Chapter 29 Better Than Coffee
I woke up slowly.
My body was warm, heavy, and thoroughly used in the best possible way. Josh was still wrapped around me, one leg thrown over mine, his hand curled against my stomach like he wasn’t letting go anytime soon. And honestly? I didn’t want him to.
The sunlight filtering through the curtains painted soft golden streaks across the sheets, and I was perfectly content to stay right here for the rest of the day. No thoughts. No responsibilities. Just soft sheets, a satisfied ache between my thighs, and Josh’s steady breathing behind me.
Until the door creaked open.
“Please tell me you're decent,” Jake’s voice called out, way too cheerful for this early in the morning.
Josh groaned into my shoulder. “Define decent.”
“Ah, so that’s a no.” Jake snorted. “Well, cover up. I brought coffee.”
That got my attention.
I poked my head up just as Jake set two mugs on the dresser like some kind of smug coffee fairy. He was still shirtless, hair damp like he’d just showered, and grinning like he’d seen exactly what went down last night.
“Still breathing?” he asked, raising a brow at me.
“Barely,” I said with a laugh, pulling the sheet up over my chest. “You’re way too chipper for someone who wasn’t involved.”
Jake just winked. “Give it an hour. I’ll earn my spot.”
Josh threw a pillow at him.
Jake caught it easily and backed out of the room. “Breakfast is on. Get your asses downstairs.”
I turned to Josh, who was still lying on his back with one arm over his eyes. “He really is too chipper.”
“Remind me to tie him to a chair next time so he has to watch.”
I snorted, flopping onto his chest. “That’s evil.”
“That’s fair,” Josh muttered, kissing the top of my head. “Come on. Let’s shower before the rest of them come looking.”
We made it to the bathroom, and I let Josh take care of me. He washed my hair like it was the most natural thing in the world, his fingers massaging my scalp gently while I leaned into him, eyes closed. It was moments like these that reminded me just how safe he made me feel. Josh wasn’t the loudest or the flashiest, but he was always there. Steady. Unshakable. Mine.
By the time we made it downstairs, I was definitely walking slower than usual, and Josh looked far too pleased with himself about it.
Mike was already at the stove flipping pancakes, Drew was setting out plates with quiet efficiency, and Patrick stood near the coffeepot, already sipping from a mug like he’d been up for hours.
Josh reached for the second cup Jake had brought earlier and handed it to me before grabbing one for himself. I took a sip and sighed. “Better than sex.”
Patrick’s eyebrow went up. “I doubt that.”
“Okay, fair.” I smiled over the rim of the mug. “But it’s a close second.”
Josh pulled out a chair and guided me into it as if I were made of glass. I rolled my eyes and smacked his thigh. “I’m sore, not fragile.”
“Same thing,” he said with a smirk.
Drew set a plate of pancakes in front of me. “Is she surviving?”
“Barely,” I muttered.
Mike slid into the seat next to me with his own plate. “I don’t know, she was still asking for more when I was done.”
“I have no memory of that,” I said around a bite of syrupy pancake.
Josh leaned in. “We could try again. Just to jog your memory.”
Jake dropped into the chair on my other side and stole a piece of bacon off my plate. “Y’all really gotta stop hogging her.”
Patrick cleared his throat behind me. “I’m just waiting for my turn.”
Mike groaned. “You’re gonna kill her.”
Josh looked far too calm. “She’ll die happy.”
“I hate all of you,” I said, shoving a piece of bacon in my mouth before someone else could steal it.
“No, you don’t,” Drew said, stealing a kiss on my cheek as he walked past.
And he was right.
I didn’t.
I was exactly where I wanted to be, with the five men who loved me, teased me, wrecked me, and made pancakes the next morning.
Honestly? I’d never felt more at home.
After breakfast, we all migrated to the living room. I curled up on the oversized couch with a blanket thrown over my legs, and Jake stretched out beside me, head in my lap like it was the most natural thing in the world. Josh took the floor at my feet, leaning against the couch with his hand resting on my ankle. Patrick had his laptop open, working on something, but he kept glancing over like he couldn’t help checking in. Drew came in with another cup of coffee and quietly handed it to me before sinking into the armchair across the room.
The house felt warm and lived-in, as if it had soaked up our affection and settled into comfort right along with us.
“We should go for a walk later,” Drew said, tapping the arm of the chair.
“In the woods?” I asked, raising a brow.
He nodded. “Just a bit of movement. Fresh air. It'll help with soreness.”
Josh smirked. “Not that she’s complaining.”
“I will throw this mug at you,” I warned.
Jake laughed. “Don’t waste good coffee.”
We ended up watching a couple of movies, arguing about snacks, and bickering over what to watch next like a bunch of teenagers. But it was nice. Normal. And even though we weren’t doing anything special, it still felt like a perfect day.
A day that I knew I’d remember.
A quiet kind of magic, wrapped in warmth, laughter, and the five people who made everything feel right.
Home wasn’t a place.
It was them.