Page 262 of Blood & Betrayals

Rafe and I grin at each other before joining Luke and Alice on the couch to watch the movie.

A few hours later, Luke sits up and stretches. “I’m starving.”

“The kitchen should be fully stocked,” Alice says. Luke gets up and heads to the kitchen to start dinner. Always happy to create a little chaos, Alice bounces to her feet and walks to the bedroom door Zach and Ashley went into. She slams her fist on the door and shouts, “Stop fucking! It’s almost dinnertime!”

“Shh, Connor is sleeping!” I hiss, but it is already too late.

Connor emerges from his room, looking perfectly sleep-rumpled. He yawns, rubbing his eyes. “Who’s fucking?”

I smile brightly at him. “Hey, big guy! How are you feeling?”

Connor walks over to the couch and lies down, resting his head on my lap. He closes his eyes and yawns again. “Lonely.”

I smile, running my fingers through his soft blond hair. “Are you hungry? Luke’s cooking dinner.”

“Always hungry,” Connor says, a soft glow limning his body.

I bend, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “I missed you.”

Connor smiles sleepily. “Yeah? How long was I asleep?”

I glance at the clock on the mantle. “Just over three hours.”

“So long without love from my beautiful girlfriend,” Connor groans.

I brush my lips over his again, and Connor wraps his arms around my waist, burying his face against my stomach.

“You’re so needy,” Rafe says, rolling his eyes.

“Can you blame me?” Connor asks, inhaling me.

Ashley and Zach finally emerge from the room, both looking freshly fucked and flushed. Ashley’s blush deepens when she sees us all watching her, and she slinks off to the kitchen to help Luke. Zach follows her as if he can’t help himself.

I pat the space next to me for Alice.

“You come here a lot?” I ask.

Alice shrugs. “Sometimes. When I need some time alone.”

I rest my head on her shoulder. “What’s wrong, Al?”

Alice rests her head on mine and says in a small voice. “That hydra. I think it was a trap for me.” Alice sighs. “Another assassination attempt.”

I link my arm through hers. “Don’t worry, Al. I’ll kill them all.”

“That’s why you’re my wife.”

“Always and forever,” I say, stroking Connor’s hair, soothing him as he sleeps.

Luke, Ashley, and Zach come back with trays full of food, and I’m pleasantly surprised to see perfectly prepared steak with an array of vegetables.

I kiss Connor’s head. “Con?”

“Hm?” he grunts, nuzzling against my stomach.

“Food, big guy.”

Connor opens his mouth, his eyes still closed.

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