Page 44 of Forever Ink

“You look cold, Daddy,” I whispered against his cheek.

Simon nuzzled against me, smiling. “Warmer now. How many of those have you had?” he asked, pointing at my empty mug.

I put on my sweetest expression. “Only two. Dad says I can’t have any more until I’ve eaten,” I huffed, unaware I’d just called Magnus Dad.

Magnus stilled, then smiled so big I thought his cheeks might pop. I let out a loud squeak when he rushed round the table to throw his arms around me. I was squashed between Simon and Magnus and I giggled and blushed when I finally realised what I’d said.

“No take-backs, Rhys. You’re part of the Johannsen clan now.” Magnus smacked a loud kiss on the top of my head and then did the same to Daddy, who scowled and tried to look offended.

“Rhys, you and Mitchel get the table set, make sure to use the good dinner set. It’s in the dresser. Alice, do you think you’re big enough to get the juice jug out of the fridge?” Magnus said.

“I’m eight. I’m super big,” Alice proclaimed.

“Yes, you are, now you get that jug out. Cullen, help her with the door would you? That old fridge can be a bit of a pain in the arse.”

Sliding from my stool, I moved over to the dresser Magnus had pointed out and saw the dinner set I thought he meant.

The plates were not what I was expecting. They were all different patterns, some with dainty flowers, some with gold edging.

“Mum loved picking up plates from the auctions and antique shops and built up this set,” Mouse said, looking over my shoulder. I held up one that had dancing teddy bears around the edge and Mouse smiled. “That was Sy’s.” Mouse reached past me and pulled out one that had tiny mice holding each other’s tails dancing around the place. “Mine.” He snorted with laughter.

I held up one with what looked like a blue tulip pattern. It was beautiful, Mouse looked at the plate and grinned. “It’s the last one left. Mum had four plates and bowls, but they got broken over the years. Let’s get these set out. I’m starved, and Dad’s pressed cod is the best. Even the peas he makes taste good.”

I wrinkled my nose at the mention of peas. “I don’t like them normally,” I whispered.

Mouse nodded. “I don’t like them much normally either, but Dad does them with butter sauce and cream and they taste good. And then we’ve got cloudberries and cream for dessert.” Mouse’s face took on a dreamy look, and I had to laugh.

“They taste good, then?”

“Oh man, there’s nothing like them. Come on, looks like Dad’s getting ready to serve up.” I reached out and grabbed Mouse’s arm before he headed to the table. “Are you okay? You and Sy seemed to be having a bit of a conversation before you came in.”

Mouse gave a sad kind of smile. “Its okay, just Sy being a big worrywart. You’d think he’d stop with that now he has you to fuss over.” Mouse shouldered me softly.

“He’s always going to worry about you, it’s what he does,” I answered softly, watching Simon talking with Doc at the table.

“Yeah.” Mouse shrugged and grabbed the plates from the sideboard. “The cutlery is in that drawer,” he said, before he moved away and started laying out the plates.

* * *

Okay, Mouse was right. The peas actually tasted nice. I was pretty sure it was the sauce I was loving, it almost disguised the taste of the peas. And the fish and potatoes were to die for.

“Rhys, you have cream on your nose.”

I stuck my tongue out, chasing the taste of it. Simon chuckled alongside me, bringing up a napkin to wipe it off my nose.

“You like the cloudberry cream?” His voice was slightly husky like his thoughts had gone somewhere dirty and sexy. I wiggled, trying to will my dick to not misbehave.

“Simon, stop seducing your boy at the dinner table. Some of us are still trying to eat,” Doc barked out, though his smirk said he didn’t mind at all.

Daddy tipped his head back, fixing Doc with a wicked grin. “Why, you jealous, Doc?”

“Pfft. Not in the slightest, free as a bird and nobody to answer to, just how I like it thank you very much,” Doc answered, scooping a huge spoonful of cloudberry cream into his mouth.

“Ah, but don’t you want a nice somebody to curl up with at night?” I asked.

Doc grinned around his spoon, swallowing slowly. “Oh, lad, I never lack having a nice somebody, sometimes even two if my nights are lucky.” Doc winked at me, then laughed. “You should close your mouth, lad, having it hang open like that is a good way to trap flies.”

I snapped my mouth shut and shot Simon a look. He just shrugged and smiled, taking another spoonful of dessert for himself.

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