Chapter 1
Maya
“Abirthday party?” I tilted my head curiously as I nibbled on the peanut butter toast that Ledger had slid across the counter towards me about ten minutes ago.
It was getting a bit cold, but honestly, my stomach was hurting a bit this morning, and considering my poor night of sleep, I just wasn’t very hungry.
Something Marco had not only noticed but was unhappy about as his eyes continued to flash down towards the toast during our conversation.
But I was also distracted because I was on a mission. A highly important mission.
I was sitting on one knee, my other leg snug against the island barstool I’d perched myself on.
My hand was sliding against the smooth marble surface—the texture still fascinating to me, very different from the stone in the basement—as I tried to reach Atlas’s coffee.
He was currently looking at something on his sleek computer, and I didn’t think he’d caught on to my efforts yet.
Which was good…because I fully planned on stealing it.
It was a well-established fact that his coffee tasted better than mine.
Now, I had yet to establish what the actual difference was, but it was there.
I was pretty sure that as his mate, I was allowed to steal his coffee, right?
I may have made that rule up…but I didn’t think he would tell me no. He sort of liked me.
And I totally liked him.
“Yes,” Marco answered, his voice laced with amusement as he observed my attempted thievery.
My fingernails, pale pink with sparkles, neared the cup. Inches. I was within inches of it. I had to admit, my nails distracted me just a bit. I was finding I had quite the thing for glitter.
Did you know they had places that did your nails for you? I hadn’t until yesterday after school. The twins decided to take a detour on the way home since Henry had to stay at school for something.
Apparently, because he was so smart, he helped with some after school program that aided in preparing kids for college; another unique concept that the guys had explained to me.
While it sounded like something that would benefit some people, I didn't think it was for me.
I felt like there was a lot more I could be doing…
such as painting, drawing, and my new favorite -- kissing.
So as I said, lots to do. Lots of mates to kiss.
I’d been so caught up in talking to Anani about Henry’s program that I’d barely noticed when we pulled into a large parking lot.
Someone had taken our car as the three of us went into a modern white and green building.
Over the door was a fancy script that I assumed was the name of the business.
It looked French to me, but it could have been something completely different.
The only experience I had with the language was to the extent of geography and maps that Pastor Malcolm had shown me.
The moment we had stepped inside of the salon, I had found myself a bit shocked at the luxurious furnishing and the overwhelming scents from the products that seemed to be everywhere.
I’d been whisked away almost immediately, where a small pixie-like woman with bright blue hair had asked me what I wanted.
I was confused at first until they handed me a type of menu of different options.
It was a bit easier at that point because I remembered in Vogue that they had shown a series of different pedicure and manicure trends that were popular right now.
So now my toenails and fingernails were painted a light sparkly pink and near my temple, tucked behind my ear was a single strand of pink hair.
They’d offered to cut my hair but instead, I opted for a tiny bit of color in it, just like Ledger. Of course, the twins loved it.
I was nearly positive that the others liked it as well.
Last evening, as I sat between Marco and Atlas watching some shows before dinner, the first continued to play with the band of color.
Wrapping it around his finger before letting the curl go.
I didn’t think he realized he was doing it, which was good because I had been bright pink myself, blushing a ridiculous amount at how good it felt to be wedged between the two of them.
Atlas turned to tell Ledger something and my hand closed around the mug. I turned quickly, bringing it to my chest and hiding from his sight by facing Marco. My mate's mint green eyes lit up, as a smile broke on his slightly sleepy, but completely handsome face.
I loved sleepy Marco. Sleepy Marco didn’t wear suits and was super touchy.
No really, the man was usually touching me in some way, but when he was tired?
I felt like he was attempting to absorb me into his body.
Even right now we were very close and I had to resist the urge to touch him more and instead focused on my coffee.
Taking a sip of the stolen liquid heaven, I considered his birthday party proposition.
“Marco, I’m not positive how birthday parties work, but I thought usually they are on your birthday…right? My birthday was last Friday, it’s Tuesday. We can’t hold one now. That would just be lying to people,” I noted, nodding as I took another sip. I was finding I loved coffee.
Sai was upset that I’d already gotten a ‘caffeine addiction’ and blamed the twins and Atlas, but he usually said that before his own coffee…so I didn’t think I was the one with the issue.
“I don’t give a sh… crap. I don’t give a crap about timing, Maya. Do you want a birthday party?” He asked, his attempt to not swear had me smiling more.
I was finding he and Croy were terrible about swearing.
Honestly, I sort of found it attractive.
Was that weird? I just liked how it sounded because Marco had such a smooth voice and Croy’s accent made my toes curl.
When they swore it was such a stark difference that immediately my ears perked up at it.
I think my opinion was one that wasn’t shared by most, but who knows.
I let out a soft hum as I considered what he was saying. Did I want a birthday party? What was the purpose exactly?
“Would there be a birthday cake?” I asked curiously.
“If you want one,” he purred, his dark hair still a bit damp from the shower he had taken only minutes after we woke up together.
I narrowed my eyes at it just a bit, thinking about how I had almost followed him into the shower before chickening out. Besides, I had been so ridiculously comfortable wrapped in a Marco and Croy cuddle-wich.
Have you ever woken up in a Marco and Croy cuddle-wich? If you haven’t I would highly suggest it. Well, not with them of course, they were my mates.
I was very confused when exactly Atlas had left the bed and Marco replaced him, that feels like something I would have noticed. Then again, I wasn’t going to complain. Ideally, I would like to cuddle all of them at once, if that was possible.
We needed a bigger bed for sure.
Marco radiated this intensity and energy that had me feeling undeniably safe and flustered at the same time.
Like I knew that I would never get hurt with him around, but I also really wanted his hands on me.
All the time. Even now, my sock-covered foot was rubbing against his leg just so that we were in contact to some extent.
I inhaled his vanilla and fresh snow scent as he stepped closer and leaned down so that we were nearly nose to nose.
I had the urge to grab his muscular shoulders but then I would have to let go of my coffee.
“Don’t look at me like that, Maya,” he mumbled, causing a shiver to run over my skin. I offered him a small smile before tipping my head up further so that if I wanted, I could kiss him easily.
“Okay,” I agreed quietly with a smile, “I want a birthday party, Marco.”
“Perfect!” He flashed a dangerous smile, looking thrilled beyond measure.
I had absolutely no idea why he got such a kick out of spending money on me, but if it made him happy then who was I to say no?
I looked over his sharp, clean-cut jaw and his dark messy hair that I had to really resist touching.
I wanted to touch every part of him. Maybe I had a problem.
Like an actual issue. Was ‘touching your mate too much’ diagnosable?
I feel like it could be classified as a medical condition with how flustered it left me.
I swallowed, trying to not think about my dream the night before. There were multiple hands on me. And lips…I wasn’t positive where I had even come up with stuff like this. Well, that wasn’t completely true. Cosmo had an article I’d read while relaxing in the bathtub last night, on my phone.
First of all, I couldn’t believe that I could access all of their editions in that tiny device.
But second, did you know there are supposedly 10 ways to make your boyfriend stay around?
I had some serious questions about that.
Like why do you have to make him stay around?
Why was sex included with that? I mean if you’re having sex, doesn’t that mean he wants to stay around?
I didn’t think my mates would leave me, so honestly, the entire thing was a bit confusing.
I did, however, learn that apparently there were different types of sex positions. I was interested in two but they had absolutely ridiculous names. Who names this stuff?! But yes, doggy style and reverse cowgirl, were both featured in my dream. Along with most of my guys…
“When?” Henry asked, breaking my internal ramble and making me perk up.
As I looked over at a very relaxed Henry, I started to realize my mates were not morning people. Well, except for Croy.
He had left the bed this morning and went on a jog. He’d asked me if I wanted to come and I had sort of just blinked at him with wide, yet tired, eyes until he chuckled then pressed a searing kiss to my lips. I’d promptly curled back up under the covers.