67

Caden
Ibobbed my head to the music playing from the speakers as I moved around the kitchen. The guys and Raven should be home soon, so I wanted to make sure to prepare a good meal for them.
Nothing better than a nice hearty shepherd’s pie when it was cold and raining outside. At least, that’s what my gran always said.
I heard the garage door open just as I pulled the dish out of the oven.
“Oh, that smells good.” Raven was the first to enter the kitchen through the garage, and I pulled her into my arms and kissed her cheek.
“Hope you like shepherd’s pie.” I crossed over to the island and poured her a glass of wine. “I figured you could use a nice warm meal and a glass of wine today. I’m sure those two hovered over you most of the day.”
Raven grinned, and it was like a switch being flipped on to let the sunshine in. That smile warmed me from the inside out, and I would do crazy things to keep it on her face.
“They weren’t hovering too much. Except in the morning when I had to kick them out of my office.
“You were being entirely too delectable.” Chris wrapped his arms around her from behind and nibbled on her neck. “It was difficult to walk with the erection you gave me, kroshka.”
Kashton poured three more glasses of wine, finishing up the bottle and tossing it in the recycle bin. He handed one to Chris and me before taking a sip of his own. “Then, after lunch, it was even worse.” He groaned. “Watching her eat and make those little sounds of pleasure as she ate her ice cream were so fucking erotic.”
“Who knew eating could be such a turn-on?” Chris rumbled in agreement, and Raven drew in a swift breath as his hands slipped down to settle on her hips.
“Note to self: make sure to add ice cream to the shopping list,” I muttered aloud before laughing at Kashton and Chris’s approving nods.
“Is that your gran’s famous shepherd’s pie recipe?” Kashton glanced at the oven, and his smile widened. “That is the perfect thing for a wet day like today.”
“It’s Oregon. We have tons of wet, cold days here.” Raven rolled her eyes.
“True.” I pulled her away from Chris and into my arms instead of his. “But this always makes it all better. Just ask the rest of the guys. They love it so much they salivate whenever they even get a whiff of me cooking it.”
Kashton moved to the door and shouted out into the garage. “Hey, Oscar. Caden, make shepherd’s pie, get the fuck in here and get a plate before we demolish it all.”
Not even three seconds passed before Oscar was barrelling into the kitchen. “Where?”
I laughed and shook my head, pointing over to the second tray I’d pulled out of the oven. “I made a whole extra for leftovers, but feel free to dig into whichever dish you want. Take a plate to Layla, too.”
Oscar didn’t need to be told twice as he grabbed a plate and dished himself up with a mounding heap of food. “Thanks, Caden,” he said around a mouthful of food as he walked across the lawn to his dwelling. The property was big enough for him and the housekeeper, Layla, to have their own places across the lawn.
He knocked on her door and accepted the dish with a smile, and waved toward the main house.
In times like this, I learned to embrace what my gran said about never underestimating the power of good food.
I lifted Raven up into one of the chairs at the island just as Kashton placed a plate in front of her.
“It’s really hot, baby girl.” Kashton kissed her temple. “Be careful and make sure you blow on it first.”
Her lips twitched up at the corners, but she nodded gratefully. She knew that we valued her safety and comfort. Nothing was patronizing about what we did or how we treated her. It all came from a place of love and affection.
We truly desired her to want for nothing.
As a Little, I knew she loved how we took care of her.
I took a sip from my wine as Kashton dished up portions for each of us. We each took seats at the island and ate a few bites before Chris set his fork down.
“I talked to mybabushkatoday.”
My brows rose close to my hairline as we all turned our attention to Chris. He’d been wrestling with how to move forward for days. Harry had given us some insight, but Chris struggled with his inner demons. I couldn’t imagine the things he’d gone through and how much blood he’d witnessed before he left Russia.
He told us some stories, but certain things were better left unsaid and buried in the past.
Raven reached over and laid her hand over his, giving him what comfort she could. None of us spoke, giving Chris whatever time he needed to gather his thoughts.
“He was diagnosed a year ago, like Harry told us. Didn’t have any progress with treatment in Russia, so they came here. So far, he’s not responding to anything here.” Chris let out a sigh and tunneled his fingers through his dark hair. “She said he’s getting his affairs in order and making peace with things. Like he doesn’t expect to survive.”
I barely held back the curse running through my mind. Bryan was still Chris’s family, and despite the years of separation and mountains of baggage between them, he still cared about him. That was plain to see in the pain radiating off Chris.
“Forgiveness can’t happen overnight, but I’ll be civil. Talk to him.” His jaw clenched. “I can’t promise that I’ll ever truly forgive him. Plus, he needs to fucking apologize and make it up to Raven for hurting her.”
Raven cocked her head to the side. “I get worse bruises when I hit the corner of my desk at work, Chris. I really wasn’t hurt that badly.”
Despite her vehement protest, I doubted any of us truly believed her.
She may not have been hurt much physically, but she was scared, and that did mental damage. I didn’t miss the way she flinched at certain sounds. She’d survived so much in her short life. She didn’t deserve any of the terrible things that had befallen her since she got together with us. Damn it. Just thinking about it made my blood boil.
First, that asshole Ayrton, then Bryan’s flunkies. If I ever got my hands on them, they’d see how many of my boxing skills from my twenties I’d retained.
Chris turned and cupped one of Raven’s cheeks, his thumb sweeping over her skin. “That may be true, but it doesn’t mean that I’m not still furious that you were hurt. Plus, it was more than just physical, and don’t try to deny it.”
Raven sighed wearily but didn’t say anything.
“Are you liking dinner, sweetheart?” I asked Raven, wanting to give her a subject change and smooth out her wrinkled brows.
She brightened, turning toward me with a smile. “It’s so good. Gordon Ramsay would be proud.”
Kashton disguised his laughter with a cough, but Chris didn’t even bother.
“Of course she likes Gordon Ramsay,” I muttered.
Of fucking course. The British chef had a heart of gold when it came to kids and anyone down on their luck. I just never wanted to cross him in the kitchen.
“Speaking of Gordon.” I took a drink of wine. “New episode of Hell’s Kitchen was on last night. Are you caught up?”
Raven squealed and clapped her hands excitedly. Gods, she was too adorable for words. “Yes! So we can watch it after dinner tonight?”
Chris and Kashton groaned.
“Hush, you two. You know you like Gordon, and you just don’t want to admit it.”
Kashton rolled his eyes. “I’ll agree to watch it just because I know Raven is coming to bed with me tonight.” He gave our Little a look filled with promise, and I didn’t blame him one bit for looking forward to his night alone with her.