Gripping my cup of gold with one hand, I prod the lump camped on one of my couches with the other. It groans out, looking less than half alive, before trying to roll away. Unfortunately for him he’s near the edge, and there’s a loud thump as he hits the floor.

“Oww, fuck..”

I stay where I am, coming up on tippy toes to peer over at my brother as he stretches himself out on the ground, before annoyingly trying to right the blanket he’s pinched and snooze on.

“Why am I looking at you, and why are you spoiling my chances at morning sex?”

He doesn’t even move a muscle, except for his mouth which twitches into a sly grin.

“If I’m spoiling it, you’re not imaginative, nor adventurous enough. Besides, I believe you owe me breakfast... Or at least the guy you’re shaking up with does. I assume by his physique, that he can cook.”

My free hand swipes a pillow off the couch and ditches it at Dom, before rounding to glare at the mountain leaning against the archway as he chuckles.

“I don’t know why your laughing.. This intrusion means no fun time soaping up Brooke in the shower this morning. No me screaming your name, before your hands are gripping my hair while I'm down on my knees, wrapping..”

“I’m up. Fuck, I’m up..”

My grin widens as I turn back around to spot Dom bolting upright, his eyes blinking rapidly as he tries to adjust to the light streaming in.

I don’t know what happened to him, between us watching him leave with the red head and when he rocked up at my door this morning, but damn he looks like shit...

His hair’s mussed up, the top lopping to one side as he scratches away at it, and don’t even get me started on the red lines down his back I’m trying my hardest to erase from my memory. Ewww, I really don’t need to know what that implies about my brother...

He blinks a few times more, before swinging his head to actually look at me, his face pulling into a grimace as he catches what I’m wearing. I smile back widely, unashamed that the only thing I’m wearing is Deacon’s long shirt from last night, despite the fact we’re standing in a place full of all my clothes.

“.. You know they invented the robe for a reason, sis.”

Raising my eyebrow at him, and his half nakedness as he sits on my floor, my thumb hikes itself towards his fallen shirt that looks as though he’s just randomly thrown it.

“Says the man who’s half naked himself..... You're damn lucky that didn’t hit Gizmo, otherwise it’d be my foot up your ass.”

Dom eyes me for another second, before starting to rise.

“I knew I should have knocked on Pen’s door instead, the way she wakes me up is much, much better... So ,what’s on the menu for breakfast? Well, more like brunch, with the heaviness on the lunch part of it looking at the time now.”

He’s rounded the couch before I know it, scooping my liquid gold off me as he strides towards the kitchen, moaning his appreciation while he takes a long sip. I’m speechless, resisting the urge to launch myself at him to retrieve my much loved coffee, and not completely take my only living relative out as I wrestle back what’s mine. Deacon’s head drops, his teeth pulling his lip in to stop from laughing, as he watches us.

“Ballsy man. I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to try that stunt with her mug.”

    
       
My eyes stay on the two of them, watching as they natter away like they’ve know each other for years.

Did I miss a huge crucial moment in their short relationship last night? Or it this some unspoken bromance thing that happens when one man saves another from a crazy ass bitch??

“.. Seriously, her place was like fort knocks. I really think it was designed to keep a fella in. I had to do this ninja move to get over the hedge in the front yard.. Hold up, is that cinnamon, nice touch...”

Dom's head leans over the bowl Deacon’s mixing, and I press my lips together to keep from laughing at the look on Deacon’s face. He pauses, mid stir, and waits until Dom's leaned away once more before continuing on. My eyes find the ink covering Dom's skin, lingering on the smiling green Frankenstein cupcake on his right forearm. It's still one of my favourites that he's had done, and brings a small smile to my face at the intended meaning. The pink frosting shaped like a brain with a half banana poking out the top, leading to the green patty pan and the winky face eyes. While the little bolts in it's neck, spark with electricity lines. I remember him being so nervous showing me, thinking I would see it as bad taste, but I instantly fell in love with it and know they would have too.

“.. So, what are the plans for the rest of the day? And if you say movie marathon, B, then I'm reserving the right to pick the selection... Damn, long ass, monkey movies..”

Before I can comment back, reminding him for the fifteenth time that Planet of the apes is a perfectly good series of movies to binge, Deacon’s head flies up to answer as he shifts to the stove.

“Actually, I have her stolen for the night. So whatever the plans you're wanting to do with her, need to be done by six.”

My eyes spring wide before they narrow, wondering what the heck he has stashed up his sleeve. The wide grin back at me does nothing to erase my suspicions on the subject.

“Alrighty.... Cryptic, but I like it. Just remember that there is company on the couch when the two of you stumble in, so keep it PG people... preferably G rating actually.”

Deacon’s laugh fills the kitchen, the spatula in his hand swinging around to point straight at Dom.

“Well, it's a good thing I live next door then, and have a complete R rating over there.”

Dom's face pulls into an expression of mock horror, as his head turns between the two of us.

“That’s something I don't ever need to know, but speaking of which, man this chick one night in London.. Bloody hell, she was all about that R rating chain up shit, and I can't say I was fucking hating it..”

I can’t follow their constantly changing conversation to save my life, and am rather thankful when my phone dances across the kitchen island, my hand coming out to snatch it to answer.

“Hey Pen, what’s up?”

Dom’s head swings to me, and I’m moving before he can finish making his grab for my phone.

“Is that Penny, shit, give me the phone. I’ve got the perfect morning message for her..”

I’m thumping Dom away as I dash for the safety of the bedroom, Penny laughing away in my ear the whole time.

“Is that Dom? What the heck is he even doing there? Doesn’t he know morning after a night out sex is always deliciously slow, back arching, clinging to each other as you ride out that wave kind of sexy time?”

My large groan into the phone back, appropriately sums up the amount of annoyance I have that, that's not going to happen this morning with Dom here.

“That’s basically what I said, and you know what, I’m starting to believe that was really his plan.... Although, his words are that he was escaping his choice for the night, that turned out to be a stage five clinger. Anyway, what’s up? Why are you ringing me?”

The line goes dead for a moment, and I bring the phone away from my ear to check that it’s still connected.

“Sorry, thought I heard something.. I just wanted to see how you were this morning, I mean after last night, and you and Deacon... That complete hot as hell explosion.. You know you have to tell me all about that, and damn soon. I’m expecting long, hard details, if you’re getting my drift..”

I laugh at her lack of subtlety, and also at the fact that I’m keeping that particular slice of knowledge to myself. I mean, the man really is very well built ALL over..

“.. I’m really happy for you hun. You guys look good together, and the way he looks at you... I can't believe I didn't catch on sooner, however after the show last night, I couldn't help but watch him closer. There is literally no one else, even remotely in the room for him, when he looks at you. It's really quite beautiful..”

My eyes find the bedroom door, lingering on the thought of what’s behind it and back in my kitchen.

“Thanks, Pen. I’m pretty happy t...”

Cutting myself off, I smoosh the phone harder into my ear to make out the voice I can hear on her end in the background, before my eyes spring wide.

“.. Oh, my gosh, is that Ty?"

“Shhhh, he’ll hear you. I’m hiding in the bathroom making this concerned and deeply caring call, but yes it is... Damn man's a machine, and mumma needs a break to catch her breath. Seriously, my parts need a ten second recuperation, but hell I’m up for what round we’re up to when they have feeling again..”

I’m laughing so hard, my hand coming over my mouth to try and muffle the noise.

Well, go Ty.

“I’m happy for you too, and your parts when they’re able to function again. Remember Red bull is your friend too, and hydrate.”

“What is it with you and hydration? I feel like theirs a story I don’t know there.. Oh, hey..”

My shoulders are bouncing away as I hear the wrestle going on, on the other end of the phone, before a deeper voice comes down the line.

“I’m assuming without looking that this is Brooke, and Penny will have to call you back.. There are a few things I’m going to need from her right now.”

Giggling, I nod away on my end, trying not to turn it into full on laughter again.

“Oh, have fun my friend, and enjoy your lazy Sunday.”

I’m not sure what will stay with me more.

The growl I can hear back, or the squeal of giggles after, but both make me hit the end call button hard and damn quick. My eyes stare at nothing in particular on the floor for a moment, thinking on how things have turned out rather well this birthday, before I yank the door open and head back to the guys.

They’re breezing past me, Deacon’s hand coming to round my waist as Dom ducks over to grab his discarded shirt and boots on the floor. There's a hand running under my chin, bringing my face up to his, and lips meeting mine before I can even think to ask what the heck’s going on. Deacon keeps his hold on me as he pulls away, cementing me firmly to lean against him.

“Amazingly, your brother left his phone at the chicks house last night.. We’re doubling back to try and snag it, but be back soon, I promise.. Pancakes are on the bench, and ready to be consumed.”

I nod my head, still a little off in the clouds about that kiss. The tenderness of it, but also the firm possessing pressure at the same time...

“It’d be my damn luck that woman would keep the thing, and try to hold me hostage again.”

Deacon’s hands are sliding back, while I still just stand there, my eyes sliding over to Dom now dressed, but looking damn jittery all of a sudden.

Yep, that actually sounds about right, and sadly isn’t the first time I’ve done the exact same thing for him.

That one time I had to pretend to be his current girlfriend, and wanted his wallet back for epic revenge plans, is actually my favourite.

That woman was quite a piece of work...

Flashing me a smile, they’re turning and off, while I roll my eyes in Dom’s direction.

I have not had enough coffee for this yet...

The machine is taking forever to heat up, and not matter how much I glare at it, the thing just will not go faster. Chucking one more ‘threatening to curb you, if you don’t heat up already’ glare at it, I spin to bounce off to the door as someone pounds on it. My eyes roll as I grab the handle, half thinking of the guys who only left a few minutes ago, and that they've forgotten something as I pull the door open.

Let's  face it, it's most likely Dom's forgot something....

What I don’t expect is the guy standing in front of me, his foot coming to stop in the door the moment I try and edge it slightly closed again. My heart speeds up as I raise my eyes to his, cringing internally at the smile he has on his face. It's a little wider than usual, and just the sight of it makes me wanna turn tail to bolt. Inclining his head, he leans in closer, his hand reaching out to slide along the edge of the door.

“Hey, Brooke. Happy Birthday.. Did you get my flowers?”