I take the bag and stare down at it as a hundred emotions roll through me. I haven’t had a gift in decades. Robert said they were for babies, so I hadn’t received a single present since before my parents passed away.
“Thank you, Peter.”
I reach in, and my hand finds something soft. I pull it out and smile, instantly hugging it to my chest. “Is it a blue whale?” I ask, pulling it back to take a better look at the stuffed animal.
“Yep.” He drops down on the bed so hard that I bounce from the impact. “There’s something else.”
I reach in and pull out a book about whales. My fingers skim over the cover as he tells me, “That’s from Jagger.”
“Isn’t it Wren’s money that paid for them?” Sly asks as he picks up the whale and assesses it like he’s never seen a stuffed animal before. Maybe he hasn’t. Or maybe he thinksit’s childish. Is it weird for a grown woman to have one? But Pete gave it to me, so it’s special. Although… he could give me a potato and I’d still cherish it.
“She doesn’t mind, do you, Wren?” Pete asks, leaning on his elbow as I skim through the book.
“Mind?” I ask as my mind starts to zigzag through my rampant thoughts. I can’t believe they remembered how intrigued I was by the whales.
“That we spent the money on these gifts?”
Shutting the book, I turn my gaze to Pete. “These are the nicest, most thoughtful presents I’ve ever had. Well, these and Dex’s flowers from when we first met,” I tell him, tossing a grin over my shoulder in Dex’s direction. I turn back to Pete to find his face even closer to mine. “Thank you, Peter,” I whisper.
I lick my lips as his gaze turns heated. He reaches up and cups my face as he asks, “How about a little thank you kiss?”
I suck in a sharp breath as my stomach tightens in anticipation. Eagerly, I lean forward until my lips gently caress his. “Give me a break,” Sly mumbles, tossing my whale at Pete’s head, breaking our kiss as he stomps away, shutting himself in the bathroom.
I want to bask in that kiss, as brief as it was, but Sly’s sour mood has me frowning at the closed bathroom door.
“He’s upset,” I say, feeling deflated.
“He’s jealous,” Pete says with a grin. “But fuck him. He’ll get over it. Besides, isn’t there someone else you need to thank?”
He gestures with his chin behind me, and I turn in the bed to find an almost naked Jagger lying there on his back, hands behind his head as he stares at me.
“Holy biscuits!” I exclaim as I take him in. Dressed likePete in only a pair of tight boxers, it gives me the chance to check out all of him. I’d slept on his bare chest a few nights ago, but seeing him like this was something else. With all his tattoos on display over his huge muscles, he was a work of art.
“You’re drooling, angel,” Pete whispers beside me.
“I am?” I ask, wiping my mouth as my eyes stay glued to Jagger.
He chuckles softly. “I bet he’d love a thank-you kiss, too.”
My eyes shoot up to Jagger’s as I ask, “Really?” He reaches out both hands for me, and I find myself crawling into his grasp. He drags me up the side of his body until my lips are only a few inches away.
His eyes explore my face as he pushes a strand of my hair behind my ears. Then he lifts his hand and signs,“Beautiful.”
“You’re the beautiful one,” I tell him as my fingers trace over the tattoos covering his neck. I lift one leg to hook over him, wanting to be as close as possible.
“Not beautiful,”he signs.“Manly.”He has to spell out the last word, and I laugh when he raises his arm and flexes his bicep, as if to prove it.
“You’re certainly a man,” I say with a smirk as my eyes trail down his sharp jaw and broad shoulders.
He places a finger to my cheek and turns my face back to his, then signs,“Kiss me.”
My heart leaps in my chest at his request. I could get lost in his stormy blue eyes for days, but his lips look irresistible, so I close my eyes, lean forward, and kiss him.
This one is much slower and softer than last time, and when his tongue brushes mine, a moan escapes me. My fingers dig into his chest as I try to give back as much ashe gives to me.
I start to follow his rhythm and realize he’s teaching me how to kiss him. There’s something incredibly tantalizing about that. It makes my core throb and my panties grow damp. I’ve felt wet between my legs before, but this time it feels much damper.
“Dios mio!” I gasp, realizing I must be leaving a wet spot on his thigh. Embarrassment races through me and the thought of them seeing that.
