Secrets Worth Keeping (Finding my Home Book 2)

by Nikita Parmenter

  I smirk and bite my lip, instantly drawing their attention, “I’m up for that” I say casually and they look at me slightly shocked as if they thought I’d protest to six hot as fuck guys wanting to lick me. “I get to return the favour though” I grin as I take another shot and their eyes turn heated once they’ve gotten over their shock.

  “Absolutely, Sweetheart” Trick practically growls.

  “I think maybe we should slow down for a second though or we are all going to end up on the floor” I add.

  “Good point” Luc agrees.

  “Do you think Atlas will turn up?” I ask distractedly as search for something to snack on.

  “I hope so, Angel” Jensen says before he grabs my hand and starts tugging me towards the stairs and our pile of bags. “Let’s go and put our stuff in our rooms, pretty fucking sure we aren’t going to want to later if we’re going to carry on drinking” he chuckles as he lets go of my hand when he reaches down and sorts through the bags, finding mine and handing them to me before grabbing his own.

  Like me each of the guys bought two bags, I’m guessing one is for clothes and one for presents. There’s an extra bag filled with the extra clothes the guys picked up for Atlas as well just in case he has to travel light and can’t bring what he needs to.

  “You fuckers coming?” Jensen calls as we start to make our way up the stairs.

  “Right behind you, I’ll show Ever where her room is” Trick says, from just behind me.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Do you guys each have your own rooms here?” I ask Trick as he leads me down a wide hallway lined with doors.

  “Yeah we do. It didn’t make sense to buy a place that didn’t have enough room for all of us. We’re closer than family but we still need our own space” he chuckles, “fortunately this house came with a spare room too, so that ones for you. I’ll let the guys show you which room is theirs but the second one from the end on the left is Atlas’s and the door next to his is a bathroom, although the rooms all have their own ones too. The door opposite the bathroom is yours. Jensen and Cash are either side of you” he explains as he leads me to the room that he said was mine.

  I’m kind of not sure how to react. On one hand it’s nice to have my own space and I can’t share a room with all of them, so it takes some of the pressure off of choosing who I stay with each night. Also it will prevent Atlas from being weirded out by the dynamic we’ve got going on but on the other hand, does them putting me in a separate room mean that they don’t want to share a room with me and were only doing it before because it was preferable over sharing a room with each other?

  Wow, tipsy me is getting a bit overtly insecure. I snatch the bottle of tequila out of Jensen’s hand as he walks past and take a swig before he can shake off his shock. I grin as the tequila warms my insides. I’m getting a nice buzz now and I can feel silly me starting to emerge.

  Jensen smirks as he claims the bottle back and carries on walking to his room.

  I walk into the spacious room with plush cream carpet and a truly giant bed, matching bedside tables and two doors on the wall to the left that I’m guessing lead to the bathroom and closet. The best feature of the room by far are the double doors that lead out to a balcony. It has a stunning view of the surrounding forest covered in a blanket of snow. It’s starting to get dark now and the view is truly beautiful. I drop my bags by the bed but before I make my way to the balcony Cash calls out distracting me and I turn back towards the door.

  “Don’t think this means you get that giant bed all to yourself Il mio Cuore, I still need my Ever cuddles” he winks as he walks past the open door and Trick smirks.

  “Me tooooo, Angel!” Jensen suddenly exclaims, obviously he’s been at the tequila whilst I’ve been admiring the room.

  He rushes me and tackles me backwards onto the bed somehow managing to avoid hurting my scrapes. He grins down at me.

  “Careful Jensen, she’s still healing” Tick scolds from by the door although amusement laces his words once he realises I’m absolutely fine.

  Jensen looks worried for a second even though he knows he didn’t hurt me, I thread my hands behind his neck and tug his lips down to meet mine, nipping them and then moaning as he returns the favour.

  My nerves start firing and I’m about to throw caution to the wind, having enough tequila in my system to not give a shit. When one of Jensen’s hands drifts to my side and he starts tickling me.

  I yank my lips away from his smirking ones and let out a squeal before trying to wriggle away from him, laughing my ass off. There’s a thundering of footsteps and the sounds of the guys calling my name, I’m too busy laughing my ass off and unsuccessfully trying to get away from Jensen’s tickling hands. To be quite honest I forget I was even ticklish.

  I know when the guys have finally entered the room even though I can’t see the door from my position because suddenly the room is filled with their raucous laughter.

  Dicks.

  I finally managed to escape Jensen and fling myself off the other side of the bed rolling and landing on my feet. If I wasn’t feeling all warm from the tequila the move probably would’ve at least hurt a little bit but as it stands I don’t even notice.

  The guys have finally stopped laughing now that I’m just grinning and not laughing myself, a few chuckles still escaping them. Jensen opens his mouth to say something when a door bangs downstairs. Everyone freezes for a millisecond, staring around at each other and no doubt doing a headcount like I am. Once they’ve determined that we are in fact all in the room, so a door should not be banging downstairs, the guys instantly become alert, seriousness shrouding their features that were playful only seconds ago. They all slowly make their way to the door being careful not to make any sound and I follow behind them.

  Not worried in the slightest.

  Unfortunately, I am well and truly tipsy now that, that last shot is hitting me. My inhibitions have lowered and my more playful and silly side has come out to play which means as the guys all sneak seriously down the hallway and to the stairs I start singing the mission impossible theme tune. It’s my go to song for sneaking around.

  I do have enough sense only to hum it quietly but Jensen who is in front of me snaps his head around and stares at me incredulously, obviously trying not to laugh his ass off.

  “I warned you” I whisper quietly, shrugging.

  He bites his lip as amusement dances in his eyes and then turns back around like he can’t possibly continue looking at me without bursting into laughter. I follow him and the others down the stairs as I start to hum again. As soon as the guys get to the bottom of the stairs all their postures relax.

  “Dude, what the fuck! I honestly didn’t think you were going to make it” Trick says as he grins and holds his hand out towards whom I’m assuming is Atlas, in like a weird man shake thing Atlas pulls him in for a very short, slightly tense on his part, hug and it makes me study him.

  I hang back whilst he greets the guys as I study him. I’ve got to say after all the hype from the guys, I am not disappointed in the least but they did fail to mention how fucking gorgeous he is.

  He’s taller than even Rafe and must be at least six foot five, so would tower over me if I stood next to him. He has a wide chest that tapers down to a slim waist that I just know is rippling with defined muscles. I have to admit, at least to myself, his giant arms are incredibly attractive covered in swirling and colourful tattoos. It’s not only his height and obvious strength that makes him intimidating though it’s his entire aura. Where as Jensen’s violence only comes out to play occasionally, this mans violence surrounds him, ready to lash out at a moments notice. Shadows and chaos play in his ice blue eyes, even as he smiles and catches up with the guys. His midnight black hair is long on top and short on the sides the longer strands holding a slight curl to them. A scar curves from his hairline down past the edge of his eyebrow, towards his chin and down his neck, disappearing under his shirt in a continuous line. The scar adds
to his intimidating appearance and nature. You wouldn’t approach him in a well lit room surrounded by witnesses, let alone in a dark alley.

  I’m not afraid of him though. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s because in his eyes behind the violence, that I’m starting to think is always there and the wall that he seems to have built around him, I see insecurities and demons swimming in the icy depths. He has a past similar to mine like the guys thought but Atlas’s past is so much worse, I can tell just by watching him and what’s worse is I’m guessing he’s not completely escaped.

  That makes irrational anger bubble up inside me and I’m instantly confused by the strength of it.

  Rafe leans in slightly and says something to him that's too quiet for me to hear.

  Atlas tenses as his eyes suddenly land on me. He knew I was here the second I came down the stairs but almost like he was psyching himself up he waited until now to make eye contact. Any emotion that was in his eyes as he was talking to the guys, evaporates in an instant and I can see him preparing for a fight, for disgust and fear or even worse than that pity when he realises I’m looking back at him and studying him. He looks momentarily surprised when I don’t flinch back immediately from his stare but he squashes it in an instant and folds his massive arms over his barrel chest.

  For some reason I don’t like that he’s shut me out and I don’t like that he thinks that everyone’s first impression of him will either entice fear or pity in them. So me being tequila tipsy, very almost drunk and not having my usual caution, I bounce forward straight past the guys who just looked damn shocked I’m bouncing in the first place and step up onto the coffee table next to where he’s stood, I’m still shorter than him, he is honestly just that fucking tall. He eye’s me warily the fact I’m not scared to approach him obviously throwing him off his game because he shoots a look past me to the guys, who shrug and look just as confused as he is.

  Before he can move away from me and sensing that this is important, I move my arms around his neck, making sure not to move too fast, instinctively knowing that he wouldn’t like that. He goes deathly still as my lips land on the scar on his cheek. I can feel the guys tense behind me as one of them curses quietly. Atlas’s arm suddenly snaps around my waist as he unfreezes, pulling me tightly against him.

  “Maybe we should’ve started the tequila after Atlas arrived” Jensen murmurs quietly as if he’s scared to make any sudden loud noises.

  “You think!?” Riot snaps back but equally as quietly.

  “I thought someone told her he doesn’t like to be touched?” Cash asks.

  “I thought one of you fuckers already told her!” Luc growls.

  “Shit” Rafe rumbles.

  I listen as this goes on behind me but my focus is on Atlas as he studies me intently, obviously looking for something. I move forward slowly and kissing his scar again as his arm tightens around me even further.

  “Atlas, man. She’s drunk” Trick tries to explain my behaviour.

  I scoff quietly as I my lips move across his cheek towards his ear, my cheek pressed fully against his scarred one. He shudders as my lips brush his ear.

  “I see you” I say softly.

  “Fuck” he rasps out quietly, his voice filled with such strong emotion that it hits me in the chest.

  As his arm tightens impossibly more around me, binding me to him, I pull back slightly, ignoring the guys behind us as they carry on trying to explain my behaviour. Looking into his ice blue eyes I see the wall that he was hiding behind has been dropped completely. I feel it’s only fair to show him my own demons since he is showing me his and because of, well tequila, I don’t hold anything back. I let my shadows, violence and pain dance in my eyes as I bare myself to him like he’s done for me.

  He growls a truly terrifying sound at the realisation that I’ve been through shit similar to what he has. His eye’s dart towards the grazed part of my face and I nod once at his unspoken question. Although he seems to realise that it’s not the worst of it, just the latest. I always describe the violence that consumes Jensen sometimes as feral but the darkness that descends across Atlas’s eyes is the true meaning of the word, it’s barely contained and completely untamed violence.

  At the sound of his growl the guys all take a step closer tension thrumming through them, but we both ignore them. I smile softly, his violence not scaring me like it should as I reach forward and kiss another part of his scar, closer to his mouth making him shudder. The guys are still talking behind me so they don’t hear me when I meet his eyes.

  “I see you, Atty” I whisper again firmly.

  His eyes close as he exhales harshly before he meets my eyes and nods once. I grin, glad that he’s understood me and wriggle out of his arms and hop down from the coffee table. I grab his giant tattooed hand in mine and pull a shell shocked Atlas towards the kitchen. I wonder where else he’s tattooed?

  “Come on Atty, Tequila!” I exclaim as I throw my other hand in the air and start to shimmy.

  “What the fuck just happened?” Cash asks incredulously.

  I glance over my shoulder to see the guys gaping at me and Atlas and all following us towards the kitchen.

  “She’s fucking dangerous that’s what” Atlas rasps as I let go of his hand and start pouring shots.

  “I tried to warn you” Rafe chuckles, slapping him on the back.

  “I know but she’s…she’s…” he starts and the guys smile sympathetically.

  “Beautiful? Amazing? Immensely incredible?” I cut in and the guys fall about laughing.

  Atlas grins before stepping up behind me, his hands landing on my waist and his head dipping to just by my ear.

  “Dangerous, Princess. You’re fucking dangerous” he growls his lips brushing my ear and making me shudder.

  He steps back and I glance over my shoulder at him loving that his eyes are less guarded as he smirks.

  “Count on it, Atty” I reply smirking when his eyes darken with lust.

  I have no idea what I’m doing right now flirting with him, but it doesn’t feel wrong and the guys don’t seem bothered, so I’m going to say that’s an issue for sober Ever to deal with.

  Haha sucks to be her.

  I have a feeling I’m going to be making some more questionable decisions tonight.

  I realise that the kitchens gone quiet again and I once again find the guys gaping in shock at Atlas. He smirks at them and shrugs, feeling like there needs to be a distraction, I grab the salt.

  “Trick!” I yell to get his attention and then take a flying leap towards him, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist.

  “Is this going to become a thing with you Sweetheart?” Trick asks as Atlas lets out a surprised laugh the others just smirking as they go to get their shots.

  “Yep” I grin before my smirk turns sinful, he eyes me curiously sensing the change. “My turn, tip your head back, Sir” I say smirking as he groans but does as he’s told, heat flaring in his eyes.

  “Fucking hell, Dragonfly” Cash curses.

  I lick up the side of Trick’s neck and he groans as soon as I make contact, I feel someone step up behind me sandwiching me between the two of them. I glance over my shoulder and Cash’s smouldering gaze collides with my own. His hands slide up sides as I face Trick again, putting the salt on his neck before licking it off, a shot is suddenly thrust towards me and down it quickly turning towards where it came from to find the lime, Jensen’s eyes sparkle a lime wedge in his mouth I lean towards him, my legs still wrapped around Trick and Cash still stood behind me, and take the lime in my mouth, my lips barely touch it before Jensen has discarded it and his lips are on mine.

  When we break apart Trick’s eyes are smouldering as his hands clench on my ass and make my hips move against his hard dick, we both groan and Cash’s hand dives into my hair tugging my head to the side.

  “Stay still, Ever” he commands and my pulse quickens.

  Trick smirks reading my reaction clearly on my face.r />
  I’m vaguely aware of the others talking behind us but I honestly couldn’t give a flying fuck right now.

  “Yes, Sir” I reply automatically to Cash and I’m awarded with a sharp nip on my neck that has my hips bucking against Trick and him growling in approval.

  Cash slowly licks my neck before sprinkling on the salt and licking it off before taking his own shot, and then kissing up the side of my neck again and making me shudder. He steps back and Trick reluctantly lets me down chuckling when I pout.

  “Is it always like this?” Atlas chuckles, desire hidden in his tone.

  “Pretty much” Riot replies grinning.

  I skip over to where him and Rafe are sitting holding hands and kiss them both quickly once. I feel like it’s been too long since I last kissed them. I turn to Luc and do the same because I can and then skip back towards Atlas and kiss him on his neck over his scar, since that’s the only place I can reach even when I jump. He lets out a harsh breath and guys chuckle at whatever look is on his on face.

  “Dangerous” he mutters.

  “Come on, Angel. Let's let Atlas recover for a bit. Do you still want to help me cook?” Jensen asks as he tugs me over to the stove and starts getting ingredients ready.

  “You’re cooking?” Atlas asks shocked and the guys chuckle leading him into the sitting room and explaining about the store and Rafe’s hidden talent.

  Chapter Sixteen

  I watch curiously as Jensen gets out a whole range of ingredients that don’t really make much sense.

  “What are you planning to make?” I ask curiously.

  “I have no idea, I’m just getting stuff out and hoping for the best” he shrugs.

  I can’t help but giggle at his answer.

  “Ok, well how about I take over choosing what we eat and you get some music going?” I suggest.

  He grins.

  “I was hoping you’d say that Angel” he pulls out his phone and plugs it into a docking station in the corner of the kitchen whilst I start putting the ingredients we don’t need away and pulling out the ones we do.