“As much as I would like to take this where it seems to be going,” Aeron drawls on my other side, and I swivel my head, Knox nibbling the side of my neck as he tries his best to distract me. “We need to visit Mount Pleasant today.”
I feel the rest of them go still, and it takes me a moment to connect the dots and remember where I’d heard that name before.
“To see your mom?” My stomach rolls, as if a kaleidoscope of butterflies has just taken flight.
“Will you come with us, Dove?” His dark brows are raised, his gaze full of a vulnerability that I don’t often see on the heir to the Tailors’ face.
“Of course,” I reply, and the boyish smile that he gives me has those damn butterflies doing a fucking jig.
“Get the fuck off her, Knox. We need to shower and get ready.” Knox grumbles but does as Aeron orders and with a parting kiss, heads to his room to get sorted. Jude and Tarl both kiss me sweetly, then walk out as well, leaving me alone withAeron. “Let’s go, Dove,” Aeron says, holding out his hand for me as he gets off the bed. I wait a beat, admiring his naked body, the hard lines and ink making my heart flutter for an entirely different reason than my nerves at the prospect of meeting his mom. “Now.”
“I’m coming,” I grumble, taking his hand and untangling myself from the warm blankets with a pout.
He pulls me to him, so close that our bodies are flush and I can feel each of those hard plains that make up Aeron Taylor. “You will be now that I have you to myself.” His husky whisper tightens my nipples and has my thighs trying to clench as he leads us into his en suite.
Not too much longer later, we come down the stairs to the smell of waffles and I groan as the kitchen island comes into view and a plate stacked high with yummy goodness awaits.
“Tell me I’m not your favorite, Nightingale?” Jude asks with a smirk, not even flinching when Aeron hits him upside the head.
I shake my head at them, but seeing the brothers together sends a pang through me at the thought of Rook, and the fact that I haven’t seen him in so long. I worry our sperm donor will be sinking his claws into him now that I’m not there to provide a buffer.Hold on, Rook, I’m on my way.
“Hey, where did you go just then,Eshgham?” Tarl asks in his lilting, melodic voice from beside me, and I turn to give him a sad smile.
“I was thinking about Rook, and how I’ve not been there to, I dunno, stop Rufus from being Rufus.” His face softens, and he gathers me into his arms, surrounding me with his spicy, cardamom scent.
“We’ll get him out,Aziz-e delam. A Tailor never breaks his word, and you have Aeron’s, and also ours.”
I breathe out a sigh, Knox catching my eye as I snuggle into Tarl. Knox’s brows are furrowed before he sees me looking, then his face transforms into its usual bright smile.
“Best eat up, Nightingale,” Jude tells me, and I reluctantly step out of Tarl’s embrace. I walk over to the stool in front of the plate of waffles, which are smothered in what smells like Nutella and bright red strawberries.
“Thank you, my prince,” I say around a giggle, Jude’s eyes going wide with delight as I sit down and begin demolishing the food.
“Fuck me, if she keeps making those noises I can’t be held responsible for making us late,” Knox groans, and a blush heats my cheeks when I look around to see all four of them staring at me likeI’ma plate of chocolate and hazelnut spread waffles.
Oops.
I eat the rest with less vocal appreciation, and we’re soon heading to a door down a corridor that I’ve not really noticed before.
“Where are we going?” I ask, stepping through and then pausing at the sight before me.
Gleaming supercars fill the garage space, as well as a few trucks and motorbikes, and I know my mouth is hanging open, but fucking hell. I knew the Tailors were rich, far more wealthy than the Soldiers, that’s for sure, but I had no idea the extent of their wealth. It’s fucking obscene.
“You’re with me, Little Bird,” Knox whispers in my ear, grasping my hand in his and leading us over to the motorbikes before grabbing a leather jacket off the hook on the wall.
He hands it to me, and I can’t help the smile that tugs my lips upwards when I put it on and realize that it fits perfectly. I like that they pick my clothes, that they choose things they wantto see me wearing. I’ve always had secondhand clothes, buying whatever was cheapest at the thrift store and helped hide my body from the predators that make up my father’s gang. Not that it ever did much good, they still took what they wanted.
Huffing out a breath to rid my mind of those morbid thoughts, I smooth down the soft, buttery leather with my hands. Luckily, I went for jeans and a long-sleeved top today, thinking that now we’re heading into cooler weather with the approach of fall, I'll need the extra warmth. Knox then hands me a sparkly, burgundy-colored helmet, and I marvel at the beautiful painting of a lark in flight on the side.
“No fucking reckless driving, Knox. I mean it, take care of her,” Aeron barks as he strides over and helps me zip up the jacket.
Knox rolls his eyes. “I wouldn't put her in any danger, you know that.”
Aeron takes a deep inhale before replying to him. “I know.” He turns to me then, pulling me in for a deep kiss that sets my toes curling. “See you there, Dove.”
“I’ll be fine, Devil Man,” I tell him, and his lips quirk up into that half smile which he reserves just for me, and I’m breathless all of a sudden, heat radiating through my chest as I gaze at him.
He gives me a nod, then releases me to walk over to a sleek, black sports car, Tarl getting into the passenger side. I try to ignore the way I feel bereft at the loss of his body heat.
