Humming along to the playlist running on her Bluetooth speaker, Avery flipped a pancake, her neck damp from wet hair that she'd had no time to dry if she was going to get breakfast started. The music was low enough that she heard someone coming down the stairs, so it was no huge surprise when she felt a hand on her rear, and an arm reach for a piece of bacon from the plate beside the stove.
Catching a glimpse of the longer light brown hair from the corner of her eye, she sighed, flipped another pancake. "What is with you guys and my butt?" she asked.
She received a firm squeeze before Mason leaned against the counter beside her. "It's hard to resist," he replied, then took a bite from the bacon with a wicked grin. He was feeling much better after his long shower, and had finally relieved all the pressure that had built up through the night. With all the time he'd spent, he'd managed to bolster some confidence as well, enough to try and push for time with Avery.
After all, they'd spanked her naked ass last night and she'd slept between them. Their relationship was amid a drastic shift, whether that was a positive thing, he didn't know. But he had until tomorrow to figure it all out and intended to do everything he could to see what direction it would take. And he'd found her cooking breakfast in a loose white halter top that left a good six inches of skin exposed between the fabric and her black panties that had lace trim. Not at all normal day-wear, despite the fact that she'd showered, which had to have been done on purpose.
He was convinced she was feeling it too.
Setting the last pancake on the plate, Avery looked at Mason, who was finishing the strip of bacon. His hair was still wet, tied back, and he wore a black sleeveless shirt and cargo shorts. "Breakfast is ready. Where's Carter?"
"He's here," she heard in the distance, and spun around to find him sliding onto a stool at the kitchen bar.
Carter had suggested the tank and panties, but he hadn't expected a follow through, let alone to the extent she'd taken it. The back had been sexy to see, but the front . . . the halter fell just inches below her breasts and those little black panties were so low cut in the front, offering the full view of her tiny waist and hips. Moreover, the sexy lines her pelvic bones made, how they protruded due to the fact she didn't have an ounce of fat on her.
Placing her hands on her hips, her eyes flicked between Mason and Carter. "A little help?" she asked.
"Yup," Mason said, and they were both in motion, grabbing plates and glasses, orange juice, condiments while she deposited the plates of food on the bar. Meals always took place in the kitchen unless it was dinner, when that would be served in the dining room on her stepmother's insistence that they always eat properly with family when home.
Finally, everyone had a place along the bar and began to dish up. "Thanks for cooking," Carter said with a wink at Avery. He absolutely loved that she'd done as he asked, as though she were telling him she was willing to follow an order and a sure sign she would continue to do so.
Breakfast was finished with complete normality, conversing so casually you'd never know as an outside observer that anything had changed. They shared amusing anecdotes from the party the night before, leaving out the wee hours, of course. Avery finished first and brought her plate to the sink, rinsing it then placing it into the dishwasher. "I've gotta go dry my hair," she told the boys, releasing the clip and using it to brush out the twist.
"We'll probably go watch some TV," Carter said, looking to Mason and receiving a nod. "It's a nice day though. Maybe after we've relaxed for a while we can take a swim this afternoon?"
"Sounds good," Avery said, then left the kitchen to get upstairs.
Once Mason knew she was long gone, he picked at his last piece of bacon. "That little outfit?" he began, then plopped a piece into his mouth while glancing sideways at Carter. "Is that for real?"
Carter stood up and began to clean his plate. "Might just be because she wanted to rush and make breakfast," he mused, knowing that was not the truth. Leaning back against the counter, he folded his arms over his chest. "Or maybe it's her way of saying she's okay with everything that happened. And maybe okay with it continuing."
"That's the read I got," Mason replied, shaking his head in wonder. He laughed silently as he finished the last bite of bacon. "You know I woke up and my hand was just below her chest. All I wanted was to feel her."
Shrugging, Carter said, "You probably could have."
"Nah, she was asleep," Mason argued. He held up his forefinger and thumb. "I was
this close
to doing it, too. It was fucking infuriating how turned on I was, so I just got up."
"And opened the curtains," Carter added, raising a brow.
"Yeah, 'cause I wanted you guys to wake up," Mason fired back through a chuckle. "There was no way I could just fall back asleep at that point, and I wasn't about to sit around for hours while you guys slept in." Lowering his gaze, Mason ran his fork through the syrup, drawing circles. "We have her on lockdown here, and I don't know what that means. I just know I want to touch her." He gulped. "Try to take advantage of the time we have and see." Glancing back up to gauge his brother's reaction, he frowned. "Is that weird?"
Carter pressed away from the counter and grabbed Mason's dishes. "Maybe we just stop asking that question. Whenever you say it, it makes it weird," he explained, loading the last items and pouring cleaner into the reservoir. "We already determined last night that it's not weird that we were in this together. And judging by what she was wearing . . . I dunno. I think she is embracing the
ours until Sunday
thing."
"That or offering her own form of punishment by torturing us," Mason mused. "Well, at least torturing me. I have no idea where you stand on the whole thing."
