Page 51

She opens her mouth like she’s about to reply, but no words come out. Luckily, she’s saved by the rest of the guys joining us in the kitchen.

“So Hayes. You feeling... refreshed?” Greyson asks, leaning against the counter with a smirk.

“Yeah, how are the pores? You do look younger now that I look up close, less wrinkles,” Noah says as he rests his forearms on the island, bringing his face closer to Silas.

My man raises his hand and shoves it into Noah’s face, pushing him away.

“I bet he feels like a new woman now.” Gabe chuckles from his spot beside Greyson, where they side fist-bump each other.

“Leave him alone, he was having fun,” Clay tells them as he saunters into the room, coming to face me.

He brings his hand to my hair and weaves it through, cradling the back of my neck. Then cranes my head back to add with a flirty tone, “We had fun too this morning, didn’t we, C?” What the hell?

I instantly put my hands up against his chest, pushing him back. I know he’s playing around, just trying to hit Silas’s nerves. But him doing it like this makes me uncomfortable. I don’t want Silas to start doubting my loyalty to him or his friend.

From the corner of my eye, I see Morgan’s face, and I don’t like the uncertainty in her eyes. I push harder against Clay. “Stop it, Clay. It’s not funny anymore,” I say at the same time as he’s ripped off me.

Silas slams him into the wall and grabs his collar in a fist. “Take your fucking hands off my wife, Burkley! I don’t care if you’re my best friend, touch her like that again and I’ll break your fucking face!”

“Calm the fuck down! I was just messing with you. You really think I’d do that to you!? And with my wife standing a few feet away!” Clay shouts back. The room is dead silent except for the two men, the energy quickly shifting to rage all around us.

“I don’t know, you seemed pretty cozy there fisting my wife’s hair. It’s funny, you talk about how your wife is right there, yet every time we’re all together your hands are always all over mine ,” Silas growls in a low tone, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Fuck you, Silas! I’d never cheat on my wife!” Clay rips Silas’s fist from his shirt and shoves him away, storming out of the kitchen without another word.

Sy’s shoulders rise and fall with how hard he breathes, his nostrils flaring wide like an angry bull. I take the few steps to him and wrap my arms around his waist, needing to soothe him. I caused this, and I hate it.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper against him.

His hand comes to the back of my head as he strokes my hair before kissing the top of it. “It’s not your fault, baby. He overstepped.”

“Still, I don’t want you guys fighting over something that isn’t even true.” I look up, needing him to see the honesty in my eyes.

“Don’t worry, Minnie. We just need a minute to cool down, and everything will be fine.”

As we stand here in each other’s arms, the rest of our group grabs their plates and heads to the dining room, clearly wanting an out to whatever this mess was.

Well, all except for one. Morgan stands at the sink cleaning a pan we just used for dinner.

I hear sniffles as she wipes her eyes on her sleeves.

Letting go of Silas, I wander over to her, delicately placing my hand on her arm to stop her from cleaning and hopefully getting her full attention. Morgan has become dear to me, she’s practically a sister like Emma. I don’t want whatever this is to cause tension between us.

“Morg... I hope you know I would never do that to you. There’s nothing between me and Clay, I consider him a brother. Never anything more,” I say sincerely, meaning every word.

Jesus, we just went shopping for her birthday present. And the only reason Clay asked me to go with him was because he really wanted to get her the best possible gift, and he was hoping I could help him figure that out.

“I know, Cece. I don’t doubt you for a second and I know Clay wouldn’t either. It’s just...” She stops herself there, like speaking the words is hard. Something is clearly upsetting her. I wish she would tell me.

“What is it?”

She looks around to see if anyone is still here and focuses on Silas who watches us. I turn my gaze to him. “Babe, can you give us a minute?” I ask him with a small smile.

He looks between us, then nods, grabbing his plate and mine and going to join the rest of our friends. I face Morgan and take her hand in mine, rubbing small circles with my thumb over the top, encouraging her to go on.

“It’s just that when Clay and I started dating, he wasn’t exactly faithful to me.

.. I’m not the type to jump into bed quickly with men.

So when we got together, we weren’t having sex the first few months.

And well, apparently, he wasn’t able to wait that long.

” She wipes the underside of her eyes once more.

“The whole beginning of our relationship, he had a hookup on the side for when the need was too strong... when I found out, it nearly broke us,” she tells me in a low, trembling voice as she takes deep breaths. Clearly, the memory still affects her.

“I’m so sorry, Morgan.”

“No, it’s okay, it’s in the past. Just seeing him that way tonight with you brought all those horrible memories back, and it hit harder than I thought.

I think it’s why Clay got so mad when Sy accused him of cheating.

” She shrugs. “I think some part of him still feels guilty for what he did. Even if we were only in the beginning of our relationship, and he stopped it the moment we slept together for the first time.”

“Jesus, Morg. I’m sorry you had to go through that... but I know Clay loves you deeply and would never hurt you that way again,” I say, squeezing her hand.

“I know, I trust him.”

Clay ended up joining us an hour later, where he then apologized to me, Silas, and his wife. The boys hugged it out, and in the next second, were back to being best buds like nothing had ever happened. Men are truly fascinating creatures.

The rest of the evening goes without any drama. The boys go back to their game, yelling at the screen and each other like it’s real life. While the women and I drink our wine and watch the men act like children.

“What is it with men and their games?” Emma asks while we look at the guys throwing popcorn at each other.

“I bet we could all go home and they wouldn’t even notice,” Brey says, shaking her head. “You know, with guys my age, I expect this. Men close to their thirties? Not so much.”

“Oh, trust me, they wouldn’t. Morg and I tested it out once. We had time to go shopping and even went to dinner before either one of our husbands started looking for us.” I chuckle and take a sip of my wine.

Morgan nods. “Yup, it took them exactly four hours and twenty-six minutes to realize we were gone. And the only reason they noticed was because it was past dinner time and they were hungry. Apparently, the only time we’re needed is for food and sex.”

We share a knowing smirk as I raise my glass to hers. “To the joys of married life.” We toast and laugh.

“Okay, but seriously, how long are they gonna be at it? Because we could totally go dancing,” Emma says with a big smile, excitement already running through her veins at the idea.

“Can’t, not for another month.” Aubrey sighs and strokes Milo’s fur. He seems to have a soft spot for her every time she’s over. Brey is so mature around us that we often forget she’s only twenty.

“Ugh, right. But next month we are going crazy. Understood, you two?” Em points to me and Morgan.

“No backing out. So make sure you old ladies take your naps because we’re gonna take baby Brey out clubbing!

” She claps her hands in quick succession.

By the look in her eyes, I know she’s already planning the whole night.

As I look at my husband, a thought pops to mind. “I think I may have the perfect way to get them to stop.” I grin back at the girls.

“Really? Do tell, because I haven’t seen them look back once since they’ve sat down,” Em says with a raised brow.

“I’ve been reading this book where the guy likes to be called daddy in bed, and I was curious how Sy would react to that. Naturally, I tested it out, and let’s just say… he likes it very, very much.” I giggle, thinking back to the other night when I called Silas ‘Daddy’ in bed.

“All right, I have to see this. Let’s test out your theory. Because if it works, I’m totally using it,” Em says.

Morgan seems to know what I’m talking about with the smile she has plastered on her face, whereas Aubrey is once again turning red. Poor girl is so uncomfortable with sex talk.

“Okay, watch and learn, ladies.” I put down my wine, comb my fingers through my hair, and fix my clothes.

I walk seductively over to my husband, whose back is to us against the couch. I lower myself and slide my hands over his shoulders, then down the front of his chest. I bring my lips to his neck, kissing sweetly up to his ear and whisper in a sultry voice, “Hey, Daddy.”

Silas throws the controller in the air and shoots off the couch, spinning to face me, eyes wide and blazing with hunger. “Right now?” he says, chest rising and falling as he breathes hard through his nose.

I place my hands on the back of the couch, making my breasts pop out the way Silas loves and lick my lips. “Mhmm.”

Silas jumps over the couch in one swift movement, too much in a hurry to go around. He takes me by the waist and flips me over his shoulder. “EVERYBODY OUT!” he shouts and turns for the stairs.

“What the hell, dude!? We’re in the middle of a game.” Gabe throws his hands in the air.

“Sorry, wife wants to play. Next time,” Sy answers, not looking back.

I giggle and watch the guys groan and start to collect their things, then look at the girls who are all laughing. “Told you it would work. Bye!” I say with a wink as Silas takes the steps up to our bedroom.

“Have fun!” they shout back.

Oh, we are definitely going to have fun.