Chapter 14
EVE
Despite the busyness of our lives, which for me included self-defense classes with Connor, who was ignoring me, regular classes with Ethan, who stared at me through the entire lecture like I was dessert, Brodie auditioning so often that I felt like we were in a long-distance relationship, Haze continuing to sit so close at night our entire sides touched, which was almost as erotic as sex, and Andrew sneaking into my room to carry me back to his for snuggles, which had me questioning all of our sanities, we all still found time for Sunday family dinners.
When Andrew Knightsbridge said an event was mandatory, he really meant it.
He’d roasted both a turkey and a chicken tonight.
Seeing him fuss around the table reminded me of what Haze had said, and that Andrew’s little quirks were not his fault.
There were reasons he was pedantic about everything, and I found myself softening as I watched him rearrange the platters, placing the vegetables alongside the meats, until everything was perfectly aligned.
“Can I help?” I asked softly. I was the first one downstairs, and despite his afternoon cooking, Andrew looked fresh and gorgeous in his button-down and slacks.
Casual for him, but striking against his tall, lithely muscled frame.
We hadn’t fucked again since the night when we’d both lost every ounce of control. These recent early mornings he’d stolen me away, only to wrap himself around me like I was his own personal safety blanket, had me wishing that I could push him to lose it again.
Sooner rather than later.
I might be getting plenty of sex from my two boyfriends, but the other three men in this house were edging me in the worst and best ways. How this was even my life, I had no idea, but I’d stopped second-guessing every interaction, choosing instead to go with the flow.
“I’d love your help, Eve,” he said, and when he brushed his hand down my cheek, I felt my stomach flutter with the movement. “Could you get the glasses and a pitcher of tea?”
Following him into the kitchen, the items were already neatly arranged on a tray, and I hauled them into the dining room and placed everything in its right spot.
I knew where Andrew wanted it from the many family dinners we’d had, and for once there was no inclination in me to push him out of his comfort zone.
The need to punish Andrew over previous hurts had faded. Now I wanted to protect him and all his quirks. The more I grew to understand him and his nature, the more I saw the faults on both sides of our interactions, and Haze’s gentle but blunt chastising had been exactly what I needed.
“That’s perfect, Evie,” Andrew said, and I paused. He’d never called me that. Brodie called me Evie babe, but for the most part the rest of them stuck with Eve. Or Evelyn.
When I eyed him, his smile was slow and content. “I used to call you that, when we were younger. I was always Evie this and Evie that. Mom said that I was a little obsessed, and considering my personality type, that doesn’t surprise me.”
My cheeks heated, and I was once again wishing that we were alone and naked in a room.
Despite everything, I couldn’t deny the connection between us that had clearly started almost two decades ago.
“I wish I remembered more about us,” I said, trying to force the memories free.
“I think I would have liked obsessed Andrew.”
This time his smile was broad and so genuine that my stupid heart ached. “You’ll see him again, don’t worry.”
“Are you sure I’m not already?” I joked, since I wasn’t the one who’d been initiating our nighttime cuddles. Not that I was complaining. Ethan, on the other hand, was struggling with the sharing.
That got me another brush of his hand down my cheek, and a small shake of his head. “I don’t want to scare you off.”
With that, he bustled back into the kitchen, leaving me confused and slightly horny, which was apparently my state at all times around this man. At least it was no longer murderously angry.
Brodie and Ethan entered the room a moment later, presenting me with two very nice distractions. They approached from either side, wrapping their arms around me in a hug that ended up in a messy three-way snuggle. Not that either of them seemed to mind.
“Evie babe,” Brodie crooned near my ear. “Fuck, I missed you so much.” He’d been in LA all week for a series of auditions and chemistry reads. We’d texted constantly, and even sexted a few times, but this was the first time I’d had his arms around me in too many days.
The part of me that was tense when he was away finally relaxed.
Brodie’s lips rested against my throat after he kissed me, and Ethan pulled us both closer in his strong arms. “Well, you’re home for tonight at least, right?” he asked.
Brodie nodded. “Yes, thank fuck. That should be the last audition for a while. Looks like I’m going to get that rockstar book series adaptation though, which I’m fucking thrilled about.”
A small squeal erupted from me as I pulled away to see his face. “Oh my God. You’re going to be perfect as Jace. Lucky you can sing.”
Brodie laughed in a low husky rumble. “Yeah, and lucky it’s a why choose, right? Because I’ve got plenty of experience now.”
That had me blushing hard, which set both of them off into laughter again. “Come on, baby,” Ethan said, leading me over to my usual chair. “Let’s get some food into you. Brodie has big plans for you tonight, and I don’t want you to be too tired if I join in.”
Brodie groaned and palmed the front of his jeans. “Too many nights without my girl. I’m dying.”
I’d already noted how hot he looked in a black Henley that hugged his muscles, the distressed biker jeans and black boots to finish it off.
The fact that he hadn’t taken his shoes off yet meant he’d all but raced in here from getting home, and I loved that he was so excited to see me.
Even if it was going to have Andrew stressing about germs and dirt on the floors. I’d help him clean it up later.
Ethan, who was dressed in workout gear, looked just as fucking gorgeous. Yep, I was definitely not going to be too tired for whatever plans they had.
We sat, Brodie all but pulling me into his lap so we were so close, right as Andrew brought out the final dish of baked potatoes.
Which must have been the cue for Haze and Connor to enter.
One of whom pretended I didn’t exist, while the other gave me his usual enigmatic smile.
Along with a slight brush of his huge palm over my head.
Haze learning how to touch me without repercussions was both hot and frustrating, but I was living for those little grazes.
When I wiggled in my chair, Brodie’s hand slid across my thigh, wrapping close to where my core throbbed.
It was getting ridiculous, but I was literally surrounded by the sexiest men I’d ever seen in my life, and I was only human.
Brodie’s little finger grazed over the seam of my sweats, and when he brushed my clit, I jumped in my chair.
No one appeared to notice, unless Connor’s glare was his way of showing disapproval. But considering he’d been looking at me like that since he overheard my conversation with Lacey, I couldn’t tell for sure. “Okay, let’s all eat,” Andrew said, taking his seat at the head of the table.
As I reached for the utensils to start dishing my food out—I’d noticed the guys preferred me to go first, each of them waiting until my plate was full before they filled their own—Brodie’s grip on my thigh tightened. It was enough that a small gasp escaped me, which I covered with a cough.
Across from us, Ethan looked amused, his gaze firmly locked on my face. The others I didn’t acknowledge, forcing myself to pile food onto my plate and covering it all in a healthy serving of gravy. Andrew might be a lot of things, but a bad cook was not one of them.
“How did your audition go?” Andrew asked as the others started to dish up.
Brodie told them all about his fourth read today, and the chemistry check with the newest up-and-coming Hollywood actress who they wanted for the leading lady, Billie.
He also managed to eat one handed, while the other continued to stroke along my pants until I was practically soaked from his touch.
I had no idea how he was remaining so calm and coordinated.
I’d already stabbed my cheek twice with the fork and was going to take out an eye if he continued.
When I gave up on being able to eat, Brodie’s clever fingers slipped past the waistband of my sweats and underwear, stroking through the wetness he’d created.
When I moaned, the conversation ceased, and I huffed out a laugh.
“The food is delicious,” I managed to say, and Andrew nodded like that made sense.
I was fairly sure the other three knew what was happening over here, but other than smirks from two and a scowl from the cranky ass, they made no comment.
“Brodie,” I hissed under my breath. “You’re seriously—”
He slipped a finger inside me, and from this angle I was so tight that the sensation of him pushing through clenched muscles almost had me coming right there on his hand.
In front of everyone. The low, husky chuckle that followed was almost as potent to my senses.
“Damn, I really missed you, Evie babe. From here on out, when I’m on set, you’re coming with me. ”
Andrew caught that, despite Brodie’s low murmur. “It’s still not safe,” he said. “We don’t know what’s happening with her father or his enemies. He’s not answering my calls, and I won’t risk Evie. Not just so you don’t have to jerk off for a few days.”
That had Brodie’s smile growing, his fingers stilling momentarily to give me a second to catch my breath, even as the steady thudding pulse between my thighs grew stronger.
“You sure it’s not just that you’re having trouble sleeping without your face buried in our girl’s…
hair?” Brodie said as he cleared his throat, his face turned toward Andrew.
“Don’t think Eth and I haven’t noticed you sneaking her out of the room when you need her. ”
I expected our resident control freak to deny he needed me in any way, but to my fucking shock he simply nodded.
“Yes, I would be lost without her presence here. She’s exactly what our fucked-up group has been missing all these years.
I knew it when we were kids, and having her here now has only reiterated that. Eve is one of us.”
One of us. I’d never been one of anything. Never. He’d said it so calmly and matter-of-fact, too. Facts, not opinion.
Connor scoffed, but he never actually voiced words to disagree with his best friend.
Brodie’s fingers started to stroke me again, and I think this was about the time Andrew finally noticed what was happening over on this side of the table.
Maybe it was the way I had to grip the edge of the timber, or the very faint, obscene sound Brodie’s fingers made as he plunged them into my wetness.
“Fuck,” I muttered, the first flutters of my orgasms washing over me.
I should be embarrassed, but I just couldn’t find it in myself to do more than close my eyes and bite my lip to ride out the pleasure.
He didn’t slow for a long time, and the silence in the room had me terrified to open my eyes and see their reactions.
When I couldn’t hide from it any longer, I found myself the subject of five hungry gazes, though Andrew looked slightly horrified when Brodie slid his hand free and then licked his fingers.
Motherfucker. But also, that was so damn hot, a new pulse started to throb inside me. When Brodie dropped both of his hands, now semi-clean, to the tablecloth, I swore Andrew muttered Grandma's favorite before he averted his gaze.
Ethan, on the other hand, had apparently had enough.
He lurched to his feet, pupils blown to hell.
Two steps around the table and he had my chair dragged back and me thrown over his shoulder faster than I could blink, and despite my plate being still half-full, I was more than happy to be caveman-carried out of there.
Brodie right on our heels.