Shattered Innocence

Morning Distractions and Sweaty Temptations

I roll out of bed, finding the other side cold. Zack is gone, but there's a T-shirt folded on his pillow with a note on top. Wear this. Let them all see whom you belonged to last night while I remember the way you came for me so prettily, baby. See you downstairs.

Flipping onto my back, I bite my lip to hold back my smile, feeling like a giggling schoolgirl. Hell, it's not a sweet, loving note, but damn, it's perfect for me and for them. Dragging myself up, I force myself to shower, wincing at the soreness between my thighs. It's that special kind of ache that reminds you that you've been good and fucked.

I don't bother with underwear or a bra, and I leave my hair wet and my face bare as I pad back into the other room and slip on the shirt. I fold the note and shove it into my jeans pocket to keep. Not that I'll admit that to myself.

Walking downstairs, I hear them in the kitchen, their banter reaching my ears even on the second floor. It doesn't stop when I walk in, which makes me grin wider. Zack winks at me as he adds bacon to a pan, while Mikhail pushes him out of the way, eggs in his hand. Ivan is nursing a cup of tea and watching it all unfold with a paper folded before him, and he grins when he sees me. Nikolay is flipping sausages in a frying pan, and Yuri is doing push-ups on the deck outside.

"Morning, beautiful," Nikolay calls as I pass him, kissing his cheek as I head to the fridge. Yuri beats me there, handing me a mug of coffee. "Juice is on the table. Morning, baby." He kisses my cheek so close to my lips, I stumble for a moment, and then he whacks my ass with the spatula. "Go get Yuri and sit down. Breakfast is nearly ready."

When I pass Zack, he leans in and murmurs, "You look awfully good in my shirt, Nora." The promise in his tone almost has me skipping to the table. Putting my mug down, I pop my head outside. "Hey, hot stuff, breakfast is ready!" I call. Yuri stops mid jump clap push-up and grins up at me, his eyes bright. "I'll be right there—wait, get on my back. Let me use you as a weight."

Not needing to be told twice, I hurry over and sit on his back cross-legged. He doesn't even grunt at the added weight as he continues doing push-ups. The others look out and just shake their heads, and when Yuri is done, I climb down and offer him my hand. He takes it, and I hoist him up. "Ew, you're sweaty," I tease, wiping my hand dramatically.

"Yeah, how about I make you all sweaty?" he flirts, and I point my finger at him. "Don't you dare. I just showered," I warn, and his eyes narrow. "Run, Nora," he teases. I hurry back inside with him chasing me, laughing.

I drop into Ivan's lap and wrap my arms around him. "I claim sanctuary!" I yell. Ivan just wraps his arm around me and continues drinking his tea. "Leave her be, Yuri."

"Nah, now you'll both get sweaty." Laughing, he wraps us both in a sweaty, meaty hug, and when he pulls away, Ivan is sighing, but I see a smile twisting his lips. Kissing the top of my head, Yuri flops back into my chair and starts to pick up his fork.

"Someone get Yuri another plate," I call, settling into Ivan's lap. "Breakfast, my friends!" I announce, and Zack puts a plate in front of Yuri, patting him on the head. "Good boy, Yuri."

"Fuck you, Zack," Yuri replies with a mouthful of eggs

Yuri flops back into my chair and starts to pick up my coffee as Nikolay comes over to put a plate on the table and extracts it, handing it to me.

"Get your own," he tells Yuri.

"Rude, just because she has a vagina," he whines.

"Yup." I wink.

"Sexist," he tells me as he gets up. Turning on Mikhail's lap, I smile at him as he peers down at me with soft eyes.

"Morning, how are you?"