27. Katherine
KATHERINE
What a night. What a day. But I don’t want to think about that yet. Blowing out a sigh, I rub the sleep from my eyes.
Early morning light is just peeking through the curtains. Shon, my maiden in shining armor, is still out like a light. Truthfully, I don’t know what I did to deserve a friend who’d drop everything and fly to my side at a moment’s notice.
My scalp feels abused, and I wonder if there’s any deep conditioner in the house. Dad’s certainly not the type to have any, and neither is Sutton. My best chance is probably Ford, because he is my brother, after all.
There’s a new brush on the vanity in the bathroom, and I run it gingerly through my hair, wincing at the little clumps that fall out. I eye the vanity stool, tempted to sit for a bit and indulge in a pity party.
And bless whoever found me a toothbrush. By the time I’ve finished brushing my teeth, I feel mildly refreshed. Awake and slightly more determined to move forward instead of getting stuck in the past.
That’s something to sort out in therapy.
For now, I really want to see my guys. I need to feel their arms around me, remind my body that they’re real and we’re all safe. And yes, Gabe and I need to sort out whatever the heck is going on there. He apologized, but he’s been withdrawing from me ever since we got on the helicopter.
I don’t know if he’s grumpy that he didn’t get to sit next to me or… no. King is the one who would sulk, if only for a minute.
Which means whatever is going on in Gabe’s head is deeper. Possibly tied to my inheritance omission. As much as I hate that my grandfather and his games came between us, I wouldn’t change anything. This has all been so fast. A whirlwind.
But I’ll get to the bottom of it.
Despite being woken up in the middle of the night, I slept like a brick. Which I’m thankful for, because I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to fall asleep.
Downstairs, Marissa hands me a cup of coffee, fixed just the way I like it, and I promise to be back soon for breakfast. Then it’s across the yard to the pool house.
A handful of Alex’s team are milling around, and I wonder how that went over with my dad.
Then again, after yesterday, I don’t think any of us will ever begrudge security. Not that we ever really did.
The pool house door is unlocked, as if they’ve been expecting me. One night apart and I miss them terribly. Like something’s missing.
As soon as I see Alex sitting in the living room, phone in hand, an all-business expression on his handsome face, the world rights itself.
“I’ll call you back,” he murmurs as I breeze past the coffee table. He disconnects the call, dropping the phone to the cushion beside his thigh.
“Don’t stop on my account,” I say.
He pulls me to his lap, which is nice, because that’s where I was headed anyway.
“It can wait.”
“Are the guys awake?”
His dark gaze flicks across the room as his lips flatten. The odd expression clears in an instant. “King’s asleep. Gabe’s over at his place.”
“Oh.” Maybe I shouldn’t feel dejected. But I do. Yesterday was hard on everyone, there’s no way around that. But… Why wouldn’t Gabe be here?
King’s here. I’m here. Alex is here. Gabe’s family is here, yet he’s over there in a renovation zone?
Alex wraps a hand around my mug and lifts it to his lips. I’m mesmerized by the sight of sharing this with him, not only my coffee, which already feels intimate, but this moment. Quiet. Settled. Domestic.
So different from yesterday. Almost like the last twenty-four hours were a bad dream.
“There’s more of that in the main house. Marissa’s making a breakfast feast.” I lean close. “I think she likes having a big group to cook for.”
Alex lets go of the mug, and I guide it to my lap, letting the warm ceramic heat my fingers. “She left us a spread here, too.”
The hand around my hip splays wide, feeling like a brand. I take a deep breath, my body relaxing into his touch. Moment by moment, everything, from my bruised scalp to my soul, feels better.
“Thank you. For yesterday.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“I do.” I lean in and kiss the corner of his mouth. He smells of toothpaste and coffee. “I’ve never been happier to see anyone in my life.”
“Same.” He squeezes me.
Nuzzling closer, I give voice to the question that’s been rolling around in my brain. “How’d you find me? Was Tyler able to get out a message?”
Only once the questions are out of my mouth do I notice how still he’s gone. Like a statue. His stillness makes me sit up straight. “Alex?”
His thumb glides along my wrist and fiddles with my bracelet. “There might be a tracker in this charm.”
A tracker?
He gave me a bracelet with a tracker in it? Like an AirTag? Like I’m a puppy who might need help getting home?
If it were anyone else, it’d be unacceptable. Creepy. Maybe it’s still a bit creepy, but after yesterday, I can’t muster much annoyance.
Okay, I can’t rally any annoyance.
“How’d you know? That we’d need it?”
“I prayed I never would.”
“Does Gabe have one?”
“What do you think?”
“And King?”
His lips curve into a ghost of a smile. “He doesn’t need one.”
“He doesn’t?”
His smile broadens and turns mischievous. I’d even call it a bit devilish. “He’s wherever you are.”
Those words make me melt. He steals the mug and sets it aside before I throw myself against his chest, hugging him tight enough to leave a mark.
He presses his face against the side of my neck, and his broad chest relaxes on a deep sigh. There’s a bone-deep relief in him that echoes through my soul.
I wiggle around on his lap, getting as close as possible until I can tighten my thighs around his hips. “You should go in there and wake him up. He’s been missing you something terrible.”
“You haven’t?” I tease.
I can feel his longing through his fingertips. Tight and possessive against my spine.
“Of course I have.”
He cups my cheek and lifts my chin, thumb tracing my lower lip. I can’t resist closing the distance between us, pressing my lips to his. Things go from sweet to spicy in a few heartbeats.
I sink into it, letting my body melt against his. He holds my hips, grinding them against his lap. Running my fingers through his hair, I cling to him, opening my lips for his gentle assault. So hot. Desire shoots through me, and I moan, so happy to be back where I belong.
His phone ringing interrupts us, and my high mellows. I pull back, blinking at him. He looks just as dazed as I feel.
“Take that. I’m going to wake King up.”
Alex gives a stiff nod and squeezes my hip before releasing me.
“We got you a few things.” He glances at the stack of bags I missed when I came in. I instantly recognize the logos of some of my favorite boutiques, plus the Saint’s skin care brand.
“You are the best.” I give him a quick kiss before hopping off his lap. Swiping my coffee, I make a beeline to the boxes and bags. In the bathroom, I slip into a fresh outfit and apply moisturizer with SPF.
Each little improvement boosts my mood, and I feel more like myself and less like roadkill.
In his room, King is sprawled across the bed, white sheets tangled around his hips, a forearm slung over his eyes to block out the morning light. I pause for a moment to enjoy the view and take another big sip of coffee.
His skin is warm gold, just like his hair. Sun-kissed, with a personality to match.
I close the distance, setting my mug on the bedside table, and crawl up onto the bed. He makes a sleepy sound. Smiling, I lean over him and kiss the hand splayed over those incredible abs. How’d I get so dang lucky?
Never mind, no more second-guessing that.
I let my lips be the wake-up call. His muscles tense beneath my hands before he jolts, arm falling away, and his kind eyes lock on me. There’s a soft purple bruise beneath his left eye.
“—fire…”
“Good morning, Handsome.”
There’s that lazy smile that has always done crazy things to my insides. The way he goes from peacefully dreaming to wide awake in an instant is adorable.
“Did you sleep okay?”
“No.” He pouts. “You weren’t next to me.”
“Where was Gabe?”
He inhaled quickly, gaze darting to the door. I’m not imagining it. That’s the second weird look this morning, where Gabe is concerned.
“What’s going on, King?”
He wipes a hand down his face, and I slide up next to him, entwining a leg with his. Pulling me close, he drops a kiss to my lips. “Mmm… coffee.”
“Stop stalling.”
He stares up at the ceiling and says, “He and Alex got into it last night.”
“About?” I know he knows. King is in the middle of everything. No way he sits out of a disagreement between Alex and Gabe. Especially when he considers them family.
“Old wounds, apparently. Give them some time. No one was at their best last night.”
I specifically remember telling them I didn’t want to come between them. But maybe he’s right and they just need to work things out themselves.
“Do you want coffee? Breakfast?”
He shakes his head. “Just you.”
He tugs me until I’m lying across his chest, then tangles a hand in my hair. I wince at the bite of pain, and King releases me immediately with a swift apology.
“It’s okay.” Hands splayed on his chest, I press a kiss to his chin.
“Are you sure you don’t want to see a doctor? Get checked out?” he asks, so soft and gentle I ache at his sweetness. His thoughtfulness.
“I promise I would go if I thought I needed it. Mostly, I’m just tender. I’ve never been in a cat fight before.”
A laugh rumbles out of it. “Kat fight. I see what you did there.”
It’s so good to see him smile. “I love you.”
There’s a split second where his smile falters, almost like he’s trying to decide if he believes his ears. Then the megawatt grin, perfect white teeth, and kissable lips appear on his face. All that happiness radiating right at me.
“I love you too. I’m fucking crazy about you.”
“I’m glad we finally sorted that out.”
His erection prods me as if it’s got a mind of its own. “Same.”
With a smirk, I coast down, pulling the sheet up over my head. He slept in his boxers.
“Wildfire—”
“Mhmm?”
His cock strains against the thin cotton fabric, and I run a hand over it. He inhales sharply as I chuckle. Getting such a reaction will never get old.
Reaching inside the gap, I fist his hard length. His scent is like a drug, and I lean in for a nibble. My gosh, his skin is so silky smooth. It’s honestly unfair how much work it takes for me to maintain supple, soft skin when all he does is wash with soap once a day.
Men really do have it all.
“Cat got your tongue?” I ask and then angle him so I can take him deep.
“No. She’s got my dick.”
There’s a single heartbeat where we both process what he just said, and then we’re both laughing. I press my face against his hip, joy filling me all the way to my toes.
“That was so cheesy!” I pop my head out of the covers. “Thanks for making me laugh.”
He grins at me, such a familiar face with a new smile.
It’s happier than I’ve ever seen before.
So happy it almost hurts because we now have a glimpse of our happiness being stolen from us.
It’s terrifying to think of how badly yesterday could have turned out.
Even worse is the thought that this wonderful man would be so destroyed if worse came to worse.
“My pleasure,” he murmurs.
I give a low hum of approval. “It will be.”
With that, I flip the covers back over my head and get to work, driving him out of his mind with a morning BJ.