Page 93 of For the First Time
I whipped my head to the side, wondering if he was serious, but Everett just had a goofy grin on his face.
“Come on, Babygirl.You had to know I was joking.You’re the best chef.And you take care of us like no one else can.”He wrapped an arm over my shoulder and pulled me close, kissing my temple.His skin radiated heat which was impressive considering how warm it was outside.The bugs had gotten used to our presence and had started chirping and buzzing again.“But if you ever need help.We can find someone to ease that burden.You don’t have to take it all on yourself.You know that, right?”
“I know.I’m good, though.At least for now.”I liked taking care of my mates.I liked feeling as though they needed me.Liked providing for them.
A knock on the door had me smiling.“Come in.”
The door opened, revealing Oaks.He took one look at the food in our hands and turned back inside, leaving the door open.When he reappeared, it was with the mason jar full of honey, although he’d left the honeycomb inside.
“That’s just pure sugar,” I told him.
“Exactly,” Oaks agreed, nodding like I was making the suggestion, not judging his choice.
“With the chocolate and the honey, you’re never going to get back to sleep.”
“Didn’t seem like you were planning to come back to bed anyway, darlin.”He kissed my cheek and then stole a cracker.He’d left the jar’s lid inside, so he easily dipped the cracker into the jar and then gracefully accepted a piece of chocolate from Everett.“So, what’s got you up, thinking hard, at this hour?”
“Just nerves.I know Bartholomew said it would be weeks before I had to go into court but ...I don’t know, it just seems scary.”
The door creaked open again, making me jump at the sudden noise.Atlas came outside, simultaneously looking giddy with excitement while also looking like he could lay back down in bed and fall asleep instantaneously.
“You all left me,” he grumbled.“I don’t like it.”
Atlas came with his own offering.Some sort of box with a gold strip of fabric wrapped around it and tied into a bow.Must be some fancy cookies to come in a box like that.
Beside me, Everett let out a big sigh and Oaks just seemed to shake his head, unable to stop the smile from forming on his lips.
“What’s that?”I asked.
“Courting gift.”Atlas stepped up so he was right in front of me, no doubt wanting to block my view of my other mates.Atlas was possessive with my attention.I liked that, too.
“I thought we were going to wait to give her this one?”Oaks asked.He didn’t sound annoyed, though, just amused.
Atlas shrugged, not even bothering to look up at Oaks, completely unrepentant.“I think this will help cheer her up.”
“I’m not sad,” I told him.“I just came out here because I couldn’t sleep.”Still, I couldn’t stop glancing down at the little box.What was inside it?It was such an awkward size.Bigger than the palm of his hand, yet not quite shipping box sized.Definitely bigger than a broach, although not tall enough for a notebook or pen.
“Well, then, I guess you don’t need this?”
I glared at my mate.“You can’t tease me with a gift.That’s just mean.”
“This is just to cheer you up.But if you’re all fine and dandy, pet, then I’ll save it for another day.”
“Really?You can tolerate knowing there’s a gift in the house for me that I haven’t opened.”
Now it was Atlas glaring at me.“I could manage.”
“Fine.Then we’ll see who can last longer—”
“All right.Fine.You win.Just open it.”
I laughed, my heart feeling lighter even as my cheeks started to hurt with how hard I was smiling.Everett grabbed the sleeve of crackers from me, and I carefully took the box, the weight of it much heavier than I’d anticipated.Okay, so it wasn’t cookies.
When I undid the fabric crisscrossing along the box, Atlas grabbed it, playing with it between his fingers.I didn’t need a superior sense of smell to know he was feeling anxious.Atlas wasn’t a male that was typically calm, but his fingers were impatiently tugging on the gold fabric like he was thinking of taking the box straight out of my hands and opening it himself.
“Maybe I should wait until morning?”I teased.
Atlas growled.“Don’t be a brat, pet, or you’ll be opening your gift with my cock in your mouth, unable to even mumble the words ‘thank you’.”
