Page 7

Every Breath You Take

Delores

Beeep! Beeeeeeeep! Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep! Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!

The loud clatter that follows makes me start even though my eyes aren’t open. I hear snickers, and my lips curve up as I ask, “Did my clock offend you, big guy?”

“The pitch was too high to be that close to my ears this early,” he grumbles. “We will buy a new one when we return—one that does not make me want to set fire to the entire building.”

“ Bonne chance to you on that little trip,” Rennie snarks as the pile of people move.

I open my eyes, smiling at the painted ceiling contentedly. My ass is throbbing, I notice, but Felix warned me about that. However, unlike that memory I was carrying, this is a pleasant ache that makes me feel loved and cherished.

How fucking weird is that shit?

It’s something I’ll have to discuss with Coco and Ru-Ru in private.

They’ll understand when I tell them about my experience last night; I guarantee it.

My besties have been sexually active longer than me and their breadth of knowledge is often helpful.

Plus, it will be easier to let them tease me about it gently than to feel like a newb moron by bringing it to Chessie.

That’s not his assessment, of course, but I just…

I think an outside perspective will make me feel less goofy.

“Princess, you need to hit the head first,” Felix says sternly. “No sass. We don’t need to visit doctor’s offices in other countries.”

Wrinkling my nose, I huff and consider not listening, but I know he’s right about this. “Fine, but only because I was going to go pee anyway, bossy pants.”

Fitz laughs, his hands squeezing my hips before he lets go so I can wiggle out of the jumble of arms and legs. “Aw, Baby Girl, don’t be sour. It’s morning, your ass is bruised, and we’re going on the Orient Express! What could be better?”

Rennie’s head pops up, his eyes wide. “ Merde! Do not say that mon ami . I fear you will curse us for the train trip as one would by saying ‘Macbeth’ in a theater.”

“The ghost of Agatha Christie will not follow us to the station and make trouble,” Aubrey snickers as he rolls off the side of my bed to stand.

His gorgeous body is revealed as he stretches and I stop in place, forgetting where I was going.

“Bite size, I love the expression you’re wearing, but alas, there is no time.

Go relieve yourself so we can get dressed. ”

Damn his pragmatism—the display looked good enough to gobble up for breakfast.

Turning on my heel before giving in to my wanton inner animal, I stomp over to the bathroom and shut the door hard.

I’m not mad, but I like to pout occasionally, so they switch from cantankerous to solicitous to appease me.

It’s probably not the most feminist thing in the world, but who the fuck cares what anyone else thinks?

I’m a woman on my terms and if I want to provoke my men until they baby me, I damn well will.

That doesn’t change my support of women and their freedoms.

“Good job, Dolly,” I whisper to myself as I take care of my morning needs quickly.

When I stand up, I turn on the shower, setting the temp to heat just so while I carefully arrange my self-care stuff next to the go-bag.

I need to moisturize and the like, but I also don’t want to forget anything after Aubrey kindly helped me pack.

“You’re doing great this morning. Just stay on track and you’ll be on your way to your first real vacation—even if it is a sort of working one. ”

Coaching myself out loud has worked since prom night, and I will not question success.

The guys have evacuated my room when I come out, and I roll my eyes.

They all went to the other bathrooms to get ready, but not until they were sure I did as Felix said.

I love them to bits, but sometimes, I want to knee them in the balls.

Zhenga may not have gone over everything in that one semester, but she definitely mentioned how to avoid pregnancy and infections.

I should send her a ‘thank you’ text once I’m in the car.

She’s probably with Cori and Rufus and the triplets as they get ready for their assignments.

I really hit the lottery once I got to Apex in terms of building a real family full of amazing people.

I let out a long sigh, then I swing the wet braid over my shoulder so I can pick up my purse and the carry-on bags.

One of my mates will move the actual suitcase into the hallway once we have our breakfast. “Okay, Dolly. You have all the stuff you need to keep with you, and Felix has the documents and tickets. Time to move your ass to the table so you aren’t hangry on the trip. ”

Jinx looks up at me and I smile softly. “Don’t worry. Raina will be here when we leave and she’s going to take you to our friends. They’ll spoil you; I’m certain of it. Follow me out of here, though, because I want you to get to the food and water. Got it?”

I don’t know if the kitty noises she makes are actually agreement, but my sand cat follows me, nonetheless. Closing the door behind me, I look around for my men as I head to the kitchen. It’s quieter than I’d expect, especially since Fitz was already so hyper. “Hellllo?”

Chessie and Rennie wave at me from the kitchen counter.

There’s a selection of pastries, fruits, and cheese on it for everyone to have a sort of continental meal.

My cheetah is packing a freezer bag with drinks and individually prepared snack boxes as the gargoyle heads for the coffee machine.

I sigh happily when I drop my stuff by the couch and head for the buffet eagerly.

“You two are amazing,” I say as I hop on the stool. “If we don’t tell you enough, we should. I mean, that’s crazy prepared, Chess. This place functions because you and Rennie keep us all going, you know.”

That makes them both look flustered, and I clap my hands in delight.

I don’t get to make any of them blush often and this feels like a win.

Before I can comment, Felix strides in like he’s hitting the battlefield.

He’s dressed in comfortable clothes, but they fit like a glove and his hair is pulled into a tight, sexy knot at his nape.

Woo-hoo, official Felix is here. It’s a thousand times hotter since last night—not that I’m ever going to tell him that.

“Eat, Princess. The car will be here in less than twenty minutes. We need to stay on schedule or we’ll miss the train.”

Chess laughs when I fill a plate, and Rennie joins him. I give them both dirty looks as I settle in, but that changes once my broody gargoyle hands me a coffee. “You know, I’m only listening to him this morning because he happens to be right.”

“Suuuuure,” Chess says with a smug grin. “It’s not remotely because he looks like a mercenary Ken doll or anything. Not a part of that in the slightest.”

“Plus her fanny stings. Don’t forget that,” Rennie says and I throw a grape at him, nailing him right in the nose. “Hey! No food fights, ma petite . We can’t make a mess before we go.”

Sniffing, I sip my coffee and ignore them both. They look good, too, but now I’m definitely not going to tell them. Three can play at their little game.

“Baby Girl, I am stoked for this trip!” Fitz bounces in with a frustrated-looking dragon in his wake. I bet he was helping the tiger check their things, so nothing gets forgotten. That had to be a task and a quick look at the cheetah pretending not to notice confirms my suspicion.

My hyper-active tiger is a lot for most people to handle, even his family—but we love him, anyway.

“Grab some food, baby. Your brother is very rigid this morning, and he’s going to explode if we don’t fall in line.” I wink at Felix to let him know I’m kidding, and he rolls his eyes indulgently. I bet no one else would have gotten away with saying that—score one for Dolly.

“Bro, you gotta loosen your sphincter. You won’t have an ounce of fun on our vacay if you’re sewn shut.” Fitz snaps and holds up a finger. “I could go get something to help with that. Worked for me?—”

“ No , Fitz.”

Chess leans across the counter to whisper, “Was he going to get the?—”

The low growl coming from the elder tiger makes us both dissolve into laughter. Obviously, he believed his brother was running off to grab the damn strap-on they’re all so obsessed with. That’s definitely a way to loosen his ass, but I’m not sure Felix is quite ready for something like that.

He absolutely wouldn’t let me do it for sure—too much role reversal and he’s enjoying our dynamic.

“For fuck’s sake, Fitz,” Aubrey groans as he joins us, piling a plate high.

Renard grins. “We need t-shirts that say that. It could go on the family crest.”

I blink at him, then laugh again, this time clutching my gut. Felix snarls at us, his eyes narrowed, and I cough, straightening up with wide eyes. “What?”

“Would you all eat and stop making me feel like I should threaten to turn the fucking car around?” His irritated sneer is hysterical, especially since his arms are crossed over his chest like a petulant child. I cover my mouth, stifling the giggles as best I can so I don’t set him off again.

Fitz claps his twin on the shoulder. “Really, man. You gotta calm down. We’ll get there, do our thing, have some fun, and come home safe. Don’t be so…anal.”

With a strangled sound of frustration, Felix throws his hands in the air and stomps over to the sideboard to pour a hefty tumbler of scotch. “You’re going to be the death of me, brother. No matter how many times I say it, it never becomes less true.”

“It’s my job, bro. I have to keep you from being such a hardass.”

As the humor winds down, I go back to eating, hoping it will make my grumpy Dom find the calm he desperately needs.

The others munch on their breakfast as well, passing around the dishes until we finish everything.

That makes Chessie look proud and eventually gets Felix’s posture to relax a hair.

I hop off of my stool, heading for another cup of coffee, but the cheetah stops me.

“Don’t pour it in there. Rennie got you a special travel mug. Well, we picked one out for everyone, so we’ll all have them.”

I blink, watching Chess head to the cabinet and pull out a completely blinged out tumbler that has my Pred Games numbers and ‘Drew Fluffle’ on it. Smiling broadly, I throw my arms around him and squeeze tightly. “You got me one of those viral things and decorated it! It’s gorgeous, my knight!”

The gargoyle holds his fist out for a bump with Chess as I finish my hug and then I move to him as well. “ Ma petite , you will always be the most sparkly bunny in the crowd. We simply like to help you shine.”

Oh, fuck. That damn poetic asshole is gonna make me cry.

“Hey, let her go, Frenchie,” Fitz says as he comes up behind me. “If you don’t quit being such a squishy old fart, our girl is going to ruin her face with tears. I feel it in the bond.”

Felix and Renard look at one another, then at me, as if they just realized Fitz is right. The elder tiger rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, and Rennie smiles. “ Je m’excuse, mon amour ? 1 . I meant what I said, though.”

Shaking my head as Fitz tugs me into his embrace, I smile softly. “Never apologize for saying lovely things, Rennie. Before you guys, I had far too little encouragement. I’m happy with every single sweet thing you say, even if I make my mascara run.”

And that is the gospel truth.