Page 9 of Whispered Promises

“But it tastes so good, and I’ve been wasting away all day,” I whine, still trying to cool down my mouth with short pants. “Take pity on this poor, starving boy,” I continue, clasping my hands in front of me and fluttering my eyelashes at him.

“Lies.” He laughs. “I packed your lunch this morning, so I know you had plenty of food. You just have a bottomless pit for a stomach.”

He opens a container behind him, removes a couple of pastries, and hands them over to me. I knew he loved me really.

“See, this is why you’re my favourite.” I grin, shove a pastry into my mouth, then groan when I taste the cheese and it doesn’t burn my face off.

Hearing the front door open and close, I spin my chair around as Nate enters from the hallway.

I throw a pastry at him. “Think fast!”

With quick reflexes, he plucks it out of the air, then takes a bite.

My jaw drops. “What the fuck, bro. That was my succulent, cheesy snack. You’re supposed to hand it back.”

He licks his fingers one by one, then shrugs. “You threw it to me, Maxi, so it was mine.”

“You sneaky bastard. Revenge will be bittersweet, you wait.” I cackle, waving my pointed finger as I raise my brow at him.

Nate rarely relaxes his serious attitude or jokes about, so I can’t be mad at his stealthy stealing. Plotting my retaliation will be fun.

Nate drops his sizeable bulk into his favourite high-backed love seat, and swivels it to face us.

“How was the gym today?” Noah asks as he grabs four mugs from the cupboard and places them on the work surface, adding tea bags into each.

“Quiet. Good.”

Nate

I’m not lying to them; it was a good session.

It just would’ve been better if Rosy had been there. Even if we only ever smile to acknowledge each other’s presence, her being there is the best company.

My thoughts drift back to yesterday, and warmth unfurls in my chest. Talking to her and walking back to our floor together may have only been a minor step, but it was a start. Plus, the way she softened under my touch had my heart pounding hard.

Having her eyes on me lights something up inside me that I’ve never felt before, and I’m already addicted to that feeling. I crave being closer to her, inhaling her scent, and finally burying myself deep inside that wet cunt and never leaving.

“So…tomorrow you guys will have to have game day without me. I’ve got a hot date with some farmyard animals and our cute next-door neighbour.”

Max’s words shake me out of my lust-filled thoughts. Scrunching my brow, I wonder if I heard him correctly.

“You’re seeing Rosy tomorrow? How did that happen?” Noah asks, and my gaze fixes on Max.

“Yuuuup,” he says. “I bumped into her this morning. Literally. Her body, my body, boom.” He smacks his hands together.

My body draws tight. Did Max hurt her? Is she okay?

“She told me she volunteers at a farm for rescued animals on the weekend. Which makes her even cuter! Man, you should’ve seen the fluffy cat socks she had on her tiny feet. I offered my manual labour services. So I’m going to the farm tomorrow, then inviting her over for dinner. You’re all very welcome,” he finishes, then stands and drops into an exaggerated bow.

I roll my eyes at his antics but try to continue to keep my face neutral as my heartbeat accelerates over the possibility of seeing her tomorrow…here, in our space.

Fuck.

Would she be opposed to never leaving?

“Max, are you sure that’s a good idea? You can be a bit…persuasive at times. What if you pushed her into coming here and it makes her uncomfortable? Four men she doesn’t know? Just make sure you leave the decision entirely up to her,” Noah says, and I can’t help but disagree with him.

Never would have thought I’d be on Max’s side of anything, but here I am hoping he can pull out all the stops to persuade her to come over. Naturally, I keep my thoughts to myself. I’m not admitting to him that I’m on his side. He’d never let me forget it.