“We’ll take that comment under consideration,” Damon says.
I frown. “Meaning what?”
“Meaning we’ll give you what you can handle,” Quin replies.
I abruptly sit up, crossing my arms as I glare at the two bastards. “Are you implying that I can’thandlethe two of you?”
Damon turns to his side and smirks, feathering his index finger up and down my thigh. “Don’t be offended, mami. Everyone’s got their limits.”
I glower at him. “Try me.”
His eyes darken. “Famous last words, Miss Jones.”
Quin chuckles, sitting up. “Leave her alone, Damon. She’ll adjust as needed.” He gives me a crooked smile. “Why don’t you go shower, darling? We’ll get started on breakfast.”
I roll my eyes, my mild irritation lingering. “Whatever.” As I stand up, two sets of heavy hands pull me back down, and I yelp. “Hey!”
Quin grins, hovering over me, Damon by his side. “Don’t be upset with us, darling,” he coos, gaze sweeping across my sated features. “We’re simply looking out for you.”
Damon licks his lips, combing his fingers through my hair. “We can’t have you starting the day on such a grumpy note.” He glances briefly at Quin. “May I?”
“Be my guest,” Quinton smirks, slowly pulling away and standing to his feet. “I’ll be downstairs when you’re…finished.”
I swallow, my pulse suddenly quickening as Quinton leaves the room, and Damon begins to slither down in between my legs. “Damon, I’m?—”
“Shh,” he hushes me, curling his strong hand around the apex of my thighs. His breath fans against my skin as I arch my back and close my eyes, readying myself for another visit to the stars. “This won’t take long. Trust me.” His dark gaze flicks up, and my breath hitches. “I know just how you like it.”
And he does. They both do. It’s like they’ve studied me for ages. Like I’m some sort of historical text they’ve managed to expertly translate. And so I relax and let Damon show me just how much he knows me. Knows my body. Knows my needs. And in that fleeting moment of pure bliss, everything feels normal. Not dangerous. Not chaotic. But normal. And I never thought normal could feel this fulfilling, this exciting.
But the moment passes, and when I open my eyes, I know there’s nothing normal about our situation. We’re still in hiding. We’re still on edge.
But I feel safe.
I’ve got two gentle beasts to guard me.
THE GROUND RULES
QUINTON
It’s beenyears since I’ve hand washed dishes. Damon too. But there’s something soothing about the warm water, the fragrant soap, the trickle of the tap. The fireplace crackles softly as Damon and I work together to clean all the dishes from breakfast. This isn’t normal for us, yet it feels like home.
The kitchen overlooks the large living room where Emery sits on the couch, engrossed in The Iliad. The safe house has a small library stacked with dozens of classics, from epic poems to regency romances. I hope the story we’re writing isn’t as trying as the tales of Homer.
Christ, I hope not.
I steal glances at Emery while drying a plate. Her fingers delicately turn the pages. She’s lost in the ancient poem. And I’m grateful. I’m grateful she’s found a moment of peace in such chaos. She needs to relax. Destress. We all do.
"Quin," Damon's voice breaks the quiet, "now might not seem like the ideal time to discuss our terms, but it's necessary."
I glance at him. It’s important to have this conversation, but now? Now might not be the right time. "Damon, look at her. We can't disrupt that."
Damon sets a plate on the drying rack, his eyes never leaving Emery. "Her comfort is my top priority, but the longer we delay, the more complicated it becomes. She needs to understand our terms, our...arrangement."
I shake my head, placing a mug on the rack. "Some of those terms aren't relevant right now, Damon. We're not?—"
Damon interrupts me, his tone clipped. "But they will be, Quin. This isn't going to last forever. They'll find Simone and Toni, and once they do, we'll go home. And when we do, she needs to understand what home looks like."
I sigh. He’s right. Of course he’s right. Reluctantly, I stack the last plate and turn to face him. "Fine. But if at any point I see her getting even the tiniest bit anxious or uncomfortable, we stop. We stop and we just let everything unfold naturally.”
