Brunch was served at the breakfast bar. Suzette and I sat while Tess stood next to Lino strapped into a baby chair clamped to the bench, feeding him morsels from her own plate.
On the menu turned out to be scrambled eggs cooked with copious amounts of Colby cheese and fresh baguette double grilled in the oven with lashings of butter. Such a simple meal but with the French flair and Mrs Sucre’s talent, it was the best I’d ever tasted.
Once we’d finished, the chef—who’d joined us for her own portion—bustled around making more. I’d thought Q and the rest of the men were away somewhere, but I was wrong. Apparently, according to the trays Mrs Sucre made up with fresh coffee, eggs and baguette, and an iced cupcake on the side, Q and the others were hidden around the estate.
Once the meals were ready, Mrs Sucre waved us into the kitchen to collect. Tess took one to wherever Q was lurking, Suzette took one to Franco, and I carried one to Elder.
Three women. Three men. All taking mutual care of each other.
I’d never known something could feel so right.
Climbing the stairs with the comfortable weight of brunch and the smell of heavenly butter, my mind ran away with of visions of stepping into the bedroom, rousing Elder with a sweet kiss, and finding him healthy and happy. He’d be strong and healed and scold me for leaving him only to demand I make it up to him.
Reaching the landing and padding down to the bedroom, I smiled, hopeful and eager.
Nudging the bedroom door open with a toe, I already lived the fantasy I’d imagined.
I’ll feed him, dote on him, make him feel—
“Oh, Selix.”
My little scenario popped like a cork from a wine bottle, smelling faintly of ruined opportunity.
Selix looked up from where he stood over Elder. His eyes fell on my tray as he gave me a half-smile, pointing at the side table. “Put that over there. He’s out cold still.” He frowned. “I’d expected him to be awake by now, but I guess he needs more rest than I thought.”
My fingers clutched around the tray handles, guilt cloaking me. A confession sat salty and heavy on my tongue, but I daren’t admit that Elder had been talking and awake before I’d let lust get the better of me and drained him of what little he’d gained.
Once again, lust had been the enemy. Only this time, it hadn’t been a man’s destroying my life but mine destroying a man’s.
When I didn’t move, Selix rubbed his face, raking his fingers through his three-day old stubble. “He needs sleep more than he needs food at the moment.”
I agreed and disagreed.
Elder had slept most of the night after we’d had sex. He’d be hungry and dehydrated by now, seeing as he’d removed the drip from his hand.
Moving across the room, I deposited the food where the scents would hopefully waft over him and encourage his stomach to overpower his dreams. “Shouldn’t we wake him to get him to drink, at least? He’s been out for hours.”
“He’ll be okay now.” Selix nodded at the new drip inserted into Elder’s vein, stuck down with a white strip. “I noticed he’d ripped it out in his sleep. Michaels gave me strict instructions to keep this stuff flowing—even showed me how to administer. He thought Elder might remove it prematurely, so he made sure I came equipped to handle his stubborn ass.”
His lips curled in an odd smirk. “He’ll sleep comfortably while that goo works. However, in another hour or so, someone will have to help him to the bathroom. I’m not averse to injecting him with needles but inserting a catheter? Yeah, that’s beyond my friendship loyalties I’m afraid.”
I smiled, despite myself. Selix no longer scared me after the depth of affection he’d shown for his comrade over the past few days. We had a lot to discuss as far as where he’d been the night the Chinmoku arrived, but I trusted he was one hundred percent committed to Elder and therefore safe.
“I don’t mind helping him.” I was about to add that I’d done it during the night, but if Selix knew Elder had been awake and coordinated enough to shuffle to the bathroom, he might ask other questions that would reveal just how badly I’d screwed things up by being unable to say no to sex.
Selix shook his head, a snicker falling from his lips. “I think he’d rather you remember his cock is used for other purposes rather than pissing.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll stay for a bit. I have a few things to catch up on and can do that while keeping an eye on him. You can have the night shift before we get the hell out of this place.”