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I eye his chest as I say it, broad, bare, and rising with every furious breath. The cuff around one thick wrist is holding, but barely. The muscle there flexes when he yanks at it again, the motion making my thighs clench.

God, he’s strong. Unreasonably hot. All scowls and scars and sleep-rough stubble. I want to lick his abs just to see if he growls.

Instead, I sigh. “You know, I made your pancakes fluffy on purpose. I don’t do that for everyone. I like you. I picked you. And now you’re being a whole lot of ungrateful for someone who got hand-delivered fresh coffee and breakfast in bed. Not to mention your favorite mug.”

He doesn’t answer, just keeps breathing like he’s mentally mapping out how many seconds it would take to strangle me if he were uncuffed.

“Right,” I say, popping the rest of the sausage in my mouth. “Well, I’ve got another grumpy man to feed. Holden’s probably brooding in his pillowcase fort by now.”

I stand, smoothing my dress down over my hips, and glance back at Brock. “Next time, I hope you’re feeling a little more sociable. Maybe we can take a walk, you can see the garden, meet the others… get used to your new home.”

I wink, then grin like this is the start of something beautiful. Because it is. He just doesn’t know it yet.

The moment I step into the kitchen, I’m hit with the smell of seared meat and hot coffee. Dean’s at the stove shirtless, of course, and Evan’s sitting at the island, all post-orgasm broody with a fork in his hand and a medical journal open like he’s not half-feral under that calm exterior.

Dean turns the second he sees me, that smile spreading slow like honey on hot toast. “How’d it go with our newest grump?”

I pluck a strip of bacon from the counter and munch it as I lean against the fridge. “Well, he told me he’s going to kill me. Multiple times. Didn’t even taste his pancakes. Called me a lunatic, which, okay, rude, but not inaccurate.”

Evan raises an eyebrow. “Worse than I was?”

“Oh, significantly.” I slide closer and boop his nose with the bacon before biting the end off. “At least you didn’t growl at me like a feral dog on day one. I mean, you looked like you wanted to, but you didn’t. That’s growth.”

Dean chuckles, flipping a steak with an obscene sizzle. “Want me to go in there? I could give him a little manners lesson. Or just show him what happens when someone’s mean to our girl.”

Our girl.

God, that does something to me. I feel my stomach flip, which is honestly unfair because I just ate sausage and coffee like a queen.

“He needs to cool off before anyone else goes in,” I say, moving beside Dean to peek at Holden’s steak. “One-on-one time is important. You all get to bond with me separately before we move into our happily-ever-after orgy phase.”

Dean leans down and kisses the side of my head. “Just say the word, and I’ll follow you anywhere.”

“You already do,” I tease, pressing my hip into his.

“You’re the gravity in here,” he murmurs.

I roll my eyes, but my chest goes a little gooey.

Evan, of all people, is the one who gets up and takes a small bowl from the counter. “Try this,” he says, holding out a bite of something creamy and golden on a spoon. “Custard. From the powdered mix you found in Holden’s stash. I added nutmeg.”

I eye him, suspiciously touched. “Are you seducing me with survival pantry hacks?”

“Is it working?” he asks.

I lean in and take the bite from his spoon, holding eye contact the whole time. It’s good. Creamy, sweet, and warm. I lick the spoon slowly and Evan’s jaw ticks.

“You’re gonna make me ruin another pair of pants,” Dean mutters, pulling the steak off the heat and placing it on a plate with absurd care.

“Then stop wearing pants,” I say, still watching Evan as I lick the corner of my mouth. “And you,” I add, tapping the spoon against Evan’s chest. “Are officially not the grumpiest anymore. You’ve been dethroned.”

He snorts. “I’ll send Brock a thank you card.”

Dean places the finished plate in my hands. “You sure you want to go in alone?”

“Positive,” I say. “You all get a special private meeting with me. This is the part where he rages and resists, and I show him that I can outlast his temper. That I brought him steak. That I’m not going anywhere.”

Dean kisses me again, this time slower. “Come back after. I’ll make you something sweet.”