The Ice Twins - Nikki Jefford Page 0,45
Perhaps I could enjoy an entire summer of bliss before breaking the news to them.
After I finished my breakfast, a freshly showered Ronin collected my tray. He was dressed in dark pants and a snug tee, black hair still damp. We needed a second dresser. For the time being, I’d cleared out two drawers for the twins.
I inhaled when Ronin leaned over to collect my emptied plate and mug. He froze, turning a grin my way. “Did you just smell me?”
A smile bloomed up my cheeks. “You smell good.”
“But not as good as bacon,” Reed said, sauntering in still dressed in only his briefs. “We need to wash up and get dressed. Mom wants us all to come over for lunch.”
My heart skipped a beat, then rocketed up my throat. I made a choking sound.
Ronin chuckled. “Don’t look so scared, Zelie. Our mom adores you.”
“Probably wants to present you with a trophy for taking us off her hands.” Reed grunted and folded his arms over his chest.
Oh my gosh. Was it really time to face reality? The twins claimed that Melarue was happy about the three of us hooking up. She knew better than anyone what it meant to juggle two males. But I was so much older. Was she truly okay with that?
I leapt out of bed, hurrying to my small closet, where I pawed through summer dresses. “What am I going to wear? Sundress? Tunic over leggings? Pit! Nothing in here looks right.”
“Zelie,” Reed said, stepping up behind me. “Chill.”
His word sent a nippy gust up my legs. It felt like his mouth was at my entrance blowing cool air over my bud. I clamped my legs and teeth together. I knew from experience that moaning only encouraged them.
“Not helping,” I gritted out.
Reed chuckled. His invisible gale glided over my breasts. I shivered.
“Now that you’ve cooled off, how about we take a hot shower together?”
“We?” I faced Reed and arched one brow.
“Better make it quick,” Ronin said. “If we’re late, Mom might hunt us down.”
Eep!
“Wait your turn,” I warned Reed before yanking a green sundress off a hanger, tossing it on my bed, and hurrying to the shower.
I was lucky to have a newer cottage that came installed with a water tank on the roof. There was a ladder for filling the tank during pauses between rainfall. Sunlight was enough to heat the water on clear days, beaming through a glass pane to the black tank beneath. The water felt wonderful this time of year. The woodstove took a long time to heat in winter. But summer meant carrying heavy pails of water up the ladder—until the twins, anyway. It was another chore they’d taken on for me.
I opened the valve and sighed into a spray of deliciously warm water.
No time to enjoy, I reminded myself. I had to face Melarue and her mates. I knew them well enough to believe the twins when they said I would be accepted with open arms into their family, but that didn’t make me less nervous.
On the walk to the Elmray cottage, my feet dragged. Meanwhile, Reed and Ronin were practically skipping in their excitement to present me to their parents.
As the front door of the cottage loomed closer, my heart knocked against my ribs. Maybe there was still time to turn around and run. My steps slowed. Reed and Ronin were several paces ahead of me when the front door flew open and Melarue rushed out, her hair in a high, thick bun.
“Get in here for a hug, Zelie. I was so happy when the twins told me the wonderful news.” Melarue threw her arms around me, kissed both my cheeks, and squeezed me in a tight embrace.
“Zelie!” Melody yelled from behind us. “Oh my god! I’m so excited. We’re going to be sisters!”
“Um.”
Melarue grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the cottage. “Let’s head on back. Peridot prepared a beautiful outdoor picnic. You have to tell us all about your reunion ball. We went over before the dance and snuck a peek at the ice palace my boys created.”
“Wicked cool,” Melody said.
My legs moved with Melarue as she directed me to the back side of the cottage, where a large blanket was laid over the lawn. Baskets anchored the edges. There was a stack of plates. Peridot and Kaylin, the governesses all of the Elmray children had grown up with, stood at the ready. One held a pitcher of lemonade, the other a stack of glasses. Peridot beamed at