It's one of those times you wished you thought to have your video running.
As soon as we're finished unpacking, Dale's arms slide around my waist from behind, and I lean against him as he kisses my cheek. "Thank you for coming," he says softly.
And just like that, all my earlier reservations about being here suddenly vanish.
Just as we walk out, I see Britt, smiling happily as she speaks with Rain and Tria. I feel on the outside again, which sucks. I've spent all week working alongside Britt, both of us putting in an obscene amount of hours on the newest project.
Her eyes meet mine, and her smile broadens. I half wish she'd just announce she knows me and get on with it.
But she doesn't.
"We're about to cook," Britt tells me.
"I'm about to cook. I don't trust any of you with my food," Maverick says on his way by. "Rain and Tria burn more than they salvage, and Ruby just tosses in what-the-fuck-ever spices she has on hand, as long as peanuts aren't involved."
"I cook all the time and never have complaints," Ruby points out dryly.
Maverick ignores her and moves toward the kitchen like he's really about to cook.
"Never mind," Britt states flatly.
And we're back to awkward.
"I'm going to grab some air," I tell Dale, releasing his hand.
Surprisingly, Britt follows me out, and I turn to face her with confusion. "I thought you didn't want them knowing you knew me."
"I don't want them knowing I work with you. But I really like you and I'm not going to ignore you," she states as though it's obvious.
I just grin, relieved. "I could really use at least one person in this house."
She glances through the glass where everyone is laughing and talking, all of them so effortlessly comfortable with each other. Britt and I both look like outsiders right now.
"You should go back in. I just needed a minute," I tell her.
She looks back at me, something akin to understanding in her eyes. "I don't fit either," she says quietly. "And it's nothing they do wrong. They all love me. And I never feel alone. I just … I don't fit."
I understand her perfectly.
"It's me-not them. I don't really know where I belong yet within the group, and it's holding me back," she goes on. "Never tell Dale that," she adds, smiling grimly at me. "It would hurt them."
"I haven't told Dale I know you, which is awkward at the moment."
She looks down. "I plan to tell them soon. When this project is over and I can show them how well I fit there."
She looks up at me, and something softens inside my chest. I get it. I really do. She wants to prove to everyone here-all the successful, ambitious, and smart people on the other side of that glass-that she's just as strong as all of them. That she can stand on her own two feet.
That she's not weak.
That she's not helpless.
That she's not broken.
It's like seeing a piece of my reflection.
"Sounds like a plan," I tell her, smiling when she does.
"Thanks, Ms. Hay-I mean, Harley. For everything."
"So we don't have to ignore each other this weekend?" I ask, clearing my throat before I let her words make me emotional.
Her smile only broadens.
"No. I don't want to be ignored."
I laugh to myself, because she had no idea how much I didn't want to be ignored by her. My intern. She thinks she's smaller next to all of them, when really, she's just as powerful.
"Then let's get a drink."
"Dane won't let me consume alcoholic beverages in his presence since I'm underage, and alcohol usually makes me unlikeable in the company of others. I get really invasive and personal. But I'll watch you drink," she says matter-of-factly.
I remember why I like her so much in that moment. She's purely honest, unless she's keeping a secret.
"I usually become really unlikeable in the company of others when I drink as well. Should be an interesting night," I quip.
An interesting night with a houseful of Sterlings.
Chapter 30
DALE
Harley is drunk.
And I'm trying not to laugh as she tells Britt the logistics of having sex the first time. Dane looks like he's going to be sick as Britt actually takes notes.
"It's going to hurt, but the pain goes away quickly, as long as the guy isn't a total tool," Harley explains.
Rain nods like she's agreeing, and then stops nodding promptly when Dane shoots her a death glare. Carrie-Rain and Dane's daughter-went to bed hours ago, and I'm glad she's missing this conversation.
Usually I'm just as keen on keeping Britt's head away from this subject, but Harley drunk has her loosened up around all my cousins and friends, so I'm just happy to see her talking about anything at all.
Even sex.
To my youngest cousin.
The cousin who is desperate to get rid of her V-card.
My family is seriously messed up.
"But if you pick the wrong guy, it will be worse than it has to be," Ruby adds, grimacing when Corbin grunts his disapproval. Considering he messed up and missed his chance to be the right guy with Ruby once upon a long time ago.
"And it holds more of a psychological effect on you than you realize when you give that piece of yourself to someone," Tria adds.
Harley takes down another hefty sip of her drink, nodding emphatically, agreeing with Tria, while Dane stalks off to go sulk in private. No one wants to scare Harley, so even Kode is keeping his mouth shut, even though he's a concerning shade of furious red.
Britt's like the baby sister all of us feel we have to protect. And Harley is the girl who was fucked over long ago by me. Then went through worse than we knew. And now there's a certain amount of penance to be paid.
Not that Kode cares. He just knows he can't piss of Tria if he plans to propose to her after we buy this house.
The other Aspen home we originally purchased is no longer big enough for the ever-expanding crew, and this one came on the market at the perfect time.
Finally, Corbin and Kode stalk away, unable to hear any more girl-talk about Britt and her virginity. My stomach is roiling, but I'm trying to focus on Harley being drunk and relaxed as opposed to the actual conversation going on.
Maverick props up beside me, groaning as he checks his phone.
"We seriously need to go to a bar so that I don't have to jack off tonight. My hand and dick are spending too much quality time together these days."
"More information than-"
"Stop saying that when we both know I've heard way more about your sex life than you have mine," Maverick says dismissively.
"Who's watching your cat?" I ask, trying to tune out Harley as she gives more details about her virginity-losing than I care to hear.
"No one. The devil cat is ruling the house on her own. Plenty of food and water out."
Just as I'm about to speak, I hear Harley getting louder. "Oh! And beware of cherry pickers!"
"Cherry pickers?" Britt asks, confused.
Maverick and I both groan as I go to collect Harley. Even I have limits.
"Cherry pickers are after that cherry," Harley says around a giggle.
"Time for bed," I tell Harley, helping her out of the chair.
She grins up at me as she collapses against my chest, kissing me through my shirt. My thumb rubs across her lips, and she sucks it in, twirling her tongue around the tip.
"On that note, I think I'm going to bed too," Rain says, snickering as she walks away.
Tria abandons us as I start backing Harley away and toward our room. My eyes don't move from where she's still sucking my thumb into that mouth. I know the power that mouth holds.
I also know I want it on something other than my thumb.
As soon as I get her in the room and kick the door shut, she releases my thumb with a pop and smirks as she backs away, half staggering.
"I want to be tied up tonight," she says, pulling open the little drawer and retrieving the satin, one-inch wide strips. They're at least six feet long each.
"I think I can handle that request," I tell her as she starts tugging her shirt over her head.
Just as she pushes her leggings down, I pull my shirt off, tossing it aside as she starts backing up on the bed in her lacy underwear.
"Naked," I remind her. Always naked.
She giggles as she starts removing her bra and panties, and I go to tie her up just as she finishes. After I get one hand tightly bound to one bed post, I move to the other, tying it up as well, leaving no room for her to wriggle free.
I'm curious how many orgasms she can stand.
After shutting off the lights and locking the door, I move back toward the bed. I should have left the lights on, because it's almost too dark in here.
I've always been a fan of the dark, but I prefer to see Harley when she's spread out like she is. "Dale," she whimpers.
Quickly, I move between her legs, spreading them wide as I bend and run my tongue along her center.
She hisses my name, and I grin against her as I lean over and fumble in the drawer. There are five flavors waiting for me, and I grab a tube, ready to be surprised by which one I've chosen.
I wouldn't use it, but it has some sort of heat to it that gets Harley panting my name within seconds. As learned last night.