Mateo didn't drive us to Callan as I had thought he would, seeing as we'd been at his apartment the last time we were together as a group. Instead, he drove out of the city and towards Gideon's estate.
"We decided that we would switch between our homes when we have group nights," Mateo explained, reading me so very clearly. "Next time, we'll be at my place."
"Oh, that sounds fair." To be honest, I didn't mind either way. As long as I was with them, the place we were at didn't matter.
With my work being over, I finally had the time to check my phone. I'd sent Kevin a text before the shift, just to hear if he was okay. I would absolutely tell Mateo to turn around and get me to Kevin's apartment if he needed me. I didn't know what I was thinking earlier when I thought Kevin might've skipped his shift just to avoid working with Oliver. I knew Kevin wasn't like that; I guess I was just stressed about working with the dirtbag myself when I'd planned for a day off.
I have a cold. Thomas is taking care of me, so don't even think about coming here. I will not have you cancel your night with your guys. Have fun! I'll call you tomorrow, Kevin wrote, easing my worries. I typed a quick message back, wishing him well.
After a forty-five minutes' drive, the beauty of Gideon's manor loomed ahead of us. I wondered how the place would feel with not only Gideon and me in it but the other guys as well. It was a huge house, with lots of empty spaces—maybe with all the guys there, it would feel livelier.
From what I'd seen, the only rooms Gideon used were the kitchen, office and playroom, and of course, his bedroom, which I hadn't had the pleasure of seeing. All the other rooms I'd been in felt cold and unused, and the thought of the emptiness made me feel sad for Gideon.
Instead of parking the car beside the main entrance, Mateo followed the paved road to the left of the manor to a garage. He picked up a remote from the cupholder and pushed a button to open the garage door before driving inside. He parked beside a black sports car, and I recognized it to be Callan's unless Gideon had the same model as him.
I looked around the massive garage as Mateo went to open the door for me. There were plenty of cars here, though as impressive as that was, he had nothing on Callan.
"The guys are probably waiting in the kitchen for us. We should go. I don't want to risk a beating for keeping you to myself," he joked, grabbing my hand and guided me through the maze that was Gideon's home.
His hand was warm and soft, and a tingling sensation started where he was touching me and traveled to my entire body. This was the first time I'd ever hold anyone's hand. It was such an innocent thing, but it still made me smile happily.
"What are you smiling about?" Mateo asked, looking at me curiously.
I shook my head. "It's stupid."
"Tell me." Not a question, an order.
"I've never..." I trailed off, blushing with embarrassment. I'd done so many things with him, one of them was participating in a public scene with him, and yet...this was making me feel something so much stronger than the embarrassment and self-consciousness I'd felt then.
"You've never?" he prompted.
"I've never held hands with anyone before," I admit, looking down at our hands intertwined. "Don't laugh!" I said when I looked back up and saw his mouth twitched, and I could tell he was about to.
"I'm sorry. It's just... you've never held hands with anyone before?" He looked shocked at my admission as if it was expected that anyone at the age of twenty-two had hold hands with someone, and maybe it was. All I knew was that I hadn't done it with anyone.
"No, and don't make me regret telling you." I narrowed my eyes at him, causing him to finally crack up.
"You're cute when you're trying to look so serious" he laughed, bringing the back of my hand to his lips, kissing it with a smile while looking at me with eyes that showed his amusement. "Come on, let's join the others. I'm sure you're hungry."
Shaking my head at his jovial side, I smiled. "I'm starving. Do you know if Gideon is cooking?" Please let it be him. He had serious talent when it came to food, and I was genuinely hooked. I thought back to when he taught me how to make stir fry and a delicious breakfast, and I hoped we would do that again in the future.
"Yes, he's going to make us hamburgers today. Damn, you have no idea how good it is to have you here. He rarely made food for us before you."
The revelation made me stop for a second until Mateo tugged at me to continue up the stairs. I'd assumed Gideon frequently made the guys food, seeing as he had done it each time we were all together. The knowledge that he hadn't, well...that made me feel special.
Gideon was never good with words or opening up. Still, I hadn't realized until now that while he never told me how he felt about me, he did it with actions instead—by making me breakfast and dinners.
Food was his love language, something I should've figured out earlier, given how much he loves to cook.
Between Callan's date, Mateo's sweetness and openness, and Gideon's cooking, my heart felt lighter than it had ever done. They had turned my world upside down, and I knew it would never again be the same.
"There you are," Callan's voice broke through my thoughts as we walked into the kitchen. He was sitting by the island, and Gideon was behind the oven. The pan in front of him sizzled as he cooked the hamburger patties.
The men were dressed similarly, with their own set of expensive and fitted suits. Both of them had abandoned their jackets and ties, looking casual in their formal clothing. Opposed to them, Mateo wore jeans and a t-shirt—the shirt stretched across his upper body, showcasing his broad shoulders and slim waist.
Damn, I had to swallow hard to keep from drooling at my men.
Callan stretched his arms towards me, prompting me to walk up to him and into his arms. I'd already been with him today, but one day wasn't enough—with any of them. They were an addiction I didn't want to kick, and I was already starting to berate myself for telling them I wouldn't spend more than four days a week with them.
Sure, I needed my independency, and I didn't want to pay for an apartment I wasn't using, but...a part of me was regretting it—too hooked on being in their presence to want to fill my days with something other than them.
I sighed in Callan's arms and moved to press a kiss against his lips. He returned it tenfold as his tongue demanded entrance to my mouth.
Moaning, I pushed myself up against him, never getting enough of him.
"Easy there, tiger," Callan said as he pulled away; his eyes heated and showed how little he wanted to end the kiss, but still, he did. "If we start now, we won't be finished by dinner. Now, go give Gideon the same hello." He winked, turned me around, and slapped my ass, ushering me to his friend.
My heart stuttered in my chest as I looked towards Gideon. He'd put the pan to the side and was now staring at me as if he was waiting for me to do what Callan told me to.
He was scarier than the other two to approach, but I did it anyway, albeit with hesitant steps. While I walked up to him, he stood watching me almost passively.
When I finally got to him, I moved to put my hands to his chest, only for him to catch my wrists and hold them down between us, refusing to let me touch him. Thinking he didn't want the kiss, I started pulling away, but he didn't let go of my wrist and instead forced me back to him as he leaned down.
I gasped at his lips touch mine, and he used it to his advantage. Pushing his tongue inside, he took complete control of the kiss, and made me submit.
My panties were already damp—ever since Mateo picked me up—but after kissing one after the other, they were almost unbearable to wear.
Moaning, I let him steer the kiss, taking more than giving. His taste mixed with Callan's was a heady thing and just as addicting as a drug.
Gideon growled against my lips before he wrenched himself away from me like he had to use all his strength to end our kiss. He let go of his grip on my wrists, letting me leave to take a seat by the island with Callan and Mateo, but not before I saw the outline of his thick cock press against his pants. My pussy throbbed with need at the sight.
While I was hungry for food, my body was hungry for something else too, and I cursed the fact that I had to wait.