Page 18 of Devotion

“I know what you meant, love,” I was quick to soothe, kissing her. “Just teasing you.”

She pinched my side. “Jerk.”

“But a devastatingly handsome one.”

“Yes. Lucky for you.”

I couldn’t help myself; I kissed her again, needing her to know the days of my jealousy were long gone. As was always the case when we were alone, we sank into each other, the noise from the back of the house dropping away as she melted into my arms.

My tongue slipped inside her mouth, a soft tease, reminding her what I had in store for her later this week when I got my uninterrupted night with her.

The weekly rotation was something that started as a bit of a laugh when we all officially moved in together. One of us, I think it might have been Caleb, tossed out the idea of a schedule after a particularly nasty wrestling session went awry. He referred to it as a more gentlemanly way of ensuring each of us had her to ourselves. If nothing else, it spared the furniture. We’d already gone through two sofas and a coffee table at that point.

As time went on, those nights became coveted, some of us going so far as to bet them against the others in an attempt to score a second one. Thus my recent loss against the ever-present pain in my arse, Kingston. I wasn’t worried, though. I’d more than make up for losttime once I got her under me. Or on top of me. I wasn’t picky.

“Mmm, Noah, we have company. Don’t get me worked up and send me in there where Trouble can tell exactly what’s going on. She’s my sister-in-law.”

“If you stay quiet, I can take care of you right now, and then you can nip to the loo to clean up. I want my mate satisfied.”

She sighed against me, her palm resting on my chest. “Didn’t you once tell me that anticipation was one of the best parts of foreplay?”

“Not for two bloody days,” I grumbled, annoyed at my past self for imparting that particular nugget of wisdom.

She smirked. “You had me on the plane. You’re hardly going without.”

Taking her hand, I positioned it against my rock-hard length. “Your point?”

Giving me a squeeze, she purred, “Later. I want to see my little girl.”

How could I argue with her about that one? Answer? I couldn’t.

“Come on, then. Let’s go see what our precious little cockblocker is up to.”

Sunday’s husky chuckle did nothing for my hard-on as we joined the others. The sight that greeted us was barely contained chaos. Which was par for the course when it came to our daughter.

Trouble was on her hands and knees, Kingston beside her, as they both howled encouragingly at Eden. My focus drifted from our adorable toddler to the brightly colored toys littering the floor, then to the pile of unused but strangely crumpled nappies on the sofa. Alek had never really gotten the hang of changing a nappy; I blamed thegiant meat hooks he had for hands. And then there were the crushed bits of what I could only assume was Eden’s favorite snack since the room smelled faintly of cheese and salt.

“Whose idea was it to let him be in charge?” I asked softly.

Sunday elbowed me in the stomach. “Hush. You know what a handful she is. I’m sure he did a fantastic job.”

I scanned the room once more. “Hmm,” I hummed noncommittally. “Looks like we need to order more fishies. Our entire supply seems to be strewn about the room.”

“No. She did that on her own,” Alek corrected, his face obscured by the strings of hair that had escaped his man bun as he picked up the crackers one by one.

“What do you mean?” I asked, but he ignored me while he continued collecting the mostly intact fish.

“Why aren’t you using your magic to get rid of them?” Sunday asked.

“Because...” He gestured to the living room as the fishies disappeared only for Eden to pop out of her downward-facing dog pose and cry, “Fishies!”

The little orange crackers reappeared, but even more of them this time.

Sunday’s jaw dropped open. “Oh dear God.”

Alek shot us a frazzled look. “Do you see now what I’ve been dealing with?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Feels a bit like karma, Loki-blessed, seeing as how that’s your gift she’s channeling.”

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