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It’s just a hug, I tell myself,and this is just Tristan.What is the matter with me?
I step forward, and he opens his arms, wrapping them tightly around me and resting his cheek atop my head. Burying myself in his warm embrace feels nice, and I finally relax, scolding myself for being so silly because this is Tristan, my friend, and hugging him is natural.
“Kids,” a curt voice unexpectedly says, which has me instantly pulling out of Tristan’s arms and backing up against the counter.
I blindly reach for my coffee mug, suddenly needing something to do with my hands as Quinn strolls into the kitchen, wearing nothing but black sweatpants that sit so low that they reveal his defined V. His disheveled hair is flicked up rebelliously, and the brightness of his vivid green eyes, combined with his wild tresses, has me gasping for breath.
A smug smile pulls at his full lips as he leisurely advances toward me.
I freeze, about ready to pass out from lack of oxygen. I prepare for a kiss but am rudely disappointed when he slowly reaches over my shoulder, making sure to skim my sweater as he gets the coffeepot.
“Morning, Red,” he huskily says, meeting my wide eyes.
I grunt in response, and he steals my mug from my limp hand, making sure he runs his fingers over my knuckles.
“Brat or should I say brats,” he teases as he blatantly checks me out while pouring himself a cup of coffee before turning around to face them.
“Merry Christmas, Quinn,” Polly gushes, jumping up and giving him a hug.
Suddenly, the already small kitchen just got a whole lot smaller.
“You too, kiddo,” Quinn replies, affectionately returning her hug. I wonder when they became best friends.
It could have been when she was saving my life.
“Merry Christmas, jerk,” Tristan says, playfully bumping his shoulder into Quinn when he can finally pry himself out of Polly’s clutches.
“You too.” Quinn laughs, throwing his arm around Tristan and pulling him in for a warm hug, but I don’t fail to see him flinch when he sees the damage inflicted on Tristan’s face.
My eyes fill with tears, which I quickly brush away, as I don’t want to look like a total crybaby watching their heartfelt exchange. It’s just so good to see them together. I know Quinn has missed his brother, and I have no doubt Tristan feels the same.
Once they pull apart and Quinn playfully messes up Tristan’s hair, he turns to me with a lopsided smile that lets me know I am in trouble.
“Merry Christmas, Red,” he hoarsely says, pulling me softly toward him by the drawstrings on my sweater until we are inches apart.
“Merry Christmas, Quinn,” I reply with a hitch to my voice as I stare into his bold eyes.
“So have you been naughty? Or nice?” he asks with that damn smirk.
“A bit of both,” I reply, licking my suddenly very dry lips.
Quinn’s eyes follow the movement, and his mouth tips up into a grin. “I think you’ve been a little naughtier than nice.”
He taps the end of my nose with his finger before pulling away with a wink.
“So you up for a big Christmas dinner tonight?” Polly asks, gazing at Quinn’s impressive physique, her eyes lingering on his nipple ring.
“Sure, sounds fun,” he replies, absentmindedly scratching his ribs with a yawn.
Mentally slapping myself and refocusing on the here and now, I ask Polly, “What are we going to eat? I mean, we should try to keep a low profile and not go into town just yet.”
Polly nods but looks awfully happy, so I know she’s thought this through. “Have you seen the size of that pantry?” she says, pointing at the cupboard that takes up half the wall. “We could feed the whole country for a week with the stuff in there.”
I turn to look at Quinn because he’s gone awfully quiet, and I notice him staring at Tristan. Tristan must notice it too because he quickly looks away, uncomfortable under Quinn’s sharp-eyed stare.
But that isn’t a deterrent for Quinn because he stalks over to him and grabs his chin, turning his face from left to right, examining the damage those bastards inflicted on him.
I’m surprised Quinn didn’t do this sooner, but when the small beam of sunlight hit Tristan’s face at the right angle, the serious damage seems highlighted under the gentle rays.
