SETH'S POV:

"Fucking hell Lacey." Josh says in a concentrated tone as he struggles to beat Lacey at a game of COD. Lacey moves in my lap as she absolutely destroys Josh.

We were in our flat. The one that the six of us shared together. Cam, Hayley, Mila (Josh's "friend") and Lacey and I. We moved in together in the third year, well the five of us did, Mila was later to the party. And we've been living together ever since.

"I've taught her well." I say with a small smile, pressing my lips to her shoulder blade.

"More like I taught you princess." Lacey counters, her eyes glued to the screen as her fingers click across the controller with ease.

The game ends and she hands the controller over to Cam, who's curled up with Hayley in the corner. "On top of a lot of other things." She quirks giving me a suggestive smirk.

Josh cracks up at this, distracted from the game blaring on the TV.

"Says the one who asks for five orga-" I counter, a knowing smirk on my face.

Two could play at that game Lacey Carter.

"Finish that sentence and I might just castrate you." She replies, her elbow digging into my stomach.

"Hey." I call as I grab her elbow, I scoop her up and throw her onto the couch so she's lying on her back. I then lift my elbow as if I'm about to body slam her. Her squeals and laughter send a warm grin across my face.

I jump on her, careful not to actually elbow her. She lets out a large huff of breath as she takes my weight.

"Stop elbowing me." I say, raising my eyebrows at her. A mischievous grin is plastered across her face.

"hmm." Lacey says shrugging as she digs her elbow into my chest awkwardly. I grab her arm and pin it above her head. Grinning at her meek attempt.

"Stop." I say, my face becoming serious, Lacey just grins at me. Her hands above her head. I bite the corner of my cheek to stop the my urge to kiss her, aware of the presence in the room.

Her eyes flicker down to my lips, the grin slowly slipping from her face. She bit down on her lip, before her eyes shifted back up to meet my gaze. With a swift movement I climbed off her, lifting her off the sofa and over my shoulder.

"Alrighty. We'll be back soon." I announce as I make my way towards the bedroom, Lacey slung over my shoulder. She giggles and slaps my ass as I carry her.

"Gross!" Josh calls with a joking shake of his head. I roll my eyes. When you live in a flat with three practically couples. Well you get used to hearing things pretty quick.

I kick the bedroom door shut with my foot, dropping Lacey onto the bed and climbing on-top of her, our lips searching to collide immediately.

***

"Don't move." I tell her as I pull myself up from the bed. Her face pulls into a pout. With a chuckle I make my way towards the kitchen, leaving the door open behind me.

"Dude.. Might want to tell Lacey to get changed... And you should put a shirt on." Josh says as I enter the kitchen a panicked expression on his face.

"Why's that?" I ask him, my eyebrows furrowing together in confusion. I hear voices coming towards the kitchen the living room.

"Lacey's brother's are here." Josh says his eyes wide. "We told them you were asleep and have been talking to them keeping them busy." Josh whispers. Right as someone enters the kitchen.

"Hey Seth." Leroy says as he makes his way into the kitchen.

"Hey Leroy man." I say, panic filling me. Lace had been more than compliant when I told her to mark what's hers...

"Seth." Jacob exclaims as he makes his way in after Leroy, I dab both of them up.

"I'll go wake Lace up for you.." I say jabbing my thumb to the direction of our room. Turning around I made my way towards the room.

"Lace.. Your brothers are here." I say as I go over to the wardrobe and throw her a t-shirt, hoodie and some sweatpants. Lacey's face goes from excitement to worry. She sits up hurriedly and hurriedly puts on the clothes. I pull on a hoodie over my bare chest. I had already put on some shorts when I'd left to make Lace some food.

"My neck.." Lacey says gesturing at the mark I had left on her neck. It was only one, but it was there.

"Keep the hood up?" I suggest, pulling her hood up for her, she casts a worried face up at me.

"C'mon." I say grabbing her hand to pull her up. She stands as her knees buckle under neath her. I pull my lips into a smug smile. She glares at me.

"Lacey!" Jacob says excitedly as I pull open the door holding it open for Lace to walk, shuffle through. Jacob wraps Lacey up in a massive hug.

"Hey Jakey." She says in a pleasant voice. "Leroy." She says before she's wrapped up in a massive bear hug from Leroy.

"How are you?" Lacey exclaims, taking a seat on the kitchen barstool. Lifting one leg to cross over the other, to minimise the shaking.

I can't keep the smug smile from my face, despite the slightly awkward situation. Hayley elbows me as I join her around the other side of the kitchen counter.

"Don't." She says, raising her eyebrows at me, like she was telling me off.

"Sorry." I say moving my hand to wipe my mouth, hiding the smirk, before settling for a more serious face.

Lacey and her brothers talk and I decide to make myself useful by making some food. Lace needed feeding anyway. I stirred the mince in the pan as it browned, half listening in to the conversation.

***

"Okay I love you, thank you for swinging by on your way through! I'll see you in a week for christmas break." Lacey says as she says goodbye to her brothers.

"Will do. Love you too. Later Seth" Leroy calls as he makes his way out the door, followed by Jacob.

"Bye Lacey, Seth." Jacob says before he turns around a serious look on his face. "For goodness sakes Lacey.. cut your nails. Seth's back looked like it'd been attacked by a damn cat." He says before closing the door behind him.

The door closes and Lacey and I are left with stunned faces. Suddenly Lacey bursts out laughing. A grin makes my way onto my face as her sweet laugh bounces through the room.

"That did not just happen." Lacey states looking dumbfounded.

"How long were they here for before I came into the kitchen?" I ask Josh as he shakes his head at us. Mila, Cam and Hayley grinned at the situation too.

"Like 10 minutes." Josh says with a laugh.

"If my brother's tell our families. I am not going to be able to show up at christmas.." Lacey says, a red tinge starting at her neck. I grin and wrap an arm around her shoulder, kissing the top of her head.

"Neither Lace. Neither." I say with a long shake of my head.

"How didn't you know they were coming?" Cam asked as he picked at the leftover pasta in the pot.

"My phone's been missing for ages. And Seth doesn't answer his." Lacey answers with a shake of her head.

"Well why would I when all I need is right here?" I ask her, looking down at her, taking a small strand of her hair and brushing it back. Lacey rolls her eyes at this. Dropping a kiss on my hand.

"Alright then big-boy." She says with a roll of her eyes, patting my chest. "I'm going to lie down." She announces with a small wave to the room before heading towards our bedroom.

"I go where she goes." I say to the gang in the kitchen, knowing that's not true all the time. But I wanted my daily dose of cuddling time.

I close the door behind me and pull my shirt off, while Lacey strips down to a t-shirt and underpants before climbing into our bed. I climb in and pull her towards me. Brushing her hair away from her face.

"I love you" She says, tracing small stars on my back as she buries her face into the crook of my neck.

"I love you." I reply, kissing her head and resting my chin atop it.

Our breathing mingled and fell into a steady rhythm. I could feel her heart beat from her wrist as it rested against my back, falling into rhythm with my own. This girl was everything to me. And I sure as hell wasn't going to let her go again.

We had been each been seeing a therapist regularly and it had a lot of good. Our sessions were now limited to once every two weeks. And it was getting easier. I had found my own worth and Lacey had found hers. It took time, and effort, and setbacks. But we were getting there. Slowly we were doing it.