“Yeah,” he admits, arching beneath me as my teeth graze his earlobe. “You’ve turned my entire body into one giant nerve ending.”
I chuckle. “Good. I like knowing I affect you this way.”
My mouth travels lower, following the path of bruises I created. Each one receives attention—a gentle kiss, a swipe of tongue, the lightest scrape of teeth. Owen writhes beneath me, his hands fisting in the sheets.
“Slade,” he breathes, my name a plea on his lips.
“Patience,” I murmur against his chest.
Unlike last night’s frantic coupling, this morning calls for something slower. I want to worship every inch of him, learn what makes him gasp, tremble, and beg.
The knock on the door comes just as my tongue circles one of his nipples. We both freeze, eyes meeting in mutual disappointment.
“Ignore it,” Owen whispers, his hands threading through my hair, urging me to continue.
I do, dropping my head back to his chest, teeth closing around the hardened nub. Owen’s back arches, a soft moan escaping him.
The knocking comes again, louder this time.
“Owen? Slade? Are you guys awake?” Ava’s voice carries through the door.
I lift my head, resignation setting in. “We should answer.”
“Pretend we’re asleep,” Owen suggests, pulling me back down.
The third round of knocking is accompanied by Bryce’s voice. “Guys, Ava’s about to have a meltdown if you don’t join us for breakfast.”
Owen groans, dropping his head back against the pillow. “They’re not going away, are they?”
“Not likely.” I press one more kiss to his jaw before pushing myself up. “Stay here. I’ll handle them.”
I slide out of bed, searching for something to cover myself with. The room is a disaster—sheets tangled and disheveled, the unmistakable scent of sex hanging in the air. I grab a bedsheet, wrapping it around my waist, and crack the door open just enough to see Bryce and Ava standing in the hallway.
“Finally,” Ava sighs. “We were beginning to think you two died in there.”
“We’re fine,” I assure her, keeping my body positioned to block their view. “We’ll meet you at breakfast.”
“Nope,” Bryce says with gleam in his eye.
Before I can stop him, he pushes the door wider, forcing me to step back. They both enter, scanning the room like two amateur sleuths. They take in the rumpled single bed, the discarded clothes, and focus on Owen, who’s clutching the blanket to his chest in a futile attempt to hide the evidence of our night together.
Ava’s eyes widen, her jaw dropping. “Oh my god,” she breathes, glancing from Owen to me and back again. “Oh. My. God.”
“I knew it!” Bryce looks too pleased with himself. “I told you, babe. I fucking knew something was going on between these two!”
Owen’s face flames red, the flush spreading down his neck to his chest. I move to position myself between him and our unwelcome visitors.
“Could you give us a minute?” I ask, trying to keep my voice level.
“Holy shit, Owen,” Ava ignores me, her eyes fixed on her brother. “Are those…did Slade…are thosehickeys?”
Owen drops his head into his hands with a groan. “Ava, please.”
“Oh, they’redefinitelyhickeys,” Bryce confirms, his grin widening. “And bite marks. Jesus, Slade, did you maul my future brother-in-law?”
Now my face is heating. “Can we discuss this after we dress?”
“Discuss what?” Zara’s voice comes from the doorway, where she stands with Naya. “Whoa, what’s happening in here?”
