Page 15

“Hey, yeah, good morning.” I eat up the distance to the bottom of stairs, my heart skittering as I watch Mars’ long legs stomp down to me.

“Sybil and Mom wanted me to check on you. Make sure there’s no unusual pain with…” Mars fully comes into view as he trails off and waves in the general vicinity of his face and despite my worry his older brother is going to come stumbling out of my room, I can’t help but chuckle.

“Nope, no unusual pain. I’m actually feeling great.”

“Good to hear, good to hear.”

We stand staring at each other in silence. Does he need something else? Why won’t he go back upstairs? Why is he just standing on the steps? He rocks back and forth on his heels, seeming to realize the state he’s found me in. A blush blooms across his cheeks, “Well, I’ll let you get back to it. Breakfast should be ready any time now, so, you know, come on up whenever you're ready.”

“Thanks for letting me know. I’ll be up soon.” I smile and hope it doesn’t look as forced as it feels. I want to run back to my room but I don’t know if York’s still sleeping, or even dressed, and I don’t want to risk letting Mars see him in my room, possibly naked. Between the fucking on the countertop and the activities in my room, there wasn’t really any time for defining what this is between us.

Once I can no longer see Mars’ legs on the stairs I dash back into my room, barely opening the door wide enough to squish through. Just in case.

As my eyes dart around the room, I feel slightly justified in my cautious re-entry. While not fully hanging dong, York is still in my bed but the blanket is low around his hips, dark hair teasing the edge of the blanket in a way that makes my mouth water.

“Good morning, beautiful. Where did you go?” His voice is rumbly from sleep and my lady bits dance with excitement.

“I had to pee and your brother came down to check on my face.” I copy the gesture of waving in the general vicinity of my face.

Something flashes in York’s eyes that I don’t completely understand. “Come here, honey, please.” Doing as I’m asked, I walk over to the bed and crawl back into the warmth of the bed and York’s embrace. I lay on my stomach and cross my arms on his chest, resting my chin atop of them.

“Which brother?”

York’s question stuns me. It comes out all growly and I can’t stop the smirk that his obvious irritation brings out. “Mars. He was sent by Sybil and Bea. Does it matter?”

York lets out a sigh and tucks a strand of my messy red hair behind my ear. “Maybe. Probably not after last night but I think Reese is interested in you.” The confession comes out in a quiet grumble.

I can’t stop myself from pushing up and placing a soft kiss against York’s lips. “I don’t know if that’s true but if I need to, I can let him down. I’m kind of already into someone else.” My confession has York flipping our bodies so he’s hovering over me.

He’s so handsome, it takes my breath away. His sapphire eyes scan my face and I take the same opportunity to just take him in. “I’m kind of into you too. Not even kind of. Like wholly into you.” I don’t get a chance to respond to York’s declaration because he’s quick to follow it up with a kiss that’s all consuming.

My heart hammers as I open up to York, not only with my body but with everything I have. I can feel York start to harden against my hip and I do my best to rock my body against his to let him know I’m ready for round three but the haze of lust is cut through with a knife as a phone's vibration goes off.

“Damnit. Hold that thought, beautiful.” York hops off the bed to pick up his pajama pants and dig through the pockets for his phone that’s still going off. Once it’s finally freed from the pocket, York lets out a soft curse when he sees who’s calling.

He doesn’t answer, instead letting it ring out until it turns over to voicemail. “It’s Mars.” York types out a quick text. “He’s wondering if I’m ever going to get out of bed. I’m letting him know I went out this morning for some work errands.” I nod but can’t stop the swoop of emotion in my stomach at the lie.

I know we haven’t even started to discuss the possibility of a relationship, outside of us each saying we were into each other, so it makes sense to lie about his whereabouts. My cheeks heat thinking about Bea knowing that I spent the night with her son, in the house we are all staying at.

“Hey, where did you go?” York asks.

He’s back in bed with me with his pajama bottoms back on and his signature scowl pointed at me. “What this…” God, this is so embarrassing but I have to know, “Was this, like, a one time thing for you?” The vulnerability in my voice is evident but I can’t bring myself to look at York as I ask. I’m a big girl, I can handle his answer but I don’t think I want to see the look in his face as he tries to let me down slowly.

“Are you kidding me?” York’s gruff response scares me. He’s on the bed, knee walking to me until he’s so close, I’m pressed into the pillows. “I’m not doing my job if you think I’m going to let you go after last night.” I’m speechless, he looks so upset that I feel like an asshole for putting that question in the universe.

“I don’t want to let you go, either.” I’m scared by the admission but I can’t find a reason to regret it when York smiles before burying his face in my neck. He’s got a little bit of scruff that scratches my skin perfectly.

13

YORK

Icould stay in bed, wrapped around Sage, until the world ends. I can’t keep my mouth off her soft skin, peppering kisses up and down her neck. I’m annoyed with myself for giving Sage a chance to ever think that I’m not into this. I’m doubly annoyed with my brother from bothering me when I was about to feel Sage’s hot body pressed against me again.

We’re both clothed and I hate it. I’d give a non-essential toe to be able to slide back into Sage and have her one more time before starting the day for real. I know that addressing this attraction between us, and the fact that I’m never going to let her go, when she doesn’t currently live in the same state as me—not to mention works for my mother—is going to need to happen sooner rather than later but it’s Thanksgiving and my family is waiting for both of us to start the day.

Unfortunately, they are not expecting me to start the day by coming upstairs from Sage’s room. In my pajamas.

Truthfully, I’d much rather have both of us coming downstairs. Being downstairs does have the benefit of being secluded from the rest of my family, no need to worry about any noises we might make waking the others up.