Page 29

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Spencer

I need…I have no idea, and that feeling alone is unsettling. I’m tired but wide awake. My mind is whirling a mile a minute, but I can’t pin down a single thought. I haven’t eaten, and I’m not hungry, but I find myself aimlessly looking through cabinets in the kitchen.

I always pride myself on being in control, but so much has happened today that I can’t figure out where to begin to process everything.

Warm hands run along my stomach from behind, and I smell Tucker’s unique leather scent. He wraps his arms completely around me, pulling my body flush to his.

“Tell me what you need, Little Miss. I can see the tornado over your head.” He always sees. They all do, but he’s usually a step ahead of the rest. Could it be his past experiences or his age? Whatever it is, I appreciate him—I appreciate all of them. “Do we need to clean some guns?”

“No. I need to process but there’s more things to sort through than usual.”

“It’s been a long day.” He kisses the back of my head, and I hear him inhale the scent of my hair. A low hum escapes him, and I smile.

“Let me tell you something that might help take a little off your plate.” I spin and wrap my arms around his back. “Hi, there.”

“Hi. What do you have to tell me?”

“I’ve been spending a lot of time here and away from the club.” I open my mouth to apologize and tell him he doesn’t need to jeopardize his work for us, but he stops me with a simple look. “Good girl.” He kisses my forehead, and the words make my stomach flutter. “As I was saying. I’ve been happily spending a lot of time here and realized I’ve been enjoying myself. I’ve never had a reason to do anything other than work, but I suddenly find myself with…other interests.”

“Tucker.”

“Let me finish, Little Miss.” I nod and rest my cheek on his broad chest. It’s my turn to inhale and enjoy his scent. “I have an amazing team at the club and decided it was time for some promotions. I’ve run the club alone for so long and need to let others spread their wings. In a week or two, once I’m confident that everyone is settled in their roles, I’ll have plenty of free time for you and for Katy. And I guess the gaggle of other men in your life as well.”

“You know I already appreciate everything that you do. You don’t need to change your life for any of this.” I don’t understand why they’ve all dropped everything for us.

“You’re correct, I don’t need to. I want to. You’ve given me a reason to get my head out of my ass or the asses of drunk idiots that flood through my doors. It’s been too long since I’ve had another person to care for, and you’ve given me two.”

“Or five?” I feel his groan vibrate on my cheek.

“Four and a half. I’m still on the fence about Axel.”

“I heard that asshole.” I bury my laugh in Tucker’s shirt, careful not to scratch my face on the buttons. His usual attire consists of jeans and a button-down dress shirt, and I love how he still looks rugged and handsome.

“Four and a quarter now because of the insult.” Tucker looks over his shoulder and flashes Axel a smile. I hear the couch rustle and footsteps approaching us.

My hair is swept off my shoulder, and gentle kisses pepper my neck. I’ve almost always worn my hair in braids. It was easy and convenient, but Tucker is obsessed with unbraiding them the moment he sees me. The others seem to enjoy being able to run their fingers through my copper strands, and I enjoy it, too, so I’ve begun taking the braids out as soon as I come home.

“Little Miss, how about we have a family meeting and talk about everything.”

Family.

It’s a foreign concept for me. It’s never been something I’ve felt I had. I had my parents, and they loved me out of obligation. I don’t think Shane ever loved me. The closest I’ve ever come, other than Justin, who I consider a brother, is when I was growing my daughter inside me. I saw a future where we lived our lives together as a pair.

“That sounds nice.”

Axel takes my hand and laces our fingers together. Tucker reluctantly lets me go as I’m led to the couch. Axel sits and takes me with him, and I get comfortable on his lap.

“What’s going on?” Miller questions as Tucker sits next to us on the couch.

“Family meeting.” Tucker’s hand wraps around my thigh, giving it a squeeze. “Today has been a lot, and I think we could all use some talk therapy to discuss what’s going to happen from here on out.”

“Family meeting. I like it.” Lincoln sits in one of the chairs, and Miller sits on the floor between his legs.

I like this. This feels right.

There are a few moments of silence, no one quite knowing where to start. Lincoln clears his throat, and all eyes are on him.

“Katy’s news was…a bombshell. But it’s nothing we can’t all handle. She confessed to me that she’s leaning toward keeping the baby.” This information doesn’t shock me.

“I expect that is what she’ll decide to do. Does anyone here have a problem with that?” As I knew there would be, there’s silence with a few grumbled no’s. “Good. Then, let’s assume she is until she tells us otherwise. Axel, do you know a good obstetrics doctor? Katy would probably be most comfortable with a female.”

“Why are you asking me? Don’t you have a lady doctor?” He looks genuinely confused.

“Well, I’ve caught you with your pants down in the linen closet more times than I care to recount. I thought maybe you were swapping more than bodily fluid in there and had some insider information.”

My body is in motion before I realize what’s happening, and I’m straddling Axel’s lap. One hand is firmly planted on my hip, and the other holds my chin, preventing me from looking anywhere other than his deep brown eyes.

“Tails, you listen to me right now. There wasn’t a single woman I didn’t compare to you in every way. Nothing ever went any further than what you saw in the closet. I like making out, and I like getting blowjobs. I’m a bit of a pig, and I know it. If you ask around the hospital, I bet most women would tell you I’m a tease. They would leave satisfied, but it was never anything more than my hand despite many protests. My eyes have been on you for years.”

His words make the butterflies in my stomach flutter, and I feel his cock hardening under me.

“I’m happy to ask around the hospital for a good OB doctor, but I do not, in fact, have any secret knowledge other than this.” He leans forward and nips the spot just below my ear, and I’m almost embarrassed by the sound that escapes me.

“Shit, Axel.” I have no idea who said that because my brain has gone to mush. I reasonably understand that it’s not physically possible, but it certainly feels like it is.

“Axel,” Lincoln warns. “We need to finish talking. If she makes that sound again, my dick might explode from my pants.”

“I’d pay to see that.” Axel dives back into my neck, and I brace myself on his chest to hold him back.

I’m being thrown around again like a ragdoll, and before my mind can connect with the motion, Tucker has swooped me into his embrace, my back to his chest, whispering calming words into my ear.

Axel grumbles, and Tucker shoots him a warning glance.

“You can’t be trusted right now, young man. Let’s finish talking first.” Axel’s face sours at his chastising, but suddenly, there’s a glimmer in his eye. He reaches over and pats Tucker’s shoulder, his grin growing wider.

“Okay, Daddy Tucker. I’ll behave.”

Oh my.

“Don’t sass me, little boy, or I’ll show you what Daddy Tucker can really do.” I see Axel gulp and back down.

“On that note, can we discuss this morning’s incident or almost incident?” I don’t think any of us are quite sure what exactly Miller is referring to, and he can tell. “The almost kiss between you two.”

Axel sits up quickly, his head whipping between Miller and Tucker. He loves gossip.

“Wait. There was an almost kiss? I want details. Damn, I miss the good stuff getting stuck at work.”

“How about I address this.” There’s so much testosterone in this room right now, and a wrong word could make it explode. “As I told my father this morning, you are all my partners. I know we haven’t discussed relationship roles, and other than Miller and Lincoln, nothing has been established.”

“Tails, if you didn’t understand what I just said to you, I’m all yours and no one else’s.”

There’s a round of agreement in the room, and I huff. “Yes, I understand you’re all obsessed with me. I don’t think that’s the issue at hand. We need to establish other clear boundaries. Lincoln, Miller, since you’re the ones in an established relationship, I think I’ll revert this back to you two. I’m willing to share and…be shared.” There are groans and several adjustments of pants. “You’re thoughts?”

Miller sits up straighter and sighs. “I know I went all ‘that boy is mine’ this morning, but I don’t really feel that possessive when it comes to you guys. The fact that Lincoln thought about me enough to stop something that we hadn’t consented to was enough to make me realize I like what we all shared that night, and I’m comfortable repeating it.” I watch in amusement as Lincoln grabs a chunk of Miller’s hair and pulls his head back, slamming their lips together. It would appear that Lincoln appreciated his confession.

“Fuck, I’m down for anything with the people in this room. Let’s have our cake and eat it too.” Axel’s smile is wide and mischievous as he shimmies in his seat.

“I’m happy if you’re happy, Little Miss. Whether that’s watching or participating, I just want to see you enjoy yourself.” Tucker’s hand slides up the nape of my neck, and his fingers massage my head. I contain my moan this time, knowing things are already getting heated in here.

“Hey loverboys, we need an answer from you.” Miller pulls away from Lincoln and glares at Axel.

“You want an answer? You want to know if we’re okay sharing each other?” My pulse quickens as Miller leans over and crawls across the floor to Axel.

“Holy fuck.” I inwardly agree with Axel.

Miller reaches Axel and sits up on his knees. Reaching up he grabs a handful of Axel’s shirt and pulls him in, smashing their lips together. Their kiss is demanding and forceful as they battle for dominance. I’m so entranced with the men making out next to me, I don’t notice Lincoln has crossed the room to us. I shiver at his deep voice directed toward Tucker.

“I think we have some unfinished business, brother.” Lincoln bends down, bracing both hands on the back of the couch, his chest hovering over mine. He leans across my shoulder, and kisses Tucker.

I began to laugh—to myself at first—but slowly, the sound creeps out and becomes louder, disturbing the makeout sessions around me. The silence is deafening as their moans stop, and the only thing to be heard is my laughter.

“Problem, Dream Girl?” Lincoln angles his head and kisses across my collarbone.

“I’m entertained at the idea that I can be the only female in the room and not the center of attention.”

That was the wrong thing to say…