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I nod. “It even encapsulates your smoky undertones. It’s almost like a campfire, but sweeter, like a gentle fall breeze.”
His fork clatters to his plate as he drops it and makes a beeline for me. His lips crash against mine and I taste his maple immediately. He pulls back, cupping my cheek. “Fuck, you’re perfect, Ver. I love you. Happy birthday.” More kisses that have me seeing stars are forever imprinted in my memory. “I’ll buy this for you by the gallons after this is over and cook French toast every day if it makes you this happy.”
“I would love that,” I respond, pressing another chaste kiss to his lips.
My stomach growls, and he steps away, heading back to his plate to let me eat. The first bite sends my whole body into a state of euphoria, my taste buds sparking, the roof of my mouth tingling, my eyelids fluttering.
The bread is the perfect texture, not too chewy and not too soft. The flavors explode on my tongue, sending me into a foodgasm, my body trembling like I’ve just had an orgasm. Don’t try to tell me foodgasms aren’t a thing because they totally are.
In short, Kyle’s version of French toast is divine; the perfect birthday breakfast.
When I finally look up, I notice everyone staring at me. “Listen, blame Kyle. It’s his fault for preparing such amazing food.”
Emmett recovers the fastest. “Yeah, he’s definitely cooking this shit every morning if that’s the sound you’ll make. Holy fuck.” He subtly reaches down to adjust himself and he’s not the only one. What is it about a man having to do that, that has me absolutely feral?
Andrik smirks, his eyes filled with an equal amount of hunger and amusement. “I’ve never heard you make those noises before, Precious. We should’ve been cooking breakfast for you more often.”
Ry chuckles, his hand moving to my lower back. “As long as it’s not only the food that’s causing her to make those sounds.”
Jedrik clears his throat, his eyes dark with desire. “I think we should focus on getting through the council meeting before we’re racing back to Ver’s suite and having breakfast in bed. And I don’t mean the French toast.”
I bite my lip, feeling the heat rise between my legs at the thought of all five of them in bed with me. “You’re right, of course. But rain check?”
He nods. “One day, we’ll be having breakfast together every morning, Trouble.”
I can’t help but glance around the room, finding five sets of eyes on me, shining with adoration. I can hardly believe how lucky I am to have met them.
“Next year, you’re waking up to orgasms instead of someone screaming bloody murder,” Emmett chimes in. The thought of that has a shiver of desire rolling through me. Fuck. Yes.
I notice there’s a bit of syrup on his lip, tempting me. My feet seem to move of their own accord, waltzing over to him to lick it off myself. He groans, not satisfied when I pull away too soon, dragging me back into his hold. A gasp escapes me, allowing him entry into my mouth, our tongues dancing and twirling together.
Once I’m breathless, he stops and gazes into my eyes. “Happy birthday, Little Omega,” he murmurs against my lips.
As we finish our breakfast, I can’t help but feel a sense of foreboding. The council should be here any time and it feels like we have a whole list of evidence and suspects, but no true killer. Will we manage to fit the puzzle pieces together and oust them in time?
Or will they strike again?
Kyle’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. “As beautiful as you are in your pajamas,” he starts, his gaze drinking me in. “I, unfortunately, think we should clean up and get dressed before the council arrives.”
He’s right, I know he is, but I’m still not ready to reenter reality. I want to savor this moment where we’re all together, not caring about the show, or the murders, or anything else.
Ryland senses the direction my brain veers off into. “How about we throw our clothes on and watch a movie if they’re not here when we’re finished? You know, that way I’m not meeting the literal people who run society in boxers?” There’s a teasing lilt to his tone that has me narrowing my eyes.
I can’t keep the ruse going for long and eventually break into a smile. “I’d like that,” I respond, safe in the knowledge our moment won’t end as soon as we walk out of the kitchen.
Since Kyle cooked, Andrik volunteers to do the dishes. The good news is the kitchen is outfitted with a fancy machine that has everything sparkling in under ninety-seconds. He stares at it like it’s magic, which it kind of is. “Why aren’t these standard in every household? The one Jedrik and I have takes three business days for one load.” He shakes his head in awe. “We’re being bamboozled by dishwashing companies!”
Leave it to Andrik to put the levity back into the room. Everyone bursts out laughing, which, in turn, causes a chain reaction of us wheezing even harder. By the time we stop, there are tears in my eyes and I’m doubled over, panting.
As the laughter fades away, Emmett scoops me into his arms and walks me back to my room. I get dressed quickly but with a sense of trepidation, as if I’m putting on metaphorical armor for an upcoming battle. While we wait for the others to finish, I plop down in Emmett’s lap, letting him hold me. Despite the warmth in his embrace, I know we’re both preparing ourselves emotionally for whatever the day will bring.
Chapter 52
Verity
Karen walks into the movie theater, holding her clipboard, dressed in a business skirt with a matching jacket. The red Heat Paradise pen behind her ear clashes with the lime green shirt she’s wearing. I can imagine Rosey’s shudder now.
Emmett pauses the movie we started when the council still wasn’t here after we got dressed. My guys weren’t about to have me sit in my room and mope all day, which I appreciate. I don’t need to sit in a pool of anxiety made up of my own thoughts. They’ve been doing everything in their power to make me forget I woke up on my birthday to a dead body.
