Knox, standing in the kitchen entrance behind Elias, arches an eyebrow at me.
That man can read me too damn well.
I sigh, remembering our conversation about being reluctant to open up about my needs in case I chased him away with my neediness. “We were talking about me giving Wyatt the ride of his life in his truck. I’m trying to be less embarrassed about my needs. There is nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Knox gives me a thumbs-up and disappears into the kitchen.
Elias grins. “Course not, baby. Come on. Hunter decided on Spanish chicken for dinner, whatever that is,” he says, and follows Knox into the kitchen, where Hunter is demanding to know who drank the last of the white wine and put the empty bottle back in the refrigerator.
Wyatt wraps an arm around my shoulder and buries a kiss in my hair. “I lied about leaving the windows open all night. The truck smells of my beautiful mate and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
I wrinkle my nose. “I don’t know if I should smile at the compliment or be grossed out about stinking up your truck.”
Chuckling, he leads the way to the kitchen. “Smile, darlin’, christening my truck is definitely something to smile about.”
Chapter 23
Maisie
Inever expected to fall in love.
Love was a dream I hoped for when I was a girl until it turned into a nightmare I was desperate to wake from. Now I wake smiling, looking forward to each day and not knowing how it will be better than the last, just knowing it will be. Because of them.
Hunter, Elias, Wyatt, and Knox.
The last couple of days after I made love with Knox have been quiet.
The call with my sister went so much better than I thought it would. She doesn’t hate me and is busy working out the best time she can come visit with her family.
This morning, I was inspired to come down to the kitchen early to root around the pantry and brainstorm how I want to use the rhubarb and tart raspberries Nico sent me the other day. I made fresh pie dough—I like to keep a big batch in the refrigerator—ready for whenever I want to try out a new filling. But that’s not the only reason I’m down here this early.
Someone is watching me.
I turn from the counter I was wiping down to find Hunter closing the distance between us.
“You have to stop wearing those shorts when you bake, baby, you are making me lose my damn mind,” Hunter groans, clasping my hips as he pins me to the counter.
He’s shirtless.
My weakness.
Knox said I was a chest girl, and he was right. Hunter’s grin when I give his washboard abs a lingering look tells me he knows it too.
I raise my eyebrow at him. “You came down shirtless on purpose because you know I’m a chest girl, didn’t you?”
Bending his head, he touches his lips to mine. “Why? You like what you see?” He waggles his eyebrows suggestively.
I loop my arms around his shoulders, laughing. “Maybe.”
“Ah,” he says, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “I see I have my work cut out for me.”
He kisses my throat, and I tilt my head to the side, making space for him. “What are you doing?” It emerges in a breathy sigh. Next to forehead kisses, soft throat kissesalwaysmake me weak at the knees.
“Trying to impress you with my kisses since I can’t impress you with my hot body.”
I put my hands on his chest and nudge. “Stop.”
His smile fades. “I’m pushing too hard, aren’t I?”
