24. Declare
Declare
Sara
I woke up cuddled up with my guys, still deliciously sore after my nap.
My guys. I can’t wipe the smile from my face as we walk toward the kitchen to find something for dinner. Wanting to stay in our little world, we can only hope that Tom and Natasha take their dinner to their room and leave the kitchen to us.
Tom owes me this time. And I need space so I don’t go off on him again.
When we walk into the kitchen, it’s blissfully empty. No idea if Tom and Natasha will come in while we’re here. Am I ready for him to find out about the others? Not that he has any room to talk right now. He has no right to an opinion after what he did to Wyatt.
“Are we telling Tom yet?” I look to Wyatt. He still cares about Tom. Part of me is glad Tom delayed me hooking up with Wyatt, because I would have never had Dante or Finn. And never would have met Drew. I can’t imagine loving just one of them.
“It’s up to you, trouble.” Wyatt walks over to the fridge and starts putting vegetables on the counter. “Do you want to tell him, or do you want us to?”
I bite my lip. I’m not ready to be out of this bubble yet. Dealing with reality seems like a bad idea. And facing the consequences of what we’ve become… Everything is so new. I don’t want to spoil this little respite from the outside world.
“Not yet.” I blow out a breath and Wyatt nods. I don’t want to hurt Wyatt. “It’s not that I don’t want to claim you. I just don’t want to do the whole blame game, and Tom doesn’t deserve to be hurt or get to play the victim in this.”
“He won’t, pip.” Dante’s blue eyes meet mine. “But we can take it one day at a time, and you can let him in on it when you’re ready.”
“We picked up a lot of groceries that I hope these others can do something with.” Drew smirks as he grabs my hand and draws me against him. I snuggle into his warmth as the others move around the kitchen.
“I’m mostly good for breakfast.” Finn touches my back. “But I can follow a recipe. Sara is the best at desserts.”
I turn and meet his green eyes with a smile. “It depends on what I have to work with, but if you want, I can make dessert.”
Finn tips my chin up and kisses me softly. “I’ll have you for dessert any day, flower.”
Heat floods me, but he doesn’t do anything to instigate more.
When he backs away with a cocky smile, I glance around to make sure Tom didn’t come in.
This feeling of guilt is unwelcome and totally irrational.
Just because they’re his friends doesn’t mean I can’t have them. That’s his rule. Not mine.
Fuck it. I need something to distract me. I wade into the guys as they are pulling out things to cook for dinner. The pantry is actually decently stocked.
Arms wrap around my waist from behind and pull me into a solid form.
“Can I help you, princess?” Drew says softly into my ear.
Little sparks light beneath my skin. I lean back and soak in his warmth and breathe in his spicy cologne. “I was thinking a cake. Maybe cupcakes?”
He presses a kiss to my temple. “Tell me what you need and I’ll find it for you.”
His chest rises with mine, and I kind of don’t want to leave his arms. This is nice. This is what I want. To be close to them and just hang out, like the movie earlier and even the walk. I want to be able to go out on a date like I had with Drew.
I love being fucked by them, but I also long for these quiet moments.
What would a date be like with Finn? Would we go to a club? Some trendy new restaurant or bar that has live music? Dante? Watch a horror movie like we did before? I shiver remembering his tongue working me until I came so hard.
Wyatt? I glance toward Wyatt as he turns on a burner on the stove to heat a pan. I’ve seen him out on dates at restaurants, but that doesn’t feel like something we would do. For appearances, of course, but what would a date with Wyatt Hawkins be like?
Wyatt catches me looking at him and gives me a grin that makes my insides flare hot. Not that we can do anything about that heat in the kitchen. Maybe it’s a good thing we’re down here because I can’t just pull someone’s cock out and start an orgy in the kitchen.
Nope, can’t do that. I shake myself out of it and turn my gaze back to the pantry.
“Put me to work, princess.” Drew nuzzles my neck. Tipping my head back against his chest, I enjoy the closeness for another few seconds.
I squeeze his arms one last time. “I’ll get the ingredients. Can you find the mixer and some pans? Preferably round, but I can make do with square. If neither of those, then maybe cupcake tins?”
“On it.” He squeezes me against him before releasing me.
A smile teases my lips. I want more of that. Soft touches and little kisses not as foreplay. Sighing, I focus on getting out the ingredients.
“Excuse me, pip.” Dante reaches around me for a few things. His lips brush my neck as he draws away.
I turn to catch his smile as he moves back to the island. We could get caught if they keep this up, but why am I keeping it a secret anyway? Eventually it will have to come out. Then I’ll have to deal with Tom.
Fuck, I don’t want to deal with Tom.
The burning inside me changes intensities. What Tom did to Wyatt is awful. The problem is that Tom is still holding Wyatt’s father over his head. But I don’t give a shit. I don’t need to be Miss Popularity on the social scene.
I never have.
All I want is to be loved and that’s what these guys offer.
But I also don’t want to lose my family.
Mom would be the biggest source of pain.
She’ll wonder if I’ve thought this through.
How will this look to the Wyndhams? What could she tell her friends about the guys I’m dating? What will people think?
“Hey.” Wyatt wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me back into him. “What’s going on, trouble?”
I turn in his arms and lay my head over his heart. “Just thinking outside the bubble.”
He runs his hand up and down my spine in a soothing manner. “We’ll deal with it one day at a time. Tonight, we’re going to cook dinner and eat together. Then maybe we’ll go back to our room and play a game.”
I drag in a breath and lift my head to meet his gaze. “A game?”
He smiles, and it makes my heart stop as he cradles my head.
Fuck, I love him so fucking much. It’s different now from when I crushed on him.
There’s no turning back. There’s no giving him up and moving on with my life.
He’s part of me, burned in so deep it would feel like removing a vital organ to get rid of him now.
His forehead touches mine. “Something fun and easy. Maybe one where you keep your pants on.”
I smile at the playful grin on his face. “And if I’d prefer to go without?”
His chuckle is dark and tingles roll down my spine.
“I can work with that, trouble.” He backs away, sliding his fingers against my sides. “You good?”
I nod. Yeah, I’ll be good.
Drew brings me bowls, pans, and a mixer and tells me stories about his high school years while I mix the batter and get it into a cupcake tin and then the oven. By the time I finish, the room smells delicious, and the guys have our food plated.
Dante hands me one and leads me into the dining room. He sets his plate down and pulls the chair out next to him for me. Giving him a smile, I sit and look over the steak, asparagus, carrots, and brussels sprouts.
My stomach rumbles as Finn sits on my other side and slides his hand over my thigh, sending fireworks careening through me. He leans in close to my ear so that his words fan my hair. “Eat well, flower. You’ll need your energy.”
I meet his darkened green eyes and pop a bite of carrot into my mouth. Oh, fuck, that’s good. I moan slightly.
When I finish chewing, I point to the carrots. “You made this?”
Finn raises an eyebrow. “That’s why you need all of us. Drew would just let you starve.”
“I happen to know a chef who works miracles in the kitchen.” Drew settles across from me and gives me a wink. “I can keep our girl fed.”
“Just remember this in an apocalypse.” Finn chuckles. “We eat Drew first.”
He shrugs and gives me a playful smile. “If it keeps you alive, go for it. But I have other uses besides just meat.”
“Nothing we can’t provide.” Wyatt sits next to Drew and actually smiles at him. “What do you bring to the table anyway? We’ve already got a fuckboy.” Wyatt nods to Finn.
“Reformed fuckboy, flower.” Finn lifts my hand and kisses it.
I shake my head and take another bite. I know who these guys were before.
“You don’t have a pedigree like us. New money.” Wyatt makes a face but Drew laughs.
“I doubt any of you will wine and dine Sara quite like I do.” Drew leans forward and meets my eyes. “I bring romance to this equation. She needs someone who will pamper her and show her a good time.”
I smile because he has done that. “Drew is winning at dating.”
“We haven’t really had a chance to date yet, pip.” Dante draws my attention.
“You want to date me?” I arch an eyebrow because we kind of discussed this, but not really.
Dante runs his finger along my jaw. “Of course, pip. Why wouldn’t I want some one-on-one time with you without competing with the others? Or sharing a bed.”
“I’m not opposed to sharing a bed.” My cheeks heat as I admit that.
Dante’s gaze drops to my lips. “We’re all aware of your growing appetite.”
A burst of warmth flows through me as he lifts his gaze back to mine.
“While we all love fucking you, pip, there’s more to this than just that.” Dante strokes his finger down my neck, igniting sparks in my blood.
“I like the fucking part, boss.” I angle my head down a little in a challenge.
Dante chuckles and straightens. “Careful what you wish for.”
I couldn’t wish for more than this. The conversation turns to work and the guys soon start to quiz Drew on his businesses. Both his family business and the strip club. I try to listen intently. I still have my internship to finish and then one more semester of school.
After I graduate, I’m going to need a job that will get me ready to work with Madison, Kayla, and Hope.
Madison found a mentor. I need to do the same.
That and find a job after I graduate. We need experience to run a business, whether it’s starting one ourselves or taking the reins at Cliodhna from Deidre Byrne, Madison’s mentor.
“The food that good, flower?” Finn’s voice makes me focus in on them.
“Sorry, what?” I look around at their amused faces.
“You left us, princess.” Drew gives me a half grin. “What were you thinking about?”
“College, career, taking over the world.” I smile back. “Normal girl things.”
“I support you in whatever you want to do.” Drew nods solemnly. “Which makes me the best boyfriend.”
I laugh. “You’re a very good boyfriend.”
“We should clean up.” Wyatt stands, but someone clears her throat.
We all turn to look at Natasha standing in the doorway to the kitchen. I still don’t know what to feel about her. So I just wait because she seems like she has something to say.
She wrings her hands. “Things are strained with you guys and Tom. And I get it. He should have warned you better. I should have said something to him.”
She steps into the room and Dante stands to block me from her.
Her eyes widen as she lifts her gaze up to him, but she straightens and doesn’t back down.
“I’d like to get to know Sara better.” Her hand goes to the small swell of her abdomen. She really isn’t showing yet. “Tom—” She stops and looks up at the ceiling. “I love him very much. We’re still trying to figure us out, and then…”
She gestures to her stomach.
“I’m not mad at you.” I stand and put my hand on Dante’s back, moving to his side. “I don’t know you. But I’d like to get to know you. Technically, you’re family.”
I give her a hopeful smile and her shoulders relax. This is going to be hard on everyone, and she doesn’t need to come into this family with strikes against her. Mom might think it’s all her fault that Tom abandoned me and got me kidnapped.
Stepping forward, I say, “Tomorrow, we can talk. I’m still tired from what I went through.”
She returns my smile. “Okay, tomorrow.”
She looks around at my guys, not knowing they’re all mine. Just knowing they’re protective of me. Maybe she knows more? Or suspects more?
Nodding to me, she ducks out of the room.
Does she talk about it with Tom? I shake my head.
“Come on, princess. Let’s get you into something more comfortable.” Drew carries his plate and mine through to the kitchen.
“I’m already pretty comfortable,” I murmur.
Dante tips my chin up and his light blue eyes search mine. “I think we can get a lot more comfortable, pip.”
Heat stains my cheeks. Yes, we can.