Page 88 of Pucking the Enemy

“We realized early on that it’s a good way of keeping track of who was watching over you.” He shrugged. How had I not realized that yet? My baby brain was really making me miss simple things.

Part of me wanted to be offended that they were assigning babysitters for me like I was a puppy, but part of me was also very touched.

The fact that they had let Sebastian join the group chat was a good sign. Maybe we really could work as a family.

My phone buzzed several times in quick succession as everyone answered Seb.

Phillip:

I’m free today.

Cormac:

me me meeeeee

Roman:

I’ll bring the credit card. We can have lunch at the Mexican place you’ve been wanting to try, Duchess.

Phillip:

Why are you guys even awake?

“Damn, Roman is good. He knows to bribe you with food,” Seb laughed, watching the exchange over my shoulder. His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling my back so it lay flush against his chest. “I’m sorry I can’t come with you today.”

“You need to go to practice. If you miss any more, the coach is going to murder you. When’s your next game?”

“In two weeks. Against the Avalon Knights.”

I winced. “That sounds fun.”

Seb pursed his lips, thinking for a moment. “You know what? It might be. We’ve all been playing nicely while living together, so the ice could be a good opportunity for us to take out our frustrations on one another.”

“I happen to like all your faces, so no punching and no damaging each other,” I instructed, turning to face him. In the morning light that was just starting to filter in, he looked beautiful. His scent was extra potent, and I was probably covered in it.

“We should get up.” I groaned. My to-do list for the day was growing rapidly.

“We should. But I happen to like having you here,” he said, leaning down to kiss my neck. My body reacted, softening in his embrace, going boneless as each touch of his lips sent electricity through me.

I stayed in his arms for a few minutes before crawling out of bed, despite Sebs’s protests.

Without bothering to shower, I threw on a pair of linen trousers and a cute daisy-patterned crop top. Having no clothes in the room, Seb was reduced to putting on his boxers from the night before.

“Breakfast?” I asked, padding over to him and wrapping my arms around his waist, burying my face into his chest and taking a deep breath.

“If you don’t stop touching me, you’re going to be breakfast,” he grumbled, pulling back and heading toward the door.

Following him, I was about to open my mouth when he opened the door from my nest into the hallway, and the world exploded into a glittery, chaotic mess.

“What the fuck!” Seb cried out as bright gold confetti filled our vision. I could hardly see through the confetti, but I could hear someone, or more accurately, several someone’s, cheering.

“Congratulations on getting laid!” Cormac shouted, barreling toward Seb and grabbing him in a headlock.

He, Phillip and Roman were all standing outside my nest like creepers, and in their hands, they had the still-smoking remnants of confetti cannons.

“Who exactly are you congratulating?” I asked in confusion.

“Sebby boy!” Cormac declared from his position on the floor, where he and Seb were locked in an intense altercation.

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