Emery
I woke up roasting. Opening my eyes, I held in a giggle when I realized that Elvis had climbed onto the bed at some point. My back was to Rafael’s chest and he was wrapped around me like a human heating blanket. Elvis, meanwhile, was snuggled in at my front, his little bird head resting on my arm.
“You’re awake.” Rafael murmured against my shoulder.
“Yes and I need coffee badly. I would be willing to do terrible, terrible things to get my hands on some Starbucks.”
Rafe’s husky chuckle made my nipples harden. “We have coffee here, you know.”
I nodded and sighed. “I know, I’m just a big baby who loves Starbucks. I can’t help it.”
“Then as soon as we get up I will go get you what you need, Miel.”
It was ridiculous to be excited that he was willing to go get what I wanted, but the reality was that I’d never had that kind of care from a man before. Elliot would’ve laughed and told me to get off my ass.
“Really?” I squeaked. “You’d do that?”
“Of course. Consider it done.”
As we spoke, Elvis lifted his head and blinked tiredly in a way that suggested that we had interrupted his sleep. Looking across the bed I blinked in surprise when I realized the clock showed it was just before eight in the morning.
“I can’t believe Elvis has lasted this long without food or a bathroom break.”
I felt the rumble of Rafe’s chest at my back as he chuckled. “He didn’t. He came in around six and woke me up so I let him out and fed him some blueberries. I figured he’d stay outside but when I tried to come in alone he wasn’t having it. I waited until he finished eating so he could come back inside with me. It’s a good thing I saw him chilling with you on the lounger yesterday. It meant I wasn’t surprised when I woke up about ten minutes ago and realized he’d snuck onto the bed to be near you.”
Knowing that we were talking about him, Elvis pecked at our intertwined arms. “He’s a very people-centric boy,” I laughed.
“Yes, but he’s primarily Emery-centric,” Rafe chuckled. “I’ve never heard my brother mention word one about Elvis climbing into bed with him and Kaya so I have to think my dude saves this for you.”
“It’s my fault he’s like this,” I laughed. “He was so tiny when he hatched that my grandparents weren’t sure he would make it. For weeks I fed him with an eyedropper, just so he’d get any food at all. I worried about him so much that I would sneak him into my room at night and let him sleep on the nightstand next to my bed in a shoe box. I cut up one of my flannel pajama tops and made a little bed for him in there. By the time he was healthy enough to live with the other birds, he’d already decided he didn’t want to. He made a roost right outside my window but he always reserved the right to sleep inside if he wanted to. So, whenever he’d tap on my window—which was often—I’d let him in and he’d sleep across the bottom of my bed.”
Rafe snickered as he pulled me in closer. “He’s spoiled.”
Elvis lifted his head and gave Rafe a vaguely affronted look that said, spoiled? Me? That’s just crazy talk. Fake news, Rafael.
“Don’t act like you’re not, little man. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing—we all like spoiling you.”
If my baby could’ve smiled, he would have but his victorious expression told it’s own story. Our early morning chatter came to an abrupt end when buzzing started out in the living room.
Rafe grumbled as he detached himself from me and got out of bed. “It’s the intercom system that runs throughout the property,” he sighed. “Gimme a sec to see what’s up.”
I was surprised but also touched when Elvis cut our cuddle session short to get up and follow after Rafe. While the boys were in the living room dealing with whatever was up with the intercom, I got up, made the bed, grabbed some clothes, and went into the bathroom. After brushing my teeth, I climbed into the shower that I was coming to love. My body was sore in ways I’d never been sore before, all because of the way Rafael had taken me the night before. I shivered as I rubbed shower gel over my still-sensitive nipples. When I got down to my sex, I couldn’t resist touching myself as I remembered the way it felt having Rafe inside of me. Sex had never, ever been like that and my body was hungry for more. I closed my eyes and played with my clit as I remembered the filthy way he talked while he fucked me. That sexy Spanish accent growling instructions and compliment at me was so arousing I knew I’d never get enough. Remembering the way he’d sounded when he told me to come was all it took to send me over. My body trembled as I came even as my empty sex clenched with the need for Rafe.
I’d expected him to join me at some point but I made it through the entire shower without seeing him at all. Disappointed, I dried my hair and pulled on my clothes before leaving the bathroom in search of caffeine. As soon as I opened the door to the bedroom and saw Kaya and Alejandro in the living room without Rafe or Elvis, I sensed something was up. When Kaya looked up at me, I knew for sure.
“What’s wrong?”
“The cop,” Kaya said in a shaky voice, “the one that doesn’t like birds? He filed a complaint with animal control about Elvis claiming that little man is violent and prone to attack. He’s saying he needs to be brought in for the safety of the public. A sheriff called the Cruz’s chief of security about forty minutes ago to let him know to expect a visit from the police with animal control. They know Elvis is here because of the statement one of the security guards gave last night about why they were watching your house.”
It was like being punched in the gut. “They can’t take him from me,” I whimpered. “He’d be terrified if they even tried.”
When the door to the guesthouse opened and Rafe walked in visibly upset, I went straight into his arms. He’d gotten dressed in jeans and a gray shirt while he was gone. “We can’t let them take him from us, Rafe.”
“We are absolutely not letting anyone take him,” he said, his voice unwavering in its conviction. “I put a plan together but we have to go now, Miel. Pack a small bag with the essentials. We’re getting out of here.”
“How?” I sniffled, sounding pathetic. “I mean, he’s so big and it’s not like I can get my truck from next door and—”
“I’ve got it all under control but we have to hurry. I don’t want to be here when animal control arrives. Bring all of your identification and important papers. Anything else we can have sent to us later.”
I didn’t even question what he’d said. Instead, I ran into the bedroom at top speed and literally tossed God only knows what into my big suitcase. “Will I need my wig?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No wig, Em. You won’t need to hide.”
Therefore, the only things I was sure to get besides my suitcase and beauty bag were my driver’s license, passport, and banking stuff. As soon as I zipped it up Rafe grabbed it and my beauty bag off the bed. After sliding into a pair of flip-flops, I grabbed my purse and a pair of sunglasses before I followed along behind him.
Looping her arm through mine, Kaya stayed at my side as we hurried through the yard, into the house and then out the front door. “If Gigi and Dean weren’t set to arrive within a few hours I’d go with you,” she said. “They’re here for about six days but once they leave Alejandro and I will meet up with you.”
My head was spinning as I nodded. “Where am I even going?”
“I’m not sure. Text me as soon as you get where you’re going,” she whispered. “We need to talk.”
I barely had time to assure her I would before we were walking out the front door into the driveway. Right outside the door sat a giant Mercedes conversion van. The side door was open and Elvis was sitting in the back like he owned it. After putting my cases in the rear of the van, Rafael came back down the side and helped me up into the van. We sat side by side in two plush leather seats while Elvis was spread out in the aisle. I had about four seconds to wave goodbye to Kaya and Alejandro before the door closed.
As the car started to move, I turned to Rafael. “How did you get one of these so fast?” I asked.
“I’d like to tell you I’m just that good, but that’s a lie. There are two in the garage here,” he said dryly. “Security drives whenever the family goes out together as a group. It’s because of Mateo, really.”
“Mateo?”
He started to answer but abruptly stopped as we pulled out the front gate. This was because my jaw had dropped open due in part to the assembled paparazzi I could see outside of my house, but more than that, it was the three Malibu police cars that were pulling down the street with a large animal control vehicle behind them.
“My God,” I muttered as I clutched my stomach. “If we’d waited even a few more seconds…”
“If they’d showed up before I got you outside, the van would’ve pulled out as soon as the police pressed the button at the gate,” Rafe said calmly. “The backup plan was to meet up in the parking lot at Pepperdine. No matter what, I wasn’t letting them take Elvis.”
Right on cue, little man made a noise of agreement in his throat. When I looked down at him he was busy staring at Rafe with a look of adoration. Because of that, I felt certain that Elvis had a pretty good understanding of the fact that we’d just escaped something.
“Where are we going?” I asked as the van turned out onto PCH.
My eyes flew up to his when he cleared his throat and made a nervous-sounding noise. “About that… listen. I know what I’m about to say is going to make me sound fucking nuts and I accept that.”
I bit my lip nervously as I stared at him. “You’re scaring me.”
Rafe shook his head. “It’s nothing to be scared of but I’m sure you’re going to be pissed, so I apologize in advance. Obviously you know I got very close to Elvis over the last several weeks.”
I nodded. “Of course.”
“Well, it wasn’t like I was looking forward to leaving him.”
“Okayyyy,” I said slowly.
“You have to keep in mind that this all went down before I met you.”
Getting suspicious, I narrowed my eyes. “Were you going to try to take him from me?”
“What? No! Shit, no. Nothing quite that bad. All I knew at the time was that Kaya stayed with Elvis a few times a year while his mom was on location. So I thought that maybe if I begged you’d be open to letting him stay with me during the weeks you were working. Like a custody arrangement.”
I gaped at him in shock. “You wanted to share custody of Elvis?”
“I said I knew it was crazy,” he reminded me. “And obviously that’s out the window now—no need to share when I’m not letting either of you go. But I did look into how it might work if he came to Spain for a few months a year.”
“To Spain?” I squeaked. “How would that work?”
“I found the best avian veterinarian in the area and reached out to him. He told me that peacocks can fly, but he wouldn’t recommend a commercial because they can get loud and if they freak out, it could get messy. He also said that in case of extreme anxiety, Elvis could be sedated. The biggest issue for him will be the pressurization.”
“Will be?” I asked.
“We can’t keep him in Los Angeles County, Miel. You’re on everyone’s radar, which means even if we tried, it could end with you being discovered. No one will be looking for you in Barcelona. My family’s private plane is readying for us even as we speak. It’s an Airbus which means Elvis will be as comfortable as possible.”
“But what if we get up in the air and he freaks out and needs to be sedated?” I worried. “I couldn’t stand it if he panicked, Rafe.”
“The avian vet I mentioned? I may have called and offered a shitload of money to fly with us to Barcelona and stay for a few days just to make sure there were no complications. He lives and works in Santa Monica—”
“Get out,” I screeched. “You got Dr. Morrison to agree to come?”
His brow furrowed in confusion. “How do you know its Dr. Morrison?”
“He’s Elvis’s vet is how. We go in twice a year for checkups, which Elvis just about barely tolerates. Morrison is nice but he’s a man so Elvis is a little meh about him. If he’s coming—”
Rafe shook his head as he interrupted me. “He isn’t coming because he has a family thing. He’s sending his vet tech, Caroline.”
Elvis lifted his head and looked between us excitedly.
“He knows her, doesn’t he?” Rafe laughed.
“Yep. She’s always been smart enough to have snacks for him when we get to the office so he thinks she’s the bomb.” I blew out a breath as a thought occurred to me. “Did Morrison know who you were talking about when you discussed all this with him?”
“No, I never said what the peacocks name was until today. I think he picked it up then but before that, he had no clue. Why?”
“Just wondering if I needed to twist his nuts off,” I shrugged. “He knows how much Elvis loves when Auntie Kaya comes to visit. If he’d been advocating sending my baby to Spain for vacations, I’d be pissed.”
“I didn’t give him a lot of detail,” Rafe assured me. “And I never meant to imply that Kaya wasn’t incredible with him. I just love him and didn’t want to lose him from my life.”
As nuts as it was that he’d been trying to find ways to maintain a relationship with Elvis, it was also the sweetest thing ever. “Well, now you’re stuck with him,” I snorted.
* * *
When we got to the airport Rafe took Elvis for a walk while I stayed in the van and watched from the window. There was no way I could show my face in Los Angeles without a shitstorm erupting. After their walk, Rafe gestured toward the gargantuan airplane hangar as he and Elvis made their way toward it. As soon as the van was in the hangar and I knew I was safely out of sight, I got out of the van and joined my boys.
I’d expected that we’d need to cajole Elvis up the stairs to the plane, but he followed along behind me excitedly without even being told he had to. My eyes went wide as I walked through the door onto the plane. I’d been on private jets before but the Cruz plane was a full sized and a hell of a lot nicer than anything I’d ever seen. I’d been worried there wouldn’t be room for Elvis to move around, but that fear was pointless. There was easily room for twenty people to spread out super comfortably and plenty of space for Elvis to walk and shake his feathers out.
As I walked up the aisle, I saw Caroline toward the back of the plane, crouched down to set something up on the floor. I couldn’t see exactly what since there was a wall obstructing my view. Spotting her at the same time, Elvis ran toward her.
“Hey big stuff!” She called out cheerfully when he cawed at her. “Look at what I brought for you.”
He had stopped and leaned in to look by the time I caught up with him. When I saw what was on the floor, my eyes went wide. There were four different sections of grass in separate plastic pans that had been joined together to make one “lawn”.
“Hey there,” Caroline laughed as she stood and dusted her hands off. “It’s great to see you.” Gesturing to a woman on the other side of the room she continued, “This is my sister, Charlotte. Allegedly she’s here to assist me but I think the idea of flying in a private plane and seeing Spain was too good to pass up.”
I giggled and thanked Charlotte for agreeing to come as she stepped forward and shook my hand. After a few minutes of chatting, I gestured down to the grass between us. “What is this?”
“Pet owners use these pads to help potty train,” Caroline explained. “It’s real grass and is one hundred percent non-toxic. What I’ve created here is big enough for Elvis to do his business without having to do it somewhere he wouldn’t feel comfortable.”
“That is awesome,” I said enthusiastically. “I was worried about that. You think he’ll be okay with all of this once we take off?”
Caroline nodded. “Word on the plane is that Mr. Cruz had it fully stocked with Elvis-approved food and snacks. Having grass, food, and you here is really all he needs to be happy. I won’t be surprised if I don’t have to sedate him at all.”
“But if it comes to that it will be totally safe, right?”
“Totally safe, Emery. Mr. Cruz told Dr. Morrison the patients name when he called this morning. We knew straight away who the patient was—I mean there’s only one Elvis, right? I pulled his records and everything looks great. He’ll be fine.”
I felt a jolt of electricity Rafael came up behind me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders before pulling me so I was pressed against him
“Please,” he said to Caroline, “call me Rafe. Mr. Cruz is so formal. Plus I’m one of five boys so whenever someone says Mr. Cruz I’m never sure if they mean me, my father or one of my brothers.”
Caroline laughed as she shook Rafe’s hand and introduced him to Charlotte. As we were finishing up our chat, a male flight attendant came and told us that the we needed to take our seats since the door was closed and our slot on the runway was in ten minutes.
After a brief discussion, we all took seats in the same section of the plane. Caroline and Charlotte belted themselves into giant padded recliners while Rafe and I sat together on the couch. Once we had a large throw blanket spread out over our laps to keep our legs safe from little mans talons, I called for him to join us. He seemed to take it in his stride that he was suddenly allowed to climb into my lap. Positioning himself so that his body was on me while his feathers draped across Rafe and down across the rest of the sofa, Elvis burrowed against me.
As the plane began to taxi toward the runway, Rafe and I talked to Elvis very calmly about what was happening. I’m not sure who was more nervous—me, or Rafe. Curiously, Elvis seemed fine. My stomach was in my throat as I waited for him to lose his shit. The plane was luxurious but the engines were loud and I knew once we took off there was potential for Elvis to get upset.
Whether because he was up against me, or because Rafe and I were both giving him love and encouragement, he did just fine. I was so nervous that I was ready to puke as we took off, but he stayed calm and just kept rubbing his face against me. As the plane climbed to altitude, he opened his mouth wide, something that freaked me out, but Caroline calmly told me that it was normal. He kept on doing it continuously for the next half hour but once we were cruising, he seemed to need to do it less and less often.
When the seatbelt sign went off and we were given permission to move around the cabin, Caroline stood to stretch. Seeing that, Elvis hopped off my lap and shook out his feathers before he started wandering the plane, looking at all the chairs and pecking at things he found interesting.
As he tossed the blanket that we’d had covering us onto an empty chair, Rafe dropped a kiss behind my ear. “I swear he’s got a little human in him,” he sighed. “You and I are over here ripping our hair out with worry and he’s like, meh. I got this.”
Rafe was right—Elvis definitely had it. He spent a good portion of the eleven-hour flight chilling behind us on the back of the couch looking out the windows or watching television with us. He never needed to be tranquilized and when he had to go to the bathroom, he used the grass Caroline had brought. Flying didn’t affect his appetite, either. He ate just as much as he ever did, or perhaps even more since he made a new friend in the flight attendant who kept him topped up with peanuts.