Page 41 of Tangled Hearts (Mended Hearts #4)

Nic makes his way around the table, stepping close to me, and my heart flies into my throat. He nuzzles my skin, sending shivers down my spine and making goosebumps erupt over my skin. “Yes, that,” I breathe. I palm his cock, smiling when it twitches under my palm. “See, you like it too.”

He drags his lips over my racing pulse, then down the side of my throat.

“Of course I like it. I’m fucking crazy about you, Eli.

” As soon as he says the words, he steps back, leaving me leaning toward him, my heart racing and my cock even harder.

“But we’re also in your dad’s business, and they’re in the next room. Behave yourself now.”

I hate behaving myself. “Fine. What am I supposed to do, though?” This isn’t my first fundraiser, of course, but it’s my first one with most of my brainpower gone.

He taps the paper. “You can finish going through this list.”

“I hate going through lists,” I pout.

Nic laughs, stepping away from me. I finish going through the list, even though my dick doesn’t want to behave the way Nic told me to. Everything is checked off and all the vendors are good to go.

I toss the papers onto the table with a huff. “All done. Everything’s good to go. Still horny, though.” I glare at Nic’s back. “This is all your fault. ”

He sets the last box against the wall, then turns to me. A strand of his hair has fallen over his eyes, and it makes my breath catch. It’s really unfair how hot he is. “It’s not my fault.”

I nod, heart pounding. “It is. I’m an innocent party.”

“Innocent?” He raises an eyebrow. “I think we have different definitions of what that word means.”

“I’m innocent enough. I’m not the one over here doing sexy shit.”

Nic makes his way slowly across the room, ratcheting up my heartbeat with each cautious step. “I told you to behave, doll.”

I wrinkle my nose. “You like me better when I don’t.”

He laughs. “I like you all the time.” After glancing at the door, he steps closer. “Five minutes.”

What? “Five minutes? What do you mean?”

Of course he’s not going to answer me. Why would he?

That would make my life so much easier. Grabbing my hands, he pulls me to my feet, then wordlessly undoes my jeans and pulls my throbbing cock out.

My stomach flips as he sinks to his knees.

“Five minutes, Eli. If you don’t come in five minutes, you’ll wait until tomorrow. ”

That’s all the warning I get before the heat of his mouth is engulfing me. I gasp, my hips jerking forward. He bobs on my cock, taking me to the back of his throat. My toes curl in my shoes as my blood boils in my veins. Holy fuck, he’s actually sucking me off in the middle of The Hart Foundation.

My fingers tangle in his hair on instinct.

Not to control him, just to ground myself.

Fuck, there’s not a single reason in the world for me to try to control him.

Not when he sucks my cock like this. “I was wrong.” Nic’s eyes shoot to mine.

Oh fuck. He cannot look at me that way while his lips are stretched around me and his eyes are burning with lust. My cock jerks against the roof of his mouth.

“So much better than boba,” I grit out .

His eyes light up, and he goes back to his task. He’s ruining my fucking life. I’m never going to want anyone but him ever again. I gasp, trying to fight back the moans that want to pour from my throat.

He swallows around the head of my cock, and I choke back a groan.

“Gonna come… Oh fuck, Nic… I—I’m—” I tighten my grip on his hair, my knees going weak as I shoot down his throat.

He moans softly around my shaft, swallowing over and over to keep up.

When I’m done, he sits back on his heels, wiping his mouth.

Then he tucks me back into my jeans and zips them up, like he didn’t just blow my entire mind and suck half of my soul out through my cock.

He gives my thigh a gentle pat and stands. “That should buy me at least… what? Twenty minutes of you behaving?”

“Rude.”

I nearly jump out of my skin when there’s a knock on the door. “Hey, Nic?” Fuck, it’s Beck. I glance down at my pants, like somehow the evidence of what we did is gonna be visible. “When you’re done defiling my son, do you think you could help me with something?”

Nic’s gaze snaps to me, his jaw dropping. We stare at each other in shock for a few beats before there’s another knock. “I’m serious. Come help.”

Nic blinks at me. And I blink at him. “Do you think if we just stay really quiet, they’ll forget we’re in here?” I whisper.

That makes Nic laugh. He drops his face against my shoulder. “Oh my God. This is the fucking worst. I told you that was a bad idea.”

Oh absolutely not. I step back, turning my nose up at him. “You’re not going to blame me for your lack of control.”

Nic lets out an incredulous laugh, then glares at me playfully. “ My lack of control? I need you to be fucking serious, doll. This is on you .”

I open my mouth to defend myself when there’s another knock. “I will come in there if you don’t come out. ”

“Fuck,” Nic whispers. “Well, here goes nothing, I guess.”

He smoothes his hands over his clothes, but there’s really nothing that can be done about the fucked-up, finger-tangled hair and his swollen lips. Jesus. He really does look hot right now. My dick twitches. For fuck’s sake. I glare down at it. Now is not the time.

Nic pulls open the door. “Hey, what do you need help with?”

Beck stares at him impassively for a second while I hold my breath. How is this gonna go?

“Oh good lord, put the poor guy out of his misery,” Roman shouts from out of view.

Beck looks in his direction. “You don’t let me have any fun.”

I can’t help but giggle. This is such a fucking mess. “So, uh—Nic and I are dating. Please don’t hate us.”

Beck looks at me with a bright smile. “Yeah, you guys suck at hiding it. We know.”

My jaw drops open. God, I’m not that loud, am I? I fucking hope not.

Beck laughs. “We’ve known since the day we went hiking.”

Roman steps up beside Beck, scoffing. “Fucking liar. I’ve known since we went hiking. You were oblivious.”

“I know what you know, beautiful,” Beck says, turning to press a kiss to Roman’s lips.

Nic clears his throat. I can tell he’s uncomfortable, but he’s doing a really good job of not showing it. There’s a bit of a tense set to his shoulders, but overall, he’s keeping it together, and I have to applaud that. “You’re not mad?” he asks, only a slight tremor in his voice.

Beck wraps his arm around Roman’s waist. “Of course not. Do we wish you had told us and we didn’t have to… you know, hear it?” Nic’s ears turn red, and I stifle a giggle. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him blush before. “Yeah. But I’m serious about needing help. ”

“What um—” Nic starts, clearing his throat again. “What do you need help with?”

“Alphabetizing nameplates. I’m about to throw myself off a cliff,” Beck says solemnly.

“Well, that’s dramatic,” I muse.

“I’m just taking lessons from you and Hold,” Beck shoots back.

That’s not nice. Not nice at all.

Nic nods. “Yeah, I can do that.” I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him like this.

Beck glances at Roman, then back to Nic. He steps forward, and I flinch, resisting the urge to step between them. Beck pulls Nic into a hug, slapping him on the back. “Welcome to the family times two.” He lowers his voice. “And Nic? If you hurt my kid, I’ll end you.”

Nic drags in a quick breath. Roman rolls his eyes, and when Beck lets go of Nic, Roman takes his place. “He won’t end you.”

As soon as they let go of Nic, he’s rushing past them.

I can’t help but laugh. I should have known they’d react like this. I practically dive across the room, smiling when they both wrap me in big hugs. “Are you happy?” Beck whispers.

“So happy,” I whisper back.

Roman kisses the top of my head. “Good. Then we’re happy. Let’s go get this shit done so we can all get home.”

We make quick work of everything else that needs to be done.

Nic relaxes after a few minutes, and we keep an easy conversation going.

It’s nice. Especially since I get to lean against Nic while we work.

At first, he shifts away from me, but then it’s like a lightbulb goes off and he realizes he’s allowed to touch me.

And for right now? We don’t have to hide.

I’m sure The Dads will have questions and concerns, but it warms my heart that they so easily accepted things.

It makes me really fucking happy actually .

I hope Holden and Julian take it as well. “We aren’t telling Holden yet,” I blurt out, interrupting Beck telling Nic a story. Three sets of eyes shoot to me. “We’re going to tell him after the fundraiser.”

Roman sighs. “The only issue I could see Holden having is the age gap. But Holden also knows we can’t help who we fall in love with.”

My heart thumps. Love? Is that what this is? Do I love Nic? I glance at him, taking in his profile. His perfect nose and his full lips, his sharp jawline, the bit of stubble there because we spent the morning in bed and he didn’t have time to shave before we left.

Yeah, I think it is. I think I do love him. My stomach flutters as a smile forms on my lips.

“We can only hope he’ll be accepting,” Nic says, reaching out to take my hand.

“I think he will be,” Beck says, glancing at our connected hands. “Do you want us to be with you when you tell him?”

I shake my head.

“No,” Nic says. “I think if I want Eli—and I do, more than anything—I have to stand on my own two feet and claim that. Claim him. Proudly. It’s no less than he deserves.”

Roman smiles, and Beck nods approvingly. “Agreed. We’d like to have you guys over next week. Would you be interested? We can have dinner and hang out for the night. Roman and I would love the opportunity to know you on a deeper level.”

I can practically feel the nerves radiating off Nic, but he nods. “We’d love that.”

I let out a sigh of relief. Two down. Two to go. Maybe everything will be okay.