Page 146 of Darling Wildfire
“Until then, you’ll hang out where we can see you,” I said. “I’d prefer to not acquire any more scars while I’m here.”
She glared at me briefly before nodding curtly and moved towards the coffee machine which sat near Nyx.
“Then I guess I’ll start some coffee,” she grumbled.
Macy watched Nyx warily as she approached but he was busy eating another muffin.
“These are really good,” he said, his mouth full.
She finished filling the coffee pot. Soon the room was wafting with the smell of coffee and Atlas had gone to clean up in the bathroom. We stood around the kitchen awkwardly while the coffee brewed and the sound of the shower kicked on in the hall. Nyx jumped down from the counter and pointed to the fridge.
“Mind if I make some breakfast?” He asked.
She resumed her seat in the kitchen chair and nodded. Nyx gathered some eggs, bacon, spinach and a few other ingredients and set to work whipping up some sort of omelet with toast and jam. We both watched him while the first omelet cooked and the bread was toasting. He poured three cups of coffee and handed one to me and one to Macy. She looked like she was still trying to come to terms with the fact she had three strange men in her house and one of them was cooking in her kitchen but she nodded her thanks and sipped from the mug, not bothering with any creamer.
Nyx took a sip of coffee and gave an exaggerated moan of pleasure.
“Fuck, I’ve missed coffee,” he said.
“I didn’t know you could cook,” I commented.
Nyx shrugged. “I’m a man of many hidden talents,” he winked at Macy.
“That just looks creepy,” Atlas said, appearing in the doorway. “Don’t do that while you look like a wild animal. You’ll scare her.”
Nyx flipped him off, flashing him a purposefully exaggerated grin before turning back to breakfast.
“Since when can you cook?” He asked, coming over and taking the cup of coffee Nyx offered. Macy’s eyes followed him as he did. He was shirtless, in nothing but a towel. He’d shaved and cut his hair shorter again, throwing it up in his usual bun.
“Why is everyone so surprised? These hands are used for more than killing you know,” he scoffed.
Macy choked on her coffee, and Atlas sighed.
“Go get cleaned up,” he said. “I’ll finish breakfast.”
“Don’t ruin it,” Nyx said. His eyes slid over Atlas’ body as though he couldn’t help himself any longer. “The bacon should be done in the oven in a minute.”
“You make bacon in the oven?” Atlas asked.
Nyx’s gaze shot back up to Atlas, and he shoved the spatula into his chest, a heated gaze jumping between the two as Nyx’s fingers came into contact with Atlas’ bare chest.
“Everyone knows you make bacon in the oven,” he muttered.
They continued to stare at each other. I cleared my throat. Nyx blinked and shook his head as he stepped away and headed towards the bathroom. Macy’s mouth was parted slightly, entranced by what just happened and probably also by Atlas who was looking like a viking god in nothing but a towel. He looked even more fearsome with the freshly healed whip marks on his back.
An hour later, I came out of the bathroom in a towel carrying an armload of all our dirty clothes into the laundry room. Macy saw me and sighed.
“Just throw those out. There’s clothes in that closet you can look through.”
Once we were all clean and clothed, breakfast was laid out on the island. We dug into the food and Macy nibbled on a piece of bacon; her legs now tucked up under her on the chair and her second cup of coffee in hand.
“This farm seems like a lot of work for one person,” Nyx commented in between bites.
Macy nodded. “It is.”
“How long has your husband been deployed?” I asked.
Macy’s face fell again. “It’s been four years. He’s MIA—no one knows where he is—” Her voice broke and I frowned.
