Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 108988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“You’re mine now, Blake. In every way.”
They didn’t. They sent my pulse soaring all over again.
This was so not good.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Blake
I could hear voices when I went down to the kitchen. Nerves were pinballing around in me, but I paused going through the living room before entering. Marshall was sitting on the counter, a piece of toast in his hand, and he was swinging his legs to hit the backs of his heels against the cupboard beneath him lightly.
The scene was eerily similar to the other night.
Heath was making something at the oven. Palma was in a chair at the table.
The exception was that Levi was in the other chair across from Palma, and he was grinning widely as I entered. The others all ceased talking, but it wasn’t because of me. Their eyes, almost as if they were one person, slid behind me to Creighton, who followed me.
I stood in the silence, taking in the rest of the room.
The coffeepot was gurgling again. The orange juice had been pulled out, along with a carton of almond milk. A full plate of French toast was on the table along with a bowl of scrambled eggs. I glanced at what Heath was making. Sausages.
He coughed, holding up his fork. “You want one?”
My stomach gurgled, and I winced. “Uh. I think I’m good. We have more toast?”
Palma was blatantly staring at Creighton, who had remained in the doorway. I already knew there was no reaction on his face, so I didn’t turn around. Marshall jerked out of his reverie. “Uh. Yeah. I just put some in the toaster. You can help yourself.” He held out the one in his hand. Rueful. “I’ve not stopped eating since I woke up.”
A chair scraped against the floor. Palma shoved it back and extended her hand, bypassing me. “Hi,” she said brightly, a wide smile strained around the edges on her face. “We’ve not officially met. I’m Palma, Blake’s roommate.” She waited, her hand out.
Creighton only stared at her.
Levi started laughing.
She shot him a look.
He shut up, or tried, grabbing a piece of French toast and bending over it, his big shoulders still shaking.
Marshall cleared his throat as he held his free hand up in the air. “Uh. I’m Marshall.” His eyebrows pulled low, motioning to me with the last little bit of his toast that was left. “Blake’s housemate . . .” He trailed off.
Creighton didn’t respond to him either. He barely flicked Heath a look, who was watching the exchange, or nonexchange.
Heath coughed but readjusted so his back was turned to Creighton.
“Uh.” Palma met my gaze, confused.
“If you’re dating our roommate, you don’t have to be a dic—” Marshall started to say, heated, but he stopped when Creighton looked his way. He visibly swallowed before popping the last of his toast in his mouth.
Levi was still chuckling. “Mom and Dad. Kissing in a tree. K-I-S-S—”
Creighton went around me, stopping just in front. “Shut up.”
Levi just kept laughing. “It’s a fucking riot and gross. Do we have to see that?” The last came from him as Creighton lifted a finger under my chin, tipping it up. He gave me a quick, but gentle kiss.
He shifted his hand to the side of my head, his fingers sliding through my hair as he shot Levi another glare. When he looked my way, his eyes softened.
He didn’t say anything. Nor did I.
He went to the back door, and taking out his phone, he had just unlocked the screen when the door swung open from the outside. One of his men was there. No, a few of his men were there. Each nodded to him as he stepped out. They fell in line around him.
Levi hopped up to shut the door, flicking the lock. He gave the basement door a brief glance before returning to his chair and eating another bite of his French toast.
It was quiet for a second in Creighton’s aftermath.
“Well.” Palma shakily laughed. “He was more pleasant than at the diner.”
Levi started laughing again.
“Dude. Can you, like, stuff it for a second? Not everything is funny this morning.” Marshall shot him a testy look.
“Says you. I think this morning has been hilarious.”
“Why are you here? To get in Palm’s pants?”
Levi idly scratched at the side of his face before throwing Palma a smirk. “I mean, I wouldn’t be averse to that.” He winked at her.
Her cheeks pinked, but she was more focused on me. “You’re good?” Her question was quiet.
I felt everyone’s attention and jerked my head up and down. “Uh. Yeah.” I coughed before motioning around the room. “Except for you know, this being slightly awkward.”
“Is he going to be around more?”
The question came from Heath, who was peering at me. He didn’t look upset, more curious.
Levi’s laughter caught.
I went to Heath’s other side where the toast just popped up and busied myself, buttering two slices for myself. “Uh. Yeah. I think so.”