Page 19 of Pieces of You

I wasn’t ready to pull out yet.

I wasn’t ready to face the day.

Archie eased back against me, and I wrapped my arms around him.

No words necessary.

I kissed his shoulder and up to his neck.

“You’re gonna sleep for another hour,” he whispered. “I’ll wait until you’re out. Then I’ll wake you up with coffee and breakfast.”

I squeezed him tightly. “I love you.”

I can never lose you.

I couldn’t imagine the searing heartbreak of what River and Reese were going through, when the mere thought crippled me. Fucking hell, I hoped they were on a goddamn killing spree. Because if anybody harmed Archie, Corey, or Sloan…? Or shit, any of our kids? There would be a bloodbath.

“More than life, Owner.” He pressed a kiss to my jaw and stroked my thigh. “Let me get a towel, and then I’ll scratch your back.”

I shivered and kissed his neck once more.

CHAPTER 5

Tate Madden

Archie and I met up in the big kitchen that morning to prepare breakfast for everyone. We placed the hot plates on the kitchen table and then just started slinging food on there. Archie made these amazing fried potatoes, and I prepared omelet cups and tomato halves for the oven. Toast was ready for the toaster, eggs were all set to be scrambled, and the bacon had defrosted overnight.

It felt nice to be on the move, to do something.

The coffee smelled good too.

“I can go grocery shopping later,” I said, hauling out sandwich toppings from the fridge. “Do you have an inkling of who’s gonna be here today? I heard Ash and Nathan would come out for dinner with James—and Jordan’s already here. The Carters, I assume. You and Master Greer?”

He gestured briefly at the baby monitor next to the stove. “I’m taking Kyla and Dylan home today. They miss their siblings, I have a mountain of laundry to do, and I want to get Corey to come out here for a day or two. It would do him good to see Master—in case Master has to fly out to the West Coast.” He sighed. “I would’ve wanted Sloan here too, but… You know, middle of the summer, all the kids, work—and he’s not as fond of driving as Master is.”

Yeah, you definitely needed to enjoy driving in order to put up with their commute.

“KC and Master Lucian will be here any moment, though,” Archie went on. “I think I heard Lane was coming back too.”

I nodded, remembering now. Ty wanted Lane to spend time with Macklin and Walker.

“Ty’s really become the protective Daddy, hasn’t he?” I loved to see it.

“Right? I was thinking the same last night at dinner. The second Lane’s anxiety rises, Ty’s there with their protocols and whatnot. It’s heartwarming.”

Heartwarming—good word. We needed more of that now.

Before I could respond verbally, a Finlay whined through the baby monitor. It was Dylan this time, unless Greer had gotten his hands on a helium balloon.

“Bugger,” Archie muttered, kicking things up a notch. “I hoped to make it back before they woke up.”

“You go,” I urged. “I’ve got this.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. Go.” I gave him a plate so he could fill it with whatever Greer might want. “Black coffee, correct?”

“Yes, thank you.”