Page 144 of Control Freak

“See? Banshee loves you,” I said, thinking of his admission that he’d been a little jealous of my dog.

He smiled as he stroked her ears. “I guess I love her too.”

Gray took a wide detour around the room to avoid Taz, who was sniffing around, looking for dropped treats. He had to wait until we got into the popcorn for that.

Sugar had chosen a nice, quiet spot in the corner to snooze, and Loki and Oreo were making the rounds, visiting each person for head pats.

Gray sat in the wide armchair, and Emory settled on his lap. Axel had claimed the recliner since Dalton wasn’t here tonight.

That just left Bailey.

He entered with bowls of popcorn and surveyed the room.

“Ah, come on. I don’t want to sit next to the Sugar Daddy!”

Everyone laughed as I flipped the bird to the whole room. “Oh, fuck you all.”

Shiloh snuggled in a little closer. “Being next to Sugar Daddy is thebestplace to be.”

I sighed. Of course he’d join in.

With a saucy little grin, Shiloh held up his hand. “Here. Have a Ring Pop.”

I dipped my head and sucked one on his finger, and everyone groaned.

“My god, we’ve created a monster,” Gray said.

Axel smirked. “I always knew he was a dirty bastard deep down inside.”

Bailey moaned theatrically. “I can’t sit next tothat!”

Shiloh pulled his Ring Pop from my mouth and tsked. “You all have dirty minds. It’s justcandy.”

The look he shot me was anything but innocent, though. It was full of promises for later. I shifted a little as arousal flooded my system.

Bailey moaned and groaned a little more before flopping on the floor the way he had when he was ten years old.

He wasn’t alone for long. Loki snuggled in against his left side, and Taz climbed onto his back for a nap.

Gray looked horrified, but Bailey’s sulk was nowhere in sight. He smiled, face lit up by the glow of the screen.

I watched him more than the movie starting up. I was going to miss him when he went off to school.

“You’ve done good,” Shiloh said in a soft voice meant only for me. “He’s a good kid.”

“Yeah,” I said, thinking of the scholarship he’d won from the local car dealer, of the college acceptance he’d gotten in the mail. Of the future waiting to start. “He’s gonna have a great life.”

“He already does,” Shiloh said. “He’s got you looking out for him.”

Cuddling on the sofa was a revelation, and I began to realize that couples didn’t only do it for comfort, though there was that. It was the most torturous foreplay.

When the movie ended, I hopped up and grabbed Shiloh’s hand. “Have a great night, guys. We’re going to bed.”

I was painfully obvious, but my brothers were preoccupied enough not to tease me about it. I dragged Shiloh to the bedroom and shut the door in Banshee’s face.

Shiloh grinned up at me. “You’re in a hurry to sleep tonight.”

“I don’t want to sleep,” I said, dipping to kiss him.