He crooks his finger at me.
Before I can physically melt into a puddle, Tristan grabs Jax’s shoulder. “Knock it off,” he orders, shoving him down into a seat. His eyes meet mine, dragging just a little too long over my thin camisole. My nipples peak, standing to attention like a damn homing beacon.
Oh, god. I’mdefinitelyapproaching my heat.
Tristan grabs Jax’s arm and tows him across the kitchen, throwing open the double doors that lead to the gardens I haven’t even seen yet. Jax makes to move back towards me, and Tristan actually grabs his ear like a little boy.
“Get a hold of yourself.” Shoving Jax outside, he glances back at me. “We’ll eat outside.”
I nod, but he’s already gone.
This is good, I tell myself as I pull together a full-blown breakfast spread. I like to cook when I’m anxious, and by the time Gray enters the kitchen, Logan following behind, I’ve got two batches of muffins cooling on the counter and cookies in the oven.
“Ooh.” Logan sniffs the air. My back tenses. “Are those cookies?”
Thank fuck for that. My tension releases in a whoosh, but I’m not about to risk a meal in the constrained space. I might end up knotted over the counter.
My hands clench on the wood. On second thoughts…
“We’re eating outside,” I blurt. “Outside. In the air. Fresh air.”
“Sounds great.” Gray gives me a soft smile, one sweeter than I’ve seen previously. “This all looks amazing, Sienna.”
He heads straight outside, but Logan moves straight for me. He leans down, tracing his lips across my cheek in a gentle kiss and cupping my cheek. “Morning.”
I blink as he follows Gray, leaving me with a final stroke across my skin.
This feels… promising. Definitely promising.
And I am definitely not just going to roll over for them.
Absolutely not.
Definitely… knot?
My thoughts go downhill as I start carrying out the first batch of food. Tristan’s eyes flicker over me, relief in them as he stands up to give me a hand.
“Thanks,” I say shyly, when he picks up the plates. He frowns down at them.
“You don’t need to thank me for doing what I should’ve been doing all along.”
And on that little bombshell, he nudges me outside and into a seat. I watch as his hands hover over the dishes, his eyes moving to me and back as he makes me up a plate.
“Thanks. Again.” My cheeks crease as I take it from him. I actually feel hungry today. The soul pain doesn’t seem to be making much of an appearance.
I don’t want to ruin the nice atmosphere as everyone tucks in. I really don’t. It’s the first time where we’ve all been together, and it actually feels right.
But I’m still not happy about the Alicia situation. And I’m still not convinced over my heat, which by recent events could erupt any damn second.
“Um.” I push my hair out of my face. “Tristan?”
He gives me his full attention immediately, turning to look down at me. “Yes?”
“Ah…,” everyone else pauses to look at me too. “Did Gray or Logan tell you about my heat?”
Gray winces, and Logan turns a dark red. “Shit,” Gray says. “I’m so sorry, Sienna. With everything – I didn’t have a chance last night.”
Wow. Good to know my heat means that much to them.
