Page 97 of Wretched Soul
“Yes.”
His certainty doesn’t ease the lines creasing my brow. “Tell me about the Griffin brothers.”
Mace rests his head in the valley between by breasts. “Obviously, I was the one blessed with the good looks and the biggest dick.”
“Obviously,” I answer, rolling my eyes. “You’re also the protector. The one with the biggest heart because it’s been buried the deepest.”
“I’ll take that,” he says, rubbing his stubbled chin against my skin. “Reid is the peacemaker, but he doesn’t always think before he speaks. Hunter is the challenger, I suppose, and he can be fucking stubborn when he wants to be.”
“And Ash? He seems nice.”
Mace scoffs. “He’s our guardian, in every sense of the word,” he says with unconcealed admiration. “He guards his feelings most of all, but you don’t want to be around when he gets really mad. Especially if you’re family.”
I bring my hands off the pillow and reach for Mace. “Why?”
“Just because,” he says as he lifts himself off me. “Not that you need to worry. He’s going to love you. And besides, I’m your protector.”
As Mace kneels up, he lifts the covers off us both. I’m only vaguely aware of his heated gaze traveling down the length of my body, because I’m distracted by his arousal.
“The only thing you need to concern yourself with at the present time,” he says, “is whether you want me to fuck you before or after our shower.”
I don’t need time to consider my options. “During.”
I’m squealing as he lifts me from the bed and carries me into his bathroom. The shower stall is almost as big as my entire bathroom.
“I’m never going to be able to work out how this thing works,” I say as Mace taps a console.
He pulls me beneath the shower spray that’s at the perfect temperature and on the right side of powerful. “Then we’ll just have to shower together from now on.”
I shouldn’t be surprised when I see all my favorite products lined up in a cubby hole, but it feels like I’ve stepped into a dream as Mace starts to wash and pamper me. And after we’re both squeaky clean, we get dirty all over again.
There’s more pampering afterwards and my legs are shaking with fresh exhaustion as he wraps me in a soft towel.
“I could get used to this,” I whisper.
“You’ll have to.”
The confidence he instills lasts only until we return to the bedroom. I can hear more noise beyond the bedroom door. And it’s a lot of noise. Footsteps and chatter. There are people in the entrance hall. Lots of people.
My eyes grow wide. “Is that…?”
Mace winces, but he doesn’t look nearly as surprised. “My brothers,” he says. “Fucking Reid can’t keep his mouth shut.”
My jaw drops. I knew I’d have to meet his brothers eventually, but preferably one at time, starting with Reid. I’m not ready for this, and as I glance around the bedroom and my gaze settles on my discarded underwear, my stomach hollows. “My clothes. They were strewn all around your apartment.” It’s not the first impression I wanted to make.
“Help yourself to the clothes in our closet,” he says as he towel dries my hair. He doesn’t sound the least bit concerned.
“I can’t go in there wearing one of your t-shirts, Mace.”
He wipes away the drips trickling down my face from my wet hair. “Personally, I wouldn’t object, but I was thinking you’d wear your clothes. I bought you a few things so we don’t need to rush to pack up your apartment.”
I have to blink hard. While I’d been preparing to break into his apartment, Mace had effectively moved me in. “You’re so sure of yourself, aren’t you? You’ll be telling me you’ve already cancelled the lease on my apartment next.”
Mace kisses the tip of my nose. “If you’d seen me last week, you’d know I was anything but sure,” he admits. “But actually, yeah, I have cancelled your lease.”
Stunned doesn’t come close to how I feel as I step out of the safety of Mace’ bedroom. I’ve opted for comfort over style, wearing an oversized green sweater and black leggings. My damp curls are gathered in a messy bun, and I’ve applied a touch of makeup to conceal the chafed skin around my mouth and nose after being fucked senseless.
“They’re going to love you,” Mace says, taking my hand and leading me into the living room.
