“Vail’s sweeter than a honey lollipop, but you know what has even more sugar tonight?” I asked, holding in my laugh but still smiling so much my face almost hurt.
“What?” Rowen asked with a sigh as he settled back down at my side.
“Your lips.”
I got the groans I was after from everyone, but Rowen’s eyebrows shot up, and I felt embarrassed after I’d said that in a way I didn’t when I flirted with Vail or Aspen. I dropped my gaze to the comforter, but Rowen ducked his head to kiss me again. My body might not be top notch right now, but everything he did felt fucking fantastic.
Rowen leaned back, and I rested my head on his chest, then went up on an elbow to study Cillian. Aspen had snuggled in at his back with his arms around him, and a weird wiggle of something anxious squirmed through me. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to say about Aspen holding Cillian instead of me or Vail, if anything, so I just stared into Cillian’s eyes. “I thought you might take this chance to get rid of me.”
Cillian narrowed his eyes and sighed. “’M I that bad? Do ye truly think o’ me as some big, frightening monster come to ruin everything good?” He tilted his chin as if he was daring me to punch him.
“You can be,” Aspen said, and Cillian glared back over his shoulder while his body went stiff.
“You’re the fearless leader,” I said in a rush, trying to stop a fight when everything had been so fun. “I expect you to be tough. I know I have to prove myself to you.” I took some of the sting out of my words by reaching over to rub at his hip.
He snorted and rested his hand over mine, trapping it in place.
I shivered.
“You know, none of you were gentle enough. Maybe I’ll keep Fallon for myself.” Vail grinned and wriggled all around in amusement at the “No way!” and “Hey, now!” and “Don’t be that way, bug!” he got in answer to his declaration. My heart flipped because even though I knew Vail was kidding, I’d never been fought over.
“And you and Aspen definitely weren’t gentle with him the last time I saw you,” Vail said, tone dipping low as he glared at Aspen.
“Dirty wee bug.” Cillian singsonged the words. “How long did ye watch the other night? Were ye jealous? Did ye want me to be that way with ye? Or did ye want to fuck him rough until he came? Which was it? All of it? Tell me, bug.”
Vail only smiled and shrugged.
“I liked it,” I said in a rush, because even though I’d been confused by a lot of what I’d been feeling, at the end of the day that was true. And I’d loved that they hadn’t held back. They’d treated me like they wouldn’t be able to break me. “I want to do it again.”
Aspen grunted. “Not tonight and not for a while.”
Everyone glanced at him, and my heart skipped a beat. “What are we doing tonight?”
Vail wriggled all around and got a bright smile. “If you want to prove how gentle you can be, Cillian, maybe you should—”
There was a knock on the outer door, the one that led into the living room between the bedroom and the hallway. Everyone groaned, and I ended up snickering.
“I suppose I’ll hold that thought,” Vail murmured, then leaned across Rowen to press his lips to my cheek.
“What was it?” I wanted to know because his ideas were usually the best ones if they had anything to do with sex.
There was another knock, then the door in the other room opened. “Guys? Dr. Mifflin? Sorry, I hate to intrude.” And the worst part was Lor really sounded like he meant it. He wasn’t the type of person to be rude for no reason. “Oh, the bedroom door is open. Wait. They didn’t say to come in or anything. We can’t go in! Dr. Mifflin!”
Vail sat up quickly at what sounded like someone thumping against a wall.
Cillian growled and glared at the door.
“Lor, are you all right?” Vail called, already shoving down the blankets.
“Where is my brother?” Padraig’s voice carried at top volume.
I groaned and dropped down against the pillow. “Padraig. Why? No.”
“I’ll feckin’ get rid of him,” Cillian muttered.
“No, no I should go out there.” I flopped my hands around and didn’t make any attempt to get up, though.
“I will get him gone. Pain in the arse, self-entitled shit.”
