Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“And I’m very thankful.” I squeeze his hand back, even as my mind adds, But I won’t have you all for much longer.
I try to bury that thought, because I can’t deal with it, especially right now. Every moment I spend with my men makes choosing one of them more impossible. And I need all their strengths to get me through this: Erik’s understanding, steady nature, Brax’s warmth and honesty, Gray’s sardonic humor and unwavering faith in me.
Erik pulls into Brax’s driveway and I see that Gray has already arrived. “We should have asked if we could bring something,” I say as we climb from Erik’s car.
“I did text him just before we left to ask if we could pick anything up on the way, but he said he was good.”
I smile at him. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I don’t think I say that enough.”
His lips curve in response. “Thank you.” He pulls me to him and kisses me, just a brief, gentle press of his mouth to mine, but if we weren’t standing in Brax’s driveway I’d be begging for more.
We go inside, and the house smells so good. Brax has everything ready to go, with the table set and a basket of bread in the middle. Before we start to eat, though, he and Gray have to pull me in for hugs.
“We’ll see you through this,” Brax promises. “Whatever you need, just tell us.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way,” Gray adds, “but if it were up to me I’d be saying rude things to your parents right now. In a very unhappy tone of voice.”
“Same,” Erik and Brax agree.
I get teary-eyed for a moment. “Thank you. I can’t imagine how alone, how scared, I’d be feeling right now if not for you three.”
We go into a spontaneous four-way hug, me surrounded by my men, and I keep a handle on my emotions so I don’t spend the evening crying into my spaghetti. Which, not surprisingly, turns out to be delicious. Brax also made a big bowl of crisp salad, which goes great with the pasta.
We’re eating in blissful silence when Brax’s phone rings. He glances at it and says, “Excuse me, I need to take this.” Stepping away from the table, he goes a few feet down the hall. “Hi, Mom.”
I perk up. I haven’t met his mother, but I know he’s very close to her and his younger siblings. He hasn’t gone far from the table, so it’s not like he’s trying to hide the conversation; he’s just being polite.
“Okay, I’ll be over soon. No problem. Tell everyone I love them.”
He ends the call and comes back to the table. “I need to do some spring cleaning maintenance things over at my mom’s place.”
“Need a hand with anything?” Gray asks immediately.
“Yeah,” Brax agrees. “If anything heavy needs shifting, or if there’s a whole list of stuff to do, it’d go faster with three of us.”
“I can help too,” I chime in, “with the non-heavy stuff.”
Brax is silent, looking around at us. “Thanks,” he says after a moment, with a soft smile. “I really appreciate it, and there is a list, so if you’re serious, I won’t say no.”
“How about tomorrow?” I say.
He cocks an eyebrow at me. “No church tomorrow, I guess.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t get to tell you about the phone call on the way over here.” I fill him and Gray in on that, and they scowl at the pastor’s high-handedness.
“Right,” Brax says. “Screw them, and not in a good way.” I can’t help laughing, despite everything.
“So,” Gray says. “If we’re all getting together tomorrow for house chores, maybe we should just stay together tonight?” He looks at me when he says it, and I know exactly what he means.
AVA
“That sounds like a good idea.” I still sound prim and proper, even to my own ears. To dispel any doubts, I add, “I think you have the biggest bed.”
“Right,” Erik says. “We’ll go home and grab a change of clothes and meet you guys there. After I have some more of this spaghetti, unless you were saving it?”
Brax shakes his head. “Nope, everyone eat up.”
We all have seconds, and then Erik takes me back to our apartment complex and I put an overnight bag together. Clothes for tomorrow are no problem, but what should I wear tonight? I don’t have any sexy nightgowns or pajamas.
Finally, I put on the lacy underwear that Gray got me, with some normal clothes over them. If tonight goes anything like last weekend did, I won’t be wearing anything to sleep in anyway.
My hunch is correct. As soon as we’re all gathered at Gray’s, it’s like the memories sweep over us and get us all fired up. Before long, I’m naked and shuddering through my first climax of many.