Page 76 of He Who Sleeps

Chapter 27

The Chesapeake Bayhouse was beautiful, old stonework and eaves, a place that felt like it was holding its breath until they all walked in.

“And you grew up here?” she asked Emerson as she looked around the splendor of the grand foyer. Aside from the house they used during Halloween weekend, she had never been in a place that grand, but this placed seemed happier, and homier.

“’Til I went to school with these miscreants,” he offered and wrapped himself around her. “And on occasion small holidays away. Do you like it?”

“It’s beautiful. Feels calm...and loved.”

“Well, if nothing else, my father loved this place. I was actually born here,” he said softly.

“And you bring me here for your birthday?”

“No place I would rather be, with you and them. We are going to have a real good time.”

“And we are safe here?” she asked.

“As kittens.” He grinned then looked to the six of them that were standing around the foyer. “Pick rooms, yeah? I get the master, obviously, and Pet is sleeping with me.”

“How is that fair?” Jack said.

“Because I’m the birthday boy.” He winked at his friend. “But that’s only if she wants to.”

“Of course I do.”

"I'm taking one with French doors," Carter said in a tone that brooked no argument. "I'm not traipsing through the house any time Brutus wants to go out." The dog was on his heels as they headed toward the rooms at the back of the house.

"Guess that leaves most of us upstairs then," Finn said with a grin.

She watched the dog go, still not having been introduced to him, but knew there was time. “There are enough bedrooms, right?”

Emerson nodded. “Enough for everyone and a few more.” He squeezed her sides. “Come on...”

The lot of them walked up the main staircase, and broke off from each other on the second floor, each making their way down different halls, Emerson and Leo guiding her down the main one.

“Double doors at the end are ours,” he said to Leo. “The two on the left are bedrooms, third on the left is one, too,” he offered as they walked and stopped at the double doors. “Though I have a feeling largely this is where the magic is going to happen this weekend. Well, bed-bound magic.”

“Bold to assume...”

“Assume nothing. It’s my birthday and if I want my best friends, your boyfriends, to run a train on you in here, I’m going to have it.” She shivered and he chuckled. “Hey, Leo, she likes that idea.”

"Was there ever any doubt?" Leo paused at the room closest to theirs and then stepped back. "Knowing how noisy she is, I think I'll maybe put a room between us if I want to get any sleep at all this weekend," he chuckled.

He chose the next door down and let himself in, slinging his bag onto an unseen bed with a cheeky grin.

"Amateur," Finn shook his head. "Some of us came armed with earplugs to be close to the action and still get some sleep."

"Am I the only one that isn't completely overthinking this?" Easton was standing in the hallway looking at them like they'd all lost their minds.

"Don't tell me you didn't look which rooms have south-facing windows in case our beauty here lets you paint her from life," Finn said and Easton had the grace to look sheepish.

"Maybe. But at least I'm gentleman enough to be thinking about activities other than fucking all day, every day." He turned to Petra. "I'm not saying I'm not going to be involved in the fucking when it happens, but if you want a break from it, I'll be in that south-facing room over there," he told her, pointing a thumb over his shoulder.

She laughed and extricated herself from Emerson’s hold and went to Easton. “It’s a date,” she offered and touched his arm, which he allowed. She considered it a small victory. “Now, why don’t you all go and get settled then. I’m going to take a shower...alone...and then what?”

“Dinner,” Easton said. “It’s already being set up by the caterers. Go shower.” He winked. “Get comfortable, sweetness. It’s going to be a long night, yeah?”

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