“Damn.” Damien glanced around the kitchen taking in the mess.
“I’m sorry! I’ll make sure it’s spic and span when I’m done with it. I just wanted to make you all breakfast. I didn’t think about the fact that I may be encroaching on your domain.” I looked around at the mass of dirty bowls piled in the sink and winced, deflating as I started second guessing my plans this morning. Maybe I should have asked if he’d mind? I know men could get territorial about things.
“Sweetheart,” the gentleness of Damien’s voice and the way he’d used my nickname instead of my actual name, set me at ease as I forced myself to make eye contact. “You’re welcome in my kitchen anytime, whether you’re watching me cook and keeping me company or cooking yourself. I know you like to create in the kitchen just like I do. It’s one of the things I love about you. I don’t know what we did to deserve the massive spread you seem to be preparing, but I for one am excited to taste absolutely everything you’ve made.” The way his eyes heated when he raked them over me made it hard to hold still. His gaze seemed to land on something and stick.
“It’s almost as sweet as she is. Go ahead, get a taste D.” Hiro commanded as he crossed his arms over his chest, watching me intently.
My heart tattooed in my chest as Damien stepped close, towering over me before he bent his head. I tracked his progress and realized that I had another dab of cream cheese on the swell of breast that rose over the dipping neckline of my sweater. I momentarily debated stepping back to clean myself off, but quickly changed my mind. This was Damien, and I wanted to feel his tongue on me just like I had felt Hiro’s. The fact that Hiro was watching, hell the fact that he had demanded and dared Damien into action, only made me hotter. The sheer naughtiness of their intent did wicked things to my body, and when Damien’s lips parted and sucked my skin into his mouth, I felt myself growing wet with desire. What this said about me, I wasn’t ready to analyze.
“So delicious.” He spoke into my skin and nipped lightly, causing me to gasp. “Want another taste, Hiro?” He offered as he slowly slid his hand along my arm and took the whisk from my fingers. Lifting his head, he used the whisk to add more filling along my neck, adding it to the other side as well. “One side for each of us.” Damien’s eyes were full of heat, and I clenched my thighs together, adding sweet friction where I needed it.
“See that.” The low murmur was all Hiro as he crowded against my other side. “We’ve got her all hot and bothered, just like she had us last night.” A growl rumbled out of Damien as he lowered his head and licked a trail up the right side of my neck at the same time Hiro gently sucked the sweet confection off of my neck on the left. I couldn’t help but wonder what their mouths would feel like on other areas of my body… Damien’s mouth was softer and hotter, his teeth grazing my skin. Hiro used more pressure, flicks of his tongue glancing across my skin, the ring rubbing where he sucked. Not knowing what to do with my hands, I placed a hand on each chest and gripped their shirts, holding them in place as the sensations they were causing bombarded me.
Every single pound in my chest echoed in my ears as their ministrations continued, and when I clenched my thighs together a second time, they groaned in unison.
A noise infiltrated my passion fueled haze, and I opened my eyes to find Ryder standing at the bottom of the steps, gaze locked on the show in the kitchen. I wasn’t sure if my eyes were playing tricks on me, but I thought I saw a flash of hurt or jealousy in his eyes, which one I couldn’t be sure. All I knew was that I didn’t want him to ever feel either emotion, and I cleared my throat and worked to step back from the two eager creatures tasting me. The dazed look in their eyes told me they hadn’t heard Ryder come downstairs. I couldn’t explain why I felt guilty for the kisses with Hiro and Damien, but I felt insecure now that I’d been caught by Ryder. So far, none of them had had an issue when they caught me kissing any of the others. Last night had been so fun. Ryder had only egged us all on; but in the light of day, I suddenly questioned everything I knew. What if he didn’t want me? What if he only wanted Hiro? Was Ryder upset that Hiro had been kissing me? I knew he knew about the kiss between Hiro and me at the campus, but if it had bothered him, he’d hidden it well. Doubts plagued me, and my heart beat fast for a different reason now; anxiety.
What I saw when he drew near was the same self-assured look in his eyes that I almost questioned what I’d seen, but I was almost positive of the emotions that had crossed his features only a minute beforehand. I smiled, sure it looked fake as I motioned to the kitchen around me.
“Breakfast is almost done! I just need to finish the crepes, make Damien’s protein smoothie, and make sure everything is warm.” I rambled as I got back to work.
“Great. What can we do to help?” Ryder sounded cheerful, but I caught a hint of something underneath his tone. Did anyone else pick up on that?
“Ryder, you’re the worst in the kitchen.” Hiro laughed at him. “I think the best way we can help is to get out of Nix’s way.” The Kitsune slung an arm over his friend’s shoulders and led him from the room, heading toward the living room sectional. I released a sigh, trying to let go of my stress as I focused back on the tasks at hand. The highs and lows of emotion I was feeling were wearing on me, and the sun had only recently started streaming in the windows.
“Want any help?” Damien washed his hands and rolled up his sleeves.
“I had wanted to do all of this alone… to surprise you and thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t have to thank us. We want to help you. You’re a part of our family now. That’s what family does for each other.”
I couldn’t focus on my worry over Ryder, so I relented and allowed Damien to help me with the crepes as I went to work on his smoothie. He worked effortlessly beside me in companionable silence, but I felt him prodding my mind for information on what made my mood switch from happy to downtrodden so quickly. Sighing, I turned to him and opened up my mind, holding eye contact as he accessed what he wanted to know. I saw his cheeks pinken a little at the intrusion he realized I felt, but he took his time sorting through my thoughts and emotions before nodding and handing the spatula over to me.
“Damien, don’t!” I hissed. I ran a hand over my face as I watched the guys have a heated discussion in the other room. Infuriating. I knew Damien was generally the peacekeeper of the family, but the way he butted into everything was sometimes brutish. BRUTISH! You hear that, don’t you Gargoyle? I threw the thoughts at him, knowing he’d hear them. His mouth quirked quickly but settled back into a straight line just as fast as he talked with Ryder.
I steeled my nerves and decided to ignore them, flipping the crepes and setting them on the plate next to the stovetop. I wanted breakfast to be a success, and right now it was spiraling out of control. Throwing myself into my work, I heated the breakfast items and laid them out on the counter. My heart squeezed in my chest as I thought about the look on Ryder’s face. It wouldn’t leave my head. I’d never stopped to consider that one of them in the group might not want me, and if one of them didn’t, what did that mean for the rest of them? This was why I was so hesitant to move things out of the friendship zone. I couldn’t imagine losing them. I felt the press of tears behind my eyes as the crepe in the frying pan blurred in front of me.
“Hey.” The sweet sound of Ryder’s voice behind me made a tear escape and roll down my cheek. I swiped it quickly, realizing I had no way to cover up the movement. He noticed. He made a move closer to me, but I held up a hand, not turning to look at him.
“It’s ok, Ryder. You don’t have to say it.”