The bridge of her nose has a smattering of light freckles that spread out over the tops of her cheeks.
My mouth goes dry the longer I breathe in her rainy, fresh scent. There are hints of some type of flower—cherry blossoms, maybe—but the overpowering scent is an electric smell that I don’t have a name for.
She’s beautiful, and I’ve spent too long stuck on her scent and those freckles. Her head tilts, and her teeth dig into her lower lip as she studies me creeping on her.
Every cell in my body aches to lean forward and capture her puffy lips. Her eyes are hooded, and she leans closer as I sway toward her. Our mouths nearly brush, but commotion comes from the doorway, making us both jolt.
“Knock, knock,” Hael says from behind me. “Is now a bad time? We’ve got a few surprises for you.”
A new urge takes over, and I grind my teeth to keep from growling at him to fuck off.
He just interrupted something. Exactly what, I don’t know, but Arbor looked like shewantedme to kiss her.
The moment is gone now.
Her eyes widen, and she smiles over my shoulder at my twin. “For me? Or for Gracie?”
He chuckles. “Both of you.” The humor in his tone proves he knows he intruded. He just doesn’t give a fuck.
A violent barrage of images flash through my mind as I daydream all the ways I’m going to make him suffer.
That motherfucker.
Sometimes I wish I was an only child.
Chapter Fourteen
Arbor
Maybe I’m delusional, but Hayes and I had a moment. I was very sure he was going to kiss me. Then Hael was there, and it was gone, but I wasn’t appalled by the thought of Hayes pressing his lips against mine.
In fact, I wanted him to.
The entire way into the living room, I obsess about what kind of kisser Hayes is. Something tells me he’d be slow and commanding—bossy, even. I’m also a little too focused on if he would hold me in place with a hand wrapped around the back of my neck or if his fingers would dig into my jaw as he moved me where he wanted me.
“Mmm,” Hael says, bumping his shoulder against mine. His dark brown curls fall over his forehead as he grins. “You smell so damn sweet. Hopefully that means you’re feeling a little better.”
My cheeks grow hot.
Daydreaming about kissing Hayes was a nice distraction, but I’m still healing.
My boobs leak every time Gracie cries, I’m in what amounts to a diaper, and the bathroom mirror highlighted the circles under my eyes when I studied myself after my shower. It’s insane to think anyone could be attracted to me right now.
“I feel a lot better after that chicken, bacon, Swiss sandwich.” I grin up at him. “Which one of you guessed that I’m not a huge fan of red meat?”
Hael chuckles. “It’s what I always order from Lenny’s diner, but luckily, we planned ahead and got options.”
“Did I take your food?” I ask, blinking repeatedly as I stop dead in my tracks.
Morris told me to help myself to whatever I wanted, and I was starving to the point I didn’t put any thought into whose food I might be taking.
“No,” he says, laughing. “God, you’re cute when you’re panicking.”
Hayes sighs, sliding around beside us and heading into the living room. I briefly wonder if I need to go check on Gracie, but I don’t hear her fussing, and my jaw falls when I spot the new furniture.
They didn’t just replace the sectional. There’s also a huge plush love seat and a chair in the same dark gray fabric. The style is similar to the old one, but this one seemsfancier. The back cushions are thick and the seat cushions look extra soft.
Hael slides his arm around my lower back, guiding me forward. “Do you like it?”