It was supposed to be a relaxing Sunday, heading up to the woods, to breath in the fresh air...

Except it wasn't the normal, relaxing Sunday I wished for.

I was so anxious of meeting everyone, I actually woke up hours before Brandon to get prepared.

Mentally, that is.

I was thrilled to meet his family, but my brain just wouldn't quiet down enough for me to think.

Of course, that only meant one thing: baking.

Since it was my first time meeting them, it was only appropriate I brought something of my own. God knew, my Italian mom taught me well. It was tradition to bring baked goods to the host. And that would ensure, my ancestors wouldn't be turning in their graves out of the disrespect of lacking in that area.

I wasn't sure what to bake. Brandon's pantry only had the basics, so my choices were limited. Besides, it wasn't like I could bake roasted almond and espresso cannoli from scratch, or hazelnut panna cotta with chocolate ganache, on such short notice.

So, ciambella it was.

Brandon and Mia liked it, so I just hoped the rest of their family would too.

I had my outfit for the day ready; a lavender flowy dress with tiny, pale flowers, a jean jacket and snickers. Now the only thing that remained on my to-do-list, was a short shower and to get ready, before we headed to his grandfather's cabin.

If I had a choice between arriving first and meeting them as they arrived, or meeting them all together at once, then I'd prefer the first option.

That was my plan. Solid.

Unfortunately, my Guardian thought differently.

We didn't have much time, barely enough to fool around, but Brandon had other plans for us before we headed up North.

"Brandon... we just got out of the shower," I tried to say between interlocked lips.

"I know." I could hear his smug look, as he kissed down my throat. "All the more reason why I can't stop myself."

"Brandon..."

Soft moans left my lips as he caressed down my naked skin. His lips claimed the few water droplets on my shoulders as he weaved our bodies from the bathroom to his bed.

I was devoured by him, overtaken by his smooth movements.

He was sin. An insatiable devil with cunning ways.

I tried to fight back, but it was futile.

I got lost in the moment. But if it meant he could make love to me like that, then I didn't care. I'd rise up to his challenge, only to have him consume me completely.

"Happy now?" I asked, once we were both seated in his car and he was driving past the speed limit.

"Very!"

Dio mio, those eyes.

He brought my hand to his lips, stealing a glance my way, before his eyes were back on the road. Still, I felt their intensity, as if I was receiving all of his attention.

As we drove deeper into the Chicagoan woods, the monotone colors of the city were replaced with a deep green. Wooded highlands surrounded the lakes, with prairies and shrubs covering the forest preserves.

It was a warm day, the sun shining above us enhancing the nature's beauty.

I was lost in my thoughts, when I spotted the wooden cabin, deep into the woodlands. Another two cars were parked at the front of the stone steps leading up to the entrance of the house.

We were the last to arrive, sadly.

This only left me option number two: Rip-off the band-aid.

Just like everything else in my life ever since I met Brandon King.

We stepped foot out of the car, the wind hitting me first in the face. It was supposed to be a warm day, but under the trees' shade, the temperature was chilly. I realized, too late for my own good, I was dressed lightly; maybe a dress wasn't my best idea.

The creaky sound of the door opening halted my thoughts, and Malcolm ushered us inside, as he was exiting the cabin to pick some wood for the fireplace.

Warmth enveloped my body when the door closed behind us, and I sighed a breath I didn't know I was holding, both unnerved and relieved.

Mia was occupied with a guitar in her hands, earphones in both ears as she played a melody I couldn't recognize. Liam was sitting on opposite sides of the same couch as hers, staring at something intently on his phone.

Sounds of cooking utensils and pots scraping one another drew my attention towards the back of the room, the person behind them still in the kitchen, unaware of our late arrival.

A soft scent of basil and garlic wafted towards us, making me lick my lips at the prospects, when I felt Mia's hands clutch my own.

"If this is what I'm thinking, then let me take it off your hands," she said, with a knowing smile and a playful wink.

At least Mia wouldn't be disappointed with my choice of desert.

"Where can I put these, pops?" said Malcolm, directing his question towards the man sitting by the fire, occupied with the flames in the fireplace.

When I turned towards him, his warm hazel-green eyes were already staring back at me. The man was a much older version of Brandon and he looked similar to the photos Brandon showed me of his father.

"Sophie?"

The word, the name, was barely audible, as he said it under his breath.

My eyes widened for a moment as everyone in the room became awfully quiet.

"Pops? Is everything alright?" Brandon asked, but instead his grandfather shook his head quickly, and got on his feet to greet us.

"Yes, I'm sorry, champ. Where are my manners?"

He took his grandson in a hug, clapping his back twice, before he turned to me.

"I'm Theodore King, this rascal's grandfather. But you can call me Theo. Or pops."

"It's nice to meet you all. I'm Erika Ricci."

"My girlfriend," Brandon pointed out proudly.

Warmth colored my cheeks, while a wide grin appeared on his face, making me want to hide my own giddy self in his chest.

"God, you look like a Cheshire cat," said Liam with a scoff, before his lips smirked slightly.

"Whipped is what I'm thinking," added Mia, a similar grin on her face.

Everyone was pretty lively, teasing each other, when his mom walked in the room. She seemed to be deep in thought, rubbing her hands on her apron, when she saw him.

"Brandon. You came!" She hugged him tightly, hiding the tears that spilled, making her eyes seem lighter. "I missed you," she whispered when he finally hugged her back.

"Mom... I want you to meet Erika," he said taking a step back, pulling me close to him.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. King."

Cold sweat clumped the palms of my hands, as her eyes scanned me quickly, incredulously, before she turned towards Brandon's expecting ones.

"You can call me Viviana."

She clutched my hands in hers, a gesture that felt warm for a short moment, before an unsettling feeling settled in my gut.

I didn't know what it was, but before I let any prejudice influence me, I pushed the thought to the back of my head.

"Ariana called yesterday," Brandon interrupted our my thoughts, turning around in the room, looking for the third sibling. "She said she came back?"

"Oh, sweetie... she's... ehm..." his mother began to explain.

"Just tell him already. She said she wanted to come... but then wasn't ready." Mia was looking at him, an apologetic shrug of her shoulders.

"It's fine, sweetie. Next time, she'll be here."

"Not if Brandon comes here as well," she said under her breath.

Viviana's glare should be enough to stop Mia's words, but like always, she was oblivious to her mother's warning.

"Mia tells me you baked a hell of a ciambella yesterday," Viviana tried to change the subject swiftly. "Almost put my cooking skills to shame."

"Oh, no, I'm terrible at cooking. Baking is just a hobby," I tried to reason, not wanting to offend her.

"Well, I figured that much. Being a doctor and all, it must be hard to balance everything," she chuckled, ushering Mia in the kitchen to help her.

There was bite in her words, but I tried to shrug it off as a joke to get the ice melting.

Seconds later, Mia came running back into the living room, settling with her guitar in front of the fireplace. She looked proud of herself for slipping out of her mom's hands, but it didn't last for long before she was called back.

She rolled her eyes as she stood back on her feet, but made no effort to walk back to her.

"Is that song yours?" Liam stole the words out of my mouth, as he moved to sit next to her on the floor.

She hesitated to respond, before she settled on a simple nod.

It seemed like everyone knew how to act around here, like they had a role to fulfill in the cabin.

Brandon pulled me closer to the fire, seeing as I was clutching my arms around my torso.

"I'll be right back," he said, kissing my forehead, before he walked down the hallway with Malcolm behind him.

With a sigh, Liam joined them, but didn't fight Brandon's timing. Mia on the other hand rolled her eyes again, pulling her knees closer to her body, her fingers light on the strings.

"Is my grandson giving you a hard time?" Pop's asked.

"Oh, no. If anything, I'm the stubborn one."

"Serves him right!" he said with a chuckle. "You look familiar."

"I gathered. Knew an Italian girl back in the day?"

"Half French, half Italian, actually, yeah. Sophie had the temperament of a bull, really, and the stubborn heart of a lion."

"She sounds like a lovely woman. Was she your wife?"

"No, we were... we were friends. Still are." After a beat, he asked, "What was your last name, again?"

"Ricci. Erika Ricci."

Pops was quiet for a few moments, the only sound in the room was Mia's light strumming.

Needing to occupy my hands with anything, I pulled a stray strand of hair behind my ear, cursing the moment I settled on a ponytail in the first place. When I pulled my gaze away from the fire, I was met with his baffled expression, before he shook it off, a content smile illuminating his face.

"Mia King, for the last time..." came Viviana's voice from the kitchen.

"You know it's serious when she uses the surname," she said with a chuckle, settling her guitar on the couch, before she took her leave.

"Angel? You still cold?" Brandon's voice startled me.

"I'm all better now."

His hand touched my cheek, sending goosebumps down my spine at how warm his fingers were in contrast to my skin.

"Pops, you think we can add more wood to the fire?"

"I think tonight you and Erika can do the honors, what do you think?" His face radiated with his warm smile, and Brandon nodded once, looking elated.

Brandon pulled me by the fire, sitting us both on the stool pops was occupying moments ago. The warmth of the fire was unmistakable, but Brandon's hold on me was what warmed me even more.

He handed me a couple of thin branches, before he picked a thicker one to stir the ashes to the side. His other hand was still holding me close to him, drawing abstract symbols over my dress, as I put a new branch on top of the pyramid-like structure the flames were consuming.

They were so beautiful.

But as I turned my gaze away from the flames and towards him, I felt the breath leave my lungs.

The flames danced in his eyes, those beautiful emeralds taking on a golden haze, like a wolf's irises.

When he turned towards me, he kissed my forehead once more, pulling me even closer to his warmth, protecting me.

"I'm sorry," he spoke softly by my ear.

He wasn't naïve or ignorant to the way I felt. He knew me, and knew I was feeling uncomfortable under the intense gaze of his family.

Before I could ease his mind, Mia came back, holding a casserole; the smell of steaming lasagna wafted in the air.

"Oh... Oh, mom's gonna love this," she said under her breath, biting her lip anxiously.

Her glance alternated between us and the kitchen, until her mom walked back. Viviana stopped in her tracks, raising her chin up, before she continued down the step. Her gaze was piercing, but pops and Brandon never met her eyes, as she waited by the table.

Was taking care of the fireplace such a big deal?

When we finally took our seats, I wasn't surprised to find the two King men sitting at the head of the table, opposite each other. With my hand still clutched in his, Brandon pulled me to sit by his right side. Viviana opted to sit opposite me, but Mia took that seat with gracefully fast movements. With a sigh, Viviana took the seat next to her daughter, followed by Malcolm, while Liam sat beside me.

It felt warm and cozy on the family table, and soon after everyone was preoccupied with devouring their food.

I was surprised when Brandon's hand settled on my thigh under the table, but avoided his eyes. I knew if I turned now, the light tint on my cheeks would reach my neck, ears and chest, and I didn't want that.

Instead, I tried to listen to their conversations, as they caught up with each other.

When the conversation shifted to business talk, I knew I was lost for good. And soon after, it seemed like they spoke more with their eyes than their words. The men, that is. Mia and Viviana were kept out of the loop as much as I was.

I didn't mind, though. I wasn't here for anyone else, but Brandon.

Besides, the food was delicious.

"God, can you talk about that on your own time? You have visitors right now," Mia interrupted, annoyance in her voice.

Viviana and Brandon held back a small chuckle, used to her antics.

"Of course, your highness. How could we?" Malcolm joked, earning a few more laughs out of Brandon and even pops.

It seemed, when all three were with pops, the men became boys.

Malcolm's loud personality kept things light, while Brandon's incessant teasing was enough to make even his sister blush. I didn't know he had it in him, but eventually he managed to pull out a chuckle from Liam himself.

At some point I felt eyes watching me.

Sure enough, my gaze met Viviana's glare. This was no staring-contest I wanted to participate in, so I turned towards the boys again; their boisterous laughter could break through anything.

Instead I concentrated on the tale Mia was telling her grandfather about New York, a sigh on her lips, before she confessed quietly she missed him.

I couldn't help the smile that appeared on my lips; she was their bambi, alright.

"Cut it out!" The severity of his tone sent chills down my spine.

"Hm?" Viviana tried to feign ignorance, while Brandon was staring daggers at her.

"You know what you're doing. Stop it."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she said, standing up to collect some of the empty plates on the table. "Is everyone ready for desert?"

Viviana was once more lost in the kitchen, while everyone else took a seat by the fire.

Trying to ignore the pit in my stomach, I neared Mia and the rest by the fire, when a hand clutched my own.

"Come with me!"

A few hours behind schedule, but I'm sure it's still the 1st of April somewhere! (can I get a for doing my best? ^_^)

Family meetings would've been nothing without . Who's with me?

But really, what's going on, anyway?

I'm glad is so strong minded. I wouldn't come alive out of this. But then again, Brandon has her back every step of the way, so she doesn't need to worry.

You don't need to dwell on it for long. I won't keep you waiting, angels!

Oh. Did you know we joined ? Come by and say hi! in the comments!

for being here and reading this story. It means the world.

Take care. xo, J

12th April 2022