Chapter Eleven
The feeling of warm breath on the back of her neck woke her the next morning.
When she opened her eyes, she realized she was lying half on Malik, and Aiden was pressed up against her back, sandwiching her in between them.
It not only felt natural to wake up like this.
It felt like they’d been doing it for years.
It also had to be the most arousing way to begin a day.
“Mmm, morning,” Malik said in a raspy voice.
She felt the heat of embarrassment lighten her face.
“Uh, good morning. I’m sorry I landed on you. I’d try to get off, but Aiden is against my back, so I can’t move.”
Malik chuckled. “I like you right where you are. The only better way I’d want you right now is under me.”
She stared up at him with wide eyes. “Like for ... sex?”
He smoothed her hair away from her face and then cupped one of her cheeks. She closed her eyes and rubbed her face against his palm.
“When we’re together, baby. It will be much more than just sex.”
“Oh.”
He smiled. “Yeah, oh.”
“Who said something about sex?” Aiden asked groggily
behind them, making them both laugh.
“I was just telling her when she’s ready for us, it will be much more than sex to us.”
Aiden grunted. “You’re damn right.”
She laughed. He sounded like a cranky toddler.
“How about we get up and have breakfast?” Malik suggested.
“I could eat,” Aiden said.
Malik and Camila both snorted.
“You can always eat,” Camila reminded him.
“Oh, really.”
She screamed when fingers dug into her sides.
“No, God, I hate being tickled,” she screeched.
“Malik, make a note. When we want to punish her, we can do this.”
She tried to wiggle away from him and then tried to kick him.
“Stop, or I’ll pee my pants.”
Aiden paused. “What do you think, Malik? Does she look apologetic to you?”
Malik held up one hand. “Hey, don’t get me into this.”
She was finally able to breathe when Aiden rolled off her and stood. The saliva filled her mouth when Aiden stretched his arms above his head, and Malik bent to put a log on the fire.
Since it was still drizzling and overcast, the flickering light from the fireplace cast shadows over their muscular bodies, making every muscle more pronounced.
“Woman, if you keep looking at me like that, I’m coming back down,” Aiden threatened.
“I ... would that be bad?” she asked.
Both men groaned.
“Let’s give you another day, baby,” Malik said and helped her up. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Go shower while I make breakfast.”
She nodded and didn’t show her disappointment until the bathroom door was closed. She turned on the heater to get the chill out of the room before she stripped and jumped into the shower.
Camila rushed through her shower and turned off the water. Thankfully, the heater made the room feel toasty so she wouldn’t freeze.
She was shocked to see more clothes on the counter by the sink, and the dirty ones were gone.
The fact they had been in the room knowing she was naked but didn’t do anything made her think maybe they didn’t want that kind of relationship with her.
They kept putting her off, so they didn’t hurt her feelings.
Her thoughts turned dark as she brushed her teeth and combed her hair. Dammit, they’d been taking care of her since she showed up. They might just be sick of that. Hell, she didn’t know. She knew absolutely nothing about men.
She would play it cool, not act needy, and try to be helpful. She’d also watch them for clues on how they felt. The thought of having to leave them made her depressed. The fact that she’d only known them for days, instead of the months it felt like, made it worse.
Another thought entered her mind and took hold with talons, so she could not eradicate it. They really didn’t have a choice but to keep her with them because she had no money or car.
God, what a fool she was. She looked at herself in the mirror and cringed when she saw that she resembled a ghost. She was so pale, and her eyes were too big for her face.
Looking down at her body, she sighed. The curves men seemed to like were dramatically missing.
Her stepfather had almost starved them. The fact that she had already been on the small side made it even worse.
Her breasts had never gone over a B, and her hips had always been narrow. Her whole bone structure was delicate.
A knock at the door made her jump.
“Are you coming, baby?”
“Yes,” she told Malik. She took one more look at herself in the mirror, opened the door, and walked into the kitchen, where the men were. Malik was at the stove stirring something in a pan, and Aiden was at the table drinking coffee.
“Your coffee's already on the table,” Malik said without turning around.
She cleared her throat. “Thank you. But please don’t go to any trouble for me.”
“It’s no trouble,” Malik said.
“What can I do?”
Aiden’s eyes pierced hers as she stood uncertain, pulling at the flannel shirt they’d given her.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Nothing. I just don’t want you to feel like I’m taking advantage of your kindness.”
Aiden shared a look with Malik.
“Sit down and eat,” Malik said as he set a few plates on the table.
Camila reluctantly sat down and picked up a fork. She took little bites, eating them slowly so they didn’t get stuck in her throat until she couldn’t eat anymore and set her fork down.
“You can’t be full,” Aiden commented when he checked out her plate.
“I never eat a lot at one sitting.” She looked back and forth. “Seriously. Could either of you eat the rest?”
Malik snorted. “What do you think?” he said and pointed at Aiden, who had already pulled her plate over.
Camila smiled. “At least it won’t go to waste.” She stood suddenly. “I’m going into the living room. Call if you need me.”
In the living room, she started folding blankets and stacking them and the pillows against the wall.
She went around, picked up a few glasses, and straightened things on the tables.
She was trying to think of things she could do to make their lives more comfortable, and she was coming up with zilch.
God, she’d been sheltered so long she’d lost track of how an ordinary person took care of things.
This definitely wasn’t a good step toward showing them she could help. She had so many questions and so much to learn. Not only about taking care of a house, but also about men in general. The only man she’d been around was her stepfather, and she knew he wasn’t normal.
She didn’t want to make any mistakes that might ruin her chance at staying with these guys.