Chapter 19 ~
Mason ~
Luc repeatedly taps the end of his pen on the wooden table. His Biology books are spread out in front of him but so far he hasn’t actually done anything.
Not looking up from where I’m adding detail to my sketch, I tell him, “That’s annoying.”
He just continues doing it.
I ignore it. Maverick, however, has a lot lower tolerance than me.
He snatches the pen off Luc, throwing it across the room. That escalates into World War 3 with Dom having to get between them.
“Knock it off,” Dom growls, stepping in to mediate. He releases both of them from his hold on their shirts and they return to their seats, scowling.
My brother leans over, looking at my sketch. Mav and the guys are the only people I let see my drawings and even them seeing it makes me uncomfortable.
“Is this your thing for Art?” Mav asks, not caring that he’s drawn the attention of Luc and Dom too.
“Yeah,” I say tightly. The ache to snatch my sketchpad away is fierce enough that I clench my fists under the table.
“That’s fucking awesome, dude!” Maverick praises. Dom and Luc chime in with their agreements.
“Are you and Rory doing a joint artwork thing?” My brother asks absentmindedly as he focuses on studying the drawing.
I frown. “No, why?”
Mav doesn’t look up but a secretive smile plays on his face. “No reason.”
I pester him but he refuses to answer me.
As I’m adding some detail, I decide that I will mix some colour into it. Originally, I was going to stick to black and white but some colour is needed in areas.
It took me a while to settle on an idea but once I had it, it was only a matter of getting it down on paper.
I’m completely focused until I pick up voices from deeper in the house.
Rory’s awake.
. . .
Rory ~
Ow, is the first thing I think when I wake up.
My whole body fucking hurts.
I groan, not even attempting to move.
“Ro?”
My eyes subconsciously open. The blur as I try to focus my eyes on Jace’s handsome face.
“Why is there two of you?” I whimper.
The bed shifts on the other side of me. Fingers touch both my cheeks and forehead.
“How’re you feeling, Rory?” Alec asks me. Alec…that makes sense.
“Like death.” I regret my decision to turn my head to look at him. Speaking of which, what the hell’s on my head? I lift my hand, feeling a damp cloth.
“I’m trying to keep your temperature down,” both Alec’s tell me. That makes sense. It feels nice. But it’s kinda cold.
“Are you up to telling me your symptoms?” Alec asks. God, I could listen to his voice all day. It’s so smooth and calming.
“Everything aches. I was cold two seconds ago but now I’m kind of hot and right now I’m seeing double. Which doesn’t seem like a good thing.”
“Okay, Sunshine,” Alec says, softly. “I can give you something to help if you can sit up and eat something.”
I weigh up the pros and cons but let’s be honest, my brain doesn’t really seem to be doing any thinking.
I decide it’s worth the pain of moving and try to sit up. I mewl at the ache in my bones. Jace is there instantly, helping me sit up.
“You okay, Ro?” Jace asks, concern riddled in his face.
“Yeh.” I smile weakly. It doesn’t convince him.
He sets two pillows up for me to lean back against. “Thanks, J.”
He kisses my temple and I half heartedly try to push him away.
“You’ll get sick,” I mutter.
“I don’t care.” J dismisses me feeble attempts to avoid spreading this painful illness.
But I care. I pout but he doesn’t move away. If anything he gets closer.
Now that I’m sitting up, it’s kind of hot.
“Here.” Jace produces a hair tie and tells me to turn to the side. His fingers feel so nice as he puts my hair in a low messy bun.
“I’m so glad you’re a mind reader,” I tell him, dazily.
Jace huffs in laughter. “No problem, Ro.”
I kick off the blankets, letting them tangle at the end of the bed. I debate whether it would be weird to take my pants off. They’re long and hot.
A headache washes over me and I wince at the sharp pain in my head.
“I’ll go get you something to eat so you can go back to sleep.” Alec goes to get up. I grab his hand. He looks at me in confusion. I squeeze his hand and it hurts my whole arm.
“Thank you,” I say tiredly. Alec smiles and leans down, pressing a kiss on my forehead.
I lay my head on Jace’s shoulder, watching Alec as he disappears out the door.
J’s strong arm wraps around my shoulders. I curl into him, feeling his heartbeat under me.
The splitting headache seems to part when my head’s supported.
I’m a little cold but I am not moving.
“I’m sorry, Jace.”
J jolts in surprise. I feel him look down at me. “What for?”
“I yelled at you guys,” I say in a small voice. “You were just concerned and care about me. You didn’t deserve that.”
“Rory,” Jace says softly. I don’t know why but it makes tears glisten in my eyes.
“Fuck, Rory, don’t cry.” In one swift movement, Jace has me in his lap. It makes my head spin a little and my bones ache but I need to be closer to him.
I bury my face into his neck, waiting for J to tell me something like he’s upset but he still loves me.
“I’m not going to tell you that.”
Huh? “What?” I sniffle, pulling back to meet his grey eyes.
Jace tucks some loose hair behind my ear before cupping my face. “I’m not going to tell you I was upset because you were right, Ro.”
I said that out loud…
“If you trust King then you clearly have a good reason for that and we were wrong to try and decide what you needed. We’ve all heard stories about King but the same could be said for Luc and we trust him.”
Jace’s fingers gently brush downward strokes on my cheek and I fight to not turn into a puddle.
“I’m sorry, Ro.” He stares straight into my eyes with such gentleness that the waterworks start up again.
His eyes widen, panic growing in them.
Ignoring my throbbing muscles and cloudy head, I press my lips against his. I feel Jace struggle between his need to kiss me and the knowledge that I’m not feeling well.
He gives in, kissing me so gently but perfectly in a way that the stars are aligning in the corners of my vision.
“I love you,” I mumble against his lips. “I love you so much.”
Jace soaks up every word, showing me just how much he cares.
Unfortunately, I have to break it off when I start getting light headed and dizzy.
“Fuck, Rory, are you okay?” He lays me down when I nearly faint.
I smile lazily up at his panicked expression. “Perfect,” I tell him.
Jace shakes his head, a hint of a smile betraying him. He props himself up on one arm, gazing down at me.
“I love you too, Ro,” he tells me. “And I want you to know that I’m okay sharing you with the guys.”
I scrunch my nose at the quick turn to a serious conversation.
“I love you, Rory and I know you’re capable of loving them too if you don’t already.” I bite my lip and look away, not prepared to answer that.
J turns me back to face him. His arm curls around my waist, his face above me.
“Now, I don’t want you to stress about that. Okay? You need to rest,” Jace orders. So bossy.
“Sir, yes, sir.” I smirk sleepily at the groan that rumbles through Jace. He leans down, his lips parted—
“What was that about resting, J?” Mason pushes the door open with his foot, a bowl in his hands.
I’m not really hungry but I’m smelling whatever that amazing creation is from here.
Mase’s smiling at me but the emotion I can see him burying tells me he heard our conversation.
He turns and shuts the door behind him. I get a glimpse of his coiled muscles, flexing as Mason moves, his t-shirt stretching across his broad shoulders.
“Are you alright to sit up?” Jace murmurs.
It takes a moment for his words to register, the smirk dancing on his lips not helping me focus.
I push myself up and J gives me space to sit up, leaning back against the bedhead. Immediately, sharp pins attack my mind, causing me to grit my teeth and try to fight through it.
A shiver rolls through me and J, sensing my intentions, pulls the sheets up to cover my legs.
Mase sits on the edge of the bed and carefully places the bowl of soup on my doona covered lap.
“Did you make this?” I ask Mase and he nods.
“Mav, Dom and Luc helped. How are you feeling?” He changes the subject, looking concerned.
“Okay,” I tell him as Jace says, “shit.”
I rotate my head and narrow my eyes on him. I instantly regret that when it heightens the pain in my head.
Mase pulls a box from off the bedhead. He reads the back before sliding out a packet of tablets and pops two from the packet.
“Take these, then eat, Angel.” Mase hands me them with a glass of water. My hand shakes with the effort it takes to hold the glass and I quickly swallow them.
Ohhhh, strawberries.
I pick up my spoon, scooping up the chicken soup.
I moan when the spices and flavours hit my tongue. Fuck, this is freaking amazing. Not caring that it’s hot and probably burning my mouth, I raise another spoonful to my mouth.
“Mase, this is amazing!” I mumble around a piece of chicken.
He looks anywhere but at me, his tanned skin burning red.
I offer the spoon to Jace who looks curious enough to take the germ infected piece of cutlery. Not that he cared enough about getting sick when he kissed me until I nearly passed out.
Jace raises the spoon to his mouth, his eyes lighting up.
“Dude, this is fucking good!” Jace praises. “Please tell me there’s more!” He begs.
“If the others haven’t gotten it.” Jace is up and gone by the time Mason finishes his sentence.
Mase looks surprised but I don’t focus on that because I’m too busy shovelling my next spoonful into my mouth.
By the time I’m finished, I’m sleepy and full. Mase takes my bowl from me and I slide back under the sheets.
He leans back against the bedhead and smiles when he sees me looking up at him.
“Thanks, Mase,” I say sleepily.
He moves closer and I put my head in his lap. His fingers run through my hair, loosely held back. My eyes nearly roll back in pleasure when Mase’s nails lightly brush my scalp.