“Where are you, shorty?” Xander calls.
“In here.” I tug off my apron and toss it aside before leaning against the counter, self-consciously rubbing my hands over my bare stomach and hips. Is greeting them wearing only a tiny pair of pink panties too much?
“We have a surprise, baby doll,” Zeke calls out.
So do I. I press my lips together to stifle a giggle. Zeke walks into the room first, and upon seeing me, his mouth drops open, but then his face turns gray. He stops in his tracks so abruptly that Xander bumps into him, and now his eyes are greedily raking over my almost naked body.
“Motherfucking fuck,” Zeke groans.
“Abort! Abort!” Xander shouts, spinning on his heel and herding West out of the doorway.
Meanwhile, Zeke runs over to me and pulls off his jacket, then drapes it across my shoulders.
Well, this sure didn’t go as planned. “I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I thought it would be sexy, or at least a little funny.”
Zeke catches my eye, and his are twinkling with amusement. He fastens me into his jacket and wraps his arms around my waist, resting his hands on my ass. “Coming home to you wearing nothing but your panties is sexy as fuck, baby doll. But tonight we have guests.”
Gasping, I swat him on the chest. “Oh my god. Did they see? Why didn’t you warn me?”
He purses his lips and lowers his head, his shoulders shaking.
“Are you …” I suppress a growl. “Are you laughing at me, Ezekiel?”
He snorts. My grumpy Zeke snorts with laughter. I gape at him, all my irritation gone at the sight and sound of his uncharacteristic mirth. Soon we’re both doubled over, giggling and holding onto each other to keep from collapsing on the kitchen floor, and I have to squeeze my thighs together so I won’t pee myself.
“What the fuck, you two?” West’s voice carries across the room, and I look up through tear-filled eyes to see him standing in the doorway, grinning at the pair of us. “You need to put some clothes on, princess.”
I wipe the tears from my eyes and glance at Zeke, who’s still bent over, one hand gripping the kitchen counter for dear life. West ushers me out of the room with a warning to Zeke to pull himself together.
“Why didn’t you tell me we had guests?” I ask when we reach the safety of my bedroom.
“Because it was supposed to be a surprise. And fuck me, but it was.” He unfastens Zeke’s jacket, and his eyes roam the contours of my body. “Promise me this is how you’ll greet us every night from now on.”
I fold my arms across my chest and scoff. “I think not. I just almost gave a group of strangers a peep show!”
West’s eyes drop to my boobs, which are now squeezed together beneath my arms, and licks his lips. “Are you trying to fucking kill me?”
“Shouldn’t I get dressed?” I whisper. “I don’t want to keep your guests waiting.”
His eyes crinkle at the corners as he offers me a warm smile and runs his fingertips down my arm, making me shiver. “They’re your guests too, princess. And they’re definitely not strangers.” Then he gives me a hard swat on my ass and tells me to get dressed.
Zeke is waiting for us in the hallway, and the look of amusement on his face elicits another giggle.
West glances between the two of us, his lips twitching. “Are you two done?”
Zeke snorts one more laugh, then closes his eyes. When he reopens them, his usual serious demeanor is perfectly in place, and he nods. Rolling my eyes, I nod too.
Waiting for West to go ahead, I lace my fingers through Zeke’s and whisper, “I’ve never ever seen you laugh like that.”
“It’s been a long time, baby doll.” He gives me a peck on the cheek. “Thank you.”
My chest swells with pride that I was able to bring out that rare side of him. “So who are these guests who aren’t strangers?”
Waiting for us at the end of the hall, West gestures toward the den. “You’re about to find out. And when you do, you’ll understand why Zeke almost pissed his pants at the sight of you in nothing but those sexy little panties.”
I enter the room, and my heart almost stops beating when he stands. “Hey, Lily Pad.”
“Nico!” Dashing toward him, I throw my arms around his neck. He embraces me, and tears drip down my cheeks. When we finally pull apart, I just stand and stare at him, unable to believe that he’s really here. That Xander, West, and Zeke brought him to their apartment. “This is the best surprise ever.”