Chapter 17 ~ #3
“That’s what you do to all of us, baby.” Dominic adopts Maverick’s nickname.
Mase smirks almost directly across from us, beside Alec who’s cottoned on to what Dom’s purring in my ear.
I turn my head into Dom’s neck, trailing my lips up to his ear. “You do this to me too,” I murmur breathlessly.
Dom growls, his chest rumbling against me. I resist the need to shift in his lap. Barely.
“You steal my girl, Dom?” Jace shuffles through the chairs with Maverick, lowering what looks like a grilling table, of some sort, over the fire.
“Our girl, fucker,” Dom responds lightly. I glance up at him, not seeing even a hint of jealousy or even annoyance at Jace’s playful question. His eyes flick down, sensing my gaze and they soften.
I can almost hear his thoughts.
We’re not going anywhere, Sweetheart.
I give him the smallest nod. I think I’m starting to believe them. A satisfied expression has Dom’s lips curling up.
Maverick hands Jace a plate, snagging my attention from Dom.
“Are those ribs?” I say hopefully, peeking at the meat Jace’s carefully placing on the grill over the fire.
“Dad’s honey, spicy and hickory ribs,” Jace looks over his shoulder with a grin.
“Together?” Mase scrunches his nose up.
“Three different flavours, three different sets of ribs,” Jace informs him.
“Fuck yes!” Mase and Maverick say unanimously, punching the air. The rest of us break down laughing.
Dominic leans his head on mine and I sigh, a feeling of absolute bliss washes over me. Looking around at the guys…I’d say I’m not the only one.
We eat dinner around the fire, after drooling over those ribs for half an hour. I insist on sitting in my own chair so the guys can eat but it doesn’t stop Maverick from stealing me away the second we’re both done. Not that I’m complaining.
It was after we all stuff ourselves with ribs that we remember we have cake too so I quickly ice it, combining the multi layered cake.
My face burns red when Jace started singing, everyone joining in, singing happy birthday.
When the fire starts to die down and the twins have definitely hit the ‘happy drunk’ stage of their drunkenness scale, we reluctantly abandon the sullen, dimming flames.
I jump in the door, already feeling the heat of the fire leave me as winter powers on. The guys race in after me. Alec shuts the big ass wooden door behind us.
A yawn’s ripped out of me. The twins are bouncing off the walls from the cake, marshmallows and alcohol but the rest of us mostly sober and completely sober people are biting back yawns and sleep.
Jace flicks the kitchen lights on so he can put the few leftover ribs and cake in the fridge.
Squinting at the sudden brightness, I look at the clock. No wonder we’re all ready for bed—it’s two in the morning!
“Well shit.” Luc follows my gaze, chuckling. Turning his back to me, he pulls an ice pack from the freezer, picking up a tea towel.
Out of all the guys, Luc is the one most insistent on making sure I ice my ribs at least morning and night.
The pain doesn’t bother me—I can deal with that. But the memories…
My eyes fall to the floor as I step around Luc, prepared to skip tonight.
“Butterfly,” Luc says warningly.
“Not now, okay? I’ll do it in the morning.” I don’t turn to meet his eyes, not wanting to see his disappointment.
“Luc, just let it go for tonight,” I hear Alec tell him.
I feel him step up behind me as I rest my hands on the bench, curling them into fists. It’s just silence as Luc stands there. Then I hear the freezer door open, then close.
My eyes stay trained on the bench, the guys murmuring becoming the one thing in the background.
A hand rests on my shoulder, squeezing it gently. I take a deep shuddering breath before turning. Rather than meeting Luc’s gaze, my eyes focus on his throat as he swallows.
“Rory,” Luc murmurs gently. “I get it. Trust me when I say I get it more than anyone.”
“I just can’t today, Luci.” I keep my eyes trained on the spot, feeling my throat tighten with emotion as my voice wobbles.
“I know. Which is why I’m letting it go,” he says softly. Fingers under my chin force me to raise my head, reluctantly meeting his gaze.
“But tomorrow…tomorrow you need to start again.” Luc’s eyes are understanding but firm—not wavering from mine.
I nod reluctantly, knowing he’s right. I want them to heal as fast as possible so I can finally be done with him.
He searches my eyes, making sure I know he’s serious before he relaxes.
I reach up on my tippy toes, my arms wrapping around him. “Thank you for understanding, Luci.”
Suddenly there’s another set of arms around us and Mase squishes his face in with Luc and I.
“Are we all happy now?” The big goofball beams, planting a smacking kiss to Luc’s forehead.
Luc rears back, seeming to be taken by surprise before he rolls eyes.
“Never let the twins drink tequila.” I’m not sure if Luc is talking to me or himself.
He extracts himself from Mase’s tight hugs leaving me to deal with the sloppy drunk. A quick glance over shows me Maverick can definitely handle his tequila a lot more than Mase.
Mason nuzzles his face into my neck, planting rather gentle, sweet kisses before blowing a raspberry onto my now sensitive skin.
“Hey!” I laugh when he doesn’t stop.
Mase lifts his head and grins lopsidedly, his eyes struggling to focus on mine. God, he’s so drunk.
I loop an arm around his waist. “You sleeping with me, big guy?” I tilt my head up.
“Noooo,” Mase shakes his head, adamantly, “we’re alllllll sleeping with you, Angel.” He’s so freaking cute when he boops my nose, playfully.
I ask him what he means and he just repeats it. Does he mean…!?
It seems to click in his brain that I have no clue what he’s talking about because he stumbles towards the living room, taking me with him.
The guys all look up from mattresses spread out in a line across the living room. The couches and the TV have been pressed to corners to make room.
“What’s going on?” I gaze around the room, locking eyes on Jace.
“Sleepover, Ro.” He grins in a devil-may-care sort of way.
I can’t help the excitement that bubbles up in me, seeing all the guys sprawled out on mattresses waiting for me.
Mase nudges me forward. Having already changed into a singlet and long pyjama pants, I tug my stolen hoodie back over my head. The guys are like furnaces to sleep with so I don’t want to be wearing a jumper, no matter how soft and how good it smells because I’ll wake up melting.
Maverick, already half asleep on my mattress, pulls me between him and Jace.
Luc grumbles, situating himself on Jace’s other side. Grabbing my hand, Luc rests our interlocked fingers on Jace’s chest, mine facing down on Jace.
Mase flops down beside his brother, leaning over to kiss my forehead before almost immediately falling asleep.
Alec and Dominic are closest to the door.
“Night everyone.” Alec says, ignoring Dom beside him and rolls over to face the door. I see the pain that lingers on Dom’s face before he slowly turns to face me. He smiles sadly at me. I hate seeing them like this. I blow him a kiss and he sleepily raises his hand in return.
Jace’s arm around my shoulders keeps me snug against him and Mav throws an arm over my waist. Mav grumbles about being touched by Jace’s hand’s near my head but the whining stops when I raise a hand to play with his hair.
“Tempest!” Luc pouts from the other side of Jace.
“You get cuddle privileges tomorrow.” I squeeze Luci’s hand. His grip tightens briefly before loosening.
I close my eyes, feeling drowsy and ready to embrace the darkness as the lights are extinguished.
Maverick raises his head, suddenly. I look up at him through half-lidded, sleepy eyes. The moonlight spills in from the kitchen, allowing me to see his breathtakingly handsome features.
He’s watching me with a soft smile—full of emotion.
He cups my face, leaning in to capture my mouth. I lean up from Jace, my eyes fluttering close. Maverick keeps our kiss unhurried and gentle. I see the love in his eyes when he slowly pulls away.
“Happy birthday, baby,” he murmurs quietly.
“Thank you, Maverick.” I stroke his face with my free hand, gazing up at him, sleepily.
He lays back down, his hand sliding up under my shirt to rest on my waist. His movement is careful of my ribs, never causing me more than a phantom of pain as he makes sure we’re both comfortable.
Jace pulls the blankets up and over us.
I turn my face into J—my eyes finally closing and this time, they are not opening. His arm tightens around my shoulders as he kisses my temple.
“Love you crazy, Ro.” J whispers, emotion lacing his voice.
“Love you wild, J. Night, everyone!” I raise my voice. All I hear back is silence. And snoring.
Maverick’s shoulders shake as he and Jace laugh.
I just smile to myself before drifting off, surrounded by family.