By the time I’d poured more coffee for everyone, including Emory, he’d finished the last of breakfast and joined me at the table.
We all dug in, Holden cutting each bite meticulously while Bailey shoveled food into his mouth as if someone might steal it from him. I savored each bite, appreciating the care that went into it.
“When I woke up, I thought you might have taken off,” I murmured.
Emory’s left hand slipped onto my thigh and squeezed. “Sorry. You looked like you needed the rest. Couldn’t have been easy to sleep with me lying all over you all night.”
“I slept great,” I said. “I grew up with Axel climbing into bed with me. Trust me, you’ve got nothing on him. He used to kick me in the gut a dozen times a night.”
Emory laughed, which was my aim. “Where is Axel anyway? Should I have made extra for him?”
“He won’t be up until noon at best,” Holden answered. “When he gets in these moods, we sometimes don’t see him all day.”
“These moods?” Emory asked, forehead creasing. “Is he okay?”
“He’s fine,” Bailey said. “Axel likes to have fun, that’s all.”
“Sometimes he has a little too much fun,” Holden grumbled.
“And you have too little,” Bailey shot back.
“Guys, let’s save the sniping for when Emory isn’t here, having just made us all a great breakfast.”
“It’s okay,” Emory said. “You’re brothers. It’s what brothers do.”
There was a wistful tone to his voice I recognized now that I knew about his loss. I grasped his hand under the table and squeezed it.
“How about we take a bike ride later?” I suggested, wanting to take his mind off it.
His eyes lit up. “Really? That would be amazing. I haven’t seen you on your bike yet.”
“I know.” I grinned. “I’ve been too busy to really take it out for a spin. I need to blow out the cobwebs.”
“They look like they want to blow something,” Bailey muttered.
Holden elbowed him. “Thanks for breakfast, Emory. Bailey and I have some errands to run.”
“We do?” Bailey asked, then grunted. “Right. Yeah. Errands.”
Holden gathered the dirty dishes, carrying them to the sink. “I’ll wash up later. Thanks again, guys.”
“I guess they think we want to be alone,” Emory said with a chuckle.
“Well…” I grasped his face and kissed him. “I had been hoping to spend a little more time in bed with you this morning.”
Emory’s eyes darkened. “I suppose I am alittletired.”
I pushed my chair back and pulled him up to stand with me. “Get your ass into my bed, then.”
I smacked his butt, and he gave a surprised yelp before shooting me a hot look and running for the stairs. I followed him up, giving chase, arousal making my blood run hot as I tackled him to my bed.
He laughed beneath me, eyes bright and happy.
“This is how I want you all the time,” I said, pinning him beneath me.
“Trapped and at your mercy?”
“Smiling.” I kissed him. “Playful.” I moved my lips down his jaw to his ear. “Sexy.”