“Look at me, Dante.” I waited for him to obey. “I meant what I said earlier. I won’t take it back because Ian disagrees.”
“I don’t disagree, damn it.”
My brother strolled down the stairs, heading right for us, hands on his hips, exasperation on his brow.
“Give us a few minutes. Please prepare something for breakfast.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Master,” I corrected at the same time Ian said it.
I sighed. “Anything but Sir. I don’t care for Master, either, but if that’s how you see us, we’ll accept it from you. But only you.”
“It would be my honor, Masters.”
The strange sensation that filled me remained even as Dante headed upstairs to start breakfast.
Ian paced the floor. “Look. I get it. I do. I’m a fucking goner, too, damn it. The thought of him or Everly leaving … it makes me want to punch something.”
“What about Heaven?”
Ian’s gaze slammed into me. “What about her?”
“You’re not broken up that she wants to leave.”
He shrugged. “Heaven’s not…”
“What we’re looking for?” I filled in.
“She’s not,” he agreed. “She’s fun and I honestly like her, but I don’t see it going anywhere. Plus, I think she’s intimidated by it all.”
That made sense. Those who didn’t understand or, more importantly, didn’t feel the need for submission, would be.
“But Everly and Dante,” Ian continued, “we can’t hold them here. Don’t want to. I would lay down my life for them. That’s not something I’ve ever felt for anyone but you. If they want to be here, I’ll worship the fucking ground they walk on for the rest of my days. But that feeling, the need, doesn’t make it so.”
He resumed pacing, his footsteps heavy.
His voice was sturdy when he spoke again. “Six days, six weeks, six months. It doesn’t make any difference to me. It is what it is. Relaying that information to them could be tricky. Some things require a bit more finesse.”
“And some things require truth,” I told him.
“Yes. I agree. But they suspect this is only about their protection. If I’m being honest, it’s never been only about that. Far more. But that doesn’t change the fact they’re not safe at home. Yeah, they can leave. Go stay with family, friends, a hotel. They’re still in a vulnerable position. Can we just slow it down a bit? Let it play out for a few more days?” He faced me. “Can you do that for me?”
I hated when he played that damn card. “Of course I will.”
“Thank you.” He brushed his hand over his hair. “Now can we go upstairs, have some breakfast, and enjoy the rest of our time off? I have nothing on my agenda for today.” He glanced up at the ceiling. “Nothing except showing Dante and Everly exactly what we want from them. Heaven’s more than welcome to participate. Or not. I don’t care either way.”
Well, when he put it that way…
FIFTEEN
Everly
There was tension in the air and a lot of it.
I felt it the moment I walked into the kitchen to find Ian and Isaac sitting at the island, Dante leaning against the counter. They quieted as soon as I approached, all eyes slipping in my direction.
“Good morning,” I greeted.
“Good morning, fairy princess,” Isaac replied, his beautiful green gaze sliding toward me.
Before I could pass him on my way to the refrigerator, Isaac reached for me, pulling me to him. His lips pressed softly to mine, making me smile. It had been a disappointment to wake and find the bed empty. Then again, when I’d realized how late it was, I hadn’t been able to hold a grudge.
“I made biscuits,” Dante said when I opened the refrigerator.
He knew I loved his biscuits. “A man after my own heart,” I teased.
“That heart belongs to me,” Isaac stated, his tone almost teasing but not quite.
It warmed me. “My heart is most definitely yours, my Liege.”
Ian’s hard gaze was pinned on me, and for a second, I thought I saw something there. Longing. Need. I wasn’t sure, but a response filled me. While I’d respected the distance he’d been keeping, I didn’t want that. I also didn’t know how to tell him as much.
Because that was a conversation better left for later, I focused my attention on buttering two biscuits and being extra generous with strawberry jam. When I turned around, I noticed all three men were still watching me.
“What?”
“You really do look like a fairy princess,” Ian said with a smirk.
“Whatever.” I grinned, letting his words warm me. “So, what’s on the agenda today?”
“This morning belongs to you,” Isaac said. “This afternoon and evening, you belong to us.” His eyes shifted from me to Dante. “And you do, too.”
“It would be my pleasure, Master,” Dante offered, his voice lower, more sensual than usual.
My head snapped as though it was held on by rubber bands. Master? When had that happened?
