Finding My Pack (25 page)

  For the first time in what seems like forever, Reed smiles. Not just a small one but it finally reaches all the way to his eyes. I blink at him, in absolute awe of the stunning boy in front of me, he's devastating when he smiles like that.

  "I understand now Kitten. I wish you could see yourself like I do."

  "I know what you mean Reed." And I do, he can't see what I'm seeing right now.

  A cough sounds behind me. I turn and frown at the door. Crossing the room to open it, I'm beyond surprised by what I see, all seven of them line the wall across from Reed's room. They are all staring at me, speechless it seems. I frown at them, my hand going to my hip. "Have you been out here the whole time?" Looks are exchanged between them. That answers my question.

  I roll my eyes when nobody answers me. "Well, are you going to explain yourselves or what?" My foot starts tapping.

Remy, of course, is the one to speak. "We just all wanted to hear your story too Kitten, Reed would've told us, we don't keep secrets and we share information in this house, no way would he have been able to retell all of that, word for word," He explains.

  "That's fine, you should have just asked me, though. You don't take what I don't give you. Information or otherwise. Understood?" I throw his words back at him. I'm purring inside with his response.

  "Yes Kitten, understood." Oh heck yes! I got Remy to say that! My excitement fades though when I see a basket sitting between Logan and Tristan. MY basket with MY candy.

  My eyes flare wide, and I stand up as tall as I'm able. I point my finger at the basket. "MINE!"

I
had attempted to tackle Logan, but Remy had caught me up in his arms before I could. We came to a different agreement.

  After having the seven of them stand against the wall, all in a line, I kicked each one of them in the shin, Remy got it twice because I owed him from earlier. Reed laughed at them from the doorway. I will admit that I took it easy on Ash because he's just kind of scary and he takes care of AJ. When I told them what was going to happen, the others all pointed fingers at Logan and Tristan, saying they were the only ones who ate my candy. I explained that those two ate it, but the others allowed it to happen. Finn said that you can't argue with that kind of logic. I agreed, but he got kicked too anyway.

  When the kicking was over everyone piled into Reed's cloud room. Reed, me and Remy took the bed while Logan gathered pillows and blankets from other rooms for the rest of the guys to use on the floor.

When everyone was settled, I went around, handing them each a piece of candy from my basket. "I would have shared had you given me the opportunity. I'm sure I will learn to share better over time, for now, don't tell me it's mine unless you mean it. If you want it to be 'ours' then say so up front."

  "Well said Kitten, and thank you," Kellan said from his spot on the floor. I'm not sure why everyone is sleeping in here, but I like it. I want to be close to all of them. I climb back into my spot between Remy and Reed, feeling contentment slide over me. Yes, a girl could really get used to this.

I hear rustling noises coming from somewhere in the room, so I lift my head to see who it is. It's Tristan, stepping over his brothers and heading to the door. He sees me and gives me a cute sleepy smile. "Go back to sleep pretty girl, I'm just going make breakfast, you've still got an hour before you need to be up for work."

  I am super comfortable here, lying with Reed tucked up behind me, my body draped over Remy's bare chest on this wonderful cloud bed. But I'm just not tired anymore. I slowly inch myself away from the two guys, trying not to wake them. Once I make it to standing, I hear Reed groan and he turns his face to me, now lying flat on his stomach.

  "Don't go," Reed whispers as I tip-toe to the door.

  I stop and smile at him. "I'll see you soon, promise," I whisper. He just smiles back, closing his eyes and drifting off again.

  Once I make it to the hallway I try to catch up with Tristan, but it's no use and I find him in the kitchen already. I pause in the doorway to watch him, his sleep-mussed sandy hair is all over the place and is cute as heck. I see the lock of hair that seems to always fall into his eyes and I have to clench my fingers into a fist at the thought of brushing it back. His tall, lean form is covered in red, both top and bottoms and I can his muscles flex under his clothes as he commands this kitchen. I wonder if he can move about in here with his eyes closed.

  "Are you going to stand in the doorway all morning, or are you going to actually come in?" I jump a little, forgetting that yes, in fact, the beautiful boy in front of me is real and here and he can speak.

  "Sorry," I mumble out, moving to the island and taking a seat.

  "For what? Watching me?" I bite my lip and make circles on the countertop. He knew I was staring? I nod. Tristan chuckles. "I like you watching me Kitten."

  My head snaps up. Huh? "You do?"

  He walks over to me, bending down and leaning on his elbows so he's close to my face. "I do. I like feeling your eyes on me from across the room. I like it when your hand twitches when my hair falls in my eyes, I like it when your heartbeat calms when you hear my voice, and I like that you like my chocolatety eyes."

  I think I melted to the floor in a puddle. Tristan's voice is low and is doing weird things to my belly. I've never heard him talk with that tone before, but I really, really don't want him to stop. So he notices me and my reactions to him? Wait a minute.

  "HE TOLD YOU!" I screech. I am so gonna kill Kellan when I see him.

  Tristan stands up, laughing. "Yes, he told me. The Giant and Chocolate Eyes. I love the name Kitten, and seeing as how much you love chocolate if yesterday was any indication, I'll take that as a huge compliment." He winks at me, before going to the fridge.

  "I do love them," I whisper, not believing that I'm really telling him this. "Not just the color, but how silky they are, smooth. I read your eyes better than I've ever been able to read anyone's. It's how I knew you really wanted to help me the night you found me, how I knew that you understood what I was telling you. You have a gentle soul Tristan, and it shows through your eyes."

   Tristan walks back to me slowly, guiding me off my seat so I stand with my back against the island. "Are my eyes the only thing you like about me, Kitten?" He asks with that low tone back.

  "N-no." I stammer.

  He lays his forehead on mine. "Tell me, what else you like about me." Part of me thinks I should be embarrassed by what I already said, but the bigger part of me wants Tristan to know just how I feel about him.

  "I like your shaggy hair too. I like how you stand up for me. I like how beautiful you are. And I like how you take care of me." I close my eyes, hoping against all hope that he doesn't laugh at me. Which reminds me. "Oh, and I like your laugh. Your food too, your food is magical."

  Tristan backs his head away from mine, tilting my chin up. "You think my food is magic huh?" I open my eyes, is that all he heard? I nod, staring into those dang chocolate eyes that started this whole mess. His responding smile is brilliant.

  "And your smile," I say.

  "Anything else?"

  "Your voice, I like your voice too."

  "Anything else?"

  "I like that you're playful, Like Logan but a little less reckless."

  "Anything else?"

  Why does he keep asking that? Do all boys need an ego boost in the morning? "Tristan I could stand here all day and list the things I love about you, why don't you just go find a tall mirror to stand in front of. I like everything about you. Now stop trying to kill me of embarrassment." I huff out.

  "Can I kiss you, Kitten?" He asks.

  "Please." When his soft lips come down on mine all I can think is, finally! I've felt a connection with Tristan ever since he found me that night. I'm finally able to grab onto him and pull him to me and it's pure bliss.

  When he was done kissing me thoroughly, he steps back. "I just wanted to you hear you say you liked everything about me because I like everything about you too Kitten." He kisses the tip of my nose and goes back to the refrigerator. I bring my hand to my lips, feeling that they have swelled. Wow, his kisses are magic too.

  "Except your food. I haven't tasted your cooking yet." He says, bringing my thoughts back down to earth.

  "Is that a deal breaker?" I ask playfully. I hope not though. It's not like I have any experience with stoves.

  Tristan just laughs. "Come here silly girl, you can make the eggs." Yay! Cooking with Tristan!

...........

  The rest of the guys slowly trickle to the kitchen after my kiss with Tristan. I try to concentrate on the big pan of eggs, but it's a little hard when adorable sleepy boys are in my line of sight. Each one of them saw me standing at the stove and came over and either hugged or kissed me, telling me good morning. I might have to do this cooking thing more often.

  Once we're all seated, we start eating and chatting away. I've learned that most of them only grunt before their first cup of coffee. I start eating my pancakes that Tristan made, with a strawberry syrup he made just for me. I get lost in my own little food haze until I hear Logan shouting.

  "Holy shit! What was the recipe for these Tristan? A dash of salt and a barrel of ass?" He spits into a napkin just as I see Jace's mouth open and half chewed food just falls out to his plate. Mr. Manners just did that?

"Fuck, he's right man, gross." Ash chugs his water down like he's been in a desert without for a week.

"Dude, did we do something to piss you off?" Reed chimes in, but it sounds like he thinks it's funny.

  Tristan holds his hands out, palms up. "I don't know what you guys are going on about. I made the pancakes just like I always do. I was just eating one, tasted just fine to me." He's defensive and I can tell he’s a little hurt. My pancake tasted just fine too. It's as yummy as usual.

  "No, you idiot, the eggs. Are you trying to kill us off?" Logan says.

  I start giggling uncontrollably, laughing so hard that tears are falling down my cheeks and I almost fall out of my seat. "I...I made...the eggs..." I finally manage to get out through bursts of laughter. The guys start laughing with me.

When I finally calm myself down I sit up straight again and wipe my face. I see Tristan taking a tentative bite of his eggs and watch as his face turns a little green and gets the I-just-ate-a-lemon look. It takes everything I have not to lose it again.

  Tristan sets his fork down slowly and spits out his food into his napkin as well. His face is serious when he looks to me, but his eyes hold humor. "Kitten, I think there should be an award for fucking up eggs that badly."

  I giggle again. "Maybe it was my teacher," I tell him.

  He smirks. "No way, my food is magical. Remember?" He winks at me, making me blush. The bastard is going to use my words against me.

  "So much for being a gentleman and taking the fall for the girl." I mock glared at him.

  "Oh I already fell for the girl, but I'm not taking the blame for this atrocity." I stick my tongue out at the cheeky boy. Verbally sparring with him is fun.

  "I think I need to add cooking lessons to your schedule Miss Kitten, either that or give the order to shoot to kill if we spot you at the stove." Remy says, then takes a big gulp of his coffee.

  I suck in air feigning shock and bring my hand to my mouth. "Did you just make a joke Remy? Who knew you were capable." He shakes his head at me as the others crack up.

  Tristan speaks up again. "I am truly curious as to what you did to those poor eggs. I think you added a pound of salt, half the shells then overcooked them by a whole hour. What happened?"

  "It's not my fault you all are so adorable looking when you wake up. I got distracted." I shrug. Eight glorious smiles light the room and I think I'm forgiven. These tough men are
so
not flatter-resistant.

……..

After breakfast, I got dressed and Logan did my hair for me. I asked him if he was coming with me today, but he said he needed to do some fashion research since he'd never had a young woman in his charge and then he was going shopping. I shook my head at him. He takes clothes so seriously. I don't mind, though, it means I don't have to be.

  After hugging the guys goodbye, Finn led me to his truck and we took off.

  "I love the color of this. Is orange your favorite color?" I ask as he's driving.

  "Yeah, I like most shades of orange but the burnt orange one, like this truck, is my favorite. It's not an easy color to find in nature, so I make a game of it. It's slow going but fun." He shrugs.

  "Like chess then?"

  Finn turns his head to me. "You know how to play chess?"

  "Does that surprise you?" He shakes his head. "They used to have chessboards at the park. I'd watch people play. Technically, I've never played but I know the right moves. They took out the chessboards after the city redid the park."

  "There's not really 'right' and 'wrong' moves in chess Kitten, the other player is a factor in your decisions and moves. I don't doubt that you'd be good at it. With your photographic memory, you could be the best at anything you wanted." Finn says, a matter of factly.