“I know,” he whispers. “Your choice to hide this cements you here, it tells us you’re everything we hoped you’d be. You’re down for us, Raven, even when you try to pretend you’re not.”
“So why can’t you decide if you hate the rule or not?”
“Because, like I said...” His hands move to plant near my head and he lowers his face so it’s equal to mine. “Your choice cements you here, with us. With me. And now? I want every motherfucker to know where you are at the end of the night.”
Uh ... what?
I swallow, shaking my head lightly. “You’ve got the wrong idea what’s happening here.”
He dips his head, letting out a gravelly chuckle.
“Nah,” he whispers, his warm breath creating goose bumps across my neck. “You’re just slow catching on.”
His eyes flick between mine, hardening a little. But the longer he looks, the more they lose their edge.
“What is it about you that drives me insane?”
“My big mouth,” I tease, trying to downplay my reaction to him, but his words have my voice layered in a thick coat of desire.
“Haven’t even tested that out yet...” He trails off, his heat driven stare burning across my completely covered body. His frown settles back in place.
Right. He’s only gone down on me, no big deal.
When a slow smirk appears, it’s clear. My body is showing it remembers him.
“Safe to come upstairs now?” Royce shouts from the first floor and Maddoc steps away.
“Yeah!” Maddoc shouts when he reaches his room, closing himself inside.
“You coming to the party?” Royce asks when he hits the landing.
“No. I’m tired.”
He grins and whispers, “Liar. Don’t forget, we got eyes everywhere, RaeRae.”
Ignoring him, I head into the room and change into a T-shirt and sweats. I lie on my bed giving the illusion I’m going to sleep so I don’t get too much shit from them for not going out.
It doesn’t work.
They come in, all fucking three and laugh.
“We’re not dumb, but you should know that there are dogs in the orchards. You try to walk out of here at night, you might just get a chunk taken out of your calf,” Royce joyfully informs me with a wink before they disappear from the doorway.
And I’m stuck with no escape.
With a groan, I flip over on the mattress. Of course it’s the most comfortable bed on earth.
I sigh.
Shit’s gonna get interesting.
I hear them when they come in.
Their laughter is loud as they joke with each other, talking about different events of the night.
I find myself smiling.
These boys, there’s no competition between the three other than good fun and time spent on the courts, but not the kind that grows jealousy and hate.
It’s a rare bond, one I hope they never lose.
They start up the stairs, laughing as they attempt to get Royce to the top without him falling over.
“We should have left his ass on the couch,” Captain laughs.
“No way, man. I don’t like waking up down there by myself,” Royce admits, and I chuckle quietly.
He’s such a little boy under all that, well, horniness.
“Be quiet, Raven’s sleeping.”
“If she’s even still here.” Royce snorts. “Doubt she believed the shit about the dogs. I mean, dogs would bark, right? That’d be obvious.”
My jaw drops, and I punch at the mattress.
Son of a bitch.
Of course dogs would fucking bark! Damn it!
“Shut up, Royce,” Maddoc hisses.
Oh, too late, big man. I heard.
A few shuffles sound, the faucet turns on and off a couple times and then three doors quietly close.
And then mine pushes open and Maddoc slips inside in nothing but a pair of tight ass boxers that fit his strong thighs like a second skin. He closes and locks my door, steps up to my mattress, and waits.
With a deep breath and an ease I should try harder to fight, I pull the comforter down and with a frown, he slips in.
Maddoc wastes no time pulling me to his side. His left arms slide under my pillow, his right gripping me behind the knee. He pulls my leg over his, then lifts the covers to my shoulders.
When I shift, he jerks, and gently removes the earbud from my ear.
“Metal’s cold. Move the knife, Raven.”
Can I? Better question, should I?
I pull the knife from my shorts and set it behind me.
He moves us back to the exact same position.
“I knew you were awake,” he whispers, his chin sliding across my hair. “But you won’t be long. Close your eyes.”