Page 37

Elliott

The smell of food wakes me from a nap I didn’t even realize I was having.

Warmth engulfs me and I give my legs a stretch, realizing there are no nightmares or memories invading my mind and I take a deep breath of relief.

My nose fills with rosewood and just the scent of him relaxes me further.

Kameron stayed with me, still holding me like he was when I was sobbing in his arms after I apologized.

He’s still rubbing my side softly and the small gesture has my stomach fluttering.

I don’t know if he is half awake or just relaxing as he holds me to his side, but I chanced a glance at him anyway.

His eyes are closed as he lays against the bed’s headboard.

I allow myself to take the sight of him in, propping on my elbows before resting on his chest .

He is breathtaking.

I mean, they all are. As much as I don’t want to include Marcus, I know that would be a lie. All three are handsome in their own ways. All so different, yet still stunning.

Kameron’s honey waves lay perfectly tousled back, like all he did was run his fingers through his hair this morning and it ended up being perfectly messy.

I drag my gaze across his sun-kissed skin, seeing a hint of stubble on his cheeks and sharp jawline, I further my gaze to his full lips.

The same ones he kisses me tenderly with.

I want to taste them on me again.

My stomach coils at the memory of what he made me feel spark through my mind and body.

“See something you like?” He says, peeking one of his golden eyes at me.

“Yes.” I reply bluntly as I grin up at him through my lashes.

He pulls me on top of him, widening his legs so I settle in between them comfortably, “And what do you see that’s to your liking, gorgeous?” His lips hover close enough to mine and I can feel his hot breath.

“You.” I whisper to him.

“Mmm…go on.” He groans, burying his face into my neck and kissing right above my collar bone, causing me to giggle.

“Stop.” I fully laugh now that he’s found my tickle spot, and he must know because he breathes against it again causing me to playfully shrug him off but he doesn’t budge, taking full advantage. “Kameron!” I push against his chest, and he is smiling so wide it feels like the whole world stops.

“Sorry but that laugh of yours has to be my favorite sound of all time…” He tilts his head with a wondrous look on his face, “Well top three. I have a few other sounds you make on that list.” He wags his brows at me and I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, knowing exactly what he’s talking about.

“I am really sorry about earlier.”

“Stop apologizing to me. I may not have experienced it, but I can understand why you feel the way you do. Why you snapped at me. You need to heal, El. Let me be here for it. Let me show you how you deserve to be treated.”

“I want you here, I do, but…”

“But what?”

“But I fear you’re falling for a broken person…how can I ask you to be here when I’m not even whole yet?”

He kisses me furiously before looking at me again with a baited breath, “Easy. You don’t ask, because I am here regardless.

” He winks at me and all my senses are lost at how much I believe him.

“Now you had me work up an appetite earlier and it smells like whatever they are cooking might be done now. Let’s enjoy dinner together before I have to go.

” He lifts me off the bed, kissing the top of my head before grabbing my hand in his and opening the bedroom door.

“You have to leave already?” I know I sound whiny but I don’t care. I just got him back and I’m reluctant to let go, even though I know he can’t stay. Samuel will grow suspicious and I don’t want Kameron’s cover to be blown because of my selfishness in wanting to keep him here all to myself.

He stops in the doorway, pulling me to him as he turns to face me. His hand cups my cheek and he lets go of my hand to grip my waist as he leans down, “If I could stay longer I would, but I will be back as soon as I can.”

When we enter the kitchen it’s spotless but the smell of food still lingers in the air.

“Maybe they had dinner without us?” I shrug.

“Not possible. They wouldn’t eat without us. When we’re all together, we eat as a family no matter what.” He says, pulling me back to the hallway and making his way to a part of the house I haven’t been before.

Us?

I know he means them, but thinking about how he might include me in that family has my heart pounding in my chest.

We round an entryway and I see we are now in a proper dining room.

They had a dining room this whole time?

All the meals I’ve had in this house with Hunter and Marcus have been in the kitchen or the living room. I mean, I haven’t been anywhere in this house other than Kameron’s room, living room, kitchen, and Hunter’s study, so I bet there was a lot in this house I didn’t know about.

The food invades my nostrils and my stomach grumbles at how delicious it smells.

Hunter is walking around the table, placing plates in front of two empty chairs to the right of the table.

Marcus is on the left, facing away so I can only see his profile but he doesn’t even bother to acknowledge us.

I might not know these men fully but it doesn’t surprise me to get the cold shoulder from Marcus.

It’s very him to ignore us, or maybe that’s just me.

I feel the tension grow as the silence continues for what feels like forever, even though we just entered the room.

Hunter walks to the head of the table, taking a seat and not looking our way, “Glad you two could join us.” I’m relieved at his nonchalance compared to the rigid tension rolling off of Marcus.

I’m sure Hunter is used to all this by now.

Hunter eyes Kameron and I as he takes a sip of wine after scooting in his chair.

“And just in time, we just finished cooking. I thought I was gonna have to drag you out of that room.”

Each plate has a buttery steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans that smell like they have bacon bits mixed in. A basket of bread sits in the middle of the table along with the extra side dishes.

“Can’t miss a family meal now, can I?” Marcus huffs to himself at Kameron’s response and Kameron glares at Marcus, looking like he has something to say but bites his tongue instead, guiding me to the plates Hunter placed for us. He pulls out my chair for me to sit and helps me push it in .

“I have some water here, but would you like some wine?” Hunter gestures to the bottle on the table as his other hand lands on mine. I shoot my gaze to Kameron, who’s walking to a small table by one of the walls of the dining room. I wiggle in my seat, trying to make myself less anxious.

“I would love some,” I smile quickly, the hairs on the back of my neck rising and I look over to see Marcus staring where Hunter’s hand is placed on mine.

Hunter must not notice or maybe he doesn’t care enough, but he removes his hand to pour me a glass.

Then Marcus brings his glare to me, locking my eyes with his, the umber hues burning holes in my retinas.

I give him my most dramatic eye roll, to convince him and myself that I am unphased by him.

Fucking hell, I hope he doesn’t see how uneasy I am right now.

I don’t really drink wine but with the tension in the room, I feel like I’ll need it to get through this dinner. Maybe even my own bottle.

Kameron returns to the table with a glass of scotch in hand, taking his seat next to me and I silently wish I was drinking that instead.

I might need something stronger than wine.

My face must show my thoughts because he extends his glass to me, offering me a taste I gladly accept.

The amber liquid burns my nose in a delightful way.

I let the liquor pour into my mouth and savor the sweet, woody spice of it.

I go to hand him back the glass, looking at it and seeing I took way more of his drink than I thought .

“That’s my girl.” Kameron winks at me, “Keep it. I’ll get another.” His gaze moves to my lips, then to Hunter. “I told you man, she’s a woman after my own heart.”

I look over to Hunter, his hand holding up a full glass of wine, “I can see that.” There’s a spark in his eyes as he takes me in. “Don’t worry, Marcus will drink this.” He hands the glass to Marcus who ignores the gesture and keeps his lethal gaze on me. Hunter places it by his plate, unfazed.

I glare back, squinting my eyes at him in a way that screams ‘what, fucker?’ He just tilts his head in response.

“Now let's dig in.” Kameron claps his hands together as he returns to the table with a new glass of scotch.

I look away from Marcus, “Thank you for cooking. It looks and smells delicious.” I eyed Hunter and then move my gaze back to Marcus, who’s still scowling, “Thanks.”

“It was our pleasure.” I hear a thud under the table and Marcus’s face flinches, “Wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, a real pleasure.” Marcus mumbles, picking up his fork and finally looking away from me.

I take a breath, my shoulders ease their tension now that he’s not looking at me like I’m an ant under his microscope. One he intended to light on fire.

** *

The rest of the meal is mostly quiet, thankfully. Just small talk about how they’re doing, trying to keep the mission out of the conversation as we eat. I’m thankful for that. Hunter and Kameron talk like old pals while Marcus only replies when addressed, not talking more than he needs to.

Hunter brought out another bottle of wine out halfway through dinner and Kameron poured another scotch for me without refilling his own.

Marcus and Hunter look unaffected by the amount of wine they’ve drank, whereas I could feel the lightheadedness and warmth in my belly even before Kameron gave me a second glass.

By the time I finished the new drink, our plates are empty and my stomach is as full as it's ever been since arriving. I sit back in my chair, feeling lighter with the scotch in my system and for a moment, I allow myself to feel calmer. So much so that when I glance at Marcus, I let my eyes wander to really look at him. He seems so tense all of the time, like a gear that’s wound too tight.

I allow my eyes to drag down his warm and golden skin, watching how he lifts the wine glass to his lips. His tongue swipes along his plump bottom lip, catching a drop of wine from it.

Why does this look so hot? Okay…no more scotch for me.

The last thing I should be doing is gawking at Marcus fucking Flores.

I take a louder-than-intended inhale as my core coils from the sight.

The sound catches the mens’ attention and I feel them look my way all at once.

My heart beats at a rapid pace with the spotlight on me and a giggle escapes my lips from the nerves.

Kameron’s arm wraps around my waist, “That scotch has you giggly.” My cheeks warm as I look up at him, “It’s cute.”

“Cute?”

“Yeah, cute.” He says, tapping my nose.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I see Hunter watching Kameron’s hand on my waist before his eyes snap to meet mine.

I move my gaze from his fierce stare but am quickly met with dark eyes staring just as intensely.

Marcus does the same head tilt he made earlier, but this one feels different, like he’s questioning himself instead of me.