Page 10 of Storm

Atlas noticed the death stare from Storm and returned it with a smug smile.

“Um, chicken? Well, actually, maybe a hamburger. Those hot dogs look good, too.” She ducked her head, her cheeks turning bright red. “Sorry. I’m terribly indecisive. Chicken is fine.”

“Nothing wrong with being indecisive, sunshine,” Storm told her as he reached over and picked up her plate. “There’s also nothing wrong with having a little of everything.”

Then he looked pointedly at Atlas and raised a brow. “I got this.”

Carlee whispered something to Ivy, who leaned over and repeated whatever it was into Remi’s ear. When he shot them a stern look, the three of them smiled innocently. Why did he get the feeling the topic of their whispering was him?

When he had Brook’s plate filled with a bit of each dish, he set it in front of her. “Try a bite of everything, and if there’s something you don’t like, you don’t have to eat it.”

Brook stared up at him, her mouth open slightly. “Thank you. I could have gotten my own meal.”

Shaking his head, he reached for a hamburger for himself and then took the other half of the one he cut from hers. “Little girls don’t get their own food here. We have to make sure it’s not too hot and that it’s cut up so you don’t choke.”

As Storm tore into his dinner with hearty, voracious bites, Brook delicately nibbled at hers, savoring each small morsel with an elegance that seemed almost unconscious. While he devoured his plate in minutes, her meal remained mostly untouched, her fork hovering hesitantly as though she were lost in thought.

The room hummed with energy, the low rumble of deep voices mingling with the bubbly chatter and peals of laughter from the Littles. Despite the chaos, Storm felt an unexpected sense of satisfaction seeing how effortlessly everyone included Brook, treating her as though she’d always been a part of their close-knit clubhouse family. But his sharp eyes didn’t miss the moments when she quieted, her bright green eyes darting around the room, observing on the periphery rather than engaging. She didn’t seem uncomfortable, exactly—just quiet,soaking in her surroundings. Something Storm understood completely.

Every so often, out of the corner of his eye, he’d catch her peeking over at him. What was she thinking? Was she scared of him? He knew he was intimidating, even when he was trying not to be. Did she think he was attractive? He certainly found her to be beautiful.

Those shining green eyes of hers and her pillowy lips made it hard not to stare at her. Add in her wide hips and big tits and he was practically drooling. He shouldn’t assume she was single, but fuck, if she were his, she wouldn’t go anywhere without him. If she did have a man, Storm already hated the guy. She was too damn precious to be out and about on her own.

“I’ve never seen you here when I’ve come over before,” she said quietly.

Leaning back, he turned so his body was slightly angled toward her. For some reason, he wanted to give her his full attention. “I don’t socialize a lot. I like to keep to myself.”

Great. That wasn’t the right thing to say if he wanted her to like him. His words hung in the air like an awkward pause, and he inwardly cringed. He might as well have slapped a neon sign across his chest that read,I’m a grumpy recluse—proceed with caution.The mental image of himself standing there, arms crossed, and a scowl etched into his face, was enough to make him grimace. Perfect. Just the impression he wanted to leave.Smooth, Storm. Real smooth.

Brook held his gaze for a lingering moment, her emerald-green eyes shimmering with empathy, a soft smile curling at the corners of her pillowy lips. “I understand.” Her voice was a gentle melody that threaded between the hum of conversation around them. “I’m the same way, actually. I’m so introverted. I love coming to hang out with the girls, but afterward…” She paused, her smile deepening, a faint blush warming her cheeks.“I’m going to have to hibernate in my apartment for the rest of the weekend to recharge.” Her tone held a self-deprecating warmth, the kind of honesty that felt both vulnerable and endearing.

Ah. Now her quiet observing made sense.

Her eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth. “Sorry. That was probably TMI.”

For the first time in a long time, he chuckled. She was too fucking cute. “Not TMI, sunshine. Is that why you were so tired yesterday?”

Her cheeks turned bright pink again. Storm’s gaze lingered, captivated by the innocent beauty of her reaction. Would she blush like that in bed? The thought struck him hard, unbidden and intoxicating. He imagined those same cheeks glowing for an entirely different reason, her wide, green eyes alight with unrestrained passion. Sweet, so fucking sweet, and innocent, like temptation wrapped in an adorable little package. The vivid image sent a surge of heat through him, and his body responded instantly, tension coiling low in his belly. His cock ached, and he had to shift to make it more comfortable to sit.

“No, I was up reading late the night before. It’s sort of a bad habit of mine. I get lost in a book and can’t put it down until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer.”

He didn’t like that. Not one bit. How many hours of sleep was she getting each night? Not enough, based on the dark circles under her eyes that her concealer didn’t fully cover.

“Brook, do you want to come play a game with us?” Carlee called out.

Storm had to bite back a growl. He wasn’t done talking to Brook. For the first time in a very long time, he wanted to have a conversation with someone. She was here for the party, though, not for him, and he wouldn’t take away her chance to play with her friends.

“Coming!” Brook stood and then picked up her plate, but Storm stopped her and took it from her hands.

She was a tiny little thing compared to him. She had to tilt her head way back to look at him. And fuck if that didn’t turn him on.

“Go play. I’ll take care of this,” he said.

After a second of staring at him, she flashed him an adorable grin before she turned and skipped toward her friends.

“Be good,” he warned without thinking better of it.

When the girls were out of sight, he let out a breath and turned toward the kitchen. He froze, though, because all his brothers were grinning at him like they knew something he didn’t.

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