I exhaled.
And sniffled.
“Are you asleep, honey?” I croaked through a whisper.
I sounded like death! My eyes felt super heavy too, as if I’d spent all of last night crying.
James barely stirred, but he did tighten his arms around me.
I drew a deep breath and stretched out. The curtains by the balcony danced in the wind, and each gust sent fresh air into the room. It felt nice and cool.
I had no idea what time it was, but it had to be in the middle of the night. It was pitch black outside the windows, and I was fairly sure Master Lucian was busy fucking Cam.
I yawned and glanced over there. Someone was riding someone anyway. And the Finlays were winding down with pillow talk.
Goodness, I was sore. Every time I moved around, something ached or twinged.
“I’m just saying, the cabin is so close,” someone whispered. I had a theory—it was Corey. I’d picked up a few words in the past ten minutes since I’d woken up. “Daddy, are you up?”
“Let him sleep, baby boy,” Greer muttered drowsily. “C’mere. Cuddle with us.”
“I wouldn’t turn down one or six tea cakes right now,” Archie mused. “You made me hungry, Master.”
I grinned to myself.
Greer chuckled sleepily. “One of the few nights we don’t have a kid wakin’ us up for no reason, and you two can’t stop yappin’.”
“And also, they’re not called tea cakes,” Corey replied. He was no longer whispering.
“I’m not saying it in Danish, love,” Archie said dryly. “It sounds like you’re about to throw up.”
Greer found that funny. “Let’s be honest. It ain’t the sexiest language.”
“I wanna hear it!” Welcome to the show, Noa. “Talk Danish to me, Corey.”
“Here’s how you say cream in Danish, Noa,” Archie said. “Fl-uuuuhh.”
Noa cracked up hard.
“That’s so not it!” Corey exclaimed.
“Christ, I just got him to fall asleep, boys,” KC grumbled.
I snickered behind my hand.
“Sorry, buddy,” Greer chuckled. “Wrong venue for peace and quiet, I’m learnin’.”
“Why does Nora poke fun at Danes?” Archie wondered.
“Because she’s Swedish,” Corey huffed. “It’s what they do. They’re jealous because we’re better.”
Greer yawned. “I met some Swedes in Afghanistan. They’re pretty badass in the field, but it’s tough to get them to unclench.”
“Hard to unclench with a big stick up your butt,” Corey quipped.
“Why are you being so loud at three in the damn morning?”
“Yay, Daddy! You’re up!” Corey was happy again.
