Johnny tutted. “I don’t believe that for one second.”
“It’s true,” Maman said, giggling as she pushed herself up from the archway. “In fact, girls, why don’t you fetch Marty and William in from the woods and we’ll make a start on dinner?”
Both girls groaned, because although a couple of days under the same roof wasn’t enough for them to accept William, at least they weren’t trying to actively kill him anymore. Gabriella couldn’t dump Johnny’s half-painted foot fast enough as she sidled up to Maman and walked into the kitchen.
“I saw that!” Johnny called as the three of them disappeared through the archway.
Taylor leant forward. “Saw what?”
“Maman just slipped both of them a tenner.”
“I did not!” Maman called, but there was laughter in her voice.
Taylor smirked as he peeled the cucumber off his other eye and ate it. “Shady behaviour aside, Gabby’s done an absolutely atrocious job on your nails,” he said, sliding off the sofa and onto his knees. Johnny eyed him as he picked up the discarded nail brush and propped his foot on his thigh.
“Jesus, did you wantthiscolour?” Taylor asked.
Johnny sighed and let his head loll back against the sofa. “I’m beyond caring, Tay. Between the three-hour hospital appointment, whale music, moody kids and Papa’s singing I think I’ve gone colour-blind. I don’t know why we thought coming back to the pack house was a good idea.”
Taylor hummed, resting his cheek against Johnny’s smooth knee. He had bare legs beneath the robe, with only a tiny pair of tennis shorts poking out from beneath the hem.
“We can go home if you want.”
Johnny shook his head. “One more night. I want to make sure Manders doesn’t try anything stupid now he’s out.”
“Relax,” Taylor cooed, running his fingers along the length of Johnny’s calf. “I’m here. If he turns up I’ll sort it, won’t I?”
Johnny looked down at him, his serious expression falling away as he reached forward and fingered the plastic band in Taylor’s hair. “I’m sure he’ll take you seriously in a face mask and dressing gown. You look like a middle-aged woman.”
Taylor smirked, turning his head to nip Johnny’s wrist. “You take me seriously, don’t you?”
Johnny huffed out a laugh. “So seriously.” He hooked a finger around the hair-band, pulling it out and running his long fingers through Taylor’s hair.
“You look better,” Taylor whispered, turning his mouth into Johnny’s knee. He kissed it, enjoying the way Johnny’s calves twitched.
Johnny pushed Taylor’s hair back from his forehead. “I look harassed.”
“Mhm. Am I harassing you?” Taylor smiled, ghosting his mouth over Johnny’s inner thigh.
There was an immediate tremor of arousal across the bond as Johnny gripped his hair tighter. “What do you think?”
“I think I’m on my knees for you, JP.” Taylor let his fingers trail down Johnny’s legs, dipping into the curve of his ankle. “And I think you like it.”
Johnny’s black eyes were locked on Taylor’s mouth, watching as he sucked his bottom lip.
“Tay,” Johnny whispered, shifting his hips so his robe parted around the tenting in his shorts.
Taylor pushed up on his knees, letting his hands glide up Johnny’s thighs. He grinned, pressing his nose under the hem of his shorts, and inhaling the soft scent of arousal peaking in Johnny’s groin.
Someone cleared their throat by the kitchen door, and heat shot up Taylor’s neck as he yanked his head away. He picked up the paint bottle whilst Johnny threw the dressing gown back over his lap. Maman was standing there with a bemused expression.
“I-I was… er… finishing the nails,” Taylor stuttered.
Maman tipped her head, drumming her fingers idly across her elbow. “Uh-huh.” Her eyes trailed along the white smudges of face mask all along Johnny’s legs. “The kids have decided to camp in the woods tonight. Papa and I are going to join them.”
Johnny raised his eyebrows. “What a great idea.”
Maman nodded slowly, looking like she was about to say something more, but she just smiled, turned on her heel and marched back into the kitchen.
