“But do you want them to?” I winked.
“No!” He squirmed against me.
“You getting a shower doesn’t explain this.” I pinched his ass.
He groaned and knocked his forehead against mine hard enough that it stung, and I laughed and straightened a little to rub the spot. “You’ve got a hard head.”
“So, I was getting in the shower and noticed one of the lights above the mirror was out, and that always bothers me. I can’t really say why, but I would have been thinking about it the entire time I showered, and that’s not pleasant. To make sure I had the best shower possible, I went down to the basement to the shelves where the extra lights are kept to get a bulb, butthenI realized we were out of those big round bulbs. I went upstairs to grab my phone to order them, but forgot what brand Rowen usually gets, and the last time I ordered the brand he doesn’t like, he talked about it for a whole week. He’s not picky about much unless it’s something to do with this house, you know?”
I nodded because he was already taking a deep breath to keep talking.
“So, I went back to the basement with my phone, but I’d started doom scrolling through the news while I walked—”
“You’re not supposed to do that. You told Cillian you wouldn’t walk and stare at your phone since you almost fell down the stairs.”
“I know, so don’t tell him.” He poked my side.
“Gah!” I laughed as he tickled his finger against me again.
“Anyway, I started reading the news, but then I realized I was hungrier than I’d ever been in my life!”
I glanced at the deli bag on the counter. “Did you order the bulbs?”
He groaned and let his head fall back, giving me a beautiful view of his long neck. “No, and now I don’t know where I set my phone.”
Thinking for a second, I shook my head. “If I can find it, will you come back and cuddle with me in Aspen’s bed?”
“No, but I’ll cuddle with you in Rowen’s. I don’t want him and Cillian to be sad because we went on a date tonight.” He frowned, his full lips drawing me in like a beacon.
I kissed his mouth before I planted one on his forehead. “They went off for the boss to give us time, I don’t think they’d get mad.”
“It’s not nice to leave anyone lonely. It isn’t as if Cillian and Rowen will cuddle.”
“That’s a good point you have.” As I thought about Rowen or Cillian being left alone, a weird pang ran through my chest and I hated it. Maybe I didn’t feel about them exactly what I did for Aspen and Vail... but I didn’t want them to be left out in the cold. That fucking sucked, and I knew all too well what it felt like to be in my bed without anyone’s arms around me. “Let’s go cuddle in Rowen’s bed.”
“I’ll text Aspen asking him to join us in there once you find my phone.”
“Does he need an invitation?” I asked. “Won’t he know wherever we are, he should be?”
Vail tilted his head, and I hugged him. “It never hurts to make sure people know they’re wanted, does it?”
“You’re so smart.” I nibbled on his earlobe, and he tried to shove me off while also rocking his hips against mine.
“You’re probably the first man to say that when I’m naked in his arms.”
“Can’t be,” I murmured. I buried a yawn against his neck, and he gave me a tight squeeze. “Let’s go do that. You’ll text Aspen?”
He cursed and that happened so infrequently that I snorted and grinned at him. “What?”
“I’ll text Aspen if you’ll order the bulbs tomorrow... and find my phone.”
Laughing, I nodded. “It’s like this is our real home, you’ve got me doing chores and running around.”
Vail leaned in and pressed his forehead to mine, and I held him close. “Fallon, this is our real home—and I was terrified that Sloan would keep you and we wouldn’t have you here anymore.”
“Fat chance,” I murmured, even though I’d been scared, too. “You’re mine until you tell me to pound sand.”
“And are you Aspen’s?” He grinned, and my belly twisted up in happy, anxious knots.
