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With a chuckle, Ian pushed back to his feet and gave him a series of slow, languid kisses while carefully tucking him away and pulling his pants back into place. Hollis knew he should be helping but his brain wasn’t functioning yet, and his limbs felt like cooked noodles. He had no doubt that the entire house heard him and he didn’t give a damn. He smiled, loving the fact that he could taste himself in Ian’s mouth, feel the joy in Ian’s every touch.
“Feel better?”
With a deep sigh, he wrapped his arms around Ian. “Definitely. You gonna let me return the favor?”
“Maybe tonight.” He leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to Hollis’s chin. “I should get back up there so Andrei doesn’t do all the work.”
Hollis caught his arm as he started to step away and pulled him close again. “I didn’t get the chance to say it earlier, but thank you.”
“For?” Ian’s hand slipped down until his fingers slid inside the rip in Hollis’s jeans.
“Wrangling your family. Getting them to help out when they could have been having fun somewhere this long weekend.”
“First, what did we talk about this morning? They’re our family.” He paused and kissed him quickly. “Second, wrangling wasn’t necessary. They were happy to help once they discovered that you could use it.”
“Still…thank you. It’s been a while since I’ve had this many people in my life. It means a lot to me that they’re here.”
Ian cocked his head to the side and gave him a mysterious little grin as he pulled his fingers back out of the rip. “Why do I feel like you’re going to take back that comment very soon?”
Hollis took a breath, ready to argue with Ian when as if on cue, the basement door was jerked open and Rowe called down, “Come on, Holly! Playtime is over. Pack it away!”
He glared in the direction of the stairs, and Ian’s laughter filled the basement as he led the way out. Yeah, maybe there was a drawback to having so many “in-laws.”Chapter 4“Wow. I’ve used muscles today I don’t think I’ve ever used in my life.” Ian dropped his arms and winced when his biceps complained. The clothes he’d borrowed from Rowe were covered in streaks and blobs of white paint.
Andrei, equally splattered, rubbed his shoulder. “It’s all the overhead work.”
“That and the constant up and down motion.” He eyed the walls and ceiling, satisfaction edging out the exhaustion as he surveyed the results of their hard work. “We got so much done. This is great. And there’s still plenty of paint left for the rest of the house.”
“Guess it’s good we got in this practice, then, huh?”
“You’re going to come back and help finish when we get to that point?”
Andrei nodded. “Of course. For all the nosy, in-your-face, and annoying aspects of this little group we’re a part of, there are some major pluses as well. Not one person here would ever stand back when another is in need.” He lowered his voice. “It’s wonderful, but don’t tell Lucas I said so.”
Ian picked at some paint that had dried on his jaw. He could tell Andrei meant what he said and although Hollis had said he was happy everyone had come, Ian could tell he still didn’t feel a part of the group. Not entirely. He didn’t know if it had to do with the way he had clashed with Lucas and Snow at first or if they were really too overwhelming. He knew they could be, but he loved them all so much, it had never bothered him. And he didn’t know what he would do if Hollis never quite meshed. The others were trying—pretty hard actually. Rowe’s stream of annoying nicknames proved that. And they’d all agreed to come here without hesitation. He knew how much they looked forward to their lazy vacation weekends.
He didn’t think it was only for him either. He could tell they liked Hollis.
How could they not?
Andrei’s hand on his shoulder made him jump. He blinked up at him, realizing he’d zoned out. “Sorry. Tired.”
“It took us all some time to really get used to what you have here, Ian. He will, trust me.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Have you added mind reading to your impressive list of talents?”
“Nah,” Andrei slung an arm around his shoulder and winced. “It was just easy to guess what was on your mind.” He chuckled. “And sometimes, every emotion you have is plastered on your face.”
Ian growled. “That’s not a good thing.”
“Yeah, it is.” Andrei hugged him closer. “Come on, let’s get away from these paint fumes and see what Anna brought. I heard her voice a couple of minutes ago, and we may have to fight Snow if she brought her macaroni and cheese.”
Anna had indeed brought her gruyere mac and cheese. His eyes went wide when he saw all she’d made. She’d laid everything out on two picnic tables he didn’t recognize. He saw Jude’s brothers wander into the house, so he assumed they’d carried them back here. Probably the chairs, too.
