Another tear travels down her cheek when she blinks.
I push my lips back onto hers, catching it before breaking away, then I whisper, “That’s why I wouldn’t take it back, because you see, Cherry, dying for your peace is my fucking end game.”
Harlen’s hands are at my waist when he lifts me off my feet and places me on the black marble kitchen countertop with ease. His fingers wrap around my ankles, pulling me closer to the edge before they crawl up my thighs and spread my legs. He steps between my now open limbs, his large, calloused hand sliding across my jaw, and I find myself leaning into him. Tilting my head to the side, I place a gentle kiss to his open palm and stay there for a moment before he angles my chin back to him and brushes the soft pad of his thumb over my cheekbone.
“You still favor hot chocolates?” he asks, as I watch his thumb make its way to my bottom lip, pulling down lightly.
I smile and nod, my hands anchoring between my legs while my fingers curl around the cool edge of the surface. I stick my ass out, arch my spine, and my shoulders rise when I bring my mouth up to his, my eyes following. “Have you got marshmallows?” I ask, eyes twinkling.
He pushes a kiss to my lips, then pulls back slightly. “And whiskey, too.”
I’m staring at his mouth when I bite his bottom lip and pull it between my teeth. He growls, low and hungry, then he slides his hands around to my ass, rasping, “So fucking sweet.” Tappingmy right ass cheek with his palm, he kicks back and turns around, making quick work on our warm drinks.
“Do you all live here?” I ask Harlen’s turned back. He threw on a white t-shirt before we left the gym, and it hugs his muscled chest and toned arms deliciously.
He moves across the kitchen and opens the fridge, pulling out the almond milk. “Do you like this shit?” he asks, holding it at eye level. I nod, though I’m more of a soy milk kind of girl. “Me and Chase are here permanently, but Ash is at Harmony’s most of the time. She’s only around the corner, and Ty and Cam are here more than they are over there. They have a room at both, though.”
After he pours the milk into the fancy frother, and turns it on, he spins around and grabs the edge of the counter, resting his weight against it while the fancy gadget does its thing.
“I guess you could say we are all just one big family,” he finishes with a tilted grin.
I bite into my bottom lip.Family. I want that.
My phone pings from the pocket of my hoodie, and I reach in, sliding it out to find the bright screen staring back at me. There are two unread messages, one from an hour ago from Cameryn, which I seem to have missed, and the other from Keaton. I swipe open the screen and navigate to Cameryn’s first.
Cameryn
Send me a skull if you’re okay and I don’t have to kill him.
I giggle before punching in the emoji. Bubbles pop up immediately, then it pings again.
Cameryn
Happy for you, Cherry.
I click out of our thread, smiling, when I open Keaton’s.
Keaton
Miss you, sis.
Me
Miss you more, Keats. I’ll call you tomorrow.
Keaton sends back an almost instant reply.
Keaton
You better.
I lock the screen and shove it back into my hoodie before looking up and finding Harlen with two mugs fisted in his palms at the corner of the large island. Jumping off the bench eagerly, I clasp both of my hands around the heated ceramic. My nose skims over the edge, and I inhale deeply, smelling the comforting scent of decadent chocolate along with spiced whiskey.
I take a gentle sip, trying my best not to burn my tongue but still pining for that tiny taste. Moaning, I swallow the sweet liquid down, feeling the blanket of warmth settle over my chest. “That’s so fucking good.”
Harlen grins and pulls me into him, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Good.” His fingers slide into my free hand, then he guides us toward the black wrought-iron staircase near the front entrance of the house. We take the spiraled ascent and begin our amble down a large hallway. The walls are painted a deep gray and the ceiling above our heads reaches unbelievably high. There are chrome skull sconces that throw a dull, dimglow through the large space. Gothic antique black and chrome frames line the hallway, some empty, some with various pictures. Skulls, taxidermy butterflies, and…moths.
No.
