Page 38 of Crave Me

She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, quiet and contemplating everything I just told her. I return to the kitchen to assemble our breakfast sandwiches and pour coffee, giving her time to digest my small explanation.

“How do you like your coffee?”

“Black.”

“That explains why you didn’t like the pumpkin spice latte.”

“Please don’t remind me.”

“That bad, huh?”

She laughs and it’s the prettiest sound. I don’t know if I’ve ever actually heard it before and now I know I want to hear it again.

“I don’t really have a sweet tooth. Or at least I’m really picky about it. I do love Hannah’s chocolate croissants. But coffee should be smooth and rich and not need all the cream, sugar, and added flavoring.” She makes a disgusted face, and I can’t control the chuckle that comes out of me at the sight.

“So black coffee good, flavored coffee bad. But chocolate croissants are fine.”

“But only Hannah’s.”

“Got it.”

“What about you?” she asks after a moment.

“Same on the coffee, black. After I graduated from high school some things went down with Sawyer and Ivy. Long story short, they were together from the very first moment they met in the sixth grade, and about a month into the summer after graduation, Ivy just disappeared. Her mom forced her to run off, get out of AR, and live the life she never got to, even if it wasn’t what Ivy wanted. But it almost killed Sawyer. Anyway, hefell into a deep depression. Our dad was working long hours at the distillery and my mom was worried sick about Sawyer while trying to be there for Liam, Carter, and Kinsey. Kins was still pretty little. I stepped up to take care of my mom and all the extra shit. Didn’t know the first thing about drinking coffee, so I just started pouring it black. It stuck.”

I clear my throat, not quite sure how I ended up opening up to her, and focus on my breakfast sandwich in front of me, not wanting to face her reaction.

“Wow. I had no idea they went through all of that. I mean, I put it together that a bunch of stuff happened in the fall, but I had no idea about the rest. Your mom is lucky to have you. Is that why you two are so close?”

I meet her eyes then, full of something I can’t quite decipher. It almost looks like jealousy or envy, and I realize that I haven’t tried to get to know anything about her on a deeper level. Deciding to make the best of the time we have snowed in together, I make a mental note to get to know her. All of her.

“Yeah, I think that was the start of it. Sawyer was never the same after Ivy left. Even though we’re twins, he definitely took on the firstborn role and I was able to fuck around. It wasn’t until he checked out that I had to step up and I just never stepped back.” I laugh at that sentiment. “Must be why we go round and round so much. He wants control back and I’m not giving it up. I like taking care of my family. I’d do damn near anything for any of them.”

I look up from my meal just as Blaire swats a tear from her face. I cock my head to the side and study her. She’s so much more than I initially thought. Sure, I’ve been madly obsessed with her feisty personality and sexy-as-hell body, but she’s managed to surprise me.

“That’s really sweet, Dallas. They’re lucky to have you. Honestly, you’re all lucky to have each other.”

“Yeah. And we’re only getting bigger with the way Sawyer plans to breed Ivy.”

She chokes on her coffee, and I throw my head back in a laugh.

“You’re joking.”

“I wish I was. He’s pretty open about it. Surprised you haven’t heard the fucker. They want a hockey team. I’ll bet you right now that she’s pregnant again before the first baby turns one.”

“Oh my god, Dallas!”

We both laugh and finish our breakfast and coffee with easy, comfortable conversation. It’s the longest we’ve spoken without ripping each other’s throats out and I don’t hate it. In fact, I want more of it, even if I know I shouldn’t.

Chapter Fourteen

Blaire

After a long-needed shower, I wrap a towel around me and pad across the hardwood floors into Dallas’ room, stealing a clean shirt from him and tossing it over my head, letting the towel drop to my feet. Bending over to grab it, I flip my hair forward and use the towel to wrap it up when hands glide over my bare ass. I yelp and jump forward, only to be held in place by those firm hands around my hips.

“Dallas!”

“Walking into my room to find you already in here, bent over, bare-assed in nothing but one of my T-shirts is a fucking wet dream.”

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