out of his arms.
Ocean water dripped down my chest. Disappointment clouded my head. Good thing my brother was able to act chill. I wanted us all to stay at the condo a little longer.
Making love with Zelie changed everything. I wanted to do it again every night and every day. I wanted to kiss her and hold her and love her for all time.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Zelie
My blanket and bedsheet ended up heaped on the floor, along with two sets of trousers and my damp gown.
I had no idea what time it was when I woke up naked between Reed and Ronin. My narrow bed wasn’t made for two—let alone three—at a time, which was part of the reason the twins were plastered against me. My entire body felt feverish from making love until dawn. I could use a touch of the twins’ cooling powers right about now.
A satisfying ache bloomed between my thighs. I wanted to stay in bed longer and give in to days of pleasure. Once I’d invited Reed and Ronin to stay the night, I hadn’t held back. I had a tendency to get loud. Didn’t matter. This was my cottage. My domain. They’d loved every second of it.
My bladder forced me to wiggle my way out of bed.
A hand caught my ankle. “Stay,” Reed said.
Ronin dozed near the wall, breathing low and steady.
“Gotta pee,” I said.
Reed released my ankle.
I grabbed my fuzzy robe from a hook on the back of my door and stuffed my arms into the sleeves as I fled my room, feeling Reed’s wakeful stare on my back.
After relieving myself, I went to the kitchen and started heating water in a kettle while pulling specialty herbs from my cupboard. I measured ingredients into a small bowl, then crushed everything together with the back of a spoon.
When steam whistled in the kettle, I poured the hot water into a mug and stirred in the crushed herbs.
Reed emerged in his rumpled gray slacks, shirtless and grinning. “Now here is a sight I want to wake up to every morning.”
“I bet.” I smirked and blew on the surface of my mug.
“Need me to cool that?”
“Sure.” I handed Reed the mug.
Reed took the mug and peered inside. “What temperature would you like it?”
“Very warm, but not so hot that I burn my tongue.”
Reed stared at the mug, his brows furrowed in concentration. Nothing appeared to happen. He drew in a breath, released it, then looked up.
“Try it now.” He handed me the mug.
I took a tentative sip, swallowing down the warm liquid. “Just right,” I said with a grin. “I could get used to this.”
Reed’s face lit up like he’d just won an archery tournament. I couldn’t get over how cute he and his brother were about so many little things. Being around them made me happier than I could have ever imagined. In all the years I’d spent searching for a partner, I’d never dreamed that Lark’s little brothers would capture my heart.
As I drank down the last of my tincture, Ronin joined us in the kitchen. He’d put on his steel blue slacks and wore his white dress shirt unbuttoned.
“Good morning.” I set my empty mug on the counter.
Ronin sauntered up to me with a devilish grin, pulled me into a hug, and lifted me briefly off my feet. I laughed happily and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
“I was about to make porridge. Do you want sweetberry tea while you wait?” I looked from Ronin to Reed.
“How about we make breakfast?” Reed suggested.
“Careful, boys, or I might never let you leave,” I teased.
“That’s the plan,” Ronin said huskily, slipping behind me and wrapping his arms around my middle. He pulled me against him, pressing his erection against my rear. I took in a shaky breath.
“Won’t your parents wonder where you are?” I asked.
Reed swaggered over and slid my robe over one shoulder, exposing my breast. “We told them we were going to hang out in California after the ball and not to expect—or bother—us for a week.”
I felt my face turning crimson. “Wait. What exactly did you tell your mom and dads? Did you tell them I might be with you in California?”
The twins had never been shy about showering me with attention in front of their family. I’d always laughed it off as boys being boys—something they’d eventually outgrow. Now that I was aware that their interest had only strengthened over the years, I wondered how much their family knew about their