Leaning back against Eli’s chest, I still can’t see anything, but I can hear all our harsh breathing fill the space. Their heat and skin surround me. I’m content and safe here with them.
The timer goes off for the pizza.
“Perfect, kitten.”
I beam, how can I not? I’m in love and these boys love me too. Tomorrow we have to return to the real world. Tonight we have to dig into everything, but in the end, I’ll have them with me.
CHAPTER 59
The Day of Reckoning
Nico
Eli takes Harper’s blindfold off as Luke goes over to take the pizzas out of the oven. She blinks at the light and her chest rises and falls like she finished a marathon. If I could walk, I’d lift her into my arms and take us both to the shower to clean up. Spend some time holding her close, checking in with her to make sure she’s truly good.
Instead, Jack offers her his hands to help her off Caden and Eli. He walks with her over to the sink and grabs a washcloth to clean her up. She glances over at me with a worried gaze. Caden and Eli leave the room, probably to wash up.
When Jack finishes, Harper grabs a washcloth and gets it wet. She presses a kiss to Jack’s lips before coming over to me.
“How’s your knee?” She kneels beside me and cleans my cock with the washcloth. My brain stalls because she’s still naked and gorgeous and entirely focused on me. My cock hardens. I take a deep breath and focus on her eyes.
“It’s fine, sunshine.” I brush her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. “Are you okay?”
She smiles and raises her warm brown eyes, and it’s like being bathed in sunlight. “I’m good. I love being here with all of you.”
Her cheeks stain pink as she dips her head. I tip her chin up.
“I love you, Harper.” I’ve never said those words to another girl and hope to never have to say them to anyone besides Harper.
She leans forward and presses her lips to mine. Softly, sweetly. “I love you, Nico.”
She backs away and looks around to find my boxers. Fuck, this girl, she’s everything to me. She helps me put them back on, being careful of my knee. Eli brings over her panties and she stands to let him help her into them. He kneels at her feet and looks at her with this soft look that I’m sure is on my face when I have her attention.
When I offer her my shirt, she smiles as she slips it on over her head. Her eyes shine at me for a moment, bathing me in her love before she turns to look at the others. Luke hands her a plate. Their eyes lock, and for just a heartbeat that old jealousy arises again.
Fuck, I have to let that shit go. The guys are right. Harper’s right. The only thing jealousy will lead to is tearing this thing down, and I don’t want that. I have everyone I care about in this room, besides my family.
This is why I came back. To get the girl and have my friends. And having both ties us all together in a way that if I had Harper to myself would never have happened. I can imagine all of us growing old together. Raising our children. Being there for Harper and each other every day of our lives.
It sounds like a good dream to have.
Harper sits next to me at the table. Jack gives me a plate of pizza and the rest all find a spot to sit. Everyone has their boxers back on. It’s time to eat and talk.
“Do we trust the person helping with Harper’s father’s computer?” Jack leans back in his chair and looks around at all of us. I straighten.
“We don’t even know who they are, but if they’re connected to Harper and her parents, we should at least give them a try.” I shrug. “After all, it’s better than wiping the computer and losing everything Sean worked hard to obtain.”
“What if someone put the program on after Harper’s dad was gone, so if anyone tried to recover the data, they’d be able to get in first?” Eli takes a drink of his soda.
“How would they know my code word though?” Harper picks off a pepperoni and pops it into her mouth. “The questions they asked and the things they knew are things someone who was around when I was younger would know.”
Something about that far off look makes me wonder if she knows who it might be.
“What proof do we have that your father is dead?” Luke asks.
Harper turns to him with her lips parted and her eyes widened. There’s also that little spark of hope in her eyes. It’s not unreasonable, but with so many claiming he’s dead...
Fuck, if we find out he’s really dead, it’s going to crush her. But if he’s been alive all this time and stayed away, how would that make her feel any better? I slide my hand over hers and she turns hers over to weave our fingers together. I don’t know how to protect her heart from the reality we have to deal with.
