Chapter 3

MAY 13 – SATURDAY 3:12 PM (MDT)

R en

Everyone was waiting off to the side as I fumbled with the keys. Even though no one rushed me, just them standing there felt like pressure. Myles stepped in close and gripped my shaky hand.

"Easy, Snowflake, it's okay. We're all here for ya," he said, his voice soothing as he spoke low in my ear. His touch helped to steady me, and I took a deep breath. So many emotions were running through my body that it was creating bursts of what felt like fireworks in my chest.

"I've got it. I'm okay." I slipped the key into the lock, and like no time had passed, I stepped inside and punched in the code to the beeping alarm system. The sounds of those walking in behind me became nothing but background noise with each step deeper I took into the home that had filled me with so much joy and heartbreak. My fingers brushed the top of the decorative table at the front entrance, and I paused to stare at the family photos coated in a thin layer of dust.

I moved through the hall silently as memories flitted in and out of my mind. Their ghostly hold reached in and gripped my heart. Nothing had been moved. Each room was cleaned up from the break in, but other than that, nothing had changed. I jumped as a hand touched my shoulder, and I looked up into Blake's eyes.

"Are you sure you're okay? This can't be easy." His green eyes held so much warmth.

"I used to bake in here with my mum. I mean, where else would you bake other than the kitchen? That was kind of stupid to say."

Blake slipped his hand into mine, giving it a squeeze. "No, it's not stupid. I'm sure Myles never got to bake with his dad," he said, and Myles laughed as he walked into the kitchen.

"My da, bake? Only if it was someone's soul." He leaned on the massive marble island, and I couldn't help smiling as I pictured him shirtless with just an apron on. "I don't know what yer thinkin', but I love it when ya look at me like that," Myles said, and I cleared my throat.

"I'm not sure you want to know." His eyebrow raised, and I quickly looked away before he pushed for the answer. I stared down the hall to where Theo was still standing by the door, holding his carry-on like he was a decorative statue, and Ivy was still apologizing.

"I better go rescue them," I whispered, but I held onto Blake's hand as I walked up to a distraught Ivy and Theo, who couldn't have looked more disinterested if he tried. "Why don't I show you to your rooms? Then, I'll get started cleaning. It never crossed my mind that the place has been sitting empty with no one to keep it up."

Ivy pulled me into a hug. "I'll help."

"We'll all help," Myles offered, and I smiled. This ought to be interesting.

Myles grabbed my suitcase, and I was just as happy to let him have it rather than try and drag it up the two flights of stairs. I stopped at the closed door at the top.

"Please, no one go into this room. It was my mums and I…." I cleared my throat of the knot that had formed. "I just don't want anything touched in there."

"Ya got it, Snowflake," Myles said, and I continued to the spare rooms that were near mine. I never understood why we had a place with so many rooms. It wasn't like my parents partied so hard that people stayed overnight, and other than my aunt, there was no other living family.

I pointed to the two rooms available. "Ivy and Theo, feel free to choose which one you want." Of course, they both started for the same room, and the apologizing began all over again. I shook my head and gave up.

Pushing open my bedroom door, it felt strange to be walking in here after so many months and with two guys. Aside from my mum and dad, the only other person that had crossed the threshold was Lizzy. I'd chosen grey, butter yellow, and ocean blue to decorate, and I was suddenly happy that I wasn't a Barbie pink girl. I turned to look at Myles and Blake.

"So, this is where my Snowflake grew up," Myles said as he wandered the room and looked at everything.

"I assumed you two would want to stay in here with me. But if you want your own room…."

"No," they chimed together.

"Okay, that answers that." I laughed as I opened the walk-in closet and began making room for their stuff. I'd never had a ton of clothes, and it was easy to move mine to one side. "You two can have this side." I pointed. "And this dresser is already empty." I pulled open the six drawers to show them. "Is this weird," I asked, turning to face them. The closet suddenly felt very tiny.

"Naw, why?"

I shrugged. "I don't know too many girls that would have multiple boyfriends to start, let alone get to take them home for the summer. Just feels a little like…I don't know…like I'm doing something wrong...or we are rushing things, maybe."

They shook their heads in unison, making me blush. "Okay, it's just me."

"Ren, we live together at school, and you've stayed with us before. This may be your home, but if anything, you should feel more relaxed. This is your place. You get all the say on what you're comfortable with. We get to be your sexy arm candy," Blake said as he stepped in close and cupped my cheek. My heart always got a workout with them near me, and right on cue, it began to race wildly.

"Aye, and I'm down for ya to order me around. I'm lookin' forward to earnin' my keep." Myles walked around behind me, and I was sandwiched between the two of them. "I'm happy to start anywhere you want," he whispered as his lips brushed against the side of my neck. Blake took advantage of the distraction and kissed me.

Hands traced over my body, and I didn't even know who was who anymore. They moved so in sync with one another.

Myles growled, the rumble low and sultry. "My turn," he said, and Blake broke the kiss. I started to turn my head, but Myles wrapped his hand around my throat and bent me back so I was looking up at him. My hands tightened on Blake's hoodie as my pulse bounced around erratically. "Does this scare ya, Snowflake?"

"No. Never with you two," I breathed out.

"Good." He kissed me, his fingers as warm against my throat as his mouth was hot.

"Fuck, that's hot," Blake said, his hands tightening on my hips.

"I should've known," Theo said, making me jump, but Myles didn't let me go. "We've been here five minutes, and you're already making out in the closet. Figures. I thought we were going to clean?"

Myles slowly lifted his head from my lips, and I was left staring at the wolf tattooed on his neck.

"Ya really know how to ruin a moment, mate," Myles growled, making me shiver, but he released my throat so I could stand up straight.

"Yeah, well, you three may be happy rolling around like pigs in shit, but I refuse to sleep in a cloud of dust. So, how about we clean first? Then, I really don't care what you three do."

"Theo…." Blake started, but Theo held up his hand.

"No, don't Theo me. I was ordered to come on this so-called vacation. This was not my first choice of summer events. And for our darling queen here, I had to slum it in economy, my computer was destroyed, and I was shoved in the back of a mom- mobile and fed a burger like I was the dog getting scraps. If you don't mind, I'd at least like a clean room, a hot fucking shower, and a place to work. That is if you two can keep your dicks in your pants long enough."

The glacial look in Theo's eyes as he stared at me had me swallowing hard. I really hadn't given him or the fact that he was coming much thought, which was terrible on my part. This was just so exciting for me, and I knew that Blake, Myles, and even Ivy were all ecstatic that I just sort of assumed Theo would be too.

"Ya don't need to be such a knob," Myles said. "This is the first time Ren has been home since she was forced to leave."

I grabbed Myles's arm. "No, Theo is right. I'll get all the cleaning supplies, and we can get started. I'm being a terrible host."

Ivy was waiting out in the hall, and I gave her a warm smile despite the worry in her eyes. "I tried to stop him," she whispered as I jogged down the stairs.

"It's all good, really. Thank you for helping. I didn't really appreciate how large this house was until this moment." The cleaning closet was almost as big as the pantry, and as I stepped in, I was hit with the lemony and pine fresh scent of all the supplies. It wasn't that I didn't know how to clean the house, but I was used to maintenance, and this was like an overhaul. Unsure what to start with, I pulled everything out and was sitting it in the hallway when the guys wandered down the stairs.

"May I make a suggestion," Theo asked, and I pulled my hair up into a twist as I turned to look at him.

"Hit me with it."

"One person tackles the laundry and bathrooms. The other four divide into pairs to dust, vacuum, and mop. Start on one level and move as a unit. I would also ask for loud music, but that is optional."

The corner of my mouth pulled up as he crossed his arms. "I like the idea. I'll take the laundry and bathrooms then. The four of you can decide who gets to pair up." Smiling, I pulled off my sweatshirt and tossed it on the hook in the front hallway. Then, I picked up a cleaning tote.

"But then how will I get to flirt with ya," Myles grumbled.

"Exactly, why I'm taking the solo job." Raising up on my toes, I kissed his cheek. Laughing at his pouting expression, I wandered away and then yelled out to the home entertainment system to play my favorite playlist. The speakers built into the walls came to life, and I knew that I had more than enough variety to keep everyone happy.

It might have seemed strange to someone else, but scrubbing the showers and toilets felt cathartic. The act of cleaning away the dirt from when everything changed was as cleansing to my heart as it was to the room. I stood up after rinsing the tub in the main bathroom and jumped as the door closed behind me. Laughing, I looked over my shoulder at Myles.

"You look like you're up to something," I said, peeling off the yellow gloves and tossing them in my caddy.

"Shh, I'm hiding from Theo. His anal-ness is drivin' me insane." Myles smirked as he reached out and grabbed me, pulling me into his body. "And this is far more entertaining." I squealed as he picked me up and put me on the counter before gripping either side. "Fuck, ya still smell adorable covered in disinfectant," he teased, making me laugh as he buried his head at the side of my neck.

Bang, bang, bang.

"I know you're in there," Theo yelled through the door, but Myles just smiled and kissed me instead of answering.

Myles and Blake had corrupted me. I couldn't get through ten minutes of studying anymore without him or Blake doing something to sidetrack all my thoughts. As I wrapped my arms around his neck, I forgot why I was in the bathroom in the first place.

"I'm not doing this alone, Myles. Get your ass out here," Theo said, but Myles deepened the kiss and gripped my ass, pulling me tighter to his body.

All my remaining common sense swirled down the drain with the droplets of water as he pulled back, only long enough to peel this T-shirt off. I was left staring at his perfect shoulders all the way down to where his jeans hung low, showing off his hard abs.

"Myles? Fuck it, you two are unbelievable," Theo bitched, and I could hear him stomp away over the loud music.

"Sounds like we might be in trouble," I whispered, running my hands up the delicious eye candy that was begging to be touched.

Myles sucked in a breath and then groaned, igniting a wildfire inside of me. He pressed in close, and the heat radiating off his body penetrated my skin. As close as Myles was, he still wasn't touching me, which somehow made me pant harder. He growled against my neck, and I shivered, goosebumps rising on my skin.

"Yer the sexiest thing I have ever laid my eyes on," he said, making me smile.

"Oh yeah? What was the sexiest before I took top spot?"

"My car," he said without missing a beat, making me laugh. I believed that. He sold his baby just before we left to come here and was so distraught that I thought he was going to cry and tackle the guy when he came to pick it up. "Fuck, I want to kiss these lips and never stop, Snowflake. Do ya have any idea how insane ya make me? How my body craves to be near ya, how my mind is filled with thoughts of you? How my skin sings just for the slightest touch."

His eyes were locked with mine as I traced his shoulders with my fingertips. "Like that?"

"Oh, like that and a whole lot more," he said, and I melted into his hold as he cupped my cheeks and kissed me again. This time, it was deep and slow, like he was savoring the moment, but my hands were not on the same slow and steady wavelength as they roamed all over his body. I'd memorized everything about him, but I still couldn't get enough. Myles and Blake were addicting to my senses.

"Okay, you two. You're going to give Theo a coronary, and I'm sick of listening to him bitch," Blake said, tapping on the door. "Even as his twin, I can only take so much, and I really don't want to be charged with murder and have to tell my parents."

"Fuck, yer all annoyin'," Myles complained as he slowly moved away. I needed a damn fan. He never stopped looking at me as he reached out, and the lock clicked open. Blake was casually leaning against the doorframe when Myles opened the door.

"Next time, invite me to join, and I won't be bugging you to get out," Blake said, smirking as I slid off the counter. Forget the fan. I needed an ice bath ready at all times.

"Noted. Next time, I lock all three of us in here together," Myles said, running his tongue over his bottom lip. No one else could look as devious, sexy, and adorable with a single act. It wasn't even day one, and the temptation to rip all my clothes off was very real. They'd been edging me ever since the cabin and my attempt at leaving Wayward. Even when I said I wanted to take things further, they wouldn't. I was left wanting so much more, and every single time, they walked away or cuddled me and went to sleep. I think it was their evil plan to drive me to the point of insanity, and if it was, it was working. They looked me up and down, and I wanted to tackle them to the ground. But, of course, they turned and laughed as they wandered down the hall. It was time I started playing a game of my own, one that would drive them wild, and I knew exactly who to break first.