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Well, that… made sense.
I relented. “Okay.” I popped onto my toes and gave him a quick kiss. “I’ll go. Just give me a second.”
Wrapping my arms around myself, I crossed to where Julia and Adeline stood near Pack Jacobs, both wearing oversized shirts that had been given to them by Lawson. I pulled them off to the side.
“Are you guys alright with staying here? At least until we figure out our next move?”
Julia was quick to assure me. “Are you kidding? This place looks incredible.”
“I don’t have mates to get back to like you did.” Adeline shrugged, not offering more.
I wondered what her story was. Where she’d come from and who might be missing her. Same for Julia, but neither seemed ready to jump into sharing their backgrounds.
“You’re welcome to stay as long as you need,” Jamison offered. “There’s food and a bedroom for each of you.”
“I’d blow someone for a hot shower,” Julia practically moaned, and Ronan coughed, smothering his startled amusement.
I snort-laughed, grateful for the dose of levity we all needed. “How about afreeshower? I’m sure this place comes with hot water.”
“I’d take cold water as long as I can get out of this dress and scrub the entire night off of me.” Adeline visibly shivered. “Then I want to fall into bed and sleep for a week.”
I couldn’t argue. “You and me both.”
We parted ways, Jamison helping Pack Jacobs, Julia, and Adeline settle in the guest house that sat off to the right, down a winding brick path that led to the main residence. I watched him go, noticing the limp in my mate’s step as he led the way.
Meanwhile, Hades, Leo, Thane, Eli, and Knox headed inside and straight for the staircase that wound to the second story, where we were apparently staying.
“Come here,” Hades held out his hand, and I took it, loving the feel of his large fingers encompassing my smaller ones. There was something innately secure about my giant mate. He looked scary as fuck, but inside, he was a cinnamon roll—soft, gooey, and so damn sweet. He tugged me toward a door and hit a button. It opened, and I belatedly realized what it was.
“This place has anelevator?”
“It better. No one wants to climb up and down three stories a million times a day.”
I gave him an exaggerated once-over, letting my gaze crawl over every inch of his muscled body. “Puh-lease. I think you climb stairs for fun. You work out daily. This can’t be your limit.”
He grinned, his warm chocolate eyes sparkling. “Oh, Baby. A few stairs aren’t gonna kill me. I could climb to the tippy top with you hanging on my back like a monkey. But I was trying to be sweet.” The jovial glimmer dimmed as he grew more serious. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed your thighs shaking from weakness and the strain of those heels. I figured you’d been through enough today and the elevator might be nice.”
I squeezed his fingers and tugged him, pleased when he obliged and slid closer because, let’s be honest, Hades was a mountain and I couldn’t move him unless he wanted to be moved. “That was very gallant of you.”
“Besides,” he pulled me in and hit the button for the second floor, effectively closing us inside, “then I can dothisin private.”
Pushing me gently against the wall, he cupped the side of my neck and tipped my face up with his thumb under my chin. His mouth descended and grazed over mine. Once. Twice. I melted into him, holding on to his waist for dear life. I felt bandages under the cotton when my fingers curled into his shirt, and I softened my touch, not wanting to hurt him. The desire to pull back and demand he tell me where he was injured and how badly swamped me, but he deepened the kiss, unbothered by any pain or discomfort.
For now, I let him distract me, but none of my men would get away without their own physical inspections. As much as they wanted to make sure I was alright, I had the same overwhelming need with each of them.
Hades slotted his thigh between my legs, adding delicious pressure right where I needed it most, sending my thoughts scattering. The ride was short, but he took his time, sipping from my lips instead of devouring me hungrily. Each one left me just as dizzy and high. It was a greeting, a reintroduction, a promise of how much we loved and cared for each other. It was a core memory, something I wouldn’t forget for as long as I lived.
I was still pressed against him, arching into his leg, when the doors opened.
“You stealing our girl?” Leo stood on the other side with his arms crossed, one thick brow raised at Hades, who pulled back from me with a shit-eating grin.
“Damn right. There are six of us. I gotta nab those special moments wherever I can with you greedy assholes around.”
Leo barked a laugh and held out his hand for me. I took it, letting him lead me from the elevator. “He’s not wrong. We’re all desperate for ‘Demi time.’”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I promised while I scanned him with a critical eye. I thought there were shadows of bruises along his cheekbones. Squeezing his fingers reassuringly, I added, “And I’m just as desperate for time with each of you.”
“Good. But right now, there’s a bathtub with your name on it,” Knox called from a door at the end of the hall.
