Chapter Eleven
Colson
Rolling over onto my side, I let out a deep breath.
It’s dark, but with the moonlight I can see Ren next to me.
He’s curled in the fetal position with his knees tucked to his chest. His brows are furrowed, so I roll onto my back and bring him with me.
He swings his leg across mine and rests one arm on my stomach, nestling his head on my chest. His whole body relaxes against mine as I place a soft kiss on his head.
I know he won’t remember this part in the morning; he never does.
Ren sleeps like the dead after our nights together, and tonight I had more fire than usual.
Running my knuckles along his back, my mind wanders to Lucy.
She didn’t look away. She didn’t break eye contact.
She looked as if she enjoyed it. I could see lust flashing through her eyes and hear her shallow breaths as she watched Ren and me together.
She doesn’t know that when I closed my eyes, I was picturing her being the one on their knees instead of Ren.
I wonder what her lips would feel like wrapped around me.
My dick twitches at the thought, and I shake it away.
I try to sleep for a few more hours, but when the sun starts filtering through the curtains, I take that as my cue to get out of bed.
I carefully peel Ren off of me and throw some sweatpants on before quietly stepping out of my room and closing the door.
Heading to the kitchen, I stop when I hear her voice.
I stand back so she doesn’t know I’m here and wait.
“Can’t have a simple coffee pot, can they?
There’s too many fucking knobs and buttons on this thing.
How does this work?” Lucy groans in frustration before trying another button, which turns the steam on before letting out a yelp and turning the whole thing off. Whining, she hangs her head in defeat.
“Don’t know how to use a coffeemaker, Rich Girl?” My voice is full of amusement as she jumps, spinning around with a hand on her chest.
Lucy narrows her eyes before dragging them down and up my body.
“For your information, asshole, I know how to work a normal coffeemaker just fine, thank you. This,” she points sternly, “is not a coffeemaker. It’s a fucking robot!
” She blows a piece of hair that’s fallen from the knot on her head out of her face and crosses her arms as she stares at me, leaning back against the counter.
I take a few lazy strides until I’m standing toe to toe with her.
Being six foot two myself, the top of her head barely reaches my shoulders.
She has a defiant look on her face as she gazes up at me.
I notice the light dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks.
Her icy blue eyes are deadly and darken the longer I stand there. She’s not backing down.
“What kind of coffee do you drink?”
“Black.” She sticks her chin out further as she answers, arms still crossed.
I grab a coffee cup from the cabinet above her head. I hold the old black cup with white skeletons decorating it between us for her to see. “This one okay?”
“Perfect,” Lucy says through gritted teeth.
I reach around her, bringing us chest to chest. I push a few buttons and the coffee starts brewing. I lean my face down to hers as I whisper, “You shouldn’t complain so much. You sound better moaning my name in the shower.”
Her breath hitches, and I can see the goosebumps form on her skin as her face falls a fraction. Brushing my nose against hers, Lucy’s eyes flutter as she lets out a breath. I push a stray hair from her eyes and I breathe her in, vanilla and cinnamon invading my nose.
“Oh, Pookie Bear!” a loud voice calls from the hallway.
I groan and drop my head back as Lucy stifles a giggle and slips out from between my body and the counter.
Ren waltzes into the kitchen with a smile. I drag my hand down my face, turning towards him. “Ren, what have I said about calling me that?”
He stops and puts his finger to his chin like he’s thinking about it. He snaps his fingers and replies, “Oh! That you hate it and wish I wouldn’t call you that.” He looks between Lucy and me with a cheesy grin, making his way over to the coffeemaker.
“This cup is done.” He turns, handing me the mug but stops when Lucy speaks up.
“Oh good! I need this more than you know.” She walks by, grabbing the cup from Ren. He looks at me, and I shrug.
Lucy turns and looks between us. “Is everything okay?”
Forcing out a chuckle, Ren smiles again. “Yep! Everything is fine!” He starts the coffeemaker again as I walk over to the island and sit.
“Did you not sleep well, Lucy?” Ren asks with concern in his voice.
“Not really. I woke up and forgot where I was and then—” She steals a quick glance my way, and I see the blush across her cheeks. “I couldn’t fall back asleep after that.” She takes a hurried drink and winces when the hot liquid touches her tongue.
“I’m sorry, Love,” Ren says, bringing me over a cup.
“It’s fine. I’m not used to sleeping in strange places. Also, I was bombarded with text messages from my aunt and uncle this morning, so that didn’t help either.” She brings the drink back to her lips.
“What did they want?” Nash walks into the kitchen, heading straight for the coffeemaker. He pushes a button for his fancy coffee and turns back to Lucy.
“Oh, you know. Asking me if I’ve changed my mind yet about giving them something of Nana’s. I made the mistake of replying no, and then the messages about what a selfish bitch I am and things like that started rolling.” She sounds exhausted talking about them.
“If your Nana wanted them to have something, she would have put it in her will,” Nash replies as the machine beeps, letting him know his cup is ready.
“I just don’t have any idea what they would want besides the house and land, and it doesn’t seem like that’s what they’re interested in. Nana had a lot of stuff, but nothing worth anything that I could see.” She shakes her head with a defeated look on her face.
“Everything will work out, Love. Don’t worry about them.” Ren gives her a smile and touches her arm.
“Anyway, what are you guys up to today? Working?” Lucy looks around at all of us, sipping her coffee.
“Cole and I have a job across town at the Milfords,” Nash replies, looking at his watch.
“Is Mr. Milford still a creep?” Lucy asks, her mouth twisting with disgust.
“Not sure, but Mrs. Milford still looks at us like we’re teenagers, which is creepy,” Nash replies, and Lucy giggles.
“Aren’t they in their fifties now?” Lucy can barely get her question out before another giggle makes its way out of her mouth.
“Late fifties! They both look older than that, though. Mrs. Milford has had a lot of work done to her face, and Mr. Milford is still working to pay for it,” Ren adds, making Nash chuckle.
“Well, where does that leave you, Ren? If you’re not going to the Milfords with Nash and Colson,” Lucy asks, filling up her coffee cup again.
“You’re stuck with me today, Love.” Ren grins as he gulps the rest of his coffee then freezes. “Unless, of course, you have plans already?” He looks at Lucy with a hint of panic on his face.
“My only plan for today was to run to Nana’s and check the property to make sure no animals got through the screens and into the house.” Lucy smiles a genuine smile, and I can’t help the feeling of warmth spreading through my chest.
“Maybe I can talk you into staying here until you can go back to your place.” Ren wriggles his eyebrows, and Lucy laughs, a genuine belly laugh, and it’s a sound I want to listen to on a loop.
What is she doing to me?
“You might be able to.” She winks at him, and I feel my body heat rise. I love Ren, but if she winks at him again, I might have to kill him.
Remember your breathing. Count to ten.
Instead, I open my mouth and grumble, “Not like you have much of a choice now, do you?” Standing up, I walk out of the kitchen and back to my room to get dressed for work.
What is wrong with me?