Chapter 16

Jayce

I’m just getting out of the shower when the doorbell rings. I slip on a pair of shorts and hurry to see who it is.

Since Shay never responded to my text last night, it takes me by surprise to see her standing on the other side in a pale green romper with flip-flops. Her hair’s pulled back in a messy bun.

In her hands, she’s holding three cartons of eggs, a stick of butter, and two loaves of bread.

“Are you going to let me in, or are you going to stare at me all night?” She adds her own adorable wink to her question.

I step aside while running my fingers through my wet hair. After last night, I thought for sure I wouldn’t see her for a while. I’ve run the whole evening through my mind on repeat dozens of times, trying to figure out what pushed her away, but I come up empty each time. Will I ever understand her? She’s a wonderful mystery. I’m determined to unravel everything about her, with or without clues.

Shay makes a beeline for the kitchen at the back of my living room. It’s an open floor plan, so I can watch all her moves from where I stand. She opens cabinet after cabinet clearly looking for a skillet.

She hasn’t asked for my help, so I choose to enjoy watching her fumble around.

I consider putting a shirt on, but where’s the fun in that? She surprised me, and unless she objects, I’ll remain as I am.

I pull up a barstool after she finds a large bowl and whisk for the eggs.

“Are you feeding an army?” I need to know since she’s cracked all the eggs from the cartons.

Before she can answer, the door opens, and in walks Damian and Nikolaos, followed by Priscilla and Anjal.

“I heard we’re having egg sandwiches. I wouldn’t miss that for anything,” Damian jests. He never turns down food.

The onslaught of visitors sends me for the shirt I refused to put on.

If Shay thinks having our family here will deter me, she’s wrong. I can play games too.

With a tank top on that hugs my muscles, I head back to the kitchen. Priscilla is pouring mimosas, and the others are sitting on the stools surrounding the island.

While Shay’s stirring the eggs, I walk up behind her, press my body against hers, and kiss her neck. “Smells good,” I say into her ear, making sure my lips graze the tip.

I’ve blocked her in, giving her no choice but to stay where she is. I snag a slice of bread next to her. That she shivered under my body and didn’t tense up gives me hope.

“No one said public displays of affection were on the menu,” Nikolaos says with a raised champagne glass.

“You know where the door is if you don’t like it.” I look over at Anjal, who’s got Priscilla wrapped in his arms while she sips her drink. She’s resting comfortably against his chest, watching her sister closely. I place one more kiss on Shay’s neck, it’s her fault for wearing her hair up, then I give her space to finish.

“When I find my mate, I plan to slobber all over her in front of you both. Payback’s a bitch,” Damian warns.

“I already pity the poor woman, but slobber away, my friend,” I encourage him with a mouthful of toast.

Shay opens my fridge and pulls out the mayo and mustard. Condiments are the few items stored in there. I only hope they’re still good.

She’s smart enough to check the dates on them before setting them on the counter.

Since the family showed up, Shay’s avoided eye contact and has said nothing to me. Throughout the meal, she and Priscilla whisper back and forth at the table. I could shift my ears to listen in, but I’d never invade her privacy like that.

“Shay, these eggs are better than Jayce’s. His are runny or mushy. It’s usually a surprise which.”

“Damian, when is the last time I scrambled eggs for you?”

“I don’t know. It’s been a while.”

“Yeah, like when we were twelve, and you were too lazy to make them yourself.”

Shay’s eyes twinkle over the rim of her mimosa.

I wink when she catches me staring. I’d rather kiss her lips, but since I can’t, the occasional gesture will have to suffice. Without taking my eyes away from hers, I ask everyone, “Are y’all staying for the marathon?”

“What marathon?” Nikolaos asks while grabbing another sandwich.

Rage burns behind Shay’s gorgeous green orbs. She’s the one who invited the buffer of friends over. Now it’s time for her to pay the price.

“Apparently, there’s a term for our heifers who hang around throwing themselves at the bulls, hoping to land a mate, even if it’s not their fated mate.”

“And there’s a marathon for this? Oh, I’m in.” Damian would show the most interest. He’s taken home a heifer occasionally, but not as often as I did.

I toss the Firestick box that Shay never finished unpacking last night in Damian’s direction. “Hook it up for us, brother.”

I never arranged my living room to comfortably watch television with a group of people.

Anjal and Nikolaos rearrange my sofa and love seat to face the sixty-five-inch TV I haven’t turned on in close to three years.

With Anjal and Cill curled up on the loveseat, Nikolaos plops down in the middle of the couch while Damian chooses the floor.

“Nik, wouldn’t you prefer an end?” I plead.

He looks up at me with a grin. “I can’t quite figure out what’s going on tonight, but I plan to succeed in my role as buffer.”

Shay laughs, while sitting on the other side of Nikolaos and pulling her legs up with her arms wrapped around them.

Damian hands me a remote, which I pass to Shay. I’m clueless on how to find this Sons of Anarchy that we’re turning into a weird family event. It’s not lost on me I invited everyone to stay when Shay had no intention of sharing this experience with everyone.

It starts with an MA rating for language and violence. Two crows eat at roadkill before a man on a motorcycle passes through them and they fly away.

“Man, I thought we were watching a chic flick. This is even better,” Damian says.

I chuckle, realizing my cousins would have sat through a romantic comedy for me.

“I saw nothing about sweet butts in that episode. I’m sorry. I don’t remember when we meet them,” Shay timidly tells us.

“They’re coming,” Anjal adds.

“You’ve seen this?” I ask.

“Guilty,” he admits.

“It doesn’t matter how long it takes to see them. That episode was bad ass. Just means we have to keep watching,” Nikolaos tells Shay while squeezing her hand.

My bull chuffs at the physical contact. I chide my bull. My cousin’s gesture meant nothing more than friendship. And I’m not next to her to comfort her.

“Why are you on your phone?” Cill asks Shay when episode two ends with no sweet butts.

“I’m looking up when the sweet butts first show up. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the first few episodes.”

I lean over Nikolaos to grab her phone. “Boundaries, bro.” He pushes me off, but not before I get the phone.

“Shay, if you say they’re coming, we believe you. Doesn’t matter if it takes ten episodes.”

She leans back and huffs with her arms crossed.

“I’m into it without these sweet butts. No worries, Shay,” Damian adds.

Cherry doesn’t come on screen until episode four. Only, I imagine that’s not her real name. She’s every bit as pathetic as the heifers who’ve thrown themselves at me over the years.

Cleaning my house, cooking for me, picking up my suits from the dry cleaners. Things I shamefully let them do, knowing their motives never stopped me from taking advantage of them. All looking for me to claim one of them as my “old lady”—my mate.

I never felt guilty before Shay came into my world. It’s the way of our people. The bulls take advantage of the overwhelming number of females willing to try anything for a chance at mating with one of us instead of settling for a human.

“Damn Shay, you called it. Our women act just like these sweet butts,” Nikolaos says.

“I wouldn’t ever call them that, though. They might cut your dick off.” Damian’s probably correct about that.

Anjal stands first after episode four ends. I rise and give him a thank-you hug. Then everyone follows him out the door.

“Call us anytime you need buffers,” Nikolaos says on the way out.

“Only if there’s food involved,” Damian adds.

Shay remains sitting on the couch, biting at her cuticles.