Page 38 of When We Fall: Part One

“That sounds amazing.” He stifled a yawn and gave me another hug before stepping past me. I watched him go from over my shoulder before looking back to see Cole eyeing me.

“What?” I gave him a bashful smile.

“Are you making cake?”

“Cupcakes,” I said. “I was going to bring some for our singing group?—”

He silenced me with his fast approach, stopping only when he was in my space. He reached out and gripped my chin, then tilted my head up.

“I think I’m going to eat some cake tonight,” he murmured in a seductive growl.

My face heated at his words. I knew exactly what he was talking about.

“You need to rest?—”

He gave my head a gentle shake. “I’ll rest when I’m dead. Tonight, I’m going to eat your pussy until you’re screaming to god for mercy.” He gave me a rough kiss, stealing my breath. “And spoiler. I’m your god, Rosebud.” He released me and stepped past to go into the kitchen, where Fox and Ethan were after having spent the night with me. I stood rooted to my spot for a moment before gathering myself. Cole had that effect on me, though.

When I returned to the kitchen, it was to see Fox, Cole, and Ethan sitting around the kitchen island, talking like nothing.

I felt Cole’s eyes on me as I returned to my batter.

“So that’s it? We’re good?” Ethan asked.

“We’re good.” Cole finally looked away from me and focused on the guys again. “Bianca is back. The guys are happy. Enzo left Jake and Nate behind, although I think he told them they could come and go this time as needed since Levin was insistent they would be fine.”

“Thank god,” Fox said. “Fuck, what a nightmare. I’m glad it’s over.”

“Nightmares are never over,” Ethan’s soft voice filled the silence. “They have a way of popping up whenever you close your eyes.”

I glanced at him at the same time the guys did, my and Ethan’s conversation from our night together flooding my mind. Ethan’s green eyes were focused somewhere we couldn’t see as he gazed ahead of himself.

“E, man. You good?” Fox asked.

Ethan seemingly shook off whatever deep thought he was in and looked at the guys. “Sorry. I, uh, I need to check on something.”

He didn’t wait for any of us to say anything. Instead, he left the room quickly, leaving me behind with Cole and Fox. He’d been good overnight with me and Fox. We’d had an easy night, went to bed, and snuggled up after watching a movie. While he did seem happier and more rested today, he’d slipped into one of his faraway, quiet moods over the last hour.

“How was he last night?” Cole asked.

Fox and I exchanged a look before I answered. “He was good. Really good. Smiled. Laughed.”

“You guys fuck?” Cole raised his brows at me.

“No,” Fox said, lifting his glass of lemonade to his lips and taking a sip. “We just hung out.”

“Then I’m sure he just needs to get laid. Shit’s been stressful lately. I think we could all use a night between our girl’s legs.”

I scoffed at him. “Sex doesn’t fix everything.”

Cole shrugged. “It fixes shit for me.”

“E isn’t like that. He likes his space,” Fox said. “I think once all this shit wears off with the kings, he’ll be fine.”

I sighed and put the cupcakes into the double oven before checking on the lasagna I had baking.

“What?” Cole called out.

I moved back to the kitchen island and sat between Cole and Fox. “He told me about his childhood. I-I knew it was bad, but I guess I didn’t realize…” My voice trailed off.