“I’ll come with you,” Caid offers, at the same time Ry says, “I’ll drive.”
Crossing my arms and leaning farther into Rayne’s hold, enjoying this soft development that has happened between us, I ask the others in the room, “Any other takers? Shall we make it a whole group event?”
Baxter flashes me a grin from where he sits beside Rayne, close enough to touch but far enough away that he’sgiving Rayne enough space not to feel suffocated. It’s actually really sweet, all four of them so in tune with one another.
Ever since Rayne arrived this morning, he’s been a little clingy. It’s totally unexpected, and I wonder if maybe it has something to do with Bax and me sleeping together, but no one has mentioned anything, and I find myself really enjoying a clingy Rayne Cloud. It must be obvious to the others, too, because they’ve all allowed Rayne to hog me while we eat breakfast. Baxter only tugged me away for a moment to steal a few kisses I was more than willing to give, and Caiden pulled me into a hug right before Rayne snagged my waist and slowly but surely dragged me back between his legs.
And honestly? It’s been the best morning. My body is sore in all of the best places, filthy reminders of how I spent most of my day with Bax, and the guys are all being sweet and funny like always. It’s as though nothing has changed between us, yet everything has. It’s better than before, better than I would have imagined, and we’re only just starting the morning of our first day as a five-person relationship.
With Rayne’s thumb rubbing over the shirt I’m still wearing from last night, he says, “I booked a last-minute appointment with an actor who’s flying in from France, so you’ll have to have that adventure without me. Let me know how it goes, though.”
I nod, reaching over to take a bite of my pancakes, eating them slowly because I don’t want to move out of Rayne’s arms. I mean, I don’t know how long this clinginess will last, so I’m soaking it all in before it possibly fades.
“Benji and I have to drive that Ford we’ve been working on to its owner today. We’re heading a state over, so I won’t be around until tomorrow afternoon,” Bax informs, and I look over at him just as I inhale a chunky bite of pancakes and syrup.
I feel liquid fall down my chin, and I can’t be sure if it’s drool at the sight of four gorgeous men surrounding my kitchen island, or if it’s because of the breakfast Ryan and Rayne delivered.
Whatever it is, it makes Bax laugh around his own bite. He wipes his mouth with a napkin before reaching over to wipe my own face, sending those ever-present butterflies in my stomach soaring to new heights.
I give him a grateful smile before swallowing my pancakes, and manage to ask, “Is that the plum-colored one?”
Bax nods, retrieving his cell and pulling up a photo of the finished product. My mouth falls open in shock when I see the white stripe that lines the middle of the car, and my heart squeezes when I see with my own two eyes that Bax genuinely did share my input with the owner.
“I love it,” I tell him honestly. “The white stripe? Chef’s kiss.”
“We thought so, too,” Bax agrees with a small wink only I catch. “Benji is driving his own car while I drive the Ford, and then we’re driving back together. It’ll take a few hours, so you’ll have to go to the station without me, too.”
“That’s okay,” I assure them both, dropping my hand on the back of Rayne’s tatted knuckles. “I’ll text or call to fill you in on how it goes.”
Bax offers a smile while Rayne presses his hand a little more firmly against my stomach, and I take it as his silent agreement.
With that settled, we finish our food and Ryan clears everything away. Bax leaves shortly after, dropping three quick kisses to my lips before he heads out the door, Rayne keeping his hold on me the entire time.
“You know, you’re going to have to release me at some point,” I tease, rubbing his hand where it’s still pressed snugly against my stomach.
I hear Caid snicker, but I ignore him, turning in Rayne’s hold. He looks up at me with those beautiful pale-blue eyes, and I smile softly at him. “I need a shower, and I have an officer to visit. As great as staying right here would be, we both have things to do.”
Rayne pulls a face, seeming to hate that idea, but with a reluctance that makes my smile turn into a grin, he finally lowers his arm and releases me. I lean in and press a kiss to his lips, lingering for a long moment before pulling away and winking at the grumpy man, whispering against his lips, “Have a great day, Rayne Cloud.”
Lips twitching, he sneaks one more kiss before he climbs from the stool and follows after Baxter, leaving only one last lingering glance behind. When it’s just Caid, Ry, and me, I declare, “I’m going to go drown myself in the hellscape that is my shower.”
Both men nod, and I head out and beeline straight for the shower, turning it to the hottest setting imaginable. While the shower warms, I hurry to my bedroom and shuffle to the closet to gather my clothes for the day. Since it’s meant to be warm, I find a cute floral milkmaid dress with tiny blue flowers printed over the material. I gather it in my arms, along with the appropriate underwear, socks, and my worn Converse that have never let me down.
Hurrying back out of the closet, I place everything on a tidy bed, unsure who righted the sheets. I would place money on it being Ryan, convinced it was him who was thoughtful enough to do laundry and leave Baxter’s and my clothes in a neat pile on the chair while we slept.
Making a mental note to thank him, I go about my shower, washing my hair thoroughly, scrubbing every ounce of skin, and shaving all the bits that need shaving. By the time I’m done, my skin feels as smooth as a dolphin, my hair is wet with loose waves, and I feel as fresh as a newly plucked daisy.
With my body and hair wrapped in towels, I head back to my room to finish getting ready, only to stall when I find Caiden lounging on my bed with his cell in his hand.
“Hope you don’t mind. Ry went to shower at our apartment, and I didn’t want to be hanging out on my lonesome,” he says, flashing me that cheeky grin before he turns his focus back to his cell.
I shake my head, a little stunned but more than welcoming. “You guys can invade whatever space in my apartment you want to. I’m always happy for the company.”
“That’s a dangerous thing to say to a man who has been trying to find constant ways to be around you,” he jokes, even though there’s a note of seriousness to his words.
Heading to my vanity table, I send him a grin over my shoulder and admit, “It’s not dangerous if I know what I’m getting myself into. I’m clingy by nature, Caid. If it so happens that you’re equally clingy, then I’d consider us a match made in heaven. If you want to hang out where I am, then go right ahead. I welcome it wholeheartedly.”
Sure enough, I’m graced with another Caiden Miller blush, and it might be one of my favorite things in the world to witness. He nods over at me, a bashful smile on his face, and my insides melt at the sight of it. It takes a great deal of strength to continue toward my vanity table, my legs practically giving up the fight to keep me upright the moment I’m close enough to the cushioned chair.
