Page 149 of Break Out the Girl

“This land is for our pack,” François says firmly, making me so proud. “There’s more than enough room up here for all of us.”

“And if Shane stops fussing about countertops,” London chimes in. “It’s move-in ready!”

Tally rests his hands on the table, his tone calm, certain, and full of authority. “We all want this. No contracts, no expectations. Just a home.”

Layla looks between the four of us, and I see a tiredness in her that is bone deep. She’s been fighting so long. “I don't even know what to say. I guess rich-pricks have their uses after all, right, Barbie?”

Sky suddenly pushes back her chair, getting to her feet. She looks directly at Layla, her eyes huge. “If you guys take the second cabin…Lay, can I please move in with you? Please? It’ll be like Quo.”

“It will be nothing like Quo, you little idiot,” Lay growls. “But sure, you were a pretty good roomie.” She freezes. “That is, if, like Barbie and the rest say you can. Shit, how does this crap work? Am I a fucking responsible adult now?”

That gets everyone laughing again.

The small spike of emotion I feel about Sky choosing Layla over me fades away. She and Layla shared a bunk bed every night in Quo, there is no reason why she wouldn’t want to be close again to her dearest friend.

Like she can read my mind, Sky skips around the table, stopping in front of me. “I’m not trying to hurt your feelings, Rory, it’s just, I missed Lay so much and honestly…” she drops her voice. “The sexual tension around here can get a little much. If I move out you can finally bone. Please finally bone, for all our sake.”

Layla and Clay smirk as I catch Tally’s eye from across the table. His golden gaze darkens with a sudden, intense heat that makes my stomach do a spectacular flip. Beside me, London lets out a low, slow whistle, his fingers subtly trailing a warm path down the small of my back while François’s lips curve into a thoroughly wicked, knowing grin.

My face burns, turning hotter as my mind flashes back to one of the first supply packages Opal had sent us weeks ago.

Tucked alongside the toilet paper and dishsoap, was a brown paper bag containing several months' worth of birth control pills and several boxes of condoms.

I’d started taking the pill the very next morning.

“Yeah, you should move in with them,” I tell Sky, kissing her cheek.

London leaps up and runs to the tall dresser. In a second he comes back clutching a piece of card and a marker.

“What are you doing?”

“Making a sign,” he sing-songs. “Don’t come knocking if this cabin is rocking.”

52: FRANCOIS

The moment the heavy timber door clicks shut behind Layla, Clay, and Sky the atmosphere becomes fully-charged.

Fizzing inside my chest, the bond is a live wire.

I step over to the table and pick up London’s sign. The writing is unsurprisingly messy and erratic, but the message is not.

Don’t come knocking if this cabin is rocking.

Clutching the card, I turn around to face the room.

Aurora is standing near the hearth, cheeks still slightly flushed from the wine and the laughter, her bright eyes lock onto mine. Behind her, Taliesin and London are flanking her like twin guardians.

“François?” Aurora's voice sounds husky.

I let my gaze drop deliberately to her mouth. “I believe,” I say, my voice smooth, hiding the hunger and tension inside me, “that I am going to attach this to the front door. Permanently.”

The reaction is immediate.

Taliesin’s eyes flash with a primitive heat that darkens his pupils until they are almost entirely black, while London’s faun ears instantly pop out, his entire body vibrating with excitement.

Fuck the sign.

The three of us move on our perfect girl, in a synchronicity that would have one think this was an everyday occurrence.