Chapter Twelve

Henri hadn’t ever had so many people in his house before. To say the way he lived embarrassed him was an understatement. Luckily, Rocky let him hide his face in his neck.

They must think he was a hoarder. Maybe he was. Oh gods, he was a book hoarder, wasn’t he? There wasn’t any other explanation other than an addiction to books.

“I think I have a problem,” he whispered so no one else could hear but Rocky. As soon as he spoke aloud, he remembered they had an internal connection. I think I have a problem. He wasn’t sure why he repeated it since he knew Rocky had heard him the first time.

Rocky chuckled, which drew the attention of everyone in the room. The reason Henri knew it had was because everyone stopped talking.

Henri tilted his head so he could see everyone’s reaction. Bandos raised his eyebrows. Echo said, “Wow.” And Vaughan chuckled while saying, “Yeah. First for everything. Who knew Rocky knew how to laugh?”

Rocky flipped Vaughan off, but otherwise didn’t respond. Instead, he spoke to Henri through their link. How can I help?

Rocky’s response made Henri’s chest ache, as if his heart had grown in the span of a few minutes.

Don’t you want to know what my problem is?

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll do what I can.” Rocky might have spoken aloud, but the other three in the room knew he was talking to Henri. Being mates themselves, they knew how it felt to have an internal connection.

I think I’m addicted to books.

Rocky chuckled again. The first step is admitting you have a problem.

Henri slapped Rocky on his arm playfully. “I’m serious.”

“It’s not a big deal, baby.”

Vaughan leaned on the counter, grinning at them. “What are you talking about? Maybe I can help.”

Rocky shook his head, telling Henri not to answer, but Henri thought it was a rude response.

“My book problem.”

“Don’t tease him about it.” Rocky growled as if the command came with a warning.

Vaughan put his hand on his chest and squawked as if offended. “I would never.”

Bandos chuckled and shook his head. “Have you read them all?”

“All but the one I just bought.”

“Then you have an addiction to reading. Not books.” Bandos never stopped stirring the marinara sauce.

“Yes.” Henri might as well admit it.

Vaughan chimed in. “Reading is never a problem. Ever. You need somewhere to keep them, is all.”

“I’m making him shelves,” Rocky said.

“My brother, Gabe, should be able to help. Bennett too,” Vaughan supplied.

“I can decorate the shelves with plants and stuff. If you don’t mind taking care of them.” Echo chopped vegetables as he spoke.

Vaughan kissed Echo’s cheek. “You decorate everything already just by entering a room.”

“Amen,” Bandos said, without turning from where he stood at the stove.

Echo blushed. “Sweet-talker.”

“Is it working?” Vaughan hugged Echo from behind.

Echo chuckled. “Yep.”

Bandos shook his head. “It’s family time, Vaughan.”

“Rocky and Henri had sexy time during family time. Why can’t we?”

Henri groaned and buried his face in the crook of Rocky’s neck again.

Rocky smiled and tightened his hold.

“I prefer you mosey on home across the lake if you’re going to have ‘sexy time’.” Henri made sure everyone heard him. “You’re not using my bedroom.”

“You and Rocky did it.” Vaughan sounded as if he wanted to laugh. It was how Henri knew Vaughan was teasing him. And since he was Rocky’s family, Henri figured he should get used to it. Henri had been at enough clan meetings to know Vaughan teased everyone he considered family or if he liked a person.

“It’s none of your business, Vaughan Somerset. I’ll tell Mother Estelle on you.” Childish? Yes. But it was also effective, so Henri rolled with it.

Bandos and Echo both chuckled.

Rocky rubbed Henri’s back. “Talk about something else, Vaughan.”

Vaughan obeyed the command. “We should eat together every day. We do anyway. We should make it official.”

“We could switch off who hosts, so it’s not always at Sully and Rocky’s house.” Echo frowned and met Rocky’s gaze. “Or are you living here now?”

“We haven’t talked about it?” Rocky whispers in his ear. “Do you want to spend the night together tonight?”

Rocky hadn’t wanted to pressure Henri. Henri knew it was the reason he hadn’t commented on moving to Henri’s house. And Henri wasn’t sure they were ready to make it so official either. Maybe it was a step too far too fast for Rocky. Henri couldn’t be one hundred percent sure, so he didn’t press either. Instead, he answered the question. “I would love spending all night with you, but books are all over my bedroom. What if you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night? You could trip and die.”

Everyone laughed as if Henri were joking, but he was very serious.

Rocky chuckled. “I’ll be careful. Or you can stay over at my house tonight. It’s up to you.”

“I think we should stay at your house until we get the books situated.” It was safer and would mean they’d share a bed for the first time.

Sully, Wesley and Lucy came in a second later. At the sight of Lucy, Henri had a terrifying thought. He scrambled off Rocky’s lap and went to Wesley. “Please don’t let her eat my mouse.”

Wesley blinked. His eyes were wide, and Henri had to wonder if he heard Henri at all. “There are even books in the kitchen.”

Henri sighed. “I have a problem. But Rocky is helping me take care of it. Now, will you please focus on your cat and my mouse? It could mean someone gets murdered and I won’t have it in my house.”

Wesley blinked as if seeing him for the first time.

Sully chuckled. “I’ll make sure Lucy doesn’t turn into a serial killer.”

“I don’t know if there’s more than one mouse. She could wipe out the whole family.”

Everyone laughed again, but he was serious. That happened to him a lot. He wasn’t sure why people thought he was funny. He’d always been a little socially awkward but he put himself out there anyway because sometimes it was worth it. Sometimes he made a friend.

Henri met Rocky’s gaze and smiled.

Sometimes he gained a mate.