Page 103 of Revenant

I do not doubt for a second that he would cut me if I disobeyed.

I obediently drop the bacon. But instead of continuing to cook, he cocks his head to the side and studies me with eyes that see too much. As much as I might want to run away from his too observant gaze, there is no hiding from my twin.

When it comes to emotions, he knows me better than I know myself.

“She loves you,” he murmurs, distractingly tossing the knife across the kitchen, and it thunks into the cutting board. The tip sinks deep, and the blade quivers with a warble as it swings back and forth under the force. James never once looks away from me, his expression earnest. “Don’t rush the experience. You only fall in love once. Enjoy it. Savor it. It will be worth it.”

Any leftover jitters evaporate at his reassurance.

If anyone can read a woman, it’s James.

It’s not long before we hear the bedroom door open. Hicks and Ellis look up in anticipation, falling quiet at the table, while James rushes around the kitchen like his head is cut off. I’m not sure how he doesn’t accidentally kill himself with all the sharp tools and utensils scattered around the counters and strewn across the floor where they’ve fallen. It’s just part of his charm.

When Rue and Gunner trail down the stairs, they practically have hearts in their eyes as they gaze lovingly at each other.Despite their recent sexcapades, sexual tension vibrates between them like a living thing. Naked images of them entwined together flashes in my mind, and I groan when my cock hardens. I swear I can still feel her silken skin against my fingertips, and my mouth waters with the impulse to kiss her until she melts in my arms.

James perks up like a little meerkat when the couple reaches the bottom of the stairs, the crazy fucker somehow able to sense whenever Rue is near. His critical gaze lands on Rue, not missing a detail of her sexy, just fucked glow. He only relaxes when a gorgeous blush fills Rue’s cheeks under his intense perusal.

“You’re walking around a little bowlegged, pookie.” A spark of pure devilment shimmers in his eyes, and he smirks at Gunner. I glance at my brother, wondering if I can stop him from speaking, but the little shit slipped to the other side of the counter while I was distracted. Even as I move in his direction, I know it’s too late. With a cocky grin, James flashes Rue an outrageous wink. “I guess we know if Gunner’s new size is proportional or not.”

I sigh when Gunner’s temper snaps, aggression pouring off the big man when he stalks toward James, his face turning an alarming shade of red with each step. “I’m going to pound you to paste, you fucking asshole.”

As the two men chase each other around the cabin, I sweep toward Rue, drawn into her orbit like she’s the center of my universe. Deciding to trust my brother, I vow to do as he says and just enjoy spending time with Rue.

I’m only going to fall in love once, and I’m determined to make it an adventure of a lifetime.

Every day for the rest of our lives, I silently vow to make her fall in love with me all over again…starting today.

Chapter Thirty-eight

RUE

When Gunner stomps after Jameson, the leaner man chuckles and dances out of range, shooting a wink in my direction before dashing from the room. The discomfort of having everyone focused on us when we first entered the kitchen fades, and I silently thank Jameson for the distraction.

While I can heal myself, I don’t want to completely take away the aches and pains of my time spent with Gunner. Every sore muscle is a reminder of what we did upstairs, and I cherish each one.

Dating one person isn’t easy, dating multiple people is going to take time and patience. Despite knowing what we were doing upstairs, none of the other men cast me knowing smirks or lude comments, and the tension in my spine slowly dissipates.

Thumps and cursing erupt from the other room, wood splinters with a loud crack, and Hicks pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing in exasperation. “Enough. We have to live here forthe foreseeable future. We can’t do that if you two destroy the cabin.”

Grumbling comes from the other room, then the two hooligans return, though neither looks suitably repentant. Gunner wears his customary scowl, a flush darkening his cheeks as he claims a seat at the table with one muttered word. “Sorry.”

Jameson swaggers into the room after him, straightening his rumpled clothing, and a bright smile breaks across his face when he spots me. “Morning, pookie! I cooked breakfast for you and kept these heathens from stealing any of it.”

He glares daggers at the others, a death threat in his pale blue eyes warning them to behave, and I repress a smirk at how the roles have been reversed. Used to dealing with Jameson’s antics after years of practice, the men good-naturedly take a seat around the table, which seems to satisfy his ire.

He turns on his heel, heads to the oven, and hauls out large, heaping piles of food. After placing the trays on the table, he swings a big wooden spoon at the guys in warning. When no one moves, he grunts, almost in disappointment at being denied smacking them, then grabs a stack of plates.

Instead of handing one to me, he takes time to pile the food high until it’s loaded an inch deep and starts sliding off the edges. He sets the platter—because it is a platter, since the damn thing is nearly twice the size of all the other plates—right in front of me, then fusses with the silverware until it’s perfectly aligned. I’m charmed he would go to such effort for me, and I glance around the cabin when I realize he’s the one who arranged everything. The cabin. The food. The clothing in my closet. Everything was for me.

I glance down at the familiar fluffy pink sweater and skinny jeans I’m wearing and realize that they aren’t just similar to mine—theyaremine. He stole them right out of my closet.Maybe I should be pissed at the invasion of privacy, but I can’t even be mad.

It’s like he thought of every last detail, wanting it to be perfect for me.

Silly man.

Nothing else matters as long as I have them.

Everything else is just a bonus.

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