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My flush deepens. I slap at his chest. "Keep your voice down; the others will hear us."
"They’re too busy catching up." He bends and kisses my lips again softly. "What do you say? An after-lunch quickie?"
"You’re never quick," I remind him, half amused.
"Only because I want to pleasure you thoroughly before I come inside you."
My cheeks turn to fire, which elicits a delighted laugh from him.
Our gazes meet, hold. That indescribable something flares between us again. His arms around me tighten. "I love you so fucking much."
"I love you," I say without hesitation. The more times I say it, the deeper the emotions I have for him grow. The more time I spend with Serene, the more the both of them become a part of me. What I feel for them is woven through my DNA, coiled in my cells, laced through my bloodstream. I am them, and they are me. We are a unit. It’s us against the world. I’ve found my safe space, and I’m so thankful to the universe for bringing me here.
The door at the far end of the living room opens again. A draft of air blows through before cutting off. There’s a shift in the air behind me. Enough for me to look over my shoulder.
Connor walks over to Arthur, a worried look on his face. He’s holding his phone in his hand as if he just took a call. Something in the tense lines of his body tells me he’s upset. Tyler must feel the same way, for he slides his hand down to mine, then leads me toward where Connor has stopped in front of Arthur.
"I have to leave. Something came up."
"Everything all right?" Tyler asks as we reach them.
I look past him through the glass door and find Serene and Brody tossing a ball, with Tiny lolling on the grass next to her.
"My best buddy called." Connor hesitates. "He’s away on a trip and won’t be home for another month. He wants me to go over and check on his sister."
"Is she in trouble?" I ask.
He slips the phone into his pocket and rubs the back of his neck, seemingly choosing his words carefully. "She’s been through a lot, and he’s worried about her. The last time he spoke to her, he got the impression she wasn’t herself. He wanted to go to her right away, but he can’t leave his mission halfway through. He called to ask if I could go in his place. Of course, I said yes."
Tyler nods. "Best thing you can do is put his mind at ease. If you need help?—"
Connor shakes his head. "I’m good. I’m sure she’s fine. He admitted he might be overreacting, but it’s best I go check up on her and let him know." He turns to Arthur. "Sorry, I need to cut out, Gramps." He nods at Arthur, then bends and kisses Imelda on her cheek. "Thanks for keeping an eye on this one."
"I’m still here," Arthur says in an irritable voice, but his expression indicates he isn’t averse to Imelda watching out for him. In the little time I’ve known him, he’s definitely mellowed.
"You behave for her, you hear me," Connor says in a mild voice.
Arthur scoffs, then a gleam comes into his eyes. "And you’d better not behave, if the opportunity arises."
Connor stares at him. "Do I even want to know what you mean by that?"
Arthur tries to look innocent and fails miserably, "All I’m saying is, with Tyler married, it’s your turn next. And you know the deal."
"Do I?” Connor knits his brows. “And I’m the youngest so shouldn’t it be Brody you should set your sights on?”
"It’s not about age but opportunity.” Arthur looks him up and down. “You’d better be married within the month, if you want me to confirm you as one of my heirs, so you can claim your inheritance. You feel me?”