Page 21 of My Pucking Life

I try to scold him, I really do, but I just laugh and smile because I'm not surprised at all. It makes Zoey laugh all over again, and Runa rolls her eyes as all the men filter into the kitchen. “You wouldn't even let them in the kitchen?” I point at them while glaring lovingly at my mate.

He doesn't even react for a minute, and then he raises his hand to his ear dramatically and just looks at me. All you can hear is drawers opening and closing, cabinets being shut a little too forcefully, someone rummaging through the refrigerator, a blender firing to life, and the water running.

I blush and snicker, “Oh, okay.” I glance over at Benny, who looks like he just got caught in a game of hide-and-seek. “Well, if that's what you guys' sound like in the morning, I can't say I blame him for the kitchen bit.” I hadn't realized how loud they are because they're all usually up and about before I've even woken up for the day.

Benny's smile returns, and he makes his way to join everyone else in the kitchen for his own morning routine.

“Welp, I really should run.” Zoey stretches her arms above her head and arches her back. “I've got class in a couple hours, and it's going to take me nearly that long to brush my hair at this point.” She eyes a specifically gnarly-looking rat's nest in her hair, sighing in dread.

I pick my discarded blanket from the floor and toss it back on the couch and move to where Zoey clearly isn't actually ready to get up for the day but doesn't have much of a choice. “All right, let's get you up before you change your mind and skip class,” I tease. Grabbing her hands and pulling her up and off the couch despite her groaning protests.

“Yes, Mother,” she says mockingly before sticking her tongue out at me and trudging towards the kitchen. “But first, coffee.”

16

Leera and I walk Zoey to the door after a borderline raucous morning full of laughter and chatter.

Runa had risen from the couch once the rest of us had made it to the kitchen. I'm fairly certain she had intended to sneak away to her own room, but Leera wasn't having it. She had hollered at her, asking how she liked her coffee. I'm also pretty sure, had Runa attempted to decline, Leera would have physically dragged her into the kitchen with the rest of us.

I was sitting on the barstool with a smile plastered to my face—one that I was finding harder and harder to get rid of when a thought plowed into me like a locomotive.

The number of people in my kitchen continues to grow.

It had always just been me, my men, and Matilda within these once-quiet walls. The light and happiness that Leera brought continues to amaze me as I watched her twirl—yes, twirl—around the kitchen with Zoey, their heads thrown back in laughter after they finally finished dismantling the disaster that was Zoey's hair.

Runa was smiling at them over the rim of her own steaming coffee mug. Dolos was watching Runa with a similar smile, and Eris’ eyes were alternating between the two of them with a pained pining I still didn't understand. Benny couldn't hold himself back any longer and joined the girls, dramatically prancing and, again, literally twirling around the room.

A booming laugh escaped me from my perch on the island with Slate to my right, and even he cracked a smile. We were going over the information Willa had sent me about needing to visit Sabbax in order to obtain my father's prophecy. Andrei had been on my left before Leera pouted for him to join their silliness, and like most of us, he couldn't tell her no.

When Matilda entered the room, her weathered face broke into a beaming smile of her own, and she took Andrei's seat, not saying a word, just patting my arm lovingly while she took it all in.

It was then that Zoey’s phone went off, and she and Leera stuck their lips out at the same time. “Okay, I really have to go now, or I'll be late for class.”

Leera hugs her best friend fiercely. “We need to do this more. Promise me,” she demands.

Zoey exaggerates drawing an X on her chest and promises, “Cross my heart,” before turning to leave.

My sweet mate deflates slightly at the loss of her friend’s presence. This is the perfect time to tell her, “I have a surprise planned for you today,” I whisper into her neck, wrapping my arm around her waist, pulling her to me, and turning her from the door.

Her bright eyes meet mine, sparkling with excitement. “A surprise?” she squeaks.

“Yes, my little miracle, a surprise. But only if you think you're up to it,” I tease, knowing full well that she's up to it and that I would still find a way to surprise her and make tonight magical for her.

She shoves at my chest playfully and snorts at me. “I love surprises, and I'm up for whatever it is you have planned,” she finishes, crossing her arms over her chest and striking a bratty pose. She still doesn't understand that shoving her perfect little tits in the air and cocking her hip out like that actually makes me hard, causing me to no longer take anything she says seriously. Adjusting myself to delay those extra-curricular activities until later, I smile down at her and growl, “I’ll never be able to take you to your surprises if we never make it out of our bedroom, Princess.”

She blushes furiously when my words register in that pretty head of hers.

“Now, go get ready. I've restocked all your girly shit that you like in the bathroom and got you an outfit to wear; it's laid out on the bed.” I lead her towards our room with my hand on her lower back.

When she starts to inquire further, her mouth dropping open to speak, I interject, “And that's all you're getting out of me.” I give her a final little shove into our room, not following her in, though. I was serious. If I go in there with her, all my planning will be shot to hell, and we'll never leave that room.

Roughly an hour and a half later, she emerges from the hall, and my breath catches in my chest. She's always so fucking beautiful, but I can tell she put in extra effort today. I heard her running a bath for the candles and vanilla bean bubble bath I left out. The combination of the vanilla melts heavenly with her natural honeysuckle and spun sugar scent—to the point my mouth nearly waters when she enters my space.

“You look fucking breathtaking,” I breathe, and she blushes all over with a small giggle.

“Well, you see...” She runs her fingers up the front of my shirt, making sure to skim the muscles underneath, “I have this pretty amazing guy in my life,” she looks me in the eye, “and he spoils me with the best girly shit,” she laughs, unable to say that one with a straight face, “and he got me this super comfy, adorable outfit,” she finishes, reaching around my neck and tugging lightly, which is Leera for,Pick me up, Big Guy.

I cup my hands on her perfect little ass, lifting her off the ground and against my body, and she links her arms completely around my neck. “Thank you, Roman,” she finishes with a slow and sweet kiss that’ll make me have to adjust myself…again.

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