The Promise

Chapter Twenty-Eight

A.N: So sorry for all the delays. It's been a weird week with the new job/training, working on a major project. ugh. 

For a moment, the atmosphere was enveloped in an almost tangible stillness. Not a single word escaped the lips of the men present, leaving only the rhythmic thudding of my heart against my chest to punctuate the silence. Every muscle in my body seemed to coil in nervous anticipation, bracing for the possibility of rejection. With each passing moment of quiet, it felt as though I was gradually retreating further into the comforting embrace of the blanket, seeking refuge from the situation's intensity.

"Ti amo," Marko was the first to shatter the silence with a string of rapid Italian words. I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment because I knew what that meant. Despite my rudimentary understanding of Italian, I managed to grasp the final part of his fast-paced Italian speech. Marko rushed over to me, and, with great enthusiasm, he brushed David aside to cover my face with kisses.

"Marko!" I couldn't help but giggle as I leaned back into his comforting hold, feeling the gentle touch of another hand resting on my head.

"Ayóó'ánííníshní," Dwayne's resonant voice reverberated deeply in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. I slowly turned my head to gaze at him, arching an eyebrow inquisitively. "It means I love you in my language."

"Thank you," I threaded our fingers together, leaning into the burning kiss Dwayne left on my lips. As Dwayne pulled away, I couldn't help but chase his lips, not wanting to let him go. I didn't want to let any of the four males go.

"I love you!" Paul sulked as he made his way over to my side. His youthful energy was reminiscent of an attention-seeking puppy, particularly a playful Labrador puppy yearning to be the center of attention.

In that poignant moment, as I expressed my feelings, David chose to remain silent, yet his tenderness and affection were communicated through the gentle touch of his hand. His reluctance to verbalize his emotions contrasted with those who eagerly professed their love. Knowing David's reserved nature, I did not let his reticence impact me, understanding that his feelings were conveyed uniquely.

After another hour, David announced it was time for me to return home. Reluctantly, I was unwilling to leave the comforting pile, nor was I eager to return to the mundane real world. My time with the four in this lagoon had felt almost otherworldly and enchanting.

As David nodded in approval, I hopped onto the back of the motorcycle with Paul, mindful of the precious cargo he was transporting. I wrapped my arms around him, feeling my fingers trapped in his mesh shirt's intricate loops. The air was cool, carrying the unmistakable sounds of the approaching fall season. I couldn't bear the thought of summer ending, knowing it would mean less time with the four of them.

Once they dropped me off at home, I gave each of them a warm hug and a kiss on the lips as a token of our deep bond. Paul attempted to deepen the kiss, to which I had reluctantly broken after a few moments. Marko kindly expressed their intention to pick me up the next day. However, I politely informed them that I had already made plans for the following day.

"What are your plans?" Marko demanded, staring at me intently, narrowing his eyes at my 'plans' that were made.

"It's time to get ready to return to school," I shrugged, wrapping my arms around my torso. I was still chilled quickly enough. "Mom wants to take Sam and me shopping to get school supplies and clothes. I might be too tired tomorrow night."

"Then we'll come and visit you," Dwayne suggested, any of them loathe to be away from their mate for too long. Even when the four had to return to their caves, they felt the intense pull to be nearer to their mate. They couldn't wait until Max declared it was time to tell her.

Paul had come dangerously close to divulging their secret on numerous occasions. David had to rely on their telepathic connection to intercept Paul's thoughts and prevent him from accidentally revealing the truth. It was of utmost importance that Aria be made aware of their extraordinary connection. Still, the delicate nature of the situation meant that if she was not ready to believe in such a seemingly impossible bond, their relationship with her could be in jeopardy. The fear of losing their mate weighed heavily on David and Paul, compelling them to tread cautiously to reveal the truth to Aria.

The day after, I found myself utterly fatigued following hours of accompanying Mom and Sam on a shopping expedition. Sam's meticulous approach to choosing attire was genuinely exhausting to witness. Every garment turned into a mini fashion show as he pranced around like a proud peacock, inspecting himself in the mirror from every angle until he was finally satisfied with his look.

While I opted for another pair of jeans, several cozy long-sleeve knit tops, a couple of warm sweaters, and a few comfortable sweatsuits, my mom added more variety to the cart. She included tank tops, short-sleeved tops, and even a couple of dresses. I just rolled my eyes at her choices but refrained from commenting.

After spending an eternity purchasing his clothes, Sam finally seemed satisfied. Only then did Mom decide to take us to the office supply store. Once there, I carefully selected several notebooks in different colors and styles, a couple of sturdy binders, pens and pencils, colorful highlighters, and other essential items. When I finished gathering everything I needed, I went to the front of the store to wait for Mom and Sam. By that point, my legs were shaking from exhaustion, and I could feel my heart pounding in my ears.

I swiftly made my way over to the cooler, the condensation making the surface of the drinks glisten under the store lights. I reached out and grabbed a cold Diet Coke, feeling the chill of the can against my palm. After handing the cashier the money, I popped the tab with a satisfying pop and took a long sip of the sweet, fizzy drink. The sugar rush was exactly what I needed to rebalance my energy levels, and as a result, I didn't feel as terrible when Mom and Sam appeared by my side.

It was about five p.m. before we were back home. I collapsed onto the sofa, refusing to move once the bags were brought into the house. I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, the house smelled like pizza, and my boyfriends were trying to be quiet.