Chapter 33
THIRTY-THREE
I’m warm and so comfortable. Mackie feels incredible in my arms, so I scoot closer, breathing him in, but something tickles my nose.
He smells wrong. I sniff harder as my consciousness returns, invading my half-asleep state.
My head aches, my body is too hot, and my stomach feels like it’s ready to empty itself, but that smell . . .
My eyes open then widen.
Noah is turned toward me, his mouth open and eyes closed. I’m curled into his side. That’s why he smells wrong.
Glancing down, I find us tangled together in the bed, cuddling each other, and a yell erupts from my throat as I scramble back, only to get tangled in the bedding before I plummet off the edge.
Groaning, I land on my ass and sprawl on the floor.
I see Noah sitting up in confusion before he blinks, realizing what happened.
“Why the hell were you spooning me?” he roars, gripping the covers to his chest like he’s worried I’m going to take advantage of him.
“You were spooning me!” I shout as I climb to my knees, wincing at my aching head.
“You!” he retorts.
“You,” I argue.
“Where’s Mackie?” we say at the same time, and I rush to my feet, slipping as I hurry from the strange bedroom.
Noah is right on my heels as I look down a corridor before hurrying down some stairs.
When I freeze at the bottom, Noah slams into me and grumbles before pushing me.
I fall off the last step and almost hit the floor again.
I glare at Noah then meet Mackie’s eyes with a sheepish smile.
He’s wearing an apron, and his hands are pressed against the counter as he watches us. “I guess you two are finally awake.”
Shuffling over, I sink onto a bar stool. “Have you been up long?”
“A few hours. You were both loud and kept fighting over me in your sleep,” he mutters.
Noah sits, and we share a look.
“Did you sleep well?” Mackie asks, and we stare at him. “What happened?” he asks innocently, his head tilted to the side.
Noah and I share a narrow-eyed look. “Nothing,” we answer, a silent agreement in place.
“No?” he presses as he pushes two plates of food toward us. “So you weren’t cuddling?”
“What?” I scoff. “Not a chance—”
“We weren’t,” Noah begins, and Mackie laughs. Picking up his phone, he turns to show us a picture, and horror washes through me.
It’s Noah and me twisted together in the sheets, cuddling and fully asleep. My eyes meet Mackie’s in panic, and I search his gaze for hurt or jealousy, but there’s just amusement there and a tad bit of evil intention.
Smiling happily, he looks at it before locking his phone. “I think I’ll keep it in case I need to blackmail you.”
I gape at him, but Noah looks proud. “I thought you were so sweet and kind,” I remark.
“Only when he wants to be,” Noah says as he stabs a fork into the food. “He can be downright evil.” He looks so happy about that.
“Eat, I’m going to shower,” Mackie tells us as he strips off the apron and hangs it on a hook. “I was covered by two drunk, handsy men all night.” He leaves.
“We need to delete that picture,” Noah grumbles.
“One hundred percent. Team effort . . . but after coffee.”
I’m so embarrassed by how drunk I got, but Mackie doesn’t seem to care.
He even went and fetched my car when he woke up this morning so I wouldn’t be late for work.
I grab my emergency clothes from the back and shower and dress in Noah’s house.
It’s nicer than I imagined, and I find that I don’t care that I’m here as long as Mackie is too. I’m just happy we are together.
Last night was eye-opening, but I think Noah and I have come to an agreement. It won’t be easy, but we can learn as we go, and as long as Mackie is happy, then that’s all that matters.
Heading downstairs, I find both of them waiting for me. “You take longer than Mackie to fix your hair,” Noah grumbles, hugging a travel mug full of coffee like his life depends on it.
“Perfection takes time. Besides, Mackie doesn’t care.” I smirk and wink when I catch him blushing as he checks me out.
Noah’s hand darts out and covers his eyes. “Stop checking him out in front of me,” he mutters, but it lacks heat, which is good.
“Why? Want to do it yourself, cuddle buddy?” Mackie teases.
Chuckling, I head his way and take the mug he’s holding out. “Thanks, Mack.”
“Come on, let’s get going,” Noah says, and I follow them out, watching as he locks up and heads to the open garage full of cars. My estimation of him goes up. I know Noah has money, but I now understand just how much.
How rich is he? Surely this isn’t all from racing. I don’t ask, though, as I walk to my car, surprised when Mackie follows, leaving Noah pretending to look busy in his garage.
I reach and put my mug in the cupholder.
Mackie watches me, his hands shoved into his pockets.
He’s in Noah’s clothes, but he looks good in them.
The tank grips his muscles, and I can’t look away as the loose jeans hang low, exposing his boxers.
He has on an open Hawaiian shirt over it, and it shouldn’t work, but he looks so fucking sexy, the sun hitting his eyes and lighting them on fire.
“I’m sorry about last night,” I hedge as I move closer. I want to respect Noah’s feelings and not make this harder, but I can’t stop myself. “I shouldn’t have drunk that much.”
“You were cute,” he admits, smiling shyly. “Especially when you were cuddling.”
Groaning, I lift my eyes to the sky. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”
He yanks me between his thighs, my hands hitting my car to stop myself from crushing him. “Never,” he murmurs before he lifts up on his toes and kisses me right in front of Noah.
When I open my eyes, he’s smiling at me, knowing exactly what he’s doing. Groaning, I press closer. “You drive me crazy,” I murmur.
“That was the whole point and something I learned through your drunk talk last night,” he teases. He kisses me again, and I grapple for control that is rapidly disappearing.
“Noah is right. You’re evil,” I grumble. Despite the teasing and how much it will hurt, I stay right where I am, hoping he’ll do it again.
Maybe I’m a masochist when it comes to Mackie, because I’d take any level of pain for a simple kiss from him.
“Can I see you tonight?” I ask. I’ve been patient. He’s been with Noah for two days, and they needed that, but if I don’t get him alone soon, I’m going to combust.
“If you want to,” he answers shyly.
“I want to see you every minute of every day,” I reply as I lean in and kiss him. He gasps and closes his eyes, and it’s my turn to smile. “Tonight, I’ll meet you at my place after work.”
“Okay,” he whispers, lifting up for another kiss. Chuckling, I kiss his cheek instead, lingering longer than I need to.
“Tonight,” I promise before I pull back, our hands twining as I step away. He slumps in defeat but nods and moves away from my car.
Our hands linger, neither of us wanting to let go. “Be good.”
“Me? I’m always good,” he teases as he walks backwards. Biting back my smile, I climb into my car and watch as he turns and skips to Noah, who’s waiting with a slightly pained smile on his face. When he catches me looking, he nods, and Mackie waves at me.
I wave back, start the engine, and pull away, leaving them to their day, but tonight?
Tonight, he’s mine.