Seventh Seal - Jacquelyn Faye Page 0,28

When he was in the bed, the temperatures sweltered.

"I didn't mean temperature. I mean I can't keep my eyes off of you."

"You seemed to do okay. You were asleep as soon as we got into bed. Nor did you dream."

"Huh. I didn't. No night terrors, either. The only time that happens is when I drink."

"You should drink more."

"I'd rather deal with night terrors."

He was right. Alcoholism was no joke. While it wouldn't kill a witch, our livers were too tough for that, it could wreck the fucking hell out of your life.

"Last night…just sleeping next to you… Thank you. I needed that."

Smiling, I lay my head on his chest.

"Well, aren't you two just the cutest…"

I looked over my shoulder at Jimmy standing in my bedroom doorway. A door I had sworn I'd closed when we went to bed last night.

"Morning, Jimmy. Everything okay?"

"Yeah. I was just checking on you two. Drove by Chief's house on the way to the hardware store and you weren't there."

"Yeah. Our night went to shit last night. We didn't get home here until three."

"Sorry. We good after that shit show of a dinner, though?" He laughed nervously.

Chief spoke up. "Yeah. That was my bad. Sorry about that."

"No worries, Bill. Just didn't want you to think I was mad at you."

"Where's Dennis?"

"He had a shift today."

"Ahh. Coffee?" I asked and got off Chief.

"I'm not interrupting?" He motioned to a very naked Chief, lying on his back and not bothering to cover his nakedness.

"I have more pressing concerns at the moment. Guys have morning wood. Women have to pee," I answered and headed into the bathroom, closing the door behind me.

When I got out of the bathroom, the boys were already in the kitchen, brewing up some magic in the Keurig.

Jimmy handed me a cup as I passed by him and ran my hand over his jean covered butt. Chief had slipped on some boxers and was waiting patiently for his turn. I was woefully underdressed. "Be right back. Gonna put on a shirt."

"Not on our account, I hope." Jimmy grinned and stuffed another pod in the machine.

"No." I lifted myself up on my tippy toes, seeing who, if anyone, was sleeping on the couch. I could hardly wait for the new year when Josie and Candace officially took possession of their new house next door. We were going to have so much more room. I was practically salivating in anticipation. I was going to have a guest room. They were going to have two. Josie had already offered the space for when, and if, I needed it.

"Don't know where Jaeren is, but Ellis is taking a shower before the girls get up," Jimmy answered, knowing who I was looking for.

"Gotcha. Be right back," I said and set my coffee on the counter before dipping into the bedroom and slipping into a T-shirt one of the guys had left. Didn't know, didn't care. It was mine now.

"Hey, that's my shirt! I was wondering where I left it." Chief pointed at my chest with his empty mug.

"Was. Was your shirt. Finders keepers."

"Thief."

"It's a shirt. I'll buy you a new one."

"I meant my heart." He smiled and put his mug in the machine when Jimmy pulled my mug out and handed it to me.

"Forget sloppy seconds, you get sloppy thirds." Jimmy chuckled and poured some milk in his coffee.

"Not the first time."

I stared in open-mouthed shock. He hadn't meant, or said, it maliciously, but Chief was acting…different than usual. His banter with Jimmy was proof of that. As was his lack of shyness in the bedroom when I got up. I liked it, but I was also a little concerned. Even dinner last night had been far out of the realm of his normal character. "What do you mean by that?" I cocked an eyebrow and shifted my weight to one foot, putting the hand not holding a coffee cup on my hip and giving Chief a questioning look.

Chief grinned and blushed while his coffee brewed.

"Tomorrow, you're getting sloppy fifths. If anything at all." I stuck my tongue out at him.

"I was kidding! Just keeping the conversation going."

"Jerk," I said, but with a laugh. I was definitely going to have to keep an eye on Chief. I wanted him to be happy, not pretending to be.

Jimmy sat at the table, and when I went to join him, he patted his leg. Cocking an eyebrow at him, I sat down in his lap knowing full well I should trust him