Page 24 of This Reckless Home

We understand each other in a way that goes bone-deep.

And that's worth more than any perfect, unblemished future I once imagined.

CHAPTER NINE

“PEACHES (FEAT. DANIEL CAESAR & GIVEON)” BY JUSTIN BIEBER, DANIEL CAESAR, GIVĒON

BLOSSOM

Anoise breaks us apart from our morning doze.

“I should go,” he whispers against my lips. “Before the kids wake up.”

I nod, part of me not wanting him to. But another part isn’t ready to share him yet. I want to keep him, us, to myself for a little while longer. Plus explaining this new dynamic to the kids will be tricky. They’ve had so much instability in their lives, and I know Steele said he wasn’t going anywhere, but I can’t fully trust or believe it. Not yet anyway.

“See you at breakfast, Flower.”

Steele slips out of my bed, pulling on his joggers over his boxers, adjusting the very obvious hard on with a smirk. He looks at me, sitting in bed in his t-shirt. I go to pull it off, but he makes a noise.

“Keep it. It looks better on you, anyway.”

Then he’s walking quietly out my room.

I flop down on the bed, deliciously sore, touching all the marks he left on my body, hardly believing what happened.

With a sigh, I get out of bed and start to get ready, pausing when I catch sight of myself in the mirror. The evidence of what we did last night is everywhere. My neck, shoulders, collarbones and inner thighs are covered in bite marks and hickeys, bright against my pale skin.

“Oh god, how on earth am I going to hide this?”

The next few minutes are spent trying on various outfits, the most successful being a thin turtleneck jumper and leggings with a silk scarf. Even then, if I turn my head the wrong way, one mark high on my neck peeks out.

Part of me wants everyone to see, to know that he’s claimed me. Another part wants to hide until they fade. What will the kids say if they see? Tina? The guys?

A flash of heat runs through me at the idea of the guys seeing them. Especially after what Steele said last night, about them practically going feral when they find out. And in a good way.

My cheeks heat, and not just because I’m wearing a jumper in late spring. I rush into the bathroom, splashing some cold water on my cheeks.

Catching sight of myself in the mirror, I still. My face is flushed, but my eyes. They look alive. Glowing in the early morning light.

“It was just sex, Blossom. Wild, passionate, animal sex with one of your children’s almost brothers… but still.”

After that completely unhelpful pep talk, I leave the bathroom and my room, making my way downstairs. I slip into the kitchen, tugging at the collar of my turtleneck even though it's already covering everything. I hope.

Tina looks up from the griddle, where she’s making her famous pancakes, takes one long look at me, and her lips curve into the most knowing smile I've ever seen.

Bugger.

“Morning, dearie. Sleep well?” She doesn’t even try to hide the implication that there was no way I was sleeping all night.

My cheeks flame brighter than the spring sun outside. “Fine, thank you.”

Even I don’t believe my breathy tone.

“Mmm.” She turns back to her pancakes, but I can see her shoulders shaking with silent laughter. “That's a lovely jumper. Bit warm for today though, isn't it?”

“I’m fine.” I lick my dry lips.

“I’m sure you are.” Another smirk. Goddamn this woman and the horse she rode in on. “Very fine indeed, from the look of you.”