Chapter 18
LEAH
"Is that you all you have?" I looked down at the suitcase Brooks was rolling behind him.
"That's all I brought to town with me." He shrugged and let the wheels rattle over the hardwood floor. "I might go home and get more stuff when I get a chance." He didn't look like he was in a hurry to get back there.
"Yeah, me too," I said quietly. "Unless Mom threw it all out already."
"Neither of us is her biggest fan, but I don't see Felicity doing that," he said. "It would require effort on her part."
"She'd also have to notice I wasn't there," I said on a sigh. "You can put your things in the spare room. There's a bed in there already for you."
"Fuck that." He wheeled his suitcase into my room and hefted it onto the bed before opening it and starting to pull out his clothes. "I'll sleep in here with you."
"He's a presumptuous prick," Connor said from where he stood in the kitchen, cooking burgers with Riley.
Brooks rolled his eyes, but didn't stop unpacking.
"I think Brooks would like to say it takes one to know one," I teased, without taking my eyes off my stepbrother.
That was met with the sound of Riley's laughter.
"She's got you there."
"Fuck off," Connor said, maybe to him and maybe to all of us.
"When's Josiah coming?" Brooks asked, without glancing my way.
"He should be here soon." Unless he decided not to come. He'd spent so long avoiding coming into town unless he had to, an invitation to eat dinner here might be too much, too fast. If that was the case, I'd be disappointed, but I'd understand.
I didn't think it would stop the other three from heading up to his place to drag him down here. Just for my sake, that was. Because they knew I wanted all of them here.
"You like him, don't you?" I asked, giving Brooks a cagey look.
He went on unpacking without missing a beat. "He's okay."
“Mmm-hmm." I leaned against the door frame and watched him. "It's okay to like someone, you know? You can even like me if you want to."
He grunted softly. "Why would I do that? You're a pain in my ass. You have been since my dad married your mother."
"The feeling is mutual," I said. "Bad enough that she got married without bringing an asshole along."
"So fucking inconsiderate." He tossed a couple of pairs of shoes on the bottom of the wardrobe and closed it. "You know why my father chose your mother though, right?" He swung his suitcase up to the top of the wardrobe and turned to face me.
"Because she's got an amazing daughter?" I asked, jokingly.
He stalked towards me. "Because he wanted me to have you." He placed his hands on my hips and pulled me flush against him. "You were my wedding present from him, you just didn't know it until now."
"Is that right?" I looked up into his eyes. They were dark and full of fire, heavily laced with arrogance.
"Yes," he said simply.
“So, if I didn't exist, he wouldn't have married her?" I cocked my head at him.
He shrugged. "Maybe he cares about your mother, but your pussy was always mine." He slammed his lips down onto mine, kissing me like he could devour me on the spot. His fingers dug into my hips.
I hooked my arms around his neck and kissed him back, his growing erection pressing into my stomach.
"Brooks—" I was interrupted by a firm knock at the door.
"Ignore it." He pulled me closer.
"That'll be Josiah," I argued. "We can finish this later. Maybe with him too."
Groaning softly, Brooks stepped back and adjusted his pants. "Yeah, okay. I guess I can wait. This time."
"So magnanimous," I teased. I stepped out of the room and hurried to the front door, opening up to see Josiah standing outside. He was facing towards the street, his back rod-straight, like he wanted to be anywhere but here.
"Hey," I said softly. "I'm glad you came."
He turned around like a startled bear, drinking me in with his eyes. "Hey. I almost didn't. I figured…" He shrugged one shoulder.
"I'm glad you did." I grabbed his hand and pulled him inside. His leather and pine scent, was heady, like he came from the mountain itself.
"The whole gang is here," Riley said, grabbing out plates for everyone.
"Very fucking cosy." Connor flipped a burger and poked it with the spatula. "Won't be long."
"Beer?" Riley opened the fridge and pulled out five before opening them and handing them around.
I nodded my thanks and took one from him.
Looking around at the four of them, they all wore dark jeans.
Riley with a dark blue hoodie. Josiah was in a leather jacket that looked like it had seen better years.
Connor and Brooks both wore black T-shirts, which threatened to burst at the seams around their chests and biceps.
Each of them was a perfect example of the expression 'sex on legs.' And all of them were mine.
"Show Josiah the photo," Riley said. When Josiah gave him a funny look, Riley nodded to me. "The rest of us have seen it, but I'm guessing you haven't."
"I haven't had a chance to show him yet." I pulled out my phone and showed him the photo Whitney sent to me. I didn't need to explain it to him. He knew immediately.
He took the phone from me and enlarged it, for a better look at Coral. "Fuck," he whispered. "I should have seen it sooner." He held it up beside me, looking from the screen to my face and back again several times. "You look just like her."
"Look how cute I was back then," Riley said. "Almost as cute as I am now." He grinned and flexed, careful not to spill any beer.
Brooks snorted. "If you say so."
"I say so," Riley agreed.
"I fucking say so too," Connor growled.
Riley grinned. "See? Connor thinks I'm cute."
I patted his cheek. "You're very cute."
"So are you." He swiped his lips over mine, before deepening the kiss and slipping his tongue between my lips.
"We can all agree Leah is cute," Brooks said.
"A minute ago, you called me a pain in your ass." I took back my phone when Josiah handed it to me. I'd noticed him sending the photo to his own phone.
"You can be both," Brooks said. "Aren't women good at multitasking?"
"Yes, we are," I said. "Look, I can flip you off with both hands and hold a beer bottle at the same time."
"Mad skills," Riley laughed.
"I try." I gave him a careful bow from the waist.
"You can say that again." Brooks smirked. "You've always tried my patience."
I snorted loudly. "That's bullshit and you know it. You don't have any patience."
He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before grunting. "Okay, I'll give you that. But if I had patience, you'd try it."
"We all know he loves her," Riley whispered loudly.
"No shit." Connor started to place the burgers on plates and carried them over to the table. "We all do."
I looked at him in surprise. I hadn't expected him to make that sort of declaration, especially not in front of everyone else.
"Yeah, we do," Josiah said softly. "Even if some of us tried not to."
"I didn't try not to," Riley said. "I love Leah and I love Connor."
"Love you too," Connor muttered.
"I'm falling for all of you," I said after a couple of moments of getting my emotions under control. "You guys are all amazing."
"No, you." Riley put his arms around my shoulder and guided me over to the table. "You've been standing long enough. Sit."
He was right, I was and I was starting to feel it. Gratefully, I sat and watched all of them take their places around me.
A girl could get used to this.
"Eat." Connor placed a fresh beer in front of me and took his own seat. I almost missed his hint of anxiety as he glanced at my burger. He was worried I might not like it, or his cooking wouldn't be up to my expectations. Judging by the smell, it was going to taste incredible.
I picked up my burger and took a bite, moaning at the taste. "Are you sure you shouldn't be a chef?"
The side of his mouth twitched up in a hint of a smile. "I'm sure, but glad you like it."
"Connor makes the best burgers on the whole continent," Riley said.
"They're all right," Brooks said.
Connor bristled. "All—"
"He's trying to get a rise out of you," I told him. "Ignore him. He's a shit disturber from way back."
Connor muttered something that sounded like 'he's a fucking prick,' but he settled back in his chair and started eating.
Josiah gave me a look like he wasn't sure what he'd signed up for with the other guys.
I reached over to pat his arm. "They'll get used to each other."
"If they don't kill each other first," he said softly. "On the other hand, that leaves more of you for me." He didn't seem to mind that too much. Of course he wouldn't, sharing with three other guys was a big deal. Especially when we'd just started to get to know each other.
I couldn't help thinking about his piercings, wondering how they'd feel inside my pussy.
The idea of the additional friction was enough to make me wet as hell.
I didn't like the idea he got them to punish himself, but I'd reap the benefits of their presence.
And, I hoped, so would he. Piercings were supposed to give additional sensitivity, weren't they?
Who knows, he might even inspire the others to get piercings as well.
If they wanted to, they had my complete support.
I might even get my nipples pierced the next time I was in the city. Why not live a little?
“And me," Riley said, breaking through my thoughts.
He'd probably be first in line to have his cock pierced if any of them did.
And possibly his nipples as well. I could easily imagine him naked, with glittering metal in various places on his muscular body.
Unless of course they were a safety issue during extreme sport.
"No one is killing me," Connor said. "Not even that dickhead."
"What he said." Brooks gave him a dark look.
At the same time, he seemed to be enjoying himself.
As if he were starting to see the others like brothers, complete with brotherly banter.
With the bonus of a hint of desire for them to tear each other's clothes off and fuck until they were both boneless.
"Just think, I could have grown up with these three." I jerked a thumb toward Connor, Riley and Josiah.
"Instead, you got to meet me," Brooks said. "I guess the universe knew something."
"The universe has some questions to answer," I said.
"So does my mother." That brought the mood down immediately.
If I was Coral Clarke, how had I ended up with Felicity Kent?
I hadn't wanted to think about it before now, but at some point I'd have to face facts.
Facts I didn't want to dwell on right now. Not if it meant ruining tonight.
"We're here now," Riley said. "That's what matters. Whatever goes down, we've got your back."
"What he said," Brooks said again.
"You belong to us, that's the important thing," Connor said. "Finish your burger so we can have dessert." He pointed a finger at Riley as he opened his mouth. "I mean actual dessert, then we'll fuck her."
"Works for me." Riley grinned. "I can't wait to get all of you naked."
That brought the mood right back up. Because neither could I.