Page 32 of Emerge

Chapter Ten

Riley

To say I was disappointed I woke up fully clothed and horny was an understatement. The night before, after eating dinner, we skinny dipped in the heated pool. Despite the lack of clothing, not one of them had made a move.

I thought at first it was because Morgan was also doing his rehabilitation exercises, but once he was done and in human form again, we had just floated around like we weren't all naked.

After changing into pajamas, Blake made a fire in the fireplace and found some games for us to play. Then, stupid me had fallen asleep curled into a corner of the couch.

I know I didn't always need to have sex, but I was in a small space with my three really hot boyfriends. I thought at least Morgan would have woken me up for some fun times.

Morgan and Blake were asleep on either side of me and I slid out of bed, nearly stepping on Jax on the floor. They slept like the dead, despite the noise I was making. It was well past the time they normally woke up.

I tiptoed into the living room, shutting the door behind me. I wanted to cook them breakfast again since they were always cooking for me. I had just pulled eggs and bacon out of the refrigerator when my phone pinged with a text from my mom. I pressed the call button.

"Hey sweetie, how is your farm getaway?" I could tell she was smiling just from the sound of her voice.

"Well, we did goat yoga yesterday and just hung out the rest of the day after that." I started cracking eggs in a bowl. I was glad they liked their eggs scrambled because I didn't know any other way to cook them. "You sound happy."

"I am." I heard a door shut in the background. "I have a meeting with the FBI this morning. Finn is my alibi."

I was quiet for a moment, letting that sink in. "So, he's going to lie for you? What's his motive?"

"This is part of his apology to me for hurting you. I know it doesn't seem normal that I would trust him, but he's the same man I fell in love with all those years ago, maybe just a little rougher around the edges."

"I don't think I'll ever feel comfortable around him." I whisked the eggs and set them to the side as I turned on the oven to cook the bacon. "Maybe I'll make him punch himself repeatedly in the nuts with my siren mojo."

My mom laughed. "So, you've discovered your compulsion? Be careful with how you use it. It can become addictive."

"I have a question... about the knife." I cleared my throat, considering how to properly word my question. "Does being really close with a triton have the same effect?"

My mom stayed silent as I put the bacon in the oven and set the timer. I had a bit before I had to start the eggs, so I sat down on a bar stool.

"When I was a teenager I didn't notice, but I certainly notice it now. I haven't told Finn about it yet, but it makes sense; the original tritons are made from Poseidon's magic, just like the knives."

"What magic are we made from?"

"No idea. There's a lot my mother didn't tell me. Having to acclimate to a life on land was tough for her." I heard a man's voice in the distant background. "I have to go. Also, I wanted to let you know Finn took care of all the money that was owed for everything, so when this is all over, we can move back home."

I hung up with my mom, unsure of how I felt about that. I had gotten into my routine of living with Jax, Morgan, and Blake. I had barely even thought about money issues in weeks, which was a big stress relief.

It had been a stressful situation all around, but I had learned a lot in a short time. Not just about what it takes to live on my own, but also about myself. I was literally a different person than I was only a few short months ago.

I just wondered when I'd find my first gray hair. I shuddered at the thought and went to the oven to peer in at the bacon.

"Cooking us breakfast again, vixen?" Morgan shut the bedroom door and stretched his arms over his head, his muscles pushing against his taut skin. "It's supposed to be my turn."

I put some butter in a pan and turned it on. "I know, but you looked so peaceful."

"I slept well." He was limping slightly as he popped a coffee pod into the coffee maker. "I don't know if I'm going to be able to learn to ride a horse today."

"Was the goat yoga too hard on you yesterday?" I dumped the eggs into the pan and put the bowl in the sink.

Morgan placed his hands on either side of me, trapping me against the counter. "I think a good stretch will help." He eyed my lips before moving away to lean against the opposite counter.

"Did I do something wrong?" I furrowed my brows as I began moving the eggs around the pan. "I feel like... I don't know, you guys are keeping me at arm’s length."

"We, uhh..." Morgan hopped onto the counter. "With three of us, we thought you could maybe use a little break."

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