Secrets Worth Keeping (Finding my Home Book 2)

by Nikita Parmenter

  Ever’s door is already open so I don't waste time breaking it down. I survey the room on high alert looking for the threat only to realise that there is none and Ever is very clearly having a nightmare, she screams and the sound pierces me forcing me closer to the bed. As soon as I get within a few feet of the bed she moves lightning fast and I suddenly find myself pressed up against the wall with the knife I gave her, pressed up against my throat.

  This is absolutely the wrong time to be turned on but I can’t fucking help it. She had me pinned before I even saw her move, that’s fucking impressive. The knife presses harder against my throat, just shy of drawing blood and reminding me of the perilous position I’m in. I now have no doubt that if she feels she’s being threatened she will end me. I’m not stupid enough to try to touch her right now, she’s thinks I’m someone else. So instead I settle for just trying to talk to her and hoping that either it works or one of the guys comes up and can talk her down.

  I ignore the sharp pang in my chest at the thought of not being able to help to her right now.

  “It’s ok Princess. You aren’t there anymore. They can’t hurt you, Everleigh. You’re safe now I promise, Princess” I say softly trying to keep the anger at whoever she’s having a nightmare about, out of my voice. That would definitely make the situation worse right now.

  I try to reassure her but the truth of it is that she’s only known me for a few days, I highly doubt that my words will comfort her. Before I can finish my thought though the knife drops from my neck but instead of moving backwards like I expect her to she moves closer, the knife clattering to the floor before she wraps her small arms around my neck. The only reason she can reach is that when she pushed me into the wall I end up leaning against it and not standing up right.

  “Atty?” her voice wavers slightly, and my heart pounds in my chest in response, she recognised my voice when she was deep in a nightmare. That does something to my heart, the emotion almost overwhelming.

  “Yeah Princess, I’m here. I’ve got you” I reply hoping she can’t hear the emotion in my voice.

  In response to my words she lets out a huge breath and snuggles deeper into my arms as the tension leaves her. In that moment, with her finding safety in my arms, which still completely perplexes me, I know that she has my heart. Although the strength of my feelings may seem impossible since they’ve developed in such a short amount of time, it doesn’t change the truth of my feelings.

  “I’m sorry I held a knife to your neck” she whispers quietly against my chest.

  “That’s ok. I get it” I reply honestly.

  “I know, I hate that you do.”

  My heart stutters for a beat, it’s been a long time since someone’s cared like that for me. Don’t get me wrong the guys all care but that’s different, we’re brothers, this just feels, more.

  “Come on Princess, let’s get you back to bed” I say and don’t wait for a reply as I lift her up and walk back over to the bed. There’s just something about her that gives me an overwhelming need to take care of her. When the guys used to talk about her before I left they’d each get this yearning look on their faces and to be honest I never really understood how one girl could be so special or how the same girl could mean so much to every single one of them.

  I get it now.

  I lay her down and pull the covers up, over the top of her and take a step back.

  “Stay?” she asks quietly.

  “Always, Princess” I can’t help but reply as I lift the covers again and get in next to her.

  She instantly places her head on my chest, one arm over my stomach and her leg hooked up over me. For what feels like the first time in forever it feels like my whole body relaxes and I can take a full breath. It’s like fucking magic.

  “Night, Atty. Thank you” she whispers stiltedly as she falls asleep within seconds.

  “Night Princess” I murmur back knowing that she can’t hear me.

  I settle down for a sleepless night, there’s no way I’m going to risk sleeping with Ever lying in my arms, I wake up swinging and more often than not screaming. I’m not going to risk hurting her or scaring her. I don’t mind the lack of sleep though, I’ve grown used to it over the years and I’d rather be holding her than sleeping anyway.

  Not long after she’s fallen asleep the door to her room slowly creeps open, I stiffen for a second before Riot pops his head around the door. When he spots me in bed with her he doesn’t look surprised in the slightest.

  “Can’t sleep?” I ask quietly trying not to disturb Ever. Although not as violent outwardly as my own nightmares, Riot’s nightmares plague him just as often.

  “Nah but I don’t have nightmares when I sleep next to her and I really want Ever snuggles right now. I’m willing to bet she has the same effect on your nightmares too” he smirks and I shake my head.

  “I’m not going to risk it, dude” I reply, forgetting to lower my voice and making Ever grumble and roll over so she’s facing away from me, she immediately scoots backwards so her entire body is pressed along the length of mine, making me grin.

  “Watch this” Riot grins and pulls my attention away from Everleigh.

  I watch curiously as he steps towards the bed and gently sweeps a lock of her hair off of her forehead.

  “Ever” he calls out, making her stir again but not wake, “Ever!” he tries again slightly louder.

  This time she growls and scrunches her face up in a way that I’m sure she thinks is scary but in reality is just cute.

  “Shut up and get in, I’m sleeping. Ass” she says without even opening her eyes as she lifts the covers in front of her moving them out of the way before promptly falling back to sleep.

  I share an incredulous look with Riot before I burst out laughing, trying to stay quiet but obviously not managing it as she mumbles something in her sleep that sounds suspiciously like stupid men. That just makes me want to laugh harder and Riot joins in as he climbs into the bed. He chuckles as she snuggles closer before reaching back and grabbing hold of me too.

  Once we’ve calmed down from our amusement. The room falls quiet and the darkness becomes like a blanket, my eyes start to feel heavy but I fight the urge to sleep.

  “Atlas, seriously try to get some sleep. I’m here and even though I know you won’t, I know you need to hear me say it. I won’t let you hurt her, man. Trust me though, you won’t” Riot says quietly repeating himself no doubt to try and convince me.

  It’s a while before I think of a reply and before I can his quiet snores fill the room. Maybe one day I will be brave enough to try but tonight is not the night. As the night wears on I try to distract myself from my urge to sleep with thoughts of letting the guys know what’s going on with me. I know they could handle it but it would be putting them in danger which would now mean putting Ever in danger and although I know she handled herself fairly well with me when she thought I was someone from her nightmare. I was never a threat so I have no idea how she would fair against someone who would fight back, despite her past. Besides that I don’t want any of them in the line of fire especially not for me. I don’t know how long I can keep them out though.

  My eyes, slip closed. It can’t hurt to rest them for just a second.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Everleigh

  I awake feeling somewhat bewildered as I try to remember when I came up to bed last night and who came up with me. It takes me a second before it all comes flooding back and I groan quietly.

  Fuck, I held a knife up to Atlas’s neck, then I asked him to stay and the crazy fucker agreed as if me holding a knife to his neck when I was still dealing with the remnants of my nightmare was perfectly normal. I sort of love him for not making a big deal about it actually. If my memory is correct and I’m pretty damn sure I didn’t dream that, then I’m assuming he’s one of the guys in bed with me. I also vaguely remember telling Riot to shut up, so he must be the other side of me. I’ve told him he doesn’t need to ask and I will never mi
nd him getting into bed with me but I think he finds my half asleep grumpy ass self amusing, so he still asks.

  I slowly peek my eyes open, from the tattooed skin beneath my head and the delicious view of tattooed abs I’m currently more than likely drooling on, I assume that I’m lying sprawled across Atlas, his arm is curved around me, his hand threaded into my hair loosely. Riot is wrapped around me with his arm around my waist. I admire Atlas’s tattoos for a second noting that the majority of them are black and white with only a few coloured ones dotted in, except on his arms where he has more colourful ones. When my hands start to itch with the need to touch, I force them to stay put and then gently move my head and glance up at him.

  He looks so peaceful when he’s sleeping. It’s like all of the tension and the harsh realities of his life that weigh on him when he’s awake have melted away. I can’t help the smile that overtakes me as I stare at him but quickly look away as he stirs, his hand clenching once in my hair before releasing again. I absolutely do not want him to wake up with me staring at him like some weirdo. In a bid to distract myself I slowly turn over and towards Riot, Atlas follows me in his sleep and I end up with him spooning me and holding onto me tightly, like he’s worried I’m going to leave. It makes me smile goofily, who knew the giant intimidating man was a cuddler. A quiet chuckle has my eyes snapping up to meet Riot’s laughing amber eyes. I raise my eyebrow in question as he gently moves some of my wild bed hair and tucks it behind my ear.

  “Morning Sunshine” he smiles sleepily before he explains. “He has nightmares like mine except worse. He always wakes himself screaming at least once and tends to wake up swinging. I tried to convince him last night that there was no way in hell that he would hurt you and he should try and get some sleep. He refused. I’m glad that he actually managed to sleep uninterrupted by nightmares for once” he finishes seriously before his eyes widen with mischief, “I wonder if he’ll be less of a surly bastard now? It would ruin his whole reputation” he mock gasps which makes me giggle, my giggle turns into a chuckle when Atlas replies, his arms tightening around me.

  “Nope, still a surly bastard brother” he rasps and Riots eyes widen comically.

  Before Riot can make a comeback or defend his comment. My bedroom door opens and Rafe walks in, not pausing as he leans over Riot to give me a quick kiss before I can even make a comment about morning breath. He turns to Riot and does the same and then gets into the bed behind Riot, moving close and wrapping his arm over Riot and twining his fingers with mine.

  “Morning” I say slightly amused.

  “Morning, I was coming in here to say I’m going to make Luc a birthday breakfast and I was wondering if you wanted to help me do that before we make the curry?” Rafe mutters sounding sleepy again and me and Riot share a grin.

  “Yeah I’d love to. Let me up guys, I need to shower and find Luc’s present!” I say excitedly and in response Atlas’s arms tighten around me and Riot kisses me. None of them make any move to get up though or let me out. “Guys?” I ask again and they all groan making me laugh.

  Rafe gets up first and stretches, dragging Riot up with him. Atlas kisses my neck once before he gets up making my body tingle and tempting me to pull him back into bed with me. We really don’t have the time for that though, plus it’s Luc’s birthday and I can’t wait to give him the present I got him. I also desperately need a shower. Ew.

  Once I can move, no longer surrounded by men, and feeling sad about that despite the fact it was me who asked them to move in the first place, I hop out of the bed and start towards my suitcase to find something to wear. As I move across the room I catch the smug look sent in Atlas’s direction from Riot, which Atlas just responds to by sticking his middle finger up and smirking before he makes his way towards me kisses me and then walks towards the door.

  “I’m going to get dressed, Princess” he says as he leaves. Riot follows him out chuckling as Rafe grins.

  What is it with these guys and having no regard for morning breath. Not that I noticed theirs and I do love my kisses. Not really sure why I’m complaining right now.

  I shake my head at my wayward thoughts and search through my bag for a comfy outfit. We aren’t going out anywhere today, not until we go to the bar later and I’ll pick comfy sweatpants or leggings over jeans any day. I finally settle on some super comfy grey sweatpants and a tight white tank. I’ll steal one of the guys hoody’s if I get cold. I quickly go through my morning routine and throw my hair up into a messy bun before I make my way downstairs to join Rafe in the kitchen, I grab Luc’s gift card out of my suitcase pocket and stick it in my sweatpants. I have no idea when they want to do presents so it’ll just be easier to carry it around with me. He smiles and kisses me softly as he hands me a coffee and I grin.

  “You’re amazing. I just might keep you” I say jokingly taking a sip.

  “I sure as fuck hope so Everleigh, I’m not planning on going anywhere” he says casually as he turns around and starts pulling out pots and pans.

  He ignores my choke as the coffee goes down the wrong way at his unexpected take no shit honesty.

  My heart soars and I place my coffee on the counter before I step up behind him wrapping my arms around his waist as I lay my cheek on his back.

  “You can count on it, Rafe. I’m keeping you forever.”

  His hand cups my arms as he squeezes gently.

  “Come on let’s get this made for the savages” I chuckle.

  Slightly uncomfortable with all the emotions this early in the morning I try to turn the conversation back to safer topics. Rafe gives me a look that clearly says he’s not falling for it but allows the change regardless.

  I step back and take a sip of my coffee as I lean against the counter and watch as he gets all sorts of ingredients out.

  “So what are we making?” I ask.

  “Luc loves Mexican and I found a recipe for breakfast burritos online that I’ve been wanting to try” Rafe grins.

  “Sounds awesome. What do you want me to do?”

  “Could you chop the tomatoes and onion whilst I start the sausage and put the bacon in. I thought we could set it all out on the table and people can pick how they want to make them. Trick is actually ridiculously fussy” Rafe adds rolling his eyes.

  “You got it, Chef” I grin sassily and he chuckles.

  “We can cook the curry after breakfast?”

  “Yeah that’s plenty of time to let it cook slowly in the oven” I agree.

  Despite never having cooked together before we work surprisingly well together, not once getting in each other’s way. I’ve also noticed that whilst we’ve been here Rafe has barely signed at all, choosing to speak instead and I absolutely love it.

  “Shall I call the guys down?” I ask, when it’s nearly ready.

  “Nah they’ll smell it and come before they’re even properly awake. Especially Jensen” Rafe chuckles.

  We’ve just finished and are starting to take everything to the table when the guys start to arrive, all of them except Riot and Atlas still look half asleep and in pyjamas. Jensen stumbles in last, his eyes still practically closed. He trips his way over to the coffee pot and makes himself one, eyes still mostly shut and before I can intervene somehow, he stumbles to the table and takes a seat without spilling any coffee despite tripping twice.

  “It’s like a goddamn super power” I mutter and Trick chuckles from besides me.

  “I have no idea how he does that but to be honest I have no idea how he can trip on every damn thing in normal everyday life but be so fucking agile and light on his feet when he fights” Trick says grabbing some serving dishes and taking them to the table, Jensen is obviously more awake now because he flips Trick his middle finger for the comment.

  His hair is sticking up everywhere and if it wasn’t for the fact that he’s shirtless and showing an amazing amount of toned, taut abs, he’d look absolutely adorable. As it stands he’s an interesting mix of adorable sleepiness and hot as sin sexiness.<
br />
  When I place the last dish down onto the table, before I take my seat between him and Luc, I can’t help but lean forward and gently kiss his cheek which makes one corner of his mouth kick up into a lazy smile. Unable to stop myself from playing, kiss his cheek gently again and at the same time reach down and tweak his nipple not hard but hard enough to make his eyes snap open fully awake now as they darken with lust. I chuckle quietly as I go to take my seat but before I can, I get pulled onto Jensen’s lap as his lips descend on mine in a searing kiss that has my whole body begging for more and just as I lose that last shred of control that’s stopping me from saying fuck it and riding him right now at the breakfast table with all the guys watching, he pulls back.

  I make a noise of protest and he smirks as his eyes blaze.

  Unfortunately, now that I’ve had a chance to cool down slightly I realise that it wouldn’t be a great idea to carry this on right now. I reluctantly get off of him and take my seat lifting my head when I realise the table is still silent. I’m still waiting for something to push one or all of them over the edge, especially now I’ve slept with Cash and Trick. When my gaze lands on them though the only emotion I find is desire and need, heat pools low in my stomach at their looks.

  My face is gently turned to the side and Luc studies my features for a second, a soft look melding with the desire in his brown orbs creating an addictive and mesmerising mix that I couldn’t look away from if I tried. He opens his mouth as if to say something and my heart starts to beat so fast it feels like it’s going to beat right out of my chest. I have a brief thought that I might have a heart attack but Luc lowers his lips to mine slowly caressing them, my hand slides up his bare chest making him shudder. His tongue parts my lips as his hand slides up my back and into my hair. He kisses me slowly making the most of every stroke and touch. My core clenches. He pulls back and gives me that smile once again. The one that makes my heart race for an entirely different reason as I fight not to say three words.