Page 86 of Drilled

Staring into Sy’s soft eyes, I was overwhelmed with a sense of belonging. He kissed my cheek and I sighed softly.

“Mind if I cut in?” Bear asked, politely tapping Sy’s shoulder.

He shook his head and brought one of my hands up to his mouth, then brushed his lips against my knuckles before passing me over the Bear. Dax got back with four champagne glasses, and took it upon himself to open up the bottle and start filling them to the brim.

Sy sat on the edge of the tub, beaming at us while he popped a cracker from the board into his mouth.

Bear’s hands were rougher than Sy’s, but his touch was no less gentle as he pulled my body against his and swayed with me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, marvelling at the fact that he was even dancing at all.

“I didn’t know you dance?” I said playfully, my eyes locking onto his.

He smiled. “When the mood strikes.”

“You’re not half bad.”

“Your compliments are getting better,” he replied.

“Good to know because I have another one I’d like to give you. All of you, actually,” I said.

“This should be good,” Dax murmured and his tone was just as cocky as ever.

I felt a jolt of nerves hit my stomach as I looked from Bear to Sy to Dax. After everything that happened, it was still so difficult to just be honest with them about what I was feeling. But they waited patiently for me to find the words.

“It’s less of a compliment actually, and more of a thank you,” I amended.

“Your check cleared, Lane. You thanked us enough,” Dax said with a smirk.

“No, not just for the amazing bathroom although, yes, I am grateful for that too,” I said.

Bear frowned lightly in confusion. Sy leaned forward from his seat on the tub and Dax’s eyes glinted.

I took a shaky breath. “I want to thank each of you for being the men that you are. Individually and together. All of you brought something to my life that I didn’t realize was missing. Your support, your care, your protection. I’m so thankful for all of it.”

There was a weighty pause in the room, the music in the background fading against a deeper silence between us.

But then Dax broke it, sharp-tongued as ever. “Yes. And don’t forget, we gave you this kickass bathroom, too.”

The joke set us all at ease again, and we burst out laughing. I shook my head. “It’s stunning. But you really are obsessed with this room, aren’t you?”

“For all the blood, sweat and tears we poured into it, I’d say it’s pretty damn valid to be obsessed,” Dax said.

Bear hummed. “We’re all obsessive personalities, Lane. And this bathroom isn’t the only thing we’re obsessed with, even if it is pretty damn close to perfect.”

He pulled me into the giant shower even though we were both still fully clothed. My heart started pounding in my chest as I suspected what he had planned. Sy and Dax looked at each other, then started making their way over to join us.

“But it’s not quite there yet. The only thing left for us to do is christen the place.”

35

Bear

I was never a man who found it easy to express my feelings with words. Actions were always my preferred method of showing care.

Which was why, after hearing Lane’s quiet thanks, I had to respond in kind. The initial spray hit us instantly, warm and steady and drenching us right through our clothes. We just laughed and I cupped her face, pulling her in for a kiss. The other guys were already stripping like a pair of degenerates, falling in under the deluge.

The vibe was light and playful, with Dax and Sy stealing kisses here and there until Lane stopped us and reached for a bottle of body wash we’d already stocked on the shelf for her. I raised an eyebrow, my dick at half-mast. “Oh, you’re thinking of that kind of shower?”

Lane rolled her eyes but the grin on her face was affectionate. “I’m not letting you guys touch me or stick anything inside until you’re scrubbed clean. You’ve probably still got concrete under your nails.”