His words made tears spring into my eyes. How did he know I needed to hear something like that—the confirmation from someone outside of myself to make me believe it.
I looked down at my hands, the tips mimicking little raisins with how long we had been in here. I sighed against his hair, giving him a quick kiss as I whispered, “Sometimes we need to let the animal out, no matter how controlled we are. Know that I am always here for you if you need me.”
I gave him a squeeze before I moved. “We better get going. My whole body will look like a raisin before long.”
His hands dug into my back, not wanting to let go, then he sighed in the next second and loosened his arms as he unsheathed himself and went to stand.
I snagged a towel off the rack and wrapped it around myself before I stepped out, and my legs were a little wobbly, but I was able to get my balance. I looked around at the tub, the water on the floor, and up at his soaked shirt clinging to his chest and pants stuck to his thighs. “Well, this is a damn mess.”
I was about to laugh it off when Falcon smirked and pointed his finger up into the air. A red-hot rainbow appeared, and the water on the floor started to dry up. The darkness of his clothes being wet lifted as they dried within seconds. He picked up his two now dry gloves off the floor and put them back on.
“Fucking shit. Why do you have all the cool stuff? I feel like I’m always in awe of your powers and toys. I’m about to start being jealous of you.” I folded my arms, never wishing more that I was some powerful badass mage.
He stepped up to me, tucking a dry strand of hair behind my ear. “I like it when you admire my things.”
My cheeks burned as my lips wobbled into a smile. Then a thought hit me, and I pointed to the tub. “So now that this has happened, there is no way that you are not giving me the first prototype for that gun with the magic bullets, right?”
He took my arm, walked me to the door, and whispered in my ear, “Are you on the list?” Then opened the door and walked out with me.
Oh, this was not over. “What the hell? I should definitely be getting special treatment after all that! I mean, come on!”
As we were about to turn into the bedroom, Falcon paused, his face morphing back into its emotionless state, and I looked forward to Cosmo at my door, his face unreadable as his eyes went to my state of dress and where my hand was on Falcon’s.
It didn’t help when a half-naked Avery walked over. “Are you guys done yet? Ax and I have already gone to get sleep clothes and want some cuddle time with Rayla. You can’t have her all to yourself, Falcon.” He saw Cosmo and smiled. “Hey, Cosmo, any word on our fathers?”
The tension in the room skyrocketed, and Cosmo’s body went rigid as he slowly and carefully said, “No. They went on their own without backup, so no communication yet.” Ax sauntered up with a bowl of popcorn and no shirt, his muscles on full display.
I shook my head and focused back on what Cosmo said. “No backup? That sounds kinda stupid, right?” Every single head turned toward me, and various shades of confusion marred their faces.
Avery crossed his arms, puffing out a laugh in disbelief. “That’s the pot calling the kettle black.”
I had about enough of them ganging up on me, and I let go of Falcon and pushed my way into my room, went straight for my closet, and yanked out my silk shorts and cami for bed. I shimmied into my shorts as they all filed back into my room. “I never understood that stupid saying. What if the pot was gray and the kettle was purple. Then the stupid pot was the wrong one to begin with.” I dropped my towel, my breasts on display as I continued. “I mean, I don’t even think they make kettles black anymore.”
Every set of eyes in this room zeroed in on my chest, almost like I was hypnotizing them. All except Falcon, who said, “I do think they make black pots, though.” I slipped on my cami, and it was like the spell had been lifted, and they all focused back on me again.
Avery gave himself a little shake before saying, “I’m going to be honest; I don’t know what you said after you dropped your towel.”
Ax growled, “That happened for me when you pulled out that sexy little number.” He pointed to my pj’s, and I looked down, eyebrows squished together as I didn’t see anything wrong with it, it was just regular pajamas.
“I don’t get it. What’s sexy about these?” I kept looking down and back up at them, not understanding.
Ax stalked up to me, picked up one of my hands, and laid it on his chest as he whispered, “That I can slip my hand in either direction and find exactly what I need.”
“Rayla,” Cosmo growled in frustration, “I think it’s time to say goodnight to your guests. I will see them to their rooms.”
Ax’s eyes flashed yellow and his claws came out as he turned around, then put himself in front of me as he growled at Cosmo. I stomped my way around his enormous body and punched him in his chest. “Calm down!” Then I turned to face Cosmo. “I told them they could sleep in my room tonight.” I shrugged as his hands clenched and jaw tightened. “It’s a slumber party, you’re invited, too, if you want.”
Before he could answer, I zoomed to my other closet and pulled out a few blow-up mattresses. “I don’t think we’re all going to fit on the bed, so I have some of these that we can use.”
As soon as I was finished, Ax belted out, “I will wrestle any of you for the spot next to Rayla.” Then before I knew what was happening, Avery, Ax, and Cosmo were fighting each other in the middle of my room for my left and right side.
Falcon wandered over to my side, watching the fighting with me. “So, you don’t want a spot next to me?”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “I thought it would be best to let this one go so I can claim an even better spot later.”
“Sneaky little Winstale.” He smirked as he turned back to watch the cage match in my bedroom.
By the end, Cosmo and Ax won, Avery went to pout in the corner, mumbling about Cosmo taking a cheap shot at his face. Cosmo’s reply was that he should care less about his face, to which Avery gasped and said he was the face of true evil. I laughed, walked over, and gave Avery a full-mouth kiss, tongue and everything, before telling him I liked his face and he made a good decision. That made Avery happy.
