“I can go along with that.”
“Good.”
Eli’s phone started to ring, a strange tune that I didn’t recognise but I suspected Seph had programmed it, ever the joker. His hand left my hair and reached for his phone.
“Joseph,” he said, obviously trying to sound like we’d not just been having lazy Sunday morning sex. “What can I do for you?”
“Just ringing to let you know I don’t need a lift,” I heard Seph say. “Cal and I are on our way there now. We’re just stopping for breakfast first.”
“Thanks for letting me know,” Eli said. “Don’t eat anything too greasy.”
“Healthy breakfast, Elijah, healthy breakfast. I have a temple to maintain.”
I stifled a snort. Seph, as much as we bullied him, was by far the most sensitive of my brothers and sometimes astute. He’d recognise my laughter - or snort - in any context and would put two and two together easily.
“Yeah,” Eli said. “A temple. Clearly one where you have to pay people to worship. I’ll see you there in an hour.” I heard my brother crack a joke back and then Eli hung up, chucking his phone on to the floor.
“I’d stay in bed with you all day if I could,” he said. “But we need breakfast and I have a rugby game to kick some ass at.”
I nodded and made no effort to move, finding his chest far too comfortable. “I need a shower else I’ll smell of sex and you,” I said.
“I think you smell great.” He moved his hand back in my hair. I was pretty sure he was developing a fetish for it.
“That’s because I smell of sex and you. It’s like you’ve marked your territory.”
I knew he was grinning without looking.
“We should move.”
“We should. Thinking logistically, how are you getting there? I can take you and drop you off round the corner or we can turn up together.”
I stiffened. I was twenty-seven years old and had been having sex for eleven years. My brothers knew I had boyfriends, they had seen me out on a Friday night and rolled their eyes as I’d gone home with the odd prince for an evening and it would make it a lot easier if I could just go there with Eli. But I didn’t want to. I wanted to keep us in this room, where no one could analyse or spoil what we had when we were on our own.
“I’ll text Claire and get a lift with her and the baby. Or will she be going with Killian?”
“Max is picking up Killian. Everyone’s over at his afterwards for Sunday lunch, so I think K’s planning to have a few beers,” Eli said quietly. “I’ll drop you round the corner from Claire’s when you’re ready.”
“Okay.”
“Ava,” he said.
“Hmmmmm?”
“I can’t move until you do.”
“I know.”
He sighed loudly, then flipped me onto my back, catching me by surprise. His lips were inches from mine as he held himself above me, but I couldn’t take my eyes from his, the flecks of gold sparkling. I activated my stomach muscles and shifted up so I could leave a kiss, a sweet one and I heard him groan.
“Fucking rugby.”
It was a mutter and one that told me he meant it.
“You should make us breakfast while I shower.”
“Bossy woman.” He sat up onto his knees. “Full English?”
I smiled. “You cook as well?”
