59

Raven
Nerves put me on edge as I kept pressing the button to illuminate my phone or look down at my watch to check the time. Chris had been gone for over two hours, and I slowly went bonkers with impatience.
“Hey.” Kashton drew me back against his body and placed his lips on mine. “Chris will be fine. Nothing is going to happen to him. He’s not going to run away or decide he doesn’t want to be with you anymore.”
“Did I say all of that out loud?” This was really getting to be a problem. I couldn’t just burst out with every little thought in my head. They would think I’m crazier than they already do.
“Charlotte.” Kashton tipped my chin up, and my eyes bulged from my skull as he used my full name. That was much more of an Chris thing to do.
“Listen to me, alright?” His hand slid around to tangle in my hair. “Chris needed to talk to Harry about why his grandfather is here. If anyone knows, it would be Chris’s cousin.”
I nodded sagely, my cheeks heating with my embarrassment. I didn’t like to be this anxious mess, but somehow, I always ended up as a puddle of nerves in front of them.
“Baby girl. You have nothing to be embarrassed or hide from us.” Kashton gave me a smile filled with warmth and affection, reassuring me that I was safe in his arms. I would be safe with all three of them, no matter what craziness I blurted out. “I find some of the things that come out of your mouth ridiculously adorable. Your head is a fascinating place. It doesn’t matter if it’s a month, a year, or a decade from now, I’ll still find it endearing.”
A flash of emotion surged within me at his words, and I had to blink back the tears burning in the back of my eyes. “Thank you,” I breathed out, my throat hoarse with the emotions currently warring in my body.
He shook his head and leaned down to kiss my forehead. “You don’t have to thank me or any of us. You don’t need to apologize unless you’ve done something naughty. You’re ours, and we will take care of you.”
I nodded, the words escaping me, and I couldn’t speak past the lump in my throat.
Kashton grinned, his hazel eyes darkening to a deep green. “Now, let’s watch some mindless TV until Chris gets home. I’m sure it won’t be too much longer.”
I laid my head against his chest as he turned on the Food Network. “Ooo, yes, Guy Fieri.”
He chuckled and set the remote down on the end table. “Guy Fieri it is.”
Somehow, I’d fallen asleep against Kashton’s chest. A feat that was normally unheard of for me. Sleep wasn’t easy, so I’d celebrate the win from the small nap.
I’d done it more than once in the presence of my guys. Being snuggled up next to them
“Wake up, kroshka.”
Chris’s familiar accent roused me, and my eyes fluttered open to find him kneeling before me. I jolted forward into his arms, probably much more enthusiastically than I should have been.
He grunted and fell backward, but after half a second, he laughed.
I pressed my nose into his throat and inhaled his deep, rich scent. My lips brushed over his flesh as I held him close to my body.
“Kroshka. Nothing happened. In fact, I’d like you to meet Harry tomorrow. I invited him over for dinner.”
My brow furrowed, and I leaned back. “Are you sure?” I was completely and utterly terrified of what Bryan might do. He’s a man of some morals and principles. As much as a member of the Bratva can be. Chris assured me he never harmed women or children unless it was for self-defense. Or if they were truly evil.
Chris felt my shudder and held me tighter to him. “You’ll have to trust me on this one, kroshka.” He kissed my forehead. “There was a reason he didn’t harm you and never will. Even if you weren’t my woman, he doesn’t harm innocent women.”
He let out a heavy sigh and buried his face in my neck. “As much as I hate to admit it, my grandfather does have some scruples.”
I tangled my fingers in his thick hair and massaged his scalp. He made a noise of appreciation deep in his throat that made fire dance between my legs. “Somehow, I don’t think your babushka would stand for harming innocent women or children.”
“No.” Chris shook his head against my neck. “She would pull his gun on him and shoot him if he did. But that doesn’t mean he’s innocent by any means. That man has gallons of blood on his hands. He’s tortured. Killed. Strangled. All of it in the name of the Bratva.”
And Chris had done the same before he’d left Russia.
It wasn’t something I wanted to admit or say out loud. But it was the truth. He may have been young when he left, but I saw the guilt in his eyes when he spoke of his time there.
A different set of hands ran down the length of my arms. Kashton. “Are you hungry, little one?”
As if he read my body before I did, my stomach let out a grumble of hunger as he finished speaking.
They chuckled. “Guess that answers my question.”
After we ate dinner, Caden insisted I take a bath to relax. I stood barefoot on one of the bathroom rugs as the scent of lavender and vanilla drifted through the air. He knelt on the edge of the tub, leaning forward to test the temperature of the water. When he was satisfied, he pulled the stopper closed and rose to his feet.
He wore a casual sweater with the sleeves rolled to his elbows and dark pants. He was devastatingly handsome as he stood before me. His gaze trailed over my body like a physical caress, leaving heat trailing in its wake.
“Can I help you get undressed and settled in the tub?” His voice was a deep, husky growl, and a spark of arousal burned to life between my legs.
I nodded, unable to form any actual words.
If I tried, it would likely come out like gobbledygook.
Caden prowled closer, his movements graceful and sensuous. I watched the muscles in his forearms flex as his hands clenched into fists at his side. What was it about a man’s forearms that was so damned sexy?
The way the muscles bunched and expanded. The veins. Caden had a few colorful tattoos decorating his skin, playing off his complexion perfectly. A Japanese-style seascape with deep blacks and rich blues.
“Raven?”
My name jolted me back to reality, and I snapped my gaze back up to Caden’s face.
An amused smirk was painted across his face, and I ducked my head.
Caught again.
Would I ever stop ogling these men as if I were starving and they were my only source of food?
Gods, I hoped not.
I licked my lips and forced myself to lift my eyes back to his face.
“Distracted?”
“Mmhmm,” I hummed as I bopped my head up and down.
Caden chuckled and shook his head. “Arms up, little one. Let’s get you undressed and in the tub.”
I obeyed him, but now that I wasn’t as distracted, I realized he’d be seeing me fully naked for the first time.
Heat blazed to life in my cheeks as I fought back the urge to cross my arms over my chest when he pulled my shirt off.
“No need to be embarrassed.” His fingers trailed over my fiery cheeks, and I leaned into his touch.
He didn’t break eye contact as he bent to one knee and pulled the leggings from my body.
I silently thanked my good sense to bring some cute bras and undies so I didn’t just stand before him in plain beige utilitarian undergarments.
The smooth black fabric was soft, comfortable, and decorated with small white stars. It was easy enough to wear every day and gave me just the boost of confidence I needed.
“Adorable.” Caden grinned as he rose and slid two fingers beneath the strap at my shoulder. He tugged it once before letting go.
His eyes were on fire as they trailed over my half-naked body. “Fucking gorgeous, baby girl. Turn around for Daddy C.”
I did as he instructed, anticipation making my limbs shake like jelly.
Cool fingers brushed over my skin, going to the hooks of my bra and releasing it. He slid the straps down and let the garment drop to join the rest of my clothing on the floor.
The silence was heavy between us as he knelt again and pulled my panties down.
“Fucking hell.” A new voice joined us, and I spun on my heel to see Kashton and Chris standing just inside the doorway with hungry eyes.
But of course, that just couldn’t be all I did. Because then I wouldn’t be me.
I lost my footing and went flying backward. Caden grunted as he caught me, but I ended up completely on top of him with him on his back.
Why did I have to be so goddamned clumsy?