Page 24 of Gorgeous

Seriously? How many assholes do we have in this house?

“You’re working my nerves, Hayes.”

He laughs and bounds up the stairs. “That’s not all you’re going to be working tonight, Major.”

Everyone is a fucking comedian. You take a long shower occasionally and they all think you’re in there whacking off. There is absolutely no anonymity in this house.

Mason comes over as I stare at the fucking screen door that still hasn’t latched. I am going to fix that—today. “It’s just two weeks. Don’t forget who you are.” He taps me on the chest and walks away, instantly making me feel guilty for hurting Breck’s feelings.

Screamingfuckinto the open pasture does nothing but cause Tim and Vic to look at each other with wide eyes. “I’m fine,” I reassure them. “I just need a run. I’ll be back.”

They both nod wordlessly, and I take off into a sprint before I can do or say anything else. Two weeks with Breck is going to be a disaster.

B,

I got your package yesterday. You and Jess are too sweet to me. Classic Batman DVDs? Where did you even find the vintage covers? Christmas in the desert hasn’t been too bad. Major Jameson asked me and Captain Jameson if they could have some beers with me and watch the Batman DVDs. I’m pretty trashed from all the beers but at least the homesickness is fading and I had a nice time. I hope you and Jess are having a great Christmas. Tell Jess she can always send me nudes to perk me up.

#thenewxmensucked #yougavethemtoomanystars #merrychristmasbrat

Private Brannon

Head pounding, I tiptoe down the stairs of the plantation. I couldn’t sleep after Cade woke me, screaming out, “No, Drew!” The gut-wrenching sounds as he struggled to pull himself from the nightmare tore at my heartstrings. Sounds of pure anguish poured out into the hallway for almost twenty minutes before I got up to go check on him.

Just because he was a dick and ignored me for the rest of the day yesterday doesn’t mean I want him to suffer. Well, maybe he can suffer a little, but not like that. I didn’t have to concern myself though, because by the time I put my hand on his door, Hayes stopped me and said he had him.

For two hours, I laid there listening to the rhythmic pounding of the treadmill before it finally stopped. I don’t know if he went back to bed or went outside. Honestly, I was too nervous to check. He sounded like he was in so much pain, and I know from experience, that with pain comes anger. And I’m no one’s punching bag. So I pulled out my laptop and messaged Jess.

Being an insomniac herself, she’salways up late at night. Like a best friend, she didn’t ask me what was wrong or why I was up at the ass-crack of dawn. She just let me vent about the new sucky Netflix series we had high hopes for.

After a couple hours of working on our latest review of the new Marvel movie, she crashed and I decided I may as well get up and prepare the guys breakfast. Anniston said they get up at five-thirty, but she thought they might take the opportunity and sleep in with her being away. Either way, I’ll have their breakfast ready for whenever they decide to come down.

The kitchen is spotless and smells of cleaner when I finally manage to get to it after falling down a couple missed steps on the staircase. Note to self: Fuzzy socks and hardwood stairs do not mix.

The plantation is old, but the inside has been totally updated, and it’s gorgeous. I reach out, running my hand along the smooth butcher block island, a double oven with six burners, basically, every chef’s dream kitchen. Hot damn, B is doing some cooking today! But first, I need some Tylenol. This throbbing headache behind my eyes is bringing me down like a bad hangover.

Before she left, Anniston gave me a tour of the house. Located downstairs is a fully stocked medical office where she treats the guys for minor injuries and illnesses. But surely, as a physician, she keeps regular meds somewhere close by. I believe the exam room stays locked and only one person has a key, and I’ll bet that one person is Cade. No way am I breaking down and asking him where I can find the pain reliever. I’ll suffer before I ask that asshole.

I start with the cabinets, going through each one and coming up empty-handed until I see the two small upper cabinets above the refrigerator. Who the hell can reach that? Well, I guess the guys can pretty easily since most of them are at least six feet. My five-foot-six frame will not cut it though. I grab one of the bar stools and drag it to the counter. Before I put all my weight on the granite countertop, I test one foot. I’m not a beluga whale by any means but I like to eat, so a stick I am not.

The counter doesn’t creak or splinter in cracks with my Superman socked foot bearing down on it so I risk it and put my full weight down, reaching over to the cabinet. It’s still difficult with the refrigerator in the way, but I manage to get the door open and spot meds. I stretch as far as I can, one leg lifting behind me to keep me balanced. Almost … I can just barely get my fingers on the—

“What the fuck are you doing?”

The hateful-ass voice startles me and the bottle of precious Tylenol goes flying to the floor, knocking the lid off and scattering all the tiny miracles of pain relief.

“Damn it! Look what you made me do,” I yell at Cade who is standing in the doorway, sweaty and sexy—wait, no, I mean sweaty and asshole. He crosses his arms, and the look of disgust on his face makes me want to throw the rest of the shit in this cabinet at him.

“Look whatImadeyoudo?” he repeats back in a huff. Disbelief clouds his features as he takes a hesitant step in my direction.

You will not look at his bulging arms, I tell myself. You will not—fuck it. They are so damn delicious.

His forearm flexes as if he’s forcefully keeping his arms together. The movement has me spellbound as I envision swiping the tip of my tongue along its ridges.

“What the fuck are you doing, Breck?”

His clipped tone pulls me from my fantasy, and I snap to attention, a hand on my hip. “Why do you keep the damn pain relievers up so high? I mean, it’s not like—”

A very excited voice interrupts my rant. “Holy fucking shit. My fantasy has come true.”

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