Catherine looked past Jedrek and noticed the twins and Pip hanging back. "Who are these adorable boys?"
Meryn pulled them forward. "These are my brothers! Nigel and Neil Morninglory are warriors from Noctem Falls. And Pip Maverick, he is super important because he helps me smile."
Catherine clucked and pulled the boys toward the parlor. "Leo, I think these boys look hungry. Is there anything we can serve them before dinner?"
Obviously having her own boys home had awakened every maternal instinct in the lioness.
Nigel gave Meryn a thumbs up as they were led away.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm ready for a shower." Brie stepped away from her dads and kissed each on the cheek, causing her dad to smile and Doran to blush. "We'll see you in just a bit," she promised, before she took Ari's hand to lead him up the stairs. The other couples trailed behind them with Rex bringing up the rear.
"Meat and soggy leaves!" Meryn eyed her mate. "If we could manage shower sex without breaking my leg, this could be a perfect night."
Aiden's eyes darkened. "I'm sure we'll be all right."
"First door on the right," Rex advised. He turned to Kendrick. "Third door on the right."
Giggling, Meryn bolted from her mate, causing him to give chase.
Kendrick eyed his mate, who shook her head. "If I run, I won't have any energy for sex."
Kendrick frowned and scooped her up so she didn't have to walk. "We can't have that." They too disappeared down the hall.
"Here's where we get off," Ari said pointing to his door. "See you at dinner."
Declan leered at his mate, then winked at him. "See you at dinner."
They walked into the room, and she started stripping off her gear. She wanted to let it drop to the floor but knew the weapons needed to be secured. When faced with all she had to do, she felt tears spring to her eyes, she was becoming overwhelmed and quickly.
"Start from the top and hand me your stuff," Ari said, pushing her toward the closet.
Exhaustion and the high emotions she had felt at seeing her father had tears leaking down her cheeks. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
Ari nipped her lips. "Why?"
She just waved her hand about, indicating to what he was doing.
"Love, if I didn't do this for you, who would?"
"No one," she responded. There hadn't been anyone there for her, except for her dad in so long. But not even her dad saw her like this; it would worry him.
"Now, you have me." Ari pulled her into the walk-in closet and sat her down on a long white leather bench. He went to one wall and placed his hand on the side mirror. The wall slid to one side, revealing the huge gun safe. He walked back to her. "You'll get you own side of course," he pointed to the dark cherry wood shelves and gleaming silver accents. Slowly, piece by piece she took off her gear. With each item she handed him, he kissed her softly and told her how much he loved her and how proud he was to be her mate.
Once they were both naked, and the clothing part of their uniform in the hamper for Leo to take care of, he closed up the safe.
He had undone her with his absolute acceptance of who and what she was. It was less the words of love and more his actions that shattered the tiny pieces of the wall around her heart. He stored her gear, emptied her gun, gave her space in his gun safe as if every man on earth did the same for the woman in their life.
"Ari, I love you so much it actually hurts," she whispered, clutching her chest.
Ari scooped her up, much in the same way Aiden had Meryn, but she was no Meryn. She was probably twice the woman's size, yet her mate held her with no problem. "The moment I saw you, you were branded to my soul, Brie. Every day, looking at you, breathing in your scent, it simply carves that brand deeper into my being. It's a pain I welcome, because it ties me to you."
Brie laid her head on his shoulder. "Do you think we could have shower sex without breaking my leg?"
Ari laughed and kissed the top of her head. "As athletic as we both are, I'm sure that it won't be a problem."
She leaned back to look up at him. "Trade you those two blow jobs for a savage pounding under your rain head."
"Deal!" he accepted eagerly.