Chapter 18
Maya
“I have never been to the beach,” I explained, “I didn’t expect it to be so cold.”
“Isn’t always,” Anani grinned. “Peanut, you should visit the Bahamas or Fiji. You would love that.”
Ledger nodded and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear, “I agree. I like you in the sunshine, you look like you’re glowing. Maybe we need to move down here.”
“I like both,” I pointed out because it was true. Living in the damp foggy weather made me appreciate this more and vice versa.
I turned in the sand to look back at the massive columned architecture that sat in front of me. I couldn’t even see in detail the closest house, but I could see my other mates. Sai sat on a log by the bonfire and I walked over to him, ignoring the twins asking where I was going. Instead of saying anything, I dropped down right into his lap. Sai grunted and then laughed, his arms tightening around me.
“Hey kitten,” he purred.
I stretched and looked at the bonfire, my chest warming, “I like this.”
“I like you.” He nibbled on my throat, making me squeak as I felt my skin break out into shivers. That low simmering boil under my skin was pushing me to move closer to him. To rub against him more. I also really wanted to see it again. I wanted to confirm size, folks. Didn’t curiosity kill the cat?
“That is a dangerous look,” he purred, pulling me so I was straddling him, leaning back in the sand as my hair created a veil over us. We ended up like this a lot with me on top of him.
“What look?” I blinked because I really had no idea what they meant by that.
“It's a look that makes me want to devour those sweet lips,” he drawled lazily as my cheeks flamed.
“Well, maybe I want you to do that,” I squeaked, feeling less nervous than before.
Sai let out a low hum and grasped my jaw, gently pulling me down. I shivered as his lips pressed to mine, right before I was taken from his arms. Henry shook his head, carrying me towards the balcony.
“Henry!” Sai chuckled in legitimate surprise.
“Photos Sai, I don’t want photos in the media,” he shouted back. I was already distracted and very happy. My hands gripped Henry’s button down as I stared at the buttons. I could undo them. I just wanted more access to his skin.
“Behave,” he whispered, walking up the stairs.
“I am,” I flashed a smile as his eyes glinted behind his glasses.
“If this is behaving, it sounds like you may need a lesson in it,” he murmured.
“Yeah?” I nibbled my lip, knowing this was flirting and hoping I was sort of good at it. “And would you teach me that?”
Henry let out a low noise and narrowed his eyes, “I could teach you a whole lot, Maya, but be careful what you ask for.”
Before I could ask what that meant, he’d placed me down and I turned to face Marco and Atlas. The latter was smoking what I thought was a cigar and had that damn laptop in front of him. Marco had sunglasses on and a cigar in his mouth, jacket thrown over his chair. I nibbled my lip and approached him. I wasn’t positive what it was about how he looked right now, but it made my center tighten like last night. He took off his glasses as his eyes lit up and he patted one of his knees, I adjusted my skirt and sat right on his knee, looking eye to eye with him.
“Are you hungry?” He asked, his eyes searching my face.
“Always am,” I noted because that was accurate.
His smile was authentic as he nodded and Henry, who’d been watching me still, ducked into the house. I leaned against Marco’s chest and watched the twins tossed a ball back and forth as Sai chatted aimlessly with them. A sigh of contentment filled me.
This was something special.
I have no idea how much later it was, but at some point food was set on the table in front of me along with beverages and I raised my brows. That was a lot of freakin’ food.
“I don’t know where to start,” I mumbled as Marco reached over and created a small plate, putting it in front of us.
I reached for one of the cheese cubes, but he just grabbed my hand and kissed the top of it. Then in a move that had me shivering, he pressed a thumb to my lips, making them pop open. He placed a cheese cube in my mouth and I squeaked as flavor exploded on my tongue. He grinned and I savored the taste, because when you ate PB&J sandwiches most of your life, you savored the small things.