Salty didn’t begin to cover mymoodas I scrambled off the bed to my feet.
“What? Who is it?” I hated how anxiety twisted me up so quickly when everything had been fine actual-factual seconds ago, but I couldn’t stop it.
“No one important,” he said.
“Then let’s ignore them.” His dick lengthened as I stared at it, and he laughed. He shot me a crooked smile and got up off the bed. I couldn’t peel my gaze away from his thick, swinging cock, not quite hard but nowhere near soft.
“Hop in the shower.” Casey tipped my chin up and gave me a quick kiss. “Come downstairs when you’re done. Don’t take out the plug.” With a wink, he went to his dresser and pulled out a clean pair of boxers, grumbling about stickiness under his breath as he slid them on. “Go!”
I did as he said, not sure what I’d be walking into when I finished cleaning up. Since he smiled at me as I went into the bathroom, I decided whatever was going on couldn’t be too bad. Probably his friends over for a visit. I speed showered and then when I was back in Casey’s room I grabbed one of his shirts out of the dresser because the only clean one I’d had here was now speckled with strawberry syrup, and it wasn’t technically my fault. I put the black XXL T-shirt on, and between it and the basketball shorts that seemed fine enough to recycle for a wear, I looked like I was pretending to be the grim reaper. That is, I would have if the good old GR wore different clothes for the summer other than that hood thing. Shrugging, I stole a pair of Casey’s dress socks because they clung and stayed on my feet—sort of—and then went downstairs to find him.
Women were laughing in the kitchen, which was my first clue that maybe it wasn’t Merit and Creed who’d come to visit. I hopped from the last stair into the living room and sneaked toward the kitchen. The lights were all on in here right now, and I kind of preferred it when there were dark spaces. I’d hated the gloom at Dad’s house but thought it was cozy here. I wasn’t sure why there was a difference. I thought about turning the lamps off again, but what if I made Casey mad? Nerves prickled through me.
“What on earth were you doing in here?” Raven asked.
I picked up my pace because I liked her. When I got to the kitchen doorway, I stopped and peeked my head around. There was a tall woman in a fluttery, fancy white dress who had long dark hair that curled on the ends, the same golden complexion as Casey, and who also shared his heavy eyebrows. She was sweeping the floor. Casey had out some cleaning wipes and was on his knees scrubbing at something near where we’d been sitting before we went to the bed.
Strawberry syrup.
My cheeks scorched. He looked really good in a pair of black sweats and a clean white running shirt. I loved watching his muscles flex as he moved his arms doing stupid simple stuff like clean.
Raven was dressed fancier than usual, like maybe she’d been out for drinks somewhere swanky, and her makeup had extra sparkles. She and the other woman reminded me of rich ladies from comic books with boyfriends who were either superheroes or supervillains. Even better, though, they were married, if I guessed correctly and this was Raven’s wife. Maybe they were both superheroes? My mind spun out costumes, and I thought about sneaking off to sketch them… or, at least, I’d draw people who looked just different enough from them that I could lie and say they hadn’t inspired me, if I got too shy about it.
Raven bent and picked up the empty bottle of syrup from the floor and then shook it in Casey’s direction. “Hmm…. What were you up to?” She tittered and covered her mouth with her hand, laughing so hard that she stomped her heel on the floor.
Yeah, I could go die now.
But then, I spotted a clear plastic container full of cupcakes on the counter. Big ones. Maybe homemade? With a pile of swirly icing on top. My mouth watered. If I hid, I probably wouldn’t get one of those. I stepped into the room and pretended really hard that I was invisible. Maybe if they didn’t notice me I could run away with the cupcakes.
“Hello, Angel!” Raven said as soon as she spotted me. Dumb as it was, I flinched because I’d half convinced myself they really wouldn’t notice me. “I was beginning to wonder if Casey was lying about you spending all of your time here.”
The woman I didn’t know, but had to be Casey’s sister, stopped sweeping and spun my direction. She smiled, and I lifted a hand to wave. I wasn’t prepared for her to drop the broom with a clatter and rush me, heels tapping on the floor and arms out. I closed my eyes and braced myself. Her touch was surprisingly gentle as she gave me a light hug. The scent of spring flowers and vanilla swirled around me, and her silky white dress was soft where it pressed against my bare arms. I felt dumb for being nervous as I opened my eyes. She stepped back and cupped my cheeks for a second.
“Nev!” Casey thundered, but she ignored him.
“Oh, aren’t you cute. Are these Casey’s clothes?” She let me go and glanced all the way down to my toes. “Your arm! You poor thing.”
“Mine are dirty,” I mumbled, picking at the shirt.
“Were they sticky?” Raven asked breezily as she went to the sink and tossed the empty syrup bottle in. The reminder of earlier had me squeezing around the plug in my ass. Embarrassed heat flooded my body and had me giving myself a hug.
“Back off him,” Casey said mildly to his sister, though he swiveled to include Raven in the declaration.
Nev grinned. “Mom is going to adore him. He’s so charming and—”
“Yes, she will,” Raven said with a harsh laugh as she came over and popped the top off the cupcake container. “She loves her baby boy, so I can only imagine what she’ll do when he brings her another one to smother.”
“Still haven’t told her,” Casey said, and picked up the broom. He ducked down to sweep dirt onto the dustpan.
“Oh, Mom loves Raven.” Nev shrugged and rolled her eyes. She didn’t step back, and I was beginning to feel crowded, so I edged toward the cupcakes. Raven caught my eye and mouthed “sorry” but what for, I wasn’t sure.
“Can I have a couple?”
Casey turned toward me. “Didn’t you already eat dessert?” His grin was evil and had my cheeks heating to the boiling point.
“Oh, but I brought them just for him!” Nev said and then turned her back on Casey. “Have as many as you want.” I nearly levitated at that. Casey couldn’t argue she’d said it, not even later. That was as good as saying they wereallmy cupcakes. “I made chocolate and vanilla because I didn’t know what you’d like. I wanted to meet you. This was all just a reason to get in the door,” she whispered, as if that wasn’t already clear. “I should call Tabi and Tori and—”
“No,” Casey said firmly. He took the broom into the pantry to put it away and called out, “You’re not dragging the entire family over here tonight. No way, no how.”
