Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,78

The moment was gone, and I wondered when he would allow himself to break down his barriers again.

The rest of them took their turns hugging me and inspecting the bracelet upon my wrist. I loved the feel of each of them holding my hand; some scrutinized for much longer than necessary, as if prolonging our contact. But none of them lingered quite like Huxley did. He was acting curious, and I wondered what his sudden transformation meant.

Was I no longer a threat? Or was there something else brewing between us? Between all of us. Something that I wasn’t ready to admit to myself, let alone to all of them.

I tried to clean up the mess they made in the kitchen, but I was ushered out and scolded by Patrick. We gathered in the backyard where Kemper had set up a fire pit surrounded by some of his hand-crafted wooden chairs. The atmosphere briefly reminded me of the Summer Solstice celebration but this was much quainter and less intense. I settled into a chair around the pit, and Patrick turned on some music with a soft guitar and light beat.

"I've saved the day!" Cyler exclaimed while walking out with a platter full of strawberries. "Since you didn't get your birthday cake," he continued while rolling his eyes at an embarrassed Kemper. "I know how much you love strawberries, and I grabbed some from Lois."

I remembered the last time I ate strawberries, and how Cyler's confident fingers placed a juicy one covered in chocolate on my tongue. A part of me wished that he would hand feed me again. Would he lick the juices from the corner of my mouth?

I threw my hand over my chest at those fleeting thoughts and widened my eyes in embarrassment. Cyler peered at me with knowing eyes, as if he, too, was remembering our time in the Stonewell kitchen and how intense things already were between us. He kneeled at my side and handed me a plate.

After waiting until everyone was distracted with one of Jacob's long-winded stories, he leaned in close and whispered in my ear, "Would you like for me to feed you again, babe?" I gulped, causing Cyler to grin and bite his lip.

Feeling pleased with my reaction to him, Cyler left the plate and went back to the others. Kemper walked behind me and began massaging my shoulders while I slowly indulged in the strawberries.

"I'm sorry I ruined your cake, Ash. I promise I’ll make it up to you," Kemper said with a sigh. I realized he was more upset than he previously let on.

"Kemper, nothing about tonight is ruined. Tonight is perfect," I said as his nimble fingers worked the knots on my shoulders. I reached up and grabbed his hand, then slightly squeezed. Kemper froze at my touch, and I felt his earlier anxiety disappear under our contact. I couldn't remember a time that I was so treasured and pampered.

Everyone joked, and I observed them openly. I watched how they interacted with one another and how they wholly accepted me into their group. It was jarring to consider who I was just months ago and who I am now. It was in that moment that decided I would do whatever it took to keep my new life here in Dormas. Here with these kind and thoughtful men that chiseled their way into my heart.

Chapter Seven

My bedroom was utterly ruined thanks to Jules’ destructive departure. Stained and torn bed sheets covered the mattress. The beautiful windows were covered and smudged with makeup and marks made from coal. Shattered glass littered the floor, and a few of my belongings were ripped and shredded. All my clothes were missing, aside from a few paint-splattered dresses.

Cyler cursed when he saw the mess, but with a swipe of his tablet he bought me an entirely new wardrobe from the most exquisite shop in Galla. I asked him about new bedding, but he slyly insisted that I could just use one of their beds, and he would order bedding another day.

After a chorus of playful arguing and a few arm wrestling contests, I ended up sleeping in Patrick’s bed. Unlike the night before with Cyler, I felt embarrassed and nervous to sleep near Patrick. When he slipped off the thin material of his t-shirt and let it fall to the floor, I practically melted.

His green eyes had a playful sparkle in them as he looked at me from the bathroom, where he was brushing his teeth.