27. Cherry
Cherry
Ilie on my bed, staring up at the ceiling as my body tries to calm itself down. I was still feeling the adrenaline rush of being on the twins’ bikes with them. When I’d suggested it, it was because I genuinely found it fun. It was the closest thing to flying that I’d ever experienced.
But I forgot about the arousal that being pressed so tightly behind them could bring.
Not to mention having a large vibrating machine between my legs.
I’d been on edge the entire time. I’d hoped they’d stop somewhere to give me a little action, but they didn’t.
I assumed it was because the others weren’t with us and it wasn’t safe.
Either way, when we pulled into the drive, I was ready to drag them back to my room, but before we even made it inside, the groceries arrived. When Gage found out we were making pizzas for dinner, he got excited, wanting to make everyone’s.
Obviously, we couldn’t let that happen but decided he could help prep. I was shooed from the kitchen while they all got the ingredients ready and put the groceries away, telling me there wasn’t enough room for me to help, and that they wanted to do it all for me.
I didn’t argue. Well, not much. My core was throbbing, and I needed a moment alone to calm down, anyway.
My phone pings, and I pull it from my pocket, seeing a text from Erica in the group chat with Lexi.
Erica: Looking forward to seeing you ladies tomorrow.
Lexi: Me too!
Me: I’m really glad you can both make it.
Erica: Lexi, have you heard anything from Casper?
Lexi: Nothing yet.
My stomach tightens with worry. I almost forgot that while we’re over here throwing a party, Lexi’s mate’s cousin is missing, along with several other guys from town. I had already brought it up to the girls and my mates, and everyone assured me it was okay to have the party.
Although they are missing, Alaric seems sure his cousin can handle himself. I feel guilty that nobody is out there looking for them, but as I’ve been reminded several times, there are no leads. The facilities we know of are gone. Well, except for the one Dr. Jahan worked at.
Me: Do we know if Cody got the location of Jahan’s facility from him yet?
Lexi: I haven’t heard anything.
Erica: Hasn’t he had him for like days? How much torture can one person endure?
My stomach rolls at the thought of torture, even if it’s a doctor who is likely just as evil as Dr. J.
Lexi: I hope you’re kidding. Sheriff Cody wouldn’t torture anyone, would he? He’s like one of the nicest people I know.
Erica: No comment.
“Cherry, we’re ready for you,” Hunter says, sticking his head into my room.
“Okay, I’ll be right there,” I tell him then quickly say goodbye to the girls, telling them I’ll see them tomorrow.
As I head down the hall toward the kitchen, all thoughts of arousal are long gone. The mention of torture and our missing friends is more than enough to cool me down.
I sidle up between Chase and Maddox at the kitchen island, my eyes widening at all the toppings. “Wow, this is a lot,” I say with wide eyes.
“We’re growing boys,” Chase says, puffing out his chest. “We eat a lot.”
“I noticed,” I say with a grin as my eyes trail down his impressive chest.
“Here,” Maddox says, placing a tray between us with a pizza dough covering the entire thing. “You do that half and I’ll do this one,” he says, pointing to the two sides.
I nod as he picks up a ladle of tomato sauce and covers the entire tray with it, taking his time to get an even coating. Chase hands me a large bowl of cheddar cheese, and I start covering my half with it while Maddox covers his with mozzarella. Then we switch bowls and both use the other cheese.
The others are working on their own pizzas at the same time, and I grin, noticing how serious they seem to be taking it. Their eyes focus as they evenly distribute each piece of pepperoni and each piece of cheese.
At one point, everyone is silent, so focused on their task that a strange silence settles over us. I don’t like the quiet, it reminds me too much of being in the cell. Before I can break the silence, a piece of pepperoni flies across the island, landing on Bain’s nose before dropping to his pizza.
His brows pinch together as his gaze lifts to Chase, who's smirking with amusement. “What?” Chase asks. “You missed a spot. I was helping!”
Bain opens his mouth to respond, but Gage beats him to it from Bain’s side as he looks down at his pizza. “I hate to say it, but Chase is right. You missed several spots.”
“I wasn’t done!” Bain says, almost in a whine, and I can’t hold in my laughter. Giggles erupt from me before I slam my hand over my mouth, my wide eyes meeting Bain’s.
“Are you laughing at me, Cherry?”
I shake my head, replying through the bond since I’m in no state to speak right now. “Of course not. I’m just smothering a cough.”
Chase and Hunter start laughing as Bain’s eyes narrow.
“Why don’t we get some of these in the oven?” Maddox says, breaking the tension that might have ended up in a food fight if he hadn’t stepped in.
Our pizza goes in first, along with Chase’s, then the timer is set while Maddox and I make another pizza. Because apparently one giant pizza isn’t enough for the two of us.
Once all the pizzas have been made, the second batch is in the oven.
I start to clear up the ingredients to make room for the cooked pizzas on the island, but every time I grab something to put away, someone takes it from me.
Soon it becomes a game, can I move fast enough to get something away before I’m stopped.
I even try ducking under arms and reversing direction, but one of them is always there, taking the bowl or plate from my hands.
With an amused huff, I drop my butt to one of the stools around the counter as I ask, “Why won’t you let me help?”
“You need to learn to let us do things for you,” Maddox says as he comes over and rubs my back with his large hand.
“You do everything for me. I just wanted to help put things away. I feel a little useless sometimes.”
Instantly, his arms are around me as he pulls me into a tight hug. “Sweetheart, you’re literally the center of our lives. Our worlds revolve around you now. You keep us living, breathing. Without you, we’d be nothing.”
“That’s not true,” I mumble against him. Surprisingly, it’s Hunter who replies.
“It is. Without you, we’d be in pieces. You bring us together, make us better.”
“Don’t forget how you saved Chase’s life, from the bear, and mine from the gunshot,” Gage says, reminding me of two of the worst moments of my life.
“You are the furthest thing from useless,” Bain says as he steps closer and cups my face against Maddox’s chest. “If you really believe that, it just means we aren’t doing our jobs as your mates.”
I’m not sure how to respond to that. These guys have done everything for me, and I’m just not sure I am worthy of their love.
But the Goddess does.
I suppose if our Goddess thinks I deserve them, then who am I to argue?
“Try a piece of your pizza,” Chase says, sliding a plate of cut pieces over to us.
Maddox and I untangle ourselves from each other as we both grab a piece and take a bite. I close my eyes and I’m instantly reminded of home. Of my family.
“I think my family would love you guys,” I say, picking a piece of bacon off my pizza and plopping it into my mouth.
Everyone is quiet, so I glance up and find them all looking at me with varying degrees of concern. “What? Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” Maddox says, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “The opposite. You don’t talk about your family much. We thought maybe it was too painful for you.”
I consider that for a moment. Gage had asked me about my parents and grandparents when he was researching me, and that hadn’t been too bad. But Maddox was right, the thought of them always caused such a sharp pain inside me that I quickly thought of something else so I wouldn’t be sad.
But as I think about them now, as I think about making pizza with them and watching a movie, I don’t feel that overwhelming sadness anymore.
“I miss them,” I tell the guys as I pick toppings off my pizza and nibble at them. “But it doesn’t feel the same anymore. I can think about them without getting sad now.” I glance up at each of them and smile. “They’d be happy to know I found you guys. Or, well, I suppose, that you found me.”
“Will you tell us about them?” Hunter asks before taking a bite of pizza.
And that’s how we spend the next two hours. Hanging out in our kitchen, eating pizza, and sharing stories of our families. Most of my guys don’t have great families, but they still have the odd memory from childhood to share.
After the stories end, we put on an action film and curl up on the couch. I can’t even remember getting sleepy. Or being carried to bed.
But what I do remember is how I felt.
Warm, safe, and secure.