Page 25 of Fought and Freed

Jace beamed. “So, you like the room?”

“I love it, guys.” She gazed around the table. “Whoever decorated it sure knows my taste.”

Ryder took the seat across from her. “Well, thank you, my dear.”

She should have known Ryder decorated her room; he’d done the same for most of the house.

Over breakfast, the guys asked Maddy a bunch of questions about rehab and told her everything that had been going on in their lives.

“My father doesn’t want us to return this coming week.” Jace spread butter on a third piece of toast. “He said he’d get one of the guys to drive him around.”

Skylar looked relieved not to be going back. Not seeing Skylar as often was one of the things Maddy had worried about when he took the job up in Longville.

“We know things didn’t go the way you planned with the holidays,” Jace continued. “Later today, we can open the presents under the tree, if you’re up for it?”

Maddy frowned. “Cody said we’d wait until after I buy gifts for you guys.”

“You being here right now is the biggest gift you could ever give us. Skylar’s hand covered her thigh under the table. “But we understand how you feel, so we’ll wait, however long, until you get what you want for us.”

She let out a deep breath.

“Baby girl, don’t be so hard on yourself. You had no control over this. There will be many more holidays together,” Jace vowed.

“That’s what everyone keeps telling me--” she sighed “--but none of them will ever be the first again.”

“Come here, you.” Skylar picked her up and put her on his lap. “I declare that today is December fifteenth, and Christmas will be in ten days.”

Maddy giggled. “You’re ridiculous.”

He nuzzled her neck, his hand running up her thigh, and he hardened beneath her. “There’s a present I’d like to unwrap early, though.”

She giggled again and slid off his lap. “That’s a present that will have to wait.” She began stacking the empty plates. “Lucca and Torr will be here in half an hour, and I don’t want dishes still on the table.”

“Go get ready, baby girl.” Jace took the dishes from her. “I’ll take care of this.”

Maddy tilted her head. “You sure?”

“It’s not that hard to put them in the dishwasher,” Skylar teased.

Jace shoved the dishes at Skylar. “Good, then you can do it.”

She chuckled and headed for the stairs, leaving them to sort out the chores.

When she reached the top step, though, she stopped and turned around to see Skylar had followed behind her, and her pulse quickened. “Yes?”

“I like that you live with us now. That way, I can kiss you whenever I want to.” He pinned her against the wall, giving her a bruising kiss.

Damn, she forgot how they turned her on with a single kiss.

8

MADDY

Thirty-five minutes later, Jace came into Maddy’s bedroom, shutting the door behind him. “Couldn’t wait, could you? Baby girl, your brother is here. Go get dressed.”

She sat up from the tangle of sheets in her bed, flushed and sticky, but satisfied. Skylar sprawled on the bed beside her, sweat glistening on his skin and his dark-blond curls in a tangle.

“Do you think I have time to get a shower?” She bit her bottom lip.

---