Page 31 of Finding Embers and Stars (Twin Flames Duet #1)

Chapter thirty-one

W aking up with my mate in my arms is the best feeling in the world. My moment of contentment is shattered when I see Wyatt sneaking out of the room. He kept his distance all night, sleeping on the outside of our puppy pile and never trying to get closer to Piper.

Looking down at Piper, I’m surprised to see a faint look of irritation cross her face. The way her nose wrinkles is adorable. It’s interesting that it happened as Wyatt left the room. Even while sleeping, she seems to sense his presence.

I roll her gently towards Liam and smile at the way she burrows into his side. Once she settles back into a deep sleep, I get up to follow my brother.

I find Wyatt in the kitchen, staring into the depths of the refrigerator like it holds the answers to the universe. “Where are you sneaking off to so early in the morning?”

He rolls his eyes and gives me a sheepish grin. “I’m not sneaking anywhere. I’m going to make everyone breakfast.”

“I figured you would be heading to work for a few days on an overtime shift. I’m pleased you aren’t running away.” I can’t help my surprise. Wyatt isn’t known for facing his problems.

He stops pulling food out long enough to meet my eyes. “Do I want to? Yes. Will I? No. They are both too important to me and to all of us for me to tuck tail and run away.”

He dives back into the breakfast prep and lays out a meal that's fit for a king, or in this case, our queens. I get a pot of coffee brewing, then focus on Piper’s hot chocolate. I still don’t understand how she survives without coffee. I think it makes her and Milo stronger than the rest of us.

I set the electric kettle up to heat more water for Milo’s tea and take Piper’s chocolate in to wake her and the guys.

When I get back to the TV room, I find everyone awake and talking, though no one has left the nest of pillows that we threw together last night.

“Good morning, embers. Breakfast is almost ready, and here is your hot chocolate.” I flick my eyes to Milo. “There is water heating for your tea.”

I lean in for a kiss after carefully handing Piper her cup. I love the way her eyes flutter closed, and she presses into me. There are no pretenses with our mates. Each of them is honest in a way that is rare in today’s society.

Pulling back, I drop one last kiss on her nose, making her giggle. “I’m going to go check on Walker and Sage.”

Heading back to the kitchen, I pour a cup of coffee for Sage and make my way upstairs. Walker yells, “Come in!” when I knock on the door.

Peaking around the door, I grin at the scene before me. They are wrapped around each other, tangled in the blankets, watching the sunrise from the edge of the bed.

“I brought you a peace offering, beautiful.” I walk over to the bed, holding out the steaming cup.

“You didn’t have to bring coffee, Mav. Bringing yourself would have been just as good.”

As sweet as her words are, the way she snatches the coffee from my hands has me raising an eyebrow and Walker pressing his face into her shoulder to muffle his chuckle.

“If you say so. Breakfast is almost ready. Embers and the guys are getting dressed if you two want to join us when you’re ready?”

Walker kisses her cheek before sliding out of bed. “I’m going to grab a shower. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I lace my fingers through hers and wait for her eyes to make their way back to me after following my brother out of the room.

“Sage.” I pause for a moment. Apologies don’t come easy to me, but I know, without a doubt, that I need to make one. “I’m sorry I added to everything last night with my freak out over the money. I just want you to know if you still want to leave, I’m coming with you. You and Piper are it for me. I won’t be complete without you. Both of you.”

Her eyes glisten with tears. “Tensions were high last night and there was a lot of shit thrown at all of us. I’m not upset with you, Maverick. And I’m not leaving.”

Just as I breathe a sigh of relief, she throws the covers off and rolls out of bed, striding across the room in all her naked glory. Her head is held high, and she walks with the confidence of a Goddess.

I’m not sure I remember how to breathe.

My wolf howls within my skull. His every instinct is driving him to bond with his mate, which is driving me insane. My mates are stunning and it’s getting impossible to ignore my animal’s base desires.

She walks back out of her closet a few moments later in a bright teal sundress that hugs every curve of her delicious body. The smirk she sends my way while braiding her hair into pigtails tells me she knows exactly what she is doing and loves teasing me.

When she stops before me, I lightly grip the ends of her braids and pull her in for a kiss.

After I’ve teased us both with a kiss that draws out several delectable moans of pleasure from my mate, I lean back and adjust myself.

“I’m struggling right now because my wolf is riding me hard to bond with you, and I refuse to rush, for all our sakes.”

She smiles at me, gratitude shining in her eyes. I know I made the right call. After everything her and Piper have been through, we can’t rush them to bond, as much as I may want to.

“Do you have any plans for today, beautiful?”

She grins at me, her face lighting up. “I want to get the Jeep out and take a drive with the top down. I usually head down Manasota Key road and then towards Venice.” For a second uncertainty shows in her eyes, but she quickly squares her shoulders. “Would you like to come with me?”

An outing for just the two of us? I’d be a fool to turn her down. “I would love to.” Taking her hand, I tug her out of the room. “Come on, let's eat breakfast, pack some snacks and blow this popsicle stand.” Her delighted giggles follow me all the way downstairs.

Breakfast is fantastic, though Wyatt made himself scarce when he heard us coming down the stairs. He cleaned up the living room while we ate and by the time we made it out front, he already had the Jeep’s top off and everything ready for us to head out.

Apparently, Wyatt heard Sage announcing our plans in the kitchen and jumped in to earn some more brownie points. He even filled a cooler of drinks for us and had two iced coffees waiting in the cup holders.

Sage comes to a stop when she sees the Jeep. “When did you have time to do all this?”

I shake my head as I climb in. “It wasn’t me. You must have a house-elf running around doing your bidding from the shadows.” I barely hold in my snort of amusement when I see Wyatt standing in the shadow of the garage, glaring at me. I put my sunglasses on and pick up one of the iced coffees. “I could get used to the passenger princess life.”

The way her eyes sparkle with amusement when she lets out a deep, full body laugh has me grinning. Her laugh is as perfect as the rest of her, and I’ll never get tired of hearing it.

Just as Sage puts the Jeep in drive, Piper runs out the front door, giving a sharp whistle to catch our attention. She hands a floppy sun hat to Sage along with her cell phone. Piper leans down to whisper something in Sage’s ear before kissing her cheek. She jogs around the Jeep and leans in to give me a kiss as well.

As she backs up, she smirks at us. “Have fun kids. Remember to wrap it before you tap it!”

Sage’s face turns bright red, but she’s laughing along with Piper. Walker and Liam grab Piper’s hands and drag her off to their truck as we pull away. They are headed out on the boat again today.

With a shake of her head, Sage takes off down the driveway. Before we moved here, I was under the impression that if you were on a beach road, you would be able to see water all the time. I was delighted to discover the long stretches of road hidden beneath the stunning canopy trees that line the street. Each time the trees come to an end, it’s a jolt to see the sparkling teal water.

Sage seems to have no plan or destination in mind as we wander through the neighborhoods of Venice, then out onto the back roads.

I can’t keep my hands to myself. Even though she is sitting less than a foot away, I feel compelled to lay my hand on her thigh. I run my thumb back and forth across her soft skin and the way she keeps clenching her legs together tells me she isn’t as unaffected as she’s acting.

Eventually, we cross what Sage calls the Circus Bridge and enter Venice Island. The area has a small beach town feel to it and the main street is lined with shops and restaurants.

The road we are following winds down to an outlook of sorts. Of all the places I thought she would stop, this humble spot wasn’t on the list. The look of contentment on her face is something I’ve not seen before.

“This is my thinking spot. When there is too much going on in my head, or when I need to decompress. This is where I come.” She looks over at me, that hint of vulnerability shining in her eyes once more. “Do you want to go sit on the rocks with me?”

I nod and grab the cooler and blanket that Wyatt packed for us. How much courage did it take for Sage to share this place with me? Something tells me that the only other person who may know how much this spot means to Sage is Piper. That she trusts me with this piece of herself means more than I can say.

Taking her hand, I let her lead me. It wouldn’t matter if we were walking into a wildfire, if Sage or Piper are leading, I will follow.

We make our way down a long skinny path that leads out to the water. Surrounded on both sides by rocks, she leads me down the right side until she finds a spot big enough for us to sit side by side. I spread the blanket out and we sit down together.

When she lays her head on my shoulder, my wolf settles for the first time all day. It’s amazing how much peace can be found simply sitting with my mate this way.

Sage lets out a sigh, much of the tension leaving her body as she stares out at the water. “Sometimes I come here at sunset if I don’t want to go up to the bird’s nest at the house. The jetties bring me a sense of peace and tranquility that I can’t find anywhere else. I love watching people fish and sometimes you can see the dolphins come in to catch their dinner. Occasionally a manatee will pop its nose up to say hi.”

I place a kiss on her forehead. “Thank you for bringing me here, stars.”

She startles at my nickname for her. “Stars?”

“Yes, stars. You are the brightest light in our lives. You have been through things that would have broken most people, yet you came out the other side still shining bright. I know I can always look at you and find my way home.”

I pretend not to see the tear that rolls down her cheek when she snuggles into my side. Instead, I wrap my arm around her, and we bask in the silence. So many people feel the need to fill every moment with chatter and to me it’s a gift to find people that you’re content to just be with.

Nearly an hour later, she looks up at me. “Mav, I’m falling hard and fast for all of you. Please tell me that this isn’t going to end when you bond with Piper?”

I nuzzle her neck, breathing in her delicious scent. “Stars, you will never be rid of us. When we bond, it will be with both of you at the same time. The guys and I have already talked about it. There is no either, or, in this relationship. We all want you both, end of story.”

The way her body wilts into mine tells me how much this has been weighing on her. I may need to have a word with my brothers and make sure we all give her some reassurance that she is as much a part of this relationship as Piper is.

“Since you and Piper are technically bonded through Atlas, we figured we could split into two groups and bond at the same time.”

The smile and kiss she gives me tells me everything she doesn’t say. We are so blessed to have been given not one, but two amazing mates.