Where Broken Wings Fly (Briar Valley, #1)

by J. Rose

To my shock, he stretches out to lie down in the grass next to me. Arianna wastes no time adorning him with his own tiny daisy crown. Killian grumbles a complaint but doesn’t stop her from dressing him in flowers. “Now we match,” I whisper to him. “If anyone sees me in this shit, my reputation is ruined.” “You’re the one that laid down. Suck it up.”

“I’m just surprised that you want to let us girls into your bachelor pad. Does this mean you’ll pick up the dirty flannel shirts from your bathroom floor?” “What?” Killian’s mouth falls open in outrage. “Who told you that? I do not leave my shirts on the floor.” “Nobody.” “It was Ryder, wasn’t it?” “I’m saying nothing,” I reply lightly. “That asshole. I’m gonna run him over with my truck. He’s the one who leaves dirty socks everywhere. Even in our damn cabin, and he doesn’t live there.”

LMAO

“Nothing beats a home cooked meal.” I steal the salt and pepper straight from Killian’s hands. “Anyone want gravy?” Killian flips me off. “You go last, kid.” “What does that mean?” Arianna lifts her middle finger, mirroring Killian’s move. He looks horrified. “Ah, shit.” “Language,” I chastise.

snickers

“Stay, we won’t bite. Well, Killian might, but I promise I’ll put him down if he does. I know a good vet.” “Screw you,” Killian snarls at him. “Behave, mutt. We have a guest.” “Call me a fucking mutt again and see what happens.”

LMFAOO

I cup her cheek in my giant paw.

This is NOT a werewolf romance

“I didn’t mean to get so carried away. Did I hurt you?” “No, I’m okay. Just… need a minute.” “That good, huh?” I swat his chest. “Careful. You won’t fit that ego through the door.” “Hah. I don’t fucking care. I have zero desire to ever leave this bed again.” Wrapped up in each other, we rest in silence and catch our breath. My eyes drift shut, too heavy to hold open, despite the morning birds singing outside his window. All I want is to stay here, trapped in the safety of his arms forever. “Willow,” he whispers. “We should get showered before everyone wakes up.” “Mmmm.” “Shower. Now.” “Stop being so bossy. I can’t move yet.” Barking a laugh, Killian unpeels himself from me and clambers to his feet. “Shake a leg. I’ll even wash your back for you. I’m nothing if not a gentleman.” “That isn’t a word I’d use to describe you after what we just did.” “Wow.” He snorts. “You might have a point there.”

“Wouldn’t you like to know, Zachariah. Can I ask if there’s any particular reason why you’re walking around in a princess’s tiara?” He adjusts the plastic tiara buried in his caramel hair. “What? I’m embracing the theme. It was this or a zebra mask.” “It’s quite the look.” “I figured I’d make a sexier princess,” he replies smugly. “Willow?” “You’d make a beautiful little princess.” “Little?” Zach frowns.

CACKLES

“She’s fucking traumatised, Zach. Isn’t it obvious?” It is—blindingly so. Even when I touched her and made her come on my tongue, she almost didn’t seem to know what to do with herself. The inexperience is so obvious. No one has ever made her feel like that.

????? How someone reacts to receiving consensual cunnilingus usually doesn't reflect all that much on levels of trauma

“I’m so fucking excited.” “Language,” Killian scolds him. “There are little ears present.”

"There are little ears present" is so fucking adorable oh my God

“Mummy! Come see my bedroom!” Killian gasps as he breaks the kiss, setting me back on my feet before she catches us in a compromising position. “She’s going to be a cockblock, isn’t she?” he groans. “Oh, for sure. Welcome to life with kids.” “Awesome. I’ll end up locking her out of the damn cabin.” “Killian!” I exclaim.

“Ari! You’re far too small for all this space.” She pouts at me as she rolls around. “No, I’m not. It’s perfect! I’m a growing girl, you know. I’ll be as tall as the giant soon.” Killian snickers. “You tell her, peanut.”

I <3 Killian

What should I buy first for this place?” “A dog,” I mumble around a mouthful. “No! Not a chance,” Zach splutters. “Am I missing something here?” Willow glances between us. “Zach’s afraid of dogs.” “Mi, shut up. I am not!” Throwing a piece of garlic bread at his head, Zach grabs it mid-air and stuffs it into his mouth with a mischievous wink. He is incorrigible. “How can you not like dogs?” She laughs. Zach mock-shudders. “They’re loud, annoying and in need of constant attention. You guys have me for all of that.” I take another bite of food. “Finally, something we can agree on.”

“Kiss my brother, Willow.”

Said no real man ever 😞

“I am the innocent one here. You’re the troublemaker, Zach.” “It didn’t sound like that from what I heard the other morning,” Ryder mutters, his face buried in instructions. “Innocent isn’t the word I’d use for those sounds.” Willow clears her throat. “Um.” “Nothing to say?” Ryder winks at her. “That’s a first.” Maintaining a stony expression that gives nothing away, I almost break cover when Zach starts laughing. We all heard him screwing Willow in the shower at the weekend. I’m surprised they didn’t wake the whole damn town up. “Don’t act all coy,” Ryder throws at me. “I know full well that you joined in too.” Still, I don’t let my façade crack. “No idea what you’re talking about.” “Might be time to invest in some headphones,” Zach adds. Ryder tosses the instructions over his shoulder with a sigh. “You guys should be happy I have zero interest in the female species. It was like a live porno in my back garden.”

“Little ears are present.”

<33

“Thanks for building the table,” she murmurs. Zach cuts me off. “Um, hello. Me and Ryder worked tirelessly to build this bad boy too. I even got a splinter. Look!” He sticks out his spotless index finger with an exaggerated sigh. Willow shakes her head at his antics, stabbing a tamale and dipping it in salsa. “You’re such a jackass, Zach. Eat your food.” He shoves a huge forkful into his mouth. “I’ll make you pay for that later. I’m a very sensitive creature, you know. You’ll need to soothe my bruised ego.” Ryder lets out a long-suffering sigh as he sits down. “Can we please save the sexy talk for when I’m not eating? It’s making me feel a bit ill.” “What’s sexy talk?” Arianna blurts. Choking on a mouthful, Willow has to hammer Micah on the back before he chokes. Zach is grinning at Arianna, while Ryder points his fork at the idiot threateningly. “You’re corrupting the child, Zachariah.” Zach raises his hands. “Hey, I’m a good influence.” Ryder tucks a loose strand of hair behind Arianna’s ear. “Don’t worry, squirt. Uncle Ryder will look after you. Ignore these mannerless twats.” “What’s a twat?” she asks instead. Willow’s head thumps against the table.

Zach’s smoking a cigarette and blowing it straight into Killian’s face. I grab my handbag and lock the cabin door, racing over to the truck to climb in the back. “Morning, grumpy.” I lean between the seats to peck Killian’s bearded cheek. “I’m not grumpy,” he defends. “Tell your face that.” “This moron has been blowing smoke in my face for ten fucking minutes. What took you so long to get ready?” “I couldn’t find a hair tie. Arianna keeps stealing them all.” Moving to kiss Zach’s cheek next, I wrinkle my nose and decide to skip him. His mouth turns down in a dramatic pout. He quickly tosses the cigarette aside and drags me closer for a lip-smacking kiss that ignites my core.

bro they're so adorable I can't

“Have you thought about downsizing?” I look from the truck to the gleaming cars parked all around us. “Just a thought.” “Leave my truck alone. She’s my pride and joy.” He opens my door for me. “These crap cars won’t get you anywhere near Briar Valley. I drive a real man’s car.” “A real man?” I repeat incredulously. “How’s that toxic masculinity taste?” “Great, thanks.” “It’s the twenty-first century, you caveman.” Zach dares to elbow Killian in the ribs after climbing out. “I wouldn’t mind driving a cute little convertible.”

“Kill him?” My mouth waters at the thought.

Crazy