“What could they possibly need to talk to you about?” Ryder asks, sitting forward in the chair.
Alessa shrugs. “I don’t know. I guess we’ll find out at the gala.”
“Anyone else get the feeling they already knew?” Gage asks.
Alessa laughs. “No. That’s your jealousy talking.”
“I’m not jealous of them,” Gage snorts. “Much.”
“What did he call you?” I ask because I need to know.
“My treasure,” Ryder growls, answering my question. “He’s going to lose his tongue for that shit.”
“Are you jealous, Ryder?” Alessa purrs.
“I don’t fucking like it,” Holden speaks up, and every head turns to him.
“What?” Alessa squeaks, shocked.
“I don’t like anyone but us calling you names,” Holden answers, pulling her closer.
She grins and kisses his cheek. “I will let him know to cut it out, okay?” He nods and kisses the top of her head.
I see Ryder trying to fight a grin, but he loses the battle and starts laughing. “That’s my boy.”
Holden turns a deep shade of red. “It’s not funny.”
“I’m not making fun of you.” Ryder tries to smother the laugh but fails. “I never pegged you for the possessive type.”
“Les is ours,” Holden says hotly, surprising us even more. “You shouldn’t like it either.”
“Trust me, we don’t,” Gage agrees.
Alessa turns to face him. “I’m yours, huh?”
“Yes,” he says without a moment’s hesitation.
I shrug. “I’m with Holden on this one.”
“Face it, Baby girl. You’re stuck with us.”
“I kind of like the sound of that,” she answers. She pecks Holden on the lips. “You’re mine too.”
“Damn right, Bright eyes.”
“Leo,”a sweet voice sing-songs the next morning. I would know that voice anywhere. I snuggle further into the pillow so the dream won’t go away. The sweet voice giggles. “Leo.”
Soft hands run up my back, and I realize it’s not a dream. I crack one eye open, and Alessa is sitting beside me in my bed on her knees. “Hey, Baby,” I greet, my voice still rough with sleep.
“You want to go with me to Gerald and Boone’s this morning?” she asks, still running her hands up and down my back and then kneading my shoulders.
I shake my head. “You keep doing that,” I joke.
She throws her leg over my waist and sits on my ass. She starts working the stiff muscles in my back, and I can’t stop the groan. It feels so damn good.
“Ya like?” she asks, working deeper into a stubborn kink in my shoulder.
“Fuck yes.”
