Page 3 of Eternal Pieces
I don’t manage to get another word out before he’s sprinting to the kitchen. My smile falters when I see Max’s moody face.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m not letting you wander off alone in the woods. You could get hurt or worse.” He tenderly touches my stomach. “There could be a baby in here. It’s snowing and freezing cold. What if something happens and we don’t manage to find you?”
I understand his worries. We were meant to travel to town today and buy a pregnancy test, but the snow came down heavily overnight, and Maddox’s car couldn’t get through it. Meaning we’ll have to wait a few more days to find out if our three is actually a four.
Taking hold of Max’s calloused hands, I squeeze them reassuringly. “I promise I’ll be fine. A bit of cold isn’t going to hurt any potential baby, and I know you two. You say you’ll give me a head start, but you’ll be stalking me the whole time. If you really want to ensure my safety, then you’d better make sure you’re the one who catches me first.”
My teasing sets off the fire inside him, and his dark brown eyes turn into bright embers that stare so deeply into mine I can see the fantasies playing out in his head.
“Fine. But if anything happens—” He’s cut off by a loud clang of pots and pans from the kitchen.
Pinching his toned stomach, I say, “Better fill up, you’re going to need your stamina if you want to catch me.” I run off, and he immediately chases, grabbing me before I can reach the hallway.
I don’t stand a chance against either of them, but it’s fun to rile them up. That way, when they catch me, those orgasms will be guaranteed to be the best of my life.
CHAPTER 2
VIOLET
Watching Maddox and Max demolish their pancakes and bacon reminds me of our breakfasts back when we were in high school. They ate enough for Max’s entire baseball team back then, and now it’s like feeding an army.
It’s nice, though, since I’ve never had to feel self-conscious about what I eat in front of them. Being a bigger girl has always made it difficult for me to eat in public. It’s like people think that because I’m fat, I don’t deserve to eat. That I should sit there and starve. Fuck that. My two guys and I love my curves. If I ever skipped a meal, I’m pretty sure they’d pin me down and feed me. That actually sounds pretty hot. Maybe I’ll try it out. Another day, though. These pancakes are way too good to skip. I add an extra one to my plate before Maddox has a chance to inhale the rest of them.
In the seat next to me, Max watches me out of the corner of his eye and transfers the remaining bacon from his plate to mine. When I raise a brow at him, he simply says, “You might be eating for two.”
Maddox’s face lights up. It does every time a baby is mentioned. “I can’t believe there might actually be a little Ostaire in you. Do you feel any different? Are your boobs sore?”He reaches out to grab them, and I jab the back of his hand with my fork.
“Ouch.” He rubs the pronged flesh tenderly. I roll my eyes. It wasn’t even that hard.
“If they were sore, then I definitely wouldn’t want you manhandling them. And no, I feel the same.”
Max takes his plate to the sink and makes another pot of coffee. “We should switch to decaf,” he says as he examines the packet of coffee beans.
“No way! I need my coffee,” Maddox says through a mouthful of pancake. “I’ll be grumpier than you without it.”
I giggle, and Max narrows his eyes at me. “I’m notgrumpy.”
Maddox scoffs. “Sure, I can see the rainbows and sprinkles shooting out your ass from here. I’d hate to see you actually mad. Oh, wait, I did when you smashed my car up. Naked, might I add. I’m still haunted by your pasty white cheeks shining at me in the moonlight.”
Max’s grip on the coffee tightens, and some beans spill onto the floor.
Seemingly oblivious to his brother’s mood or perhaps not caring, Maddox blurts out, “Wait, you can’t have fish either, can you?”
“That’s only raw fish or too much tuna,” Max says deadpan as he sweeps the floor. His anger is lessening thanks to his new grounding techniques from therapy.
“So I don’t have to quit fishing?” Maddox sighs with relief. I’m still surprised about the recent revelation that he knows how to fish. Since moving into the cabin with them, I’ve discovered how outdoorsy they are. I never got to see that side of them before.
“Remember that time Dad undercooked his catch and we were sick for days after?”
Max’s brow furrows as he tries to remember. “I’m pretty sure that was because he let you grill it. That was also the weekend when it rained nonstop and the tent ripped because your lure caught on it.” A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.
Their reminiscing has me eager to get out into nature myself. “Do we need to talk about our plans for the day, or are you two good with me heading out first and you following after?”
Maddox reaches across the table for my hand and weaves his fingers through mine. “I can’t believe you want to do primal play. I mean, I should have known since you got off so much on us stalking you around your campus. If you want to try anything else, I have an entire list of things. Like pet play! We could dress you up as a puppy and have you lick peanut butter off our?—”
“Mad. Quit it already, you’re freaking her out.”
