’s having an off day. Maybe I’ll be bold enough to walk out and read next to the pool while he works out. Maybe.
That’s if I have time to read. Mason said I would be expected to do chores. I should probably find him to clarify.
I step away from the opening and turn. My shriek cuts short as I lift my gaze to Mason’s blue eyes. My pulse pounds through my veins from being startled. He’s so close to me and I didn’t even hear him approach.
“Greer.” His tone elongates my name.
“I was just going to check the kitchen for supplies.” I gesture toward the island behind him.
His gaze locks over my shoulder. “Are you easily distracted, Ms. Morrow?”
I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean, but I know the way he says my name makes my insides heat.
“This is a new place. I haven’t lived around so many people in a while, but I’ll get used to it.” I always get used to it. I glance over my shoulder. Aiden continues to glide through the water. I could watch him all day. The way he moves is elegant. His muscles stretch with every stroke.
“Did you come from a large family?” Mason’s words bring my attention back to him.
“No.” Never give more information until they ask specifically. I kind of already shot that rule with Aiden, but he needs someone to confide in him. To trust him.
When Mason looks at me, it feels like he’s trying to dissect me. “Sir.”
“What?”
“Say no, sir.” He clears his throat.
Huh. Okay. “No, sir.”
No one else seems that formal, but with the vibes Mason gives off, I shouldn’t be surprised. I walk around him to the kitchen and open the refrigerator.
“Make a list of anything you need. We have a shopper go once a week to the grocery for us.” Mason moves into the space behind me and leans against the counter. If he’s trying to intimidate me, it’s working.
His nearness throws me off balance. Control and power radiate from him. Strong men have always made me nervous. I’m not surprised that Mason makes me feel the same as Mary’s paramour. Part of me wants to cave to any of his demands, while the other part is prepared to put up a fight.
“I’ve made a list of chores for you. As well as our current diets. They’re all on the tablet in the butler’s pantry.” His voice is sure and precise.
“Butler’s pantry?” What the hell is a butler’s pantry?
“Through that opening.”
I turn to see him gesture with a nod of his chin toward the corner of the kitchen. Taking a breath in, I follow his direction past the white cabinets and white marble counters. As I draw closer, I can see the opening. When I get to the doorway, I pause.
It’s like the opposite of the kitchen. The cabinets are black and in a long galley style. The counters are gray with streaks of white. It’s beautiful and dark. Like the man behind me.
I move into the room and go to the stand with the tablet on it.
“These cabinets hold our dishes, especially for formal occasions.” Mason’s voice makes me straighten, and I spin to face him. His finger trails along one of the white veins in the marble. “We’ll hire a cook and staff for those parties. You’ll be expected to devote all of your attention to staying at Aiden’s side.”
That makes sense. The booze probably flows liberally at those parties. “Is there anything else I need to know?”
“Sir,” he prompts. His eyes flare with a little heat.
I need to learn what these men expect of me and do as they ask. Within reason. But this is a job I intend to keep.
“Sir.” My chest tightens as he closes in on me. A hint of his earthy leather scent reaches my nose. It draws me and makes me want to move closer to get a better smell. I mentally shake myself.
“I need you to look after my friends. All of them.” He stops with a hair’s breadth separating us. An inhale would make my breasts bump against him. “I’m not sure what you’re used to, but we have a lot of demands.”
Holding his gaze is difficult. I’m pretty sure he wants my submission, but I can’t give it to him. Not now. My blood thunders through my veins, and I can feel my pussy pulse in want.
When he lifts his hand from the counter, my breath catches in my throat and I hold perfectly still, anticipating his touch.
“I know why they want you, little mouse.” His finger traces the vein throbbing in my neck and I almost whimper at the heat that courses through me. “Do you know why?”
I shake my head at his question. I don’t have a clue. Pretty sure it isn’t just because I’m present, but maybe convenience has something to do with it. But these guys could get any woman they wanted.
“You’re like this perfect little picture of a broken girl.” Mason’s hand wraps around the back of my neck as he pulls me against him. All his hard lines press against my softness. His hand wraps around my hip to keep me there. “Some of us want to coddle you and fix you, but some of us prefer to see what more we can break.”
I should push him away. Fear should be pounding through me as his piercing gaze searches my eyes, but instead, desire and need ache within. Curiosity has me asking, “Which are you? Sir?”
My neck strains to hold the angle to search his eyes.
The corner of his lips tips up. “I like to play with broken toys, little mouse. I like to draw out the darkness within and test it. See how it fits with my darkness.”
“You think you can break me?” I wet my suddenly dry lips, drawing his attention to them. His eyes darken, and I’m surprised I don’t burst into flames. “Sir?”
“I’ll enjoy trying.” His thumb brushes against my jaw, sending sparks across my skin. “But before we can play, we need to establish limits and rules. When you’re ready to see what I can do to you, little mouse.”
He releases me and walks out. I manage to hold myself upright until he steps out of the room and I hear his footsteps fade. When my knees give, I catch myself on the counter.
Fuck, he’s intense. I’m not sure whether I’ll be able to stand up to him without falling to my knees.
Pretty sure that’s where he wants me.
I take a few minutes to get myself together before grabbing the tablet and heading out into the sun. I need its warmth to chase away the darkness.
Aiden still cuts through the water effortlessly, not slowing even a little. I sit on one of the lounge chairs. Outside shouldn’t be a luxury, but in the city, it is. Sure, there are parks, but nothing like this where you have privacy.
Over the years, I’ve had to build up my walls. To deal with disappointment. To deal with pain. To deal with loss. Mason’s not wrong when he calls me broken. But my breaks don’t make me weak, they make me stronger. He can try to poke at them, but I’m not worried.
I close my eyes and tip my face to the sun. Warmth penetrates my skin and chases away the chills of the past. I could spend all day out here like this. Even the inevitable sunburn would be worth it. This is my life for now. Cool grass underfoot and blue skies overhead with the ocean rolling in nearby.
My eyes pop open. I need to call Bristol. She’ll want to know how it went and what’s happened. I need to thank her. Maybe buy her something nice with my first paycheck. My phone is up in the room. Next time I go up, I’ll remember to text her.
I open the tablet and scroll through the list of chores.
Laundry might be a big one. Four guys. I need to figure out where the laundry is and how I get it there. Do I go into their rooms? That seems odd, but if that’s the way they want me to do it.
I make a note to clarify that. Dishes. Straightening. Vacuuming the main area. Apparently, they want a housewife. For what they intend to pay me, I’ll buy a bunch of fifties dresses and aprons and heels and do whatever they like around the house. Minus the martinis, of course.
“What’s that smile for?” Aiden’s voice still makes me starstruck.
Setting the tablet on my lap, I raise my gaze to find Aiden with his muscled arms crossed on the edge of the pool. His hair is slicked back. How long was he watching me?
“The smile, little warrior?” He cocks his eyebrow.
Shit. What was I thinking about? “Oh, that I should get fifties-style dresses, an apron, and heels to do all my chores in.”
His smile spreads. “You want to be our little housewife?”
“You know I’m more than my size.” I pick up the tablet and scroll through the list more.
The sound of water sliding off him makes me raise my gaze to watch him lift himself out of the pool. Where Roarke and Wyatt are built thick, Aiden is all lean muscle. I swear he gets out of the pool like he’s being filmed. Graceful, without a hint of awkwardness.
The sunlight glints off the water caressing his skin. His defined abs and that V disappear into his square-leg, tight swimsuit hugging his hips. And I’m checking out his package, noting its large size before dropping my gaze to his legs.
Sex doesn’t normally preoccupy my mind, but I’m going to blame them for even putting the thoughts into my head. They’re way too gorgeous to go around saying they want to have sex with someone like me. People like me are just not used to that kind of attention.
He walks to the chair next to me and grabs his towel off it. I didn’t even notice that I’d sat next to it. He pats himself dry and sits on the chair facing me.
“What are you looking at?” He rubs the towel over his hair and the curls all bounce back into place.
I hold up the tablet like a proud toddler. “My list of chores.”
He smirks. “Mason likes things a certain way. I wouldn’t tell him about the fifties vibe or he’ll make it happen.”
I set the tablet on my lap. “I get that I need to help around the house. But what do you need from me? It would help if I knew your typical schedule.”
With a smile, he reclines on the lounge chair next to me. “What I need is a loaded question, little warrior.”
“Why?” I turn on my side to watch him. “I’m being hired as your sobriety buddy. You must have some expectations from me.”
“I’m glad you’re taking this job seriously.” He turns his head my way and squints in the sunlight. “I’ll give you as much access as you like. You want to know my routine, just follow me for a day.”
“Okay.” That sounds easy enough. It’s not like I have other things to do. “What do we do first?”
“Shower.” He gives me a grin that makes my insides melt.
My lips curve even though I try to hold it back. “Fine, but I’m taking one in my bedroom.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He sits up.
“On my own,” I stress.
“Someday I’m going to use the recovery card.” He eyes me up and down, making my toes curl. “Do you know how much play I could be getting?”
Probably a lot. I ignore his question and the heat pooling inside me. “Do you have therapy?”
“Individual and group. Once a week and when needed.” Aiden runs a hand through his hair. “One of the guys will come with. There’s a nice restaurant across from the office building where you can get something to eat while you wait.”
“That sounds nice.” I want to ask him more, but I also don’t want to pry. Certain things always made my mother backslide. Does he have anything like that? Something I need to watch for? But when he’s looking at me like this, I don’t want to remind him of the bad times in his life.
He seems happy and healthy, practically glowing in the sunlight. He stands and holds his hand out to me. Without a thought, I slip my hand into his. Sparks travel up my arm as I let him help me stand.
This is all so delicate. He’s recovering. Roarke made me come in my apartment. Wyatt almost kissed me. And Mason wants to dissect me. Not how I saw my day going at all.
Aiden doesn’t release my hand but leads me through the house to our end of the hallway. He lifts my hand up to his mouth and brushes his lips over my knuckles. Tingles skitter down my spine, as his blue eyes hold mine.
“I’m glad you applied for the job, little warrior.”
“Me too.” My voice sounds breathy.
His smile turns mischievous. “Change into something that will blow my mind for dinner.”