sometimes I could see that question in his eyes. He was wondering the same thing I was wondering, how long were we going to stay up here hiding from the world?
I'd left him sleeping in bed and was curled up on the couch with a mug of peppermint tea sweetened with three sugars, watching a nature documentary about emperor penguins. They were huddled against a storm, using each other for warmth but those on the outside would surely freeze. I only relaxed when it was over and the footage changed to show the fathers with eggs resting on their feet and their partners returning after weeks at sea. They sought each other out amongst the masses, finding their mates and reuniting with beak rubs and nuzzles.
Nicoli suddenly dropped down into the space beside me in his boxers and I didn't even jump. His presence was so familiar now, I didn't live on the edge of my nerves anymore. But outside of these walls, who knew how I'd be?
He frowned as he looked at me, taking my mug and placing it on the table before dragging me closer. "Why are you crying? What's happened?"
“Am I?” I sniffed as he rubbed his rough thumbs over my cheeks to wipe the tears away, a deep crease in his brow.
“Yes, baby doll. Talk to me. You can tell me anything, you know that, right?”
I parted my lips, looking to the TV and I waved a hand at him as I realised what was up. “It's the penguins.”
“The penguins?” he deadpanned, shooting a suspicious glance at the TV.
“They mate for life.” I sniffed again and his frown deepened.
“I don't understand. Do you...not like penguins?”
“No, I love them,” I gasped, horrified that he'd suggest such a thing.
He remained silent for a long moment. “Look, Winter, I really fucking hate seeing you cry, but I am so confused right now. Please explain.”
I smiled through my tears, leaning into kiss him. “You're my penguin, that's all, silly.”
“Oh...right. And how am I the silly one in this situation exactly?” He laughed as he wrapped his arms around me, laying back against the sofa so I was snuggled against his chest.
I grinned up at him, brushing my fingers over the stubble on his jaw. “You're always the silly one.”
“I'm the least silly person in Sinners Bay,” he disagreed and I sat up to straddle him, leaning down and tickling his sides.
No matter how much I tickled him, he didn't react at all, smirking up at me like an asshole.
“I'm not ticklish,” he growled. “But you, on the other hand-” He grabbed my waist and I screamed through a laugh as he pushed up the shirt of his which I was wearing to tickle my bare flesh.
“Enough fucking, you have company again,” Frankie's voice cut through the air and Nicoli yanked the shirt down to my thighs in an instant. I was kind of getting tired of being walked in on all the time. I knew it was Frankie's place and was so grateful to him for everything he'd done, but sometimes I really did long for our own space.
Frankie strolled over to an armchair with Tyson in tow; the dog was often coming and going between the different Romeros to ensure he had enough exercise.
He dropped down into the seat and looked to the TV as Tyson rushed over, licking my hand before jumping up on Nicoli. “Jesus, that’s not my choice of porn but each to their own, I suppose.”
Words snagged in my throat as I tried to reply to that. I was starting to get really fond of Nicoli's brothers, but I still couldn't talk to any of them. Sloan was the only one I felt comfortable around to speak with and it was extra frustrating when I naturally wanted to counter Frankie's sass.
Nicoli pushed me off of his lap, sitting up and tugging the blanket over my legs in a causal move that could have been mistaken for endearing if I hadn't known he was being a total jealous idiot.
I leaned close to him, whispering in his ear and he released a rumbling laugh as he looked to Frankie and relayed my words. “Winter asks if you prefer shark porn or is it the dolphins that do it for you?”
“Yeah, those blowholes get me real hard, bella.” He smirked. "Speaking of blowholes, can you both stop blowing things and filling holes everywhere around my apartment? I don't even give a fuck about the cum, but can you