Chapter 34 Riley #2
They all moved around me like some sort of prestigious bodyguard service.
Each of them taking my stuff, removing pieces of my clothing and turning on the shower.
They left me alone but claimed to be close by if I needed them.
I didn’t want to be alone for long, so I kept my shower short and came out as refreshed as I could be.
No amount of scrubbing was going to remove my thoughts and the way I currently felt about myself.
“Are you hungry?” Asher asked, crossing his arms over his chest. His simple black t-shirt tightened around his arms and his slouchy gray sweatpants sat low on his hips.
“No,” I answered, not really in the mood to attempt to put food in my mouth.
They all looked tired and I assumed for different reasons.
I’d gawked at River when he explained about what happened at Marth Moon.
Corrin had to refrain from squealing when she discovered her partner was now the alpha.
Chancellor Fowler had his desperate claws in everything.
He wasn’t always around, but he was always watching and I wasn’t surprised.
Maybe things would be easier if I just submitted.
If I was the obedient daughter in all things, like he’s wanted me to be.
That idea made me want to throw up.
“I think bed is a good option,” I offered, nodding towards River’s room. I started to walk but then a hand gripped my bicep and pulled me past the door. I looked up to see Asher steering me towards his room.
“Is this a sleepover?” Grayson joked, trying to lift the mood.
“Don’t call it that,” Asher said, closing his door when we were all inside. He focused his green eyes on me. “You sleep in here tonight. And I suppose the rest of you can as well.”
“So, a sleepover,” Grayson repeated, winking at my boyfriend’s brother.
I heard rustling from outside the door and then a body slamming into the wood.
You don’t want to come inside? I thought to Beau.
I cuddle with my mom or mom and River, not mom and three other people. Even if they want to make you happy. I could have sworn I heard him sigh from outside.
River came over to me, wrapping his arms around my body. He kissed my forehead. “You need anything, you tell one of us, okay?”
“I will. I just really want to sleep.” I padded over to the bed, the sheets cool against the exposed skin of my thighs.
I watched the guys mentally decide how they wanted to lay in bed.
Asher removed his shirt, tucking himself into my right side, while River let Grayson snuggle into my left side before he snuck in behind Grayson, spooning him.
Asher took off his glasses and reached over to cut off the light from his lamp, shrouding the room in darkness.
I didn’t know what it was but something about this sleeping arrangement had my heart beating at a normal rate, the anxiety that consumed me mellowed out and the sleepiness I tried to push aside overwhelmed me.
I trailed my hand over to Asher’s. It was laying palm up on the pillow and my fingers traced over his until they interlocked.
I tried to pull away, but he kept my hand hostage.
I stopped trying to escape and found myself cuddling into him, hoping that he might fill my dreams with something happy and falling asleep.
Whimpering filled my ears and startled me awake. I would know Beau’s cries anywhere. I had to slowly pull the covers down and shift over Asher’s body. I had one leg over when I felt his hands at my waist.
“Where are you going?” he whispered in my ear.
“Beau is crying and I want to comfort him.”
“You coddle him.”
I rolled my eyes, grateful that he couldn’t see. “He’s my familiar. It’s my job to take care of him, so let me do that.” I could feel his erection pressed against me, but I was more concerned with what was on the other side of the door.
“Right back to bed, got it?” Asher scolded, letting me go.
I walked over to the door, opening it up to see Beau circling. I gently closed the door behind me and crouched down to his level. “Hey buddy, what’s wrong?”
Beau stomped his front paws, turning and then dashing down the stairs.
I raised an eyebrow, turning to look at the door that led to Asher’s room.
I considered getting them up but decided against it.
I followed Beau and realized he was at the front door.
His tail was curved upward and stiff. There was a small light from the kitchen that illuminated a part of the entryway, so I could see that the short hair on the back of his neck was up.
What’s going on? I thought to him, confused.
He didn’t reply, but a growl came from him and he bared his teeth.
I nudged him back from the door and pulled it open, peeking out.
I didn’t see anything except the trees that swayed just a little from the wind and the sound of cars filled my ears.
I almost closed the door back completely when I felt a shiver go down my spine.
There was this feeling like I wasn’t alone and I looked down at Beau.
He was still staring directly at the door, unmoved.
I stuck my tongue in my cheek and pulled the door open again, stepping fully outside to get a better look.
If I was reading this part of one of my books, I would consider myself very stupid right about now, but trying to move on and pretend wasn’t working for me anymore.
That feeling I had persisted but standing here wasn’t proving fruitful, so I turned to go back inside. And then the feeling hit me harder than before when I felt a presence behind me and the sensation of feeling trapped seemed to want to devour me whole.
“You’ve been a busy girl. Doing what I should have done years ago. I’ve never been prouder to call you my daughter.”