“I know. But all the while I know they aren’t the better choice for Solaria, I can’t consider that as an option.”
I squeezed his arm where I still held him, letting him know I understood that even if I didn’t hold the same opinion. He released a slow breath in recognition of my feelings on the matter too.
He slowly reached up to grip my hand where it was pressed to his arm, giving me a nod that showed me this would not break us. We were divided but not apart. And I was relieved to find that nothing could shake the foundations of our friendship.
I sighed, resting my head on the pillow as he did the same, the familiar thump of his heartbeat reminding me of the countless naps we’d taken together. And as we lay there in silence, I could feel myself falling into the peace of sleep, and I let myself drift away with my brother at my side, realising that we were bonded regardless of Lionel’s power chaining us together. We would always have each other’s backs, and I knew now that nothing would ever change that.
***
“Ohmagod,” Darcy’s voice carried to me, but I couldn’t quite stir out of sleep to find her. “This is too cute.”
“Shh, you’ll wake them and I need to get a photo so that I can mock them tirelessly with it,” Tory whispered.
“They’re cuddling,” Darcy whisper-squealed and Tory shushed her again but started suppressing a laugh.
“It’s called a man hug,” Darius said, his voice gruff from sleep and I cracked my eyes open, finding we’d shifted close together and were tangled in a ridiculous cuddle.
“I guess old habits die hard,” I tried.
A whoosh of air made my eyes snap sideways and I found Darcy leaping toward me with a grin on her face. I was glad to see she was feeling better, the light in her eyes making a knot loosen in my chest.
I caught her before she collided with me, forcing her between Darius and I and drawing her flush against me as I shut my eyes again. Tory hit the bed next and Darius caught hold of her, shoving her in beside her sister and the two of us closed ranks so they were crushed between us.
Darcy wriggled to try and get free, but I held her tighter and tugged her ear between my teeth. “Stay,” I commanded.
“Was that an order?” She jabbed an elbow back into my chest and I grinned as her laughter filled up the room.
“Do you need another dick punch, Lance?” Tory asked and I opened my eyes again, scruffing her hair and messing it up royally as Darius held her down so she couldn’t escape.
“Nooo, don’t dick punch him. You’ll break it and I need it,” Darcy complained, making me chuckle darkly.
“How about if I break it, you can break Darius’s in return,” Tory offered conversationally and I swear my cock tried to run and take shelter from this heartless dick hunter.
“Hey,” Darius barked as the two of them hooked their little fingers together to make the deal.
I grabbed Blue’s arm as Darius grabbed Tory’s, yanking their hands apart before they could doom our dicks for all the stars to see.
“Ooh! Are we having a cuddle party?!” Seth cried as the door flew open and he came bounding in like a puppy looking for its master.
“No,” I snapped a second before he dove onto the bed and started nuzzling everyone. Including me. Which was not going to go unpunished.
“Argh.” I fought to get him away from my face as he rubbed his head against mine, but before I could throw him across the room like a pitball destined for a pit, two more massive bodies slammed down on top of us and the girls squealed.
Max and Caleb laughed, squashing us between them as Seth howled his enjoyment.
“Giggle hug,” Max announced, pushing the feeling of amusement over all of us until we were all laughing. But I shoved my mental shields up to block him out and growled as Seth’s stubble scraped against my face.
I cursed as I held onto Darcy then yanked her out of the pile and pulled her off the bed, returning the diary to its coin appearance before pushing it into my pocket and glancing at the time.
“The full moon’s up,” I whispered to her as her laughter fell away. “Come outside with me.”
She smiled seductively and my hand closed around the drawstrings of her sweatpants, yanking her closer to me by them as dark thoughts entered my head. Me and her. Outside. Alone. No one would see us together, I’d make sure of that. And once I had her in my grasp, I’d build a wall of ice around us and keep her trapped there until I was buried inside her with her body wrapped around mine and a plea of mercy on her lips.