Page 33 of Tangled Hearts (Mended Hearts #4)

Eli

“ H ey, Nic. Can you come here really quick?”

Nic flashes me a bemused grin, but he gets up and joins Beck at the grill. My running countdown until we’re allowed to tell people is sitting at three weeks, and I might actually die. Going from home to other places and having to behave myself is really hard.

“Having fun, little bestie?” Holden sits down beside me, handing me a bottle of water.

“Yeah, I am.” I give him a smile and open the cap to take a drink.

Holden hums, sitting back on the porch and turning his face to the sun. “It’s beautiful today.”

It really is. I glance at Nic to find Dad has him manning the grill. I’m not sure what they’re talking about, but they seem okay, so I turn my attention back to Uncle Hold. “It is.”

“Can you believe I have a damn brother?” he asks, giggling.

“It’s wild.” The guilt of hiding twists my stomach a little, but I’m sure it’ll be okay. At least I hope it will be. Nic seems to think we don’t have anything to worry about. “How are things going with you guys?”

Holden sits up, excitement flashing in his eyes. “Really good, actually. I’m so fucking glad he found me. I wish it had been sooner, but I think we’re really building a good relationship. The kids love him too. And Julian, but that man could make friends with anyone.”

“He loves them,” I say. And he does. He talks about them all the time, and he’s always wearing a smile when he comes home from visiting. I’m starting to see why he avoided me at family outings, though. It’s so much easier to stay home and not be tempted when we’re out in public.

Holden starts to say something else when Warren comes running out of the house, crying. “Duty calls.” Uncle Hold jumps up and jogs across the yard. I love Holden, but I do have to admit, I’m slightly thankful for the reprieve. At least now I can watch Nic without it being too obvious.

Nic catches my eye and winks, then goes back to his conversation with Dad.

I pull my phone out of my waistband and shoot him a text.

Me

Can’t wait to get home.

I can tell the moment he gets my message, but he doesn’t check right away. I watch him for a few more seconds.

Three more weeks. Just three more weeks of hiding. Of not being able to do more than catch stolen glances. Of not being able to climb into his arms and let him cuddle me.

An idea comes to me, and I smile to myself. No one said I had to make it an easy three weeks. And no one said I couldn’t be a brat. In fact, Nic has said the opposite. Many times .

After putting the cap back on my drink, I go into the house, where I pass Roman. “You okay?” he asks.

“Yep. Just gotta use the bathroom.”

He nods and walks past me. There’s a little thrill burning through me—excitement but also the low thrum of arousal. Let’s be real, I’m actually fucking horny. Like all of the damn time. I was always sure I wasn’t missing anything, but I was so fucking wrong.

I slip into the bathroom, heart pounding at what I’m about to do. I’m unlocking my camera when a message comes through.

Nic

You okay, doll?

He’s so damn sweet. I walk away for five seconds and he’s already checking on me.

I’m wearing a skirt today. One of my favorites. It’s short, but long enough to cover me as long as I’m not leaning over or spreading my legs. So I open my camera app and do just that.

The angle is a little tricky, but after a few tries, I manage to get a halfway decent shot of my ass. My pink panties are clinging to my skin and you can see just the barest hint of them and the curve of my ass from under the edge of my skirt.

I attach the photo to a text, feeling quite proud of myself.

Me

Yeah. Just miss you :(

I wait for a second and smile to myself when the read receipt comes up.

Nic

ELI YOUR DAD IS STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO ME

My stomach does a flip, my cock thickening a little. Not that I actually want to get caught, and especially not by Beck, but I have to admit, it gives me a little thrill to think that we might.

I don’t respond right away. Instead, I lift the front of my skirt and snap another photo of my half-hard cock against the lace. I really do leak a shit ton, and there’s already a bead of pre-cum clinging to the tip of my cock and seeping through the material.

Then I take another from behind, capturing my whole ass with my skirt pulled up.

I keep taking photos. I’ve never done this before. Never sent photos of myself to anyone. Never let anyone see me like this.

I send another. The one of my cock.

I wait for his response with my heart in my throat.

Nic

Jesus fucking Christ. Are you getting hard, baby? Is sending me dirty little pictures turning you on?

I whimper, nodding even though he can’t see me.

Me

Yes .

Nic

Are you touching yourself?

Fuck. My cock throbs, more pre-cum oozing out.

Me

No.

Nic

Good. Now get your ass back out here and be miserable with me. If I have to do it, so do you.

Ugh. Fucking mean. I cup my dick in my hand, gasping at how good it feels. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Although… I hit record on my phone, giving myself a long, slow stroke as I choke on a whimper. Then I stop the video and let my skirt fall back down.

It seems like it covers everything okay at least, so that’s good. I smooth it out and check my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks are a little flushed, but it’s nothing that looks too bad.

The second I step through the door and into the yard, Nic’s eyes find me.

I’m not the only one with flushed cheeks around here.

I give him a big smile and wave. He shakes his head at me with narrowed eyes, but Dad catches his attention again, and he jumps a little, dragging his gaze from me and back to Dad.

I chuckle to myself. This is fun. Even if I did get myself all worked up for no reason.

“Are you having fun?” Roman’s voice beside me nearly scares me half to death.

“I am, yeah. I’m glad summer is almost here. I was so tired of the cold.”

Dad hums. “Yeah, me too. I especially like all the family time we get in the summer.”

I roll my eyes, but it still makes me smile. “I’m thankful every day for you guys.”

“We’re just as thankful for you,” Dad says, kissing my temple. “Wanna help me get everything outside?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

We make our way into the house, collecting paper plates—Holden hates dishes—and the condiments we’ll need. “How are things with you and Nic?”

I almost drop the ketchup in my hand. “What do you mean?”

“It’s strange living with someone new. I wanted to make sure you guys were getting along okay.” You have no fucking idea, Dad.

I nod slowly. “Yeah, things are, um—fine. They’re all fine.” Is my voice getting a little creaky?

Dad ruffles my hair. “Good. I’m glad. If you ever need to talk, though, you know where to find us.”

And with that, he turns and leaves the kitchen. I let out a nervous laugh and follow him.

By the time we’ve got everything set out on the picnic table, the kids are running back from the woods with Holden and Julian.

When I first came here to visit, I had no idea how much land they had.

It was a fun surprise when Uncle Hold took me back into the woods and showed me the tree house and swing that Julian put out there for the kids.

I found myself hiding out back there more than once when things got too loud in my head .

I’m only half listening to their happy conversation, though, because my eyes are on Nic. He’s still standing by Dad, but Dad seems mostly distracted, so I quickly take out my phone to send another photo. A close-up of my dick, the head barely peeking out of the top of my panties.

As soon as I hit send, I stare at him, waiting. He nods to something Dad says, then takes his phone out of his pocket. He glances down, then up at the sky. If he’s asking for mercy, he won’t find any. This is fun, and I’m enjoying myself way too much to stop now.

With a slight headshake, he looks around, then back at his phone. His face is impassive, but the sharp rise and fall of his chest gives him away, just the littlest bit.

I watch him type, my heart pounding as I wait for the notification to come through. The telltale buzz vibrates against my hip.

Nic

You’re playing with fire, doll. Keep it up and I won’t let you come today.

I can’t help but grin. We both know he’s fucking lying. So, I send the video I took before closing out of the app and sitting down at the table.

As soon as my ass hits the seat, Nic sits down beside me. “Lovely day we’re having, huh? Beautiful weather.” His voice is soft. Pleasant, even. His eyes are burning, though.

“Go inside and wash your hands. Both of you,” Julian says, and Wren and Warren take off into the house. I’m trying to find out where everyone is when Nic’s hand landing on my leg makes me jump.

His fingers trail up the inside of my thigh, and I suck in a breath. “Nic,” I hiss. This is actually playing with fire .

“Calm down, doll,” he whispers. “No one is paying any attention to us. Do you think I’d put you in a position to be caught?”

No, I guess not. I shake my head.

“Spread your legs for me.”

Oh fuck. I do, my thighs falling apart as his fingers trail higher. I bite back a moan when he drags a fingertip up my dick.

As quickly as he touches me, he stops, and I’m left gasping. He pats the side of my thigh, and I close my legs. “Good boy. Your dads are coming.”

I’m still working on calming my breathing when Roman sets down a tray filled with hamburgers and hotdogs. “I’m starving. What about you guys?”

I hope he doesn’t actually expect an answer because I can’t talk.

Maybe I really was playing with fire.

By the time everyone has gathered around the table and started making their plates, my dick has—thankfully—calmed down.

“We need a bigger table,” Holden says, glancing back and forth at how we’re all packed in like sardines.

“Nah,” Julian counters. “We’re good like this.”

“Tell that to my elbows,” Holden grumbles.