Page 41 of Don’t Hate Me (Secrets of Ravens Hollow #2)

Afterwards, Romeo and Reef carried me into the shower, taking care of me sweetly, cleaning me before getting me all dirty again.

We eventually all went back out into the living room and kept drinking with the other two.

I fell asleep sometime in the early hours of the morning on the couch, more content than I have been in a very long time.

When the bright morning light shining through the windows of the living room gets too much to stand, I open my eyes.

I find Romeo’s arm wrapped around me tightly like he has no intention of ever letting me go, his cock already sporting a semi, pressed into my ass, with a heavy woolen blanket covering us.

I can feel my legs are bare and my top half is just covered in one of the boys’ button-ups from last night.

“Go back to sleep,” he mutters sleepily, nuzzling his nose into my hair.

I survey the damage from last night. Half-empty glasses sit on the coffee table, and there is a plate of mini desserts that I remember one of Orlando’s staff bringing out for us.

All the candles are burned down to mounds of wax, and the fire is more a pile of simmering embers now.

Reef is in one of the armchairs and Onyx is in the other, both still fast asleep, blankets wrapped around their bodies. They look so snugly and content.

Orlando is out on the pool deck with a coffee in hand.

The storm has passed, and the sun is peeping through the soft white clouds.

Looking lost in thought, he stares out at the ocean.

I ease out of Romeo’s hold, compelled to check on him.

Last night was a lot for all of us. I find a spare blanket draped over the back of the sofa and wrap it around my shoulders, joining him on the pool deck.

“Are you okay?” I ask, knowing he probably wouldn’t tell me if there was something wrong, but I have to check anyway. I take a seat beside him.

His attention comes to me, a fresh warmth in his eyes. “I haven’t been to Italy for nine years. I never thought I would go back, not while my papa was still alive anyway,” he says softly.

My heart aches for him, I know how much of a big deal this must be.

He hates his papa and to have to go back home where all his trauma stems from must be torturous.

“You don’t have to go. I’m sure there is another way.

Send someone else to deal with him. You have people for that shit, don’t you?

” I watch him, trying to work out another way.

There has to be. I don’t want him to go.

“My brothers would go for you. Cruz is crazy as fuck, if anyone could deal with your papa, he could.”

His stern expression tells me all I need to know. His mind is made up, and it doesn’t matter what I say, he’s not going to change it. “I have hidden from my problems for long enough, Sloane, it’s time to face him.”

I find his hand and intertwine our fingers, the two of us sitting quietly.

“I’ll miss you while you’re gone,” I say eventually when the silence between us gets too much.

There is so much more I want to say to him but nothing I know I should.

After a week with him, I shouldn’t be having the crazy feelings I am, it’s not normal.

And I’m sure they are just exacerbated by the proximity we have been stuck in.

But my heart hurts when I think about him leaving, even if it’s only for a few days.

I feel his burning gaze on me, a weight pressing down, but I can’t bring myself to look at him.

The thought of him leaving brings a wave of sadness over me.

I have no idea why, I don’t get all worked up over the mushy shit.

But I have to bite the inside of my mouth to stop the impending tears.

“You will have Onyx and Reef,” he snips, and I know he’s not all that happy about it.

“I like it when I have all four of you.” I feel my cheeks heat at my admission. My mind goes back to last night. I want the impossible, I know I do. All of the men I have fallen for.

His hand finds my chin, and he moves me so I’m forced to look directly into his eyes. I blink away the tears so he can’t see them. “Heartless Sloane Stryker has something still beating in there after all.”

A shaky laugh huffs from my lips. He’s wrong, I don’t have a heart. “Maybe I’m just horny.”

He laughs and it’s the best sound ever. “You really are trouble. Be a good girl while I’m away and do everything the boys say to keep you safe. Promise me you will.”

“Okay,” I promise him with a shrug like I don’t care.

His lips meet with mine again, but this kiss is different. It feels real in a way that scares me. “You’ll have us all again.” I melt into him, my hand wrapping around the back of his neck as I nuzzle closer.

“I’ll make sure of it,” comes Romeo’s voice from the doorway.

Orlando and I pull back from each other just a little, and I glance at Romeo.

I regret it immediately, when I see he’s just in low-slung sweatpants, his damn chiseled chest on full display, and he looks divine.

Like he knows it, his lips twist up into the sexiest damn smile I have ever seen.

He moves onto the deck, running a hand through his long hair.

Orlando kisses me once more, then his hand slips from mine and he stands, moving toward his brother. “Our boat arrives at noon, don’t keep me waiting,” he mutters, passing him and leaving the two of us alone.

I stand, moving toward Romeo. He pulls me in for a kiss. “You two better not kill each other,” I warn him, my voice deadly serious.

“I’ll try not to.”

I stare him down, my eyes narrowing, my lips forming a thin line. “I’m serious, Romeo, I need you to bring him home safe.”

His eyes flash, a dangerous fire burning with what looks suspiciously like jealousy. “What the hell happened between the two of you in the last week? You should hate him.”

I take a step back from him, not sure how to explain. “I know. But I don’t. He’s a changed man, Romeo, and he would do anything for me, I already know it.”

Frown lines form on his forehead. “Why do I get the impression you would do the same for him?”

I take his hands in mine, gripping them tightly. “I would for any of you four boys. Call me fucking crazy, but you have crawled under my skin, and I think you’re stuck with me.”

That comment puts the smile back on his face. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, doll face.”

“Can you do me a favor?” I ask with a small cheeky smile, because I know he’s not going to like what I’m asking from him.

“Anything,” he says with absolute certainty.

“Keep an eye on him. He’s been living on this island alone for a long time. Going home to your papa is going to hurt. I don’t know how it’s possible, but I think he’s more damaged than you.”

He raises a brow, as if I have insulted him. “I’m not damaged.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes. “You know what I mean. Shit was bad for him with your papa after you were left here in America.”

His head drops like it’s what he expected, but hearing it hurts. “I’ll make sure we both come back to you.”

I pop up on my toes and kiss his lips. “Thank you.”

The delicious smell of eggs and buttery toast wafts through the air. “You need to eat after all the physical activity you got in last night.” He smirks cheekily as he swats my ass.

I shake my head as he takes my hand, and we move back inside in search of breakfast. I know if it was up to him, we would be going at it again this morning.

We find the others already up and dressed, waiting at the table. Reef smiles at me, his warm friendly face welcoming me to come sit with him. I take my seat next to Reef, and Romeo takes one to my side, with Onyx across from us and Orlando at the head of the table.

There is a buffet-type breakfast laid out for us, and the boys all pile up their plates.

Onyx hands the plate he was filling to me with a raised brow that says don’t fight me on this, trouble .

I take it and smile at him tightly. I get it, he needs the illusion of control in a situation completely out of his hands, a desperate attempt to cling to some appearance of order amidst the chaos.

But the two of us are long overdue for a serious chat as to why.

And while we’re locked up in this place over the next few days, I intend to find out every last thing about him.

And Reef for that matter. They are both tight-lipped when it comes to their pasts, but I know there is a story to tell.

There has to be. They know everything about me, it’s only fair I know everything about them and how they ended up here sitting at this table.

Starving, I scoop a mouthful of fluffy scrambled eggs into my mouth, trying to concentrate on my food so I don’t have to deal with the awkward tension in the room.

Everyone is a little too quiet this morning, even Reef.

I glance his way, and he’s already watching me.

He gives me a half smile that I can’t help but return, and I wonder what he was thinking about.

What they are all thinking about. Do they have regrets after what we did?

I still kind of can’t believe it really happened.

They brought my fantasy to life, even when they hate Orlando.

And I know it sounds silly to say, but I feel different this morning.

Like something changed for all of us last night.

I know what it was. Just a bit of fun to pass the time. But it felt like more than that to me.