Secrets Worth Keeping (Finding my Home Book 2)

by Nikita Parmenter

“What do you want, Firecracker?” Luc asks.

  “Salted caramel latte, please?” I reply.

  Luc gives the barista our orders and we step to the side to wait for them. Luc squeezes my hand gently and I glance up at him.

  “Remember what I said back home?”

  “You’ll never take it back if you offer to pay for something, I know. I didn’t even start to panic then” I reply softly.

  “Good, I’m glad, Dragonfly.”

  “Drinks for Luc and Ever?” The barista calls out and we step forward to thank her and take our drinks.

  As we walk out of the store, I can feel eyes on me and see the guy and his two friends get up and start to follow us out.

  Seriously with this shit?

  “Hey baby, your guy do that to your face?” A voice calls out behind me and Luc tenses at my side.

  I force him to keep walking and for his sake I hope the guy gets bored and fucks off.

  “Just ignore him” I say quietly to Luc.

  “It’s ok, I’d never do something like that to you baby” he chuckles and his friends join in, “I can just do you from behind until your face isn’t all gross and scabbed.”

  Fuck.

  “Luc . . .” I don’t get another word out.

  Luc spins around and moves so fucking quickly that the douche canoe is on the floor, out cold before I can even utter another word. I grin, I love it when my guys show their darker sides. Dickheads friends slowly back off holding their hands up, their eyes wide. I chuckle as Luc watches them for a second longer casually taking a sip of his coffee, which he some how managed not to spill when he punched the guy.

  That’s seriously hot.

  Is it bad that violence seems to turn me on, especially when it’s done in my honour?

  If it is I really don’t give a flying fuck, those are extra special because they fly.

  Luc turns back around grabs my hand and leads me to truck walking me to my side before getting in himself. As he walks around the front, I notice him roll his shoulder slightly and wince, fucking idiot. He really shouldn’t have hit that guy considering he’s supposed to be taking it easy after dislocating it. It wouldn’t be an issue but Luc is what is referred to in boxing as a southpaw, he’s left handed, which means he automatically strikes out with that one first.

  I’ll make him ice it and relax when we get back home.

  “Are you ok?” He asks as he pulls out and starts the drive home glancing over at me concerned.

  “Oh yeah I’m fine, a little turned on” I smirk as he chokes on the sip of coffee he just took and the truck swerves slightly, “but I’m fine” I finish grinning.

  “Shit Ever, warn a guy before you say shit like that” he groans.

  “Where would be the fun in that?”

  “You really do like it when we get a bit violent huh?” He asks shooting me a heated look.

  “Hey, don’t judge. I never claimed to be normal” I shrug and he chuckles quietly.

  “Oh I’m not complaining in the slightest, Firecracker” he smirks.

  “How’s your shoulder?” I ask raising my eyebrow and he grimaces looking back to the road.

  “You caught that huh?”

  “Oh yeah, and you will be icing it when we get home. No fucking arguments” I say firmly and he grins, “and the next time you throw a punch do it with your fucking right, you aren’t a novice fighter I assume you train with both?” I demand.

  His grin just widens and he bites his lip like he’s trying to hold in a laugh.

  “This isn’t funny, I will spar with you myself until you use your right as much as your left. You need to let it heal” I finish. That rant sort of came out of nowhere but shit.

  He bursts out laughing and kisses me on the head whilst still looking at the road.

  “I love that instead of telling me off for punching the guy you’re telling me off for leading with my dominant arm because it’s injured. Not only that but your threatening to spar with me to get me to use my other arm and you know what you’re talking about?” He pauses as he groans exaggeratedly and winks at me, “that’s fucking hot as fuck” he finishes and makes me blush.

  “Well we have just established I’m not normal” I mutter.

  “Thank fuck for that. To answer your question though I was so fucking angry that he disrespected you like that, that I automatically punched with my left and I am absolutely all for you taking care of me, Dragonfly” he wink’s again and I roll my eyes as we the truck starts to make it’s way up the long drive and Luc has to start to concentrate more.

  Fortunately it didn’t snow any more last night so we can follow the tracks the truck has already made. When we pull up to the cabin Luc parks it so we are facing it and my heart soars.

  “What did they do?” I ask, my voice hushed as if afraid that if I speak too loudly it will break the magic and the image before me will disappear.

  There are bright twinkling lights decorating the front main window and all along the banisters of the porch, it looks so pretty.

  “Come on , Dragonfly” Luc grins as he opens his door and holds his hand out to me, I take it and follow him out of his door.

  As we approach the large door, I notice the giant wreath on the door and two reindeer made of twigs with big tartan bows around their necks. I chuckle as I open the door and instantly take a deep breath at the heavenly smell.

  I gasp as I look around everywhere is decorated so beautifully and Christmassy.

  “Guy’s we’re home!” Luc calls and there’s various calls back.

  Jensen gets to me first and scoops me up into his arms, before I can blink his lips land on mine and he bites down on my lip, I return the favour and leave him groaning as I’m pulled out of his arms and in between Rafe and Riot. They step as close as possible lining their bodies up with mine, Rafe kisses me softly before spinning me around and kissing up my neck as Riot kisses me. I’m pulled out from between them and land in Cash’s arms. My whole body, that’s already heated from the multiple kisses I’ve received so far, heats further and I wrap my arms around his neck as he kisses me.

  When he pulls back he turns me around and I end up in Trick’s arms, they wrap tightly around me and I get a flash of us in that bathroom.

  “Did you have a good time, Sweetheart?” he asks.

  I nod and then stand on my tip toes to kiss him, he chuckles against my lips but kisses me just as firmly back.

  “Kisses first, talking later” I smirk and the guys chuckle.

  “I’m pretty sure we can live with that, Princess” Atlas smirks as he pulls me towards him and lifts me up kissing me hard.

  His kiss surprises me but is in no way unwanted, I have a brief moment of panic as I glance at the guys but like usual they’re just smirking at me. I hop down from Atlas.

  “You guys did this for me?” I ask softly my gaze roaming the beautifully decorated room.

  Trick tucks me into his side.

  “Well we couldn’t open presents without it looking a little bit Christmassy” he chuckles.

  “I’m cooking a Christmas dinner, or trying to” Rafe says and I grin, walking towards him and giving him a soft kiss.

  “I helped” Riot smirks and I give him one too.

  “Thank you guys this is amazing” I say and notice all the decorations spread out on the couch and coffee table, “are those ones spare?”

  “Nope, I thought we could all go out and pick a tree to decorate?” Atlas asks scrubbing his hand on the back of his neck.

  “I’d love to!” I grin, giving him a kiss too, although he has to bend down pretty far so I can reach.

  “We’ll take the snowmobiles so we can pull it back here. You might want to put some extra layers on” Trick tells me and my excitement grows.

  “Awesome but before we go I want Luc to ice his shoulder and he gets to ride bitch seat behind me until he learns to throw a punch with his fucking right whilst his shoulders still healing.”

  It’s silent for a beat
and Luc groans as he starts to make his way to the kitchen.

  “What did we miss?” Riot asks glancing between us.

  “And what did she mean throw a punch?” Cash asks.

  “Dude is your aunts new guy a dick, do we need to take care of it?” Jensen adds bouncing on the balls of his feet.

  I point to him and Atlas and they both still, their eyes widening slightly as they share a look.

  “Don’t think I didn’t notice the matching injuries. They may not be bad but I’m not fucking blind” I grin as they all gape at me and raise my eyebrow waiting for an answer.

  “Fuck she’s observant” Atlas mutters and Trick smirks. I blow him a kiss making his grin widen.

  “It’s sort of their thing, they insult each other and they fight. The rest of us don’t give them as good a work out, they’re brutal” Rafe explains.

  “Fair enough” I shrug and make my way to the kitchen to grab a coffee, since I’ve already finished mine and check Luc is doing what he’s supposed to.

  “That’s it?” Atlas says behind me as it sounds like they all follow into the kitchen. “No bitching, or moaning, nothing?”

  “Told you she wasn’t like normal girls” Cash grins as he claps him on the back and comes to stand next to me.

  “She bitched me out pretty good” Luc grumbles and the guys chuckle thinking he’s joking.

  “Well you deserved it. Whilst your shoulder is healing you punch with your fucking right first, it’s good practice anyway” I reply.

  “Wait, you never answered my question, what happened?” Trick asks before anyone else can chime in.

  “Some dickhead had a mouth on him, Luc knocked him out, with his left” I shoot him a mock glare and winks at me. I think he likes me telling him off.

  “He didn’t just have a bit of a mouth on him Ever, he insinuated that I’d done that to your face and then told you it was ok because he can fuck you from behind until it heals.”

  The guys all growl as almost matching looks of anger cross their features.

  “That’s why I fucking punched him.”

  “Nice brother” Atlas compliments.

  I roll my eyes, men.

  “I can help you practice with your right if you want?” Atlas offers.

  “Thanks man. Ever said if I didn’t she’d spar with me” Luc grins and the guys turn to me.

  Not surprising, since none of us are fucking normal, the thought of me being able to fight well enough that I can teach Luc, seems to turn them all on.

  I just shrug as I put the finishing touches on all the coffee's, I’m fairly confident I remembered how they all take it.

  “Coffee's here for you guys” I say handing them out to the right people.

  “How did you know how I take my coffee?” Atty asks.

  “From this morning.”

  “Seriously, could she get any better?” He questions seriously and I blush which obviously makes the fuckers chuckle.

  “I’m going to go add some more layers quickly. When I come back down that should be long enough for your shoulder but I want you to ice it later too” I order and Luc’s eyes heat.

  “Yes, Ma’am” he says.

  I just smirk as I hop up the stairs. I pull on some extra layers and grab my gloves and a grey beanie hat too. It doesn’t take me long and I’m back downstairs.

  Luc rushes to get warmer clothes and then we all go down the hidden hallway and through the end door leading to the garage, pulling on helmets as the guys open the garage door, they cleared the snow from it today so we can park the vehicles in here. Once we’re all loaded up, Luc sat behind me and hugging me tightly, we start the engines.

  “It’s about a ten minute ride to the best ones I’ve found in our woods, we can park and choose a tree. Jensen is not allowed to use the chainsaw” Atlas chuckles.

  “Aw, come on!” Jensen protests, which sets us all of as we start out of the garage and follow Atlas across the snow.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  As soon as the cold air hits my face I instantly feel like my nose is go to freeze off, fuck it’s cold. We follow after Atlas along a path through the woods that thankfully the snowmobiles can drive across easily. It’s not long before we pull up to a small grove of Christmas trees and we pull off to the side stopping the engines. With the blanket of white snow and all of the Christmas trees it really does look magical.

  I start to get off but Luc refuse to let go of me.

  “Are you planning to let go of me any time soon?” I ask amused.

  “Nope, you’re too warm” he mumbles and I chuckle.

  “Come on dude, this is the first time I’ve ever gotten to pick my own Christmas tree” I say excitedly and Atlas shoots me a pleased look.

  “Well when you put it that way, I suppose I can get up” he pretends to groan and I grin as we finally get up and go to stand next to Atlas.

  “Atty why do you have an axe if Trick’s got the chainsaw?” I ask.

  “I want to cut the tree down traditionally but the guys insisted we bought the chainsaw in case it takes too long” he rasps.

  That’s kind of adorable.

  “Plus I really like axes” he adds eyeing me for a reaction.

  Oh that’s how we’re going to play it huh? You’re on Atty baby.

  “In Greek mythology Hephaestus struck Zeus over the head with an axe” I reply with a grin making his eyes narrow slightly as I don’t give him the reaction he was expecting again. I walk over to Jensen, I’m missing my trickster.

  “I think he’s going to turn that into a game, seeing if he can shock you with what comes out of his mouth. At least until he realises he can’t make you run” Jensen comments quietly as I rest my head on his shoulder and he wraps his arm around me.

  It started off as funny but now it’s made my heart hurt a bit. I am more determined to prove to him that nothing he could say or do would make me run, not now. I don’t know how, it’s honestly been a day, if that, but he’s in now, he’s included with the others and I’m starting to care for him as much as I do them. I also have a feeling that if anyone will truly understand the things I did in order to protect other people it will be Atlas. I am almost one hundred percent sure that his past is even darker than my own and I hate it.

  “What about this one?” Cash calls out and we all turn to inspect it.

  “Nope” I reply and we carry on walking further into the trees.

  “Why not, what’s wrong with it?” he calls back.

  “Nothing but it’s not quite right. I’ll know our tree when I see it” I tell him aware I’m sounding slightly crazy which is backed up when the guys all share a look. “I saw that. If you’re going to share, she’s crazy, looks then at least do it subtly, come on guys” I smirk, chuckling.

  We carry on walking for a bit longer the guys messing about the entire time, but Jensen staying next to me with his arm wrapped around my shoulder.

  “This one!” I say proudly.

  “It looks exactly the same as the other ones to me Sweetheart” Trick starts and I shoot him a look, trying to hide my amusement. “But if you want this one, we’ll get this one” he finishes and the guys all chuckle.

  “Ok, I’ll explain. The one Cash picked out was far too tall, it may have fit inside the cabin but we wouldn’t have been able to get it through the door without loosing branches. The next one had a bird living in it, I’m not taking anyone’s home away from them and the last one I was just fucking with you” I explain and they all burst out laughing.

  Jensen’s gloved finger gently turns my face towards him and kisses me slowly before he turns to the guy’s a mischievous grin lighting up his face.

  “Where’s the chainsaw?” he grins.

  “Oh fuck no dude. We already told you, you aren’t going anywhere near the chainsaw!” Rafe exclaims and I burst out laughing as Jensen pouts.

  “Seriously?” He groans, “come on?”

  “I tell you what, if you can walk over to that tree” Riot says p
ointing to a tree a few metres away, “and not fall over or nearly fall over, then you can use the chainsaw. Deal?”

  “Deal!” Jensen grins and I shoot Riot a slightly worried look. In all seriousness I’m not sure it’s safe for Jensen to handle a chainsaw.

  Riot just grins at me and motions me over, I stomp through the deep snow to his side. He wraps his arm around me and pulls me closer. I feel like a damn marshmallow in all these layers, I swear as soon as we get in I’m stripping down and putting some of my sleep shorts on, I hate wearing this many damn clothes. Probably because I can’t feel my guys properly when they hug me.

  Riot dips his head as we watch Jensen start to walk.

  “Wait for it” he whispers quietly smirking.

  A quick look around at the others shows that they’re all watching Jensen and smirking too. They obviously know something I don’t.

  “See it’s easy. If you guys really didn’t want me to use the chainsaw you should’ve given me a harder challenge” Jensen gloats as he looks back over his shoulder at us but carries on walking forward.

  Before he can turn back around his boot gets caught on something in the snow and he goes down, landing face first in the ice cold snow.

  “Told you” Riot chuckles from beside me and I can’t help but join in their laughter.

  I stomp back over, is there any way to walk in deep snow and not look like an elephant? Asking for a friend.

  “You ok, Babe?” I ask, looking down at him. “You should probably get up, or you’re going to get ill” I add when he doesn’t move.

  From the sound of an axe hitting wood sounds from behind me, I’m guessing Atlas decide to start cutting down the tree I chose.

  “Fine” he groans standing up.

  He looks so disappointed that I can’t help but wrap my arms around his waist.

  “We’ll get them back” I promise and he pulls back looking down at me with his eyebrow raised, I smirk up at him and that savage light enters his eyes again. I don’t hide my shiver. “Damn, I love it when you look at me like that” I say huskily and his grin widens as he obviously loves the affect he’s having on me.

  His lips crash against mine in a heated kiss, and I feel like I can’t get fucking close enough. It’s seriously starting to frustrate the shit out of me now. That and I want to climb him like a freaking tree and do very bad things, Jensen knows how to ride that pain, pleasure line absolutely perfectly and it’s hot as fuck. I pull back slightly.