“It’ll dry,” I said, taking the rag from him and wiping at it myself. “What’s your news?”
He grinned. “Prince Sawyer wants to eat lunch with Evan in two days’ time. Can Evan come to the castle?”
“Of course I can,” I responded, excited by the thought of seeing Sawyer. It had been too long, and I wanted to catch up with him.
“This is very important,” Kuya whispered, leaning in closer. “Evan needs to bring cake with him.”
“For you or for the prince?”
He flashed another grin before planting his hands on my chest, kicking his leg up behind him, and kissing me on the cheek. The sneaky cat-boy then snatched two cupcakes from behind me and scampered away. Yeah, that had been the real motivation behind his affectionate peck—a chance to grab sweets.
Typical Kuya. But it’s why I loved him. I looked at Noah. “Do you want anything? I made extra today, so there’s plenty left.”
The knight eyed the trays of desserts with interest but shook his head. “No, thank you. I’m on duty.”
“Your loss,” one of my favorite voices in the whole world said from the other room. “It leaves more for the rest of us.” Maddox stepped through the archway, his blue eyes instantly finding mine and not leaving me as he approached. Once in front of me, his arms came around my waist and he lifted me off the floor with a hug.
“Hey, you.” I closed my eyes as I pressed against him. The world was right once again. Well, almost. It was half-right. “Is Briar with you?”
“Unfortunately,” Maddox mumbled, placing me back down. “I tried to leave him at the castle, but he insisted on following.”
“Be nice.” I shoved his shoulder, and he breathed out a laugh. The sound thrilled me, just as it always did in the rare instances when he let it loose.
Maddox slowly pulled back and touched the bottom of my shirt. “Why are you wet?”
“I was washing dishes.”
“And you fell in?” Maddox smirked as I shot him a glare. “Youareawfully small. Even the sink is too big for you.”
I shoved him again. “Butthole.”
“A ‘b’word to add to all the ‘s’ones? I’ve leveled up.”
“I’m gonna level my fist into your ridiculously perfect and sexy jaw if you keep making fun of me.”
“Can I watch?” my other favorite voice in the whole world said.
I whirled around and smiled as Briar approached. He wrapped me in his arms and placed a kiss beneath my ear. His glasses lightly scraped my cheek as he lifted his head from my neck and peered at me.
“Watching is kind of your thing,” I said, my body heating at the memory of our last steamy encounter: Briar touching himself as Maddox railed me into oblivion.
“Yes, it is.” It made him remember too, if the sudden bulge in the front of his trousers was any indication. “You’re exquisite when uninhibited and lost to our touch.”
“Um. Kuya is still here.”
I looked over at him, my face hot. Kuya sat on the edge of the counter, feet slowly kicking as they dangled down. He had one strawberry cupcake devoured and the chocolate one not far behind. The ganache frosting coated his lips as he took another bite, his tail happily flicking behind him.
“We should return,” Sir Noah told him. “The prince will be expecting you.”
Kuya shoved the rest of the cupcake into his mouth before hopping down. He stole another one from the platter and waved at me. “Don’t forget about lunch in two days.”
“And bring cake,” I said with a nod. “Got it.”
After tossing me a snaggle-toothed grin, Kuya left the kitchen. Noah bowed his head to me before trailing after him, and it looked like something was in his hand. I glanced at the counter and grinned like a fool when realizing there were fewer sugar cookies.
So that was his favorite, huh? I made a mental note to bring some of those with me to the castle in two days.
“I tested the protective charm today,” Briar said, and judging by his smile, I assumed it was good news. “It successfully repelled small-scale attacks and minor magic, holding up well enough. It’s not quite where I want it to be, but I’m confident with more time, I’ll manage to craft something that can withstand stronger attacks.”
