I WAKE UP TO THE sweet smell of pancakes, instantly making my stomach growl. Taking a slow, deep breath, I inhale and sit up, yawning before opening my eyes to see Alex sitting in the chair next to the bed with a grin.

I quickly look down in a panic to make sure that I’m covered up, but am relieved to find that I’m now dressed in Memphis’ black button down shirt that he looked so sexy in the other day; that slick, talented son of a bitch. I love his soft side.

I clear my throat. “Morning,” I whisper. “What is it with you Carter boys and not letting me sleep? Haven’t you ever heard women need beauty rest?”

“Morning sleepy head . . . oh, and you’re welcome.” Alex holds up his plate of pancakes as he shoves a forkful into his mouth. He moans and points down to his plate. “These are fanfuckingtastic. You better make a plate before I eat them all.” He stands up and nods his head for me to follow. “I bet Memphis forgot to mention that he’s a great cook and that he used to cook dinner for us every night after mom got sick. The big guy’s softer than he looks.”

I maneuver my way out of bed and walk up beside Alex while shaking my head back and forth. I don’t understand why he tries to hide so much of himself. “Of course he left that detail out. He doesn’t tell me shit, Alex. Has he always been this way?”

He wraps his free arm around my shoulder as we walk up the steps, side by side. “Nah, not always, only when he had no other choice. Let’s go. He’s going to kill me once he finds out I came down here.”

Once we get upstairs, Alex quickly lets go of my shoulder and dodges inside his bedroom door right as Memphis steps into the hallway.

Memphis gives me a questioning look, but I just shrug my shoulders, playing it off. “Morning,” I say softly.

“Morning,” he whispers with a small smile. Raising an eyebrow, he smirks as Alex steps back out into the hallway, pretending that he didn’t just throw himself into his room a second ago.

“Oh hey, big bro. What’s up?” He points at his almost empty plate, talking with a mouthful. “Fucking bomb ass pancakes these are.”

“Nothing much, little bro.” He waves him over with a teasing smile. “You like those pancakes, huh? Come here for a minute.”

Alex gives me a pleading look and whispers, “Stay close by.” He then walks over to Memphis, treading lightly. “What’s up?”

Memphis wraps his arm around Alex’s neck and squeezes. “What did I tell you about going in my room, jerk?”

I can’t help but to laugh as Memphis starts rubbing his knuckles on the top of Alex’s hair, causing him to complain as remnants of his pancakes start sliding off his plate.

“Ah, dude. My fucking pancakes. I’m sorry, man. Come on. I was just waking Lyric up. Personally, I was shocked she could sleep through the smell.”

Letting go, Memphis laughs and points down at the ground. “Now clean up your mess, dickhead. You’re going to have everything sticky.”

Alex shakes his head and bends down to pick up his pancake. “See what you’re in for, Lyric?” He stands back up and holds both his arms out. “You could be having all this instead.”

I smile at Alex and laugh as he playfully winks and bites his bottom lip. He’s so damn cute. These boys . . .

Memphis walks over to me and hooks his arm around my waist, pulling me in for a kiss, roughly sucking my lip into his mouth before releasing it. I can’t help but to smile as he raises a brow at me and grabs my face. “I don’t think you want to give that up.”

I tangle my fingers into the back of his hair and pull him in for another kiss, sucking his tongue into my mouth before pulling away and biting his bottom lip. He lets out a little growl as I run the tip of my tongue up his lips and grab his hard dick through his sweats. I pat him on the chest and smile, proud of the way his body is reacting to me. “I don’t think you want to give that up.” I grin. “Now, where are these damn pancakes? I’m starving.”

I hear Alex saying damn, she showed you as I walk into the kitchen, leaving the boys alone to wrestle or whatever it is that they do.

I almost finish a whole plate of pancakes before the boys appear in the kitchen. Both of them seem a little tenser than they just were a few minutes ago.

“Is everything okay?” I question between bites, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Memphis leans against the counter and grips it, his muscles tightening. “Yeah. We were just discussing something.” He nods at my plate. “You should finish eating before you leave for work.”

I look to Alex and he just nods his head in agreement. I don’t like this whole mood change. I have a feeling that something is wrong, but neither one of them is going to be willing to tell me, so I just eat my breakfast in silence.

Alex comes over and gives me a kiss on the head before setting his plate in the sink. “I’m out of here, guys. I need to go visit a friend of mine. It’s been way too long and she’s got to be missing the shit out of me by now.”

I can’t help but to smile. “I’m sure she is, Alex. Bye.”

Memphis nods his head at Alex before he turns and walks away, leaving us alone. Being alone with Memphis makes my heart ache to be close to him. It’s an odd feeling that I’m not used to and it scares me. I don’t want to need this.

I clear my throat. “Thanks for breakfast.” I set my plate in the sink and get ready to wash it, but Memphis grabs my arm, stopping me.

“Don’t wash your plate. Just leave it.”

I swallow nervously before grabbing his hands and rubbing my fingertips over the now hardened scabs. I want to ask him about so much, but I’m afraid he’ll only pull away. I can’t have that. I know that he’ll be gone soon, so maybe I should just take this time with him while I have it.

“Do they hurt?”

He shakes his head and smiles while wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling my body against his. “Nah.” He reaches up with one hand and brushes my hair behind my ear. He’s looking at me as if he’s trying to figure me out. “Tell me about yourself.”

I let out a nervous laugh, surprised by his words. “What?” I shake my head and kiss his neck, before looking back up at him. He’s dead serious. He really wants to know about me. This guy really is confusing.