Page 14

FOURTEEN

FARRON

LIKE HONEY

Day 464

I watch as the members of Rolling Hills start to leave the barn, and I release a big breath, my shoulders slumping. Today’s events have been overwhelming, far beyond the usual stress. The thought of outsiders watching us and breaking into our safe space sends a cold shiver down my spine. It’s the kind of fear that lingers long after the danger has passed. Nothing like this has happened since the outbreak. Sure, the threat was always there—an invisible cloud hanging over us—but seeing it potentially play out in real time is an entirely different kind of terror.

As the last few people make their way out, Daisy and Eric lag behind. Daisy pauses at the barn doors, turning to give me a soft, sad smile. It’s the kind of smile meant to reassure, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. I force myself to smile back, giving her a small wave, but inside, I’m already adding another task to my growing mental checklist: check on Daisy. With the pregnancy progressing, I need to make sure everything’s still going well, especially after today’s events.

I mentally file it away with the dozen other things I need to handle. Strengthen the perimeter. Increase the fence line patrols. Reorganize the supply run to replace what was stolen. I should probably write all of this down so I don’t lose track, but even the thought of making a to-do list feels overwhelming right now.

I don’t even realize someone’s behind me until the firm, steady press of a body against my back pulls me from the chaos in my head. Warmth radiates from the person behind me, and a hand curls around the back of my neck with just enough pressure to send a thrill down my spine. The touch snaps me out of my daze, and I instinctively tilt my head up, my gaze locking with Kenji’s. His dark eyes bore into mine with a mix of concern and something else—something deeper, possessive.

“I could hear your brain from over there,” he says as he bends down a bit, lips ghosting over my forehead like a whisper.

I let out a soft scoff, though it’s more to keep from fully sinking into him. “Not sure I can turn it off right now, Kenji,” I admit, my voice betraying how tightly wound I feel.

He hums in response, the low sound vibrating through his chest and into me, his thumb now stroking the side of my neck in slow, soothing motions. “You need to have some faith in us,” he says, his voice dropping, almost coaxing. “Let us share the burden and stress with you.” He bends down, his lips feathering over my neck in the softest, most deliberate kisses, making my breath catch and my eyes flutter shut. “You can be a good girl for us, right, Princess?”

A flush creeps up my cheeks, and I nod instinctively, my body responding to his touch even as my mind remains clouded with worry.

“Words, Princess,” Kenji insists, his voice right against my ear, his breath tickling my skin as his lips continue their languid journey down my neck.

“Yes,” I whine out. When I open my eyes, I find Adrian and Theo standing a few feet away, their gazes locked onto me. Theo’s hands are clenched into tight fists at his sides, the tension in his posture mirroring the knot in my chest, while Adrian’s face is adorned with that infuriating smirk.

“Good,” his voice smooth and satisfied, punctuated by a quick nip against my neck. He straightens up, his gaze unwavering, a smirk playing on his lips. “Then you’re going to go with Adrian and let him take care of you tonight while Theo and I work with Todd and Jay to run some extra perimeter checks and bounce ideas off each other. We’ll talk about it and deal with everything else tomorrow.”

“But—” I start to protest, but my words are immediately cut off as Kenji’s grip on my neck tightens, his fingers digging in with a firm, commanding pressure.

“No buts,” he says. “You will work yourself into the ground and burn yourself out if we let you. We won’t. And that’s why you’ll let Adrian take care of you tonight, and we’ll handle everything else tomorrow. Together. Got it?”

“Yes, sir,” I snark out with a smirk.

I feel a sharp sting against my backside so suddenly, and my mouth drops open at the realization that he just smacked my ass. Kenji’s hand moves up to the nape of my neck, tightening the hair there before pulling it taut and forcing my head back. “I was going to call you a good girl, but you’re acting like a brat again,” he mutters out, bending down to give me another kiss and biting my lips. “Now, go,” he commands, his tone softening as he releases me and gives me a gentle but firm nudge toward Adrian and Theo.

I focus on Theo first, wanting to make sure he’s okay with everything. I feel like we haven’t spent enough time together alone lately, and it doesn’t help that my surprise was ruined earlier. I can’t help the frown that takes over my face as I start to worry about being enough for the three of them, and not wanting any of them to start feeling unhappy with me. Theo, like always, seems to know exactly what’s going on inside my head.

He steps forward, cupping my face and pulling me in for a slow, sensual kiss. My hands come up to hold his, and I can’t hold back my moan as his tongue swipes my bottom lip looking for entry, and I give in to him happily. Everything around me fades away as I melt into Theo. When he eventually pulls back, I can’t help but follow him, causing him to grin. He presses a kiss to the tip of my nose before pulling back further to sign to me. “Be a good girl for Adrian, my Star.”

I’m nodding in response to Theo when Adrian steps up, signing as he speaks. “Enough, enough. She’s mine now. Come on, Sunshine. Let’s leave these two losers in the dust. Tonight’s all about me and you.”

He grabs my hand and turns around, dragging me behind him with that familiar, easy confidence. I can’t help but take one last look at Theo and Kenji. Theo’s watching me with those soft eyes and a smile that feels like a blanket wrapping around my heart. Kenji, on the other hand, is all hands on his hip and a scowl, like he's trying to telepathically make sure I follow his orders. Magnum is sitting next to him, tongue out and tail wagging. A small laugh escapes me, but my chest tightens with a deep ache that I’m not sure how to name.

“It’s my turn for some attention, Sunshine,” Adrian says, pulling my focus back to him. His smile is easy and warm—the kind that makes the cold air outside feel like it’s miles away. He tugs me close as we walk side by side, his hand warm in mine, his thumb brushing against my skin in soft, lazy strokes. His nose is pink from the bite of the cold, but the heat radiating from his body is enough to make my own temperature rise.

I smirk, nudging him playfully with my shoulder. “Don’t you think you get enough attention, Riri? Between Ma and all the older ladies fawning over you, I’m surprised your head hasn’t exploded by now.”

Adrian grins wider, giving my hand a squeeze. “But it’s your attention I need, Sunshine. If I don’t get enough of it, I’ll die. Plus,” he leans in, his voice dropping lower, teasing, “there’s no such thing as too much attention. And I’m going to prove that to you tonight.”

The warmth that floods my body from his words is immediate, and I feel myself blushing despite the cool air. He has a way of making me feel like I’m the center of his world, something I’m still learning to accept. The last few weeks, he’s shown me what it’s like to be taken care of, to let go of the reins for a little while and just be... seen. But with that comfort, a twinge of worry also runs down my spine. My mind, always my own worst enemy, focuses on that familiar fear creeping into my thoughts that maybe if I get too used to this, I’ll lose it all someday.

I shake my head to dispel the train of thought and instead let my mind start running through the to-do list I started earlier, and I add item after item, trying to mentally sort out what takes priority and needs to be done first. I’m so caught up in my mental planning, once again, that I don’t even realize we’ve made it back to my cottage until I feel the warmth hit my face as Adrian pulls me inside.

He suddenly stops walking and turns to face me, pulling me into his chest, his hands resting on my shoulders. “Hey,” he says softly, lifting my chin so I meet his eyes. “No more getting lost up here,” he tells me, punctuating his sentence with a soft poke at my head. His tone is playful, but there’s a hint of concern behind it.

I let out a soft sigh. “I’m trying not to. I can’t help it.”

His eyes trace my features, one hand coming up to smooth the angry frown lines between my brow before meeting my gaze again. He presses a kiss to my forehead before pulling back. “Tonight, I’m getting you out of your head if it’s the last thing I do. Now, go sit on the couch and wait for me for a second.”

I blink at him, intrigued, as I walk over to the couch. “What are you planning?” I ask, narrowing my eyes playfully.“You’ll see,” Adrian replies with a wink before disappearing into the other room. I hear the faint rustling of him moving things around, and my curiosity grows as I sink into the cushions, trying to relax.

When he comes back, he’s holding a brush, a comb, some of my hair products, and a few hair ties. I arch a brow at the sight, a laugh bubbling up in my throat. “What exactly are you doing, Riri?”

He grins, setting the items down on the coffee table before taking a seat on the couch. “You’ll see,” he repeats, this time with a bit more mystery in his tone. He then grabs a cushion and sets it on the floor right between his legs, patting the space with a playful smile. “Come here, Sunshine. Sit between my legs.”

I hesitate for a moment but eventually slide off the couch and settle down onto the cushion. The position feels intimate, comforting, the warmth of his legs seeping into me. Adrian grabs the brush first, and his hands move through my hair with ease, each stroke of the brush slow and soft, as if he’s pulling the tension out of me strand by strand. His fingers follow the brush, running through my hair to smooth it out. A soft sigh escapes me, and I let my head fall forward slightly, giving him more access. He’s being so careful, so focused, and I’m once again hit with the strongest burst of affection for him and how tender he always is with me.

“Close your eyes, Sunshine,” he murmurs, his voice barely a whisper.

I do as he says, letting my eyelids flutter shut, and it feels like the world outside the cottage vanishes. There’s only the steady hum of his breath and the soothing pull of his fingers working through my hair as he starts to braid it, gently weaving together sections of my hair. It’s like Adrian’s touch is peeling away all the layers of stress and anxiety that have been building up inside me for weeks, maybe even months, and I feel lighter with each pass of his fingers. I hadn’t realized how much I needed this, needed him, until this moment.

“How do you know how to do this so well?” I ask, my voice thick with relaxation, almost like I’m drifting off.

Adrian chuckles softly, his hands never faltering in their gentle work. “Sisters, remember?” he says. “They always wanted their hair braided when we were kids. I’d do it for them in the mornings before school. They used to fight over who’d get the better braid.” His tone is full of warmth and a hint of nostalgia, and I can almost picture a younger version of him, sitting cross-legged with a sister on either side, their heads tilted back as he braided their hair with the same care he’s showing me now. My heart aches for him and the sisters I know he wishes were here with him.

I suddenly feel a lump form in my throat. “This... this reminds me of my mom,” I admit quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “She used to braid my hair, and it always made me feel calm... happy.”

Adrian’s hands slow for a moment as if he’s letting my words settle between us. Then, with a soft hum, he continues his work, his fingers continuing to braid. He hums quietly. “Hopefully this is doing the same thing for you now, Sweetheart. Making you feel calm, safe, happy.”

His words hit me deep, unlocking something inside me that I hadn’t even realized was locked away. A tear slips down my cheek, but it’s not from sadness—it’s from the overwhelming sense of love and safety, of being understood in a way that feels so wildly profound.

As he finishes the braid, Adrian’s fingers linger at the nape of my neck, gently massaging the skin there before tying off the end of the braid with a hair tie. The sensation sends another wave of calm through me, and I let out one more contented sigh, feeling more relaxed than I’ve felt in weeks.

“There,” he murmurs, his voice soft. “All done.”

I reach up to touch the braid, feeling the neat, tight weave under my fingers. My throat tightens with emotion, and before I can stop myself, I turn around to face him, my eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice cracking slightly. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”

Adrian’s expression somehow softens even further, and he reaches out to cup my face, his thumb brushing away a tear that’s escaped. “I know, Sunshine,” he says, his voice low and tender. “That’s why I did it.” He leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “Now, come on,” he says as he stands up, pulling me up along with him. “We’re not done yet.”

I follow Adrian down the hallway, watching his broad back as he disappears into the bathroom to stow away the supplies he had gathered earlier. The sound of drawers opening and closing echoes faintly from the hallway, but I don’t wait for him. My curiosity gets the better of me, and I make my way into the bedroom.

As soon as I step inside, my eyes land on the bed. He’s laid out a wrinkled bed sheet, one from the linen closet that I never use. On the nightstand, a jar of coconut oil catches my attention.

“What is this?” I murmur, touching the sheet, the fabric cool beneath my fingers. Before I can think about it further, Adrian’s presence behind me sends a tingle through me, his hands finding my waist, fingers lightly tracing over my hips. I lean into him, my breath catching as his lips press softly against the back of my neck.

“This is the next part of tonight,” he whispers, his voice low and soothing. His hands move up, kneading the tension from my shoulders. “I think it’s time to work out those knots in your muscles. What do you say, Sunshine?”

A surprised laugh escapes me. “A massage? You want to give me a massage?” He hums in agreement, lips brushing my neck. I shake my head gently. “You don’t have to do this, Adrian. I’m just happy being with you.”

He sighs, his fingers curling around my braid as he murmurs, “I know I don’t have to. I want to. Let me take care of you tonight.”

I nod, giving in, and he guides me toward the bed. The sheet rustles as I sit, the faint scent of coconut oil in the air. Adrian crouches in front of me, and I watch him swallow as he removes my red boots from my feet before setting them to the side with a weird sort of reverence. His hands move to the hem of my shirt, tugging it up slowly, and I raise my arms, allowing him to pull it over my head before he moves down to my pants. His hands brush my skin in the most tender caress as if undressing me is something sacred. When I’m bare, he pauses, his gaze taking in every little bit of skin before him with hungry eyes.

“Perfect,” he murmurs, reaching for the jar of oil. He rubs it between his hands, the sweet scent filling the room. “Lie down, Sunshine. Face down.”

I stretch out across the sheet, the cool fabric against my skin. A moment later, I feel the bed dip as he straddles my hips, his hands warm and slick on my shoulders. His fingers dig into the tension, and I can’t hold back the soft sigh that escapes me.

“You’re so tense,” he mutters. “You carry too much.”

I hum in response, melting beneath his touch as his hands move skillfully, releasing the tightness in my muscles. As he works on my back, his hips shift slightly, pressing down against me, and I feel the hardness of him through his pants. Heat floods my body, but neither of us says anything. He seems content to focus on me, to take his time with each stroke of his hands, and I’m content to let him.

His hands eventually move lower, massaging my sides before he shifts off of me, kneeling beside me as he starts working on my legs and glutes. His fingers knead my flesh with care, squeezing and rubbing in slow, steady motions. I moan softly, feeling like I’m drifting somewhere between sleep and consciousness. I’m becoming a puddle in this bed.

After what feels like forever, he speaks softly, “Flip over for me, Sunshine.” His voice is low, coaxing, and I obey, rolling onto my back and letting my head sink into the pillow. The room is dim, lit only by the soft glow of the bedside lamp, and everything feels hazy, dreamlike, as Adrian moves to kneel beside me again.

He starts at my shoulders this time, his hands gliding over my collarbones before moving to my breasts. His touch is soft but enough to cause heat to spark low in my belly, especially when he goes over my breasts. He takes his time, working his way down my stomach, his hands warm and slick with the oil as they knead the muscles there. He’s teasing me in the most delicious, evil way possible.

I can’t even be mad.

By the time he reaches my thighs, my breathing has grown heavy. He presses his thumbs into my inner thighs, kneading the strong muscles there, and I can’t help but shift slightly under his touch, the pressure both soothing and maddeningly slow.

His hands travel to my legs, and I can’t help but tease, “You’ve been at my legs forever, Riri.”

He chuckles, his voice gruff yet affectionate. “Can’t help it. I love these strong legs of yours.”

I squirm slightly as he moves back up, his fingers trailing slowly, teasingly. “Adrian, please…”

“What do you need, Sunshine?” he says, his voice taunting me.

“You know what I need,” I try to hiss at him, but I can hear how it comes out soft and husky. “Touch me, please. Make me come,” I tell him, spreading my legs open all the way.

His grin is wicked as he leans down, his lips brushing mine in a lazy kiss. “You just have to ask, Sunshine.”

His lips trail a hot path down my neck, lingering at the curve of my collarbone before descending further. His tongue flicks out, tracing the sensitive skin of my breasts, and then his teeth graze the peak of one nipple, making me arch beneath him. The sensation is electric, sending a jolt of pleasure straight to my core, and I can’t help the breathless gasp that escapes me.

One of his hands slips down, feathering lightly over the slick heat between my legs, teasing the edge of my need. His fingers brush against my entrance before he spreads my folds with ease, finding my clit with the same gentle precision he used on my muscles. The sensation is so light, so maddeningly slow , that it pulls another moan from me, and my hips start to move, circling upward, seeking more.

But Adrian is in no hurry. He takes his time as though he’s determined to prolong the sweet torture. His lips move back up, capturing mine in a kiss that’s deep and possessive. It’s the kind of kiss that leaves me breathless and my head spinning.

“You look so fucking pretty like this, Sunshine,” he breathes against my lips, his eyes dark, pupils entirely blown out, as they lock with mine. There’s something in the way he says it that makes my heart skip a beat. It’s like he’s seeing all of me—every raw, vulnerable part of me—and loving it.

His hand moves lower, and I gasp as one finger slides slowly into me, stretching me in the most delicious way. He watches me closely as though he’s studying every reaction, every flutter of my lashes, every soft sound that escapes my throat. A second finger follows, and I can’t hold back the moan that spills from my lips as my hands fist the sheet beneath me.

Adrian’s mouth is on mine in an instant, swallowing the sound as his fingers work inside me, curling in just the right way to make my back arch off the bed.

“So fucking pretty,” he murmurs against my lips, his fingers continuing their slow, deliberate strokes. “So pliant. So relaxed. And I’m the one who made you feel like this.” He kisses me again, biting my lip before pulling back to look into my eyes.

“Come for me, Sunshine. Come all over my fingers.” His voice is like honey against my skin. My release comes gently, spreading through my limbs like the softest ripple of pleasure. I’m not crashing or careening into it; I’m floating, light as a feather, drifting through the high.

Adrian slows his movements, his fingers still stroking me gently as I ride out the last tremors of pleasure. He watches me the whole time, his dark eyes full of something tender and adoring, as if he’s savoring every moment of my release. He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my lips, just a brush of warmth, before pulling back to look at me again.

“So fucking perfect,” he murmurs, brushing a stray piece of hair from my face. Before I can get too comfortable, he moves, gently helping me sit up. I feel boneless, utterly relaxed, but I still reach for him, whispering, “More…”

He chuckles softly, cupping my face as his thumbs trace slow circles on my cheeks. “Not tonight, Sunshine. You need to rest.”

I try to give him my best pout as my fingers brush lightly over his chest. “But…”

His hands slide down to my waist and he lifts me off the bed and into his arms. “Later. If you’re a good girl and do what I say, maybe you’ll get woken up with my cock inside you.” His voice is a low rumble, the promise making my breath catch in my throat. I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks at his words, and I know he sees how much I love the idea by the smirk that curls at the corners of his lips.

Adrian leans down to kiss me again, this time softer, slower, his lips barely brushing mine before he pulls away. “Come on, Sunshine. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

I don’t resist as he guides me to the bathroom, pulling me into the shower with him. The sound of the water, a steady stream, is like a lullaby to me. His hands never leave me, and I let my head rest against his chest, my eyes falling closed.

When we step out of the shower, he wraps me in a towel, his fingers brushing through my hair as he helps me dry off. Once we’re back in the bedroom, he pulls one of his t-shirts over my head and pulls back the covers, guiding me into bed. I nestle against him, my head resting on his chest, and the steady beat of his heart lulls me even further into that relaxed haze.

Adrian’s fingers trail lazily up and down my arm. He presses a soft kiss to the top of my head, his lips lingering there for a moment. “Goodnight, Sunshine,” he whispers.

I smile sleepily, my body sinking into his as I let out a contented sigh, my fingers tracing over the tattoos on his arm. “Goodnight, Riri.”

And just like that, I drift off into the sweetest, most peaceful sleep I’ve had in a long time, despite the chaos from earlier in the day.