Page 54 of With A Little Luck

Chapter Forty-Five

Quincy

I ’m emotionally exhausted by the time the lawyer leaves. Ridge tries to be a good sport, but he’s physically exhausted, and he kinda collapses on the couch for what he calls a preplanned mid-morning nap .

Technically, it’s probably closer to noon.

I don’t mention that, though. Ridge needs rest to heal, and watching King try three times to get up on the couch makes me smile.

He finally gets enough momentum with his fourth try, or maybe he realizes Ridge can’t lift him to give him a boost. Either way, he struggles his way onto the couch and lies down next to Ridge’s stomach.

Even as exhausted as he is, Ridge lifts a hand and moves it to King’s back to pet him as he falls asleep.

That man is going to make a damn good father, and I once again try not to obsess about how lucky I got in finding him.

Or I guess how Trigg led Ridge to me.

Whatever.

I’m counting my blessings without fixating on them.

Trigg has to leave to handle…something.

I’m not sure I want the details about what it is he has to do, so I don’t ask.

Even when I spot the weird metal briefcase he’s toting toward the door, I still don’t want to know. He seems annoyed that Ridge won’t be going with him, but Trigg is always hard to get a read on, so maybe I’m just misinterpreting his focused expression.

I linger near the archway that leads from the entryway into the living room as I prepare to say my goodbyes to Trigg.

Hartley has something set up all over the living room, but I want to give that my full attention when I finally get to see what it is. Since Trigg is leaving, I figured I should address this first so my brain doesn’t obsess while he’s gone.

“Were you planning to give me a goodbye kiss?” I ask, poking out my lower lip as he reaches for the door handle.

Trigg freezes, and it’s easy to see how tense his muscles are. He sets the case down by his feet and spins around. His jaw is tight, and there’s something intense about his eyes that makes me lean even farther into the wall.

Yeah, there’s no doubt about it.

Trigg is a natural predator.

My instincts can sense it.

It’s a strange feeling because I’m not afraid of him per se, but I still have the urge to run as he appraises me.

“I apologize,” he says, his face twisting into a predatory smile that makes goose bumps break out down my arms. “Of course I want a goodbye kiss. I got too focused on what would be expected of me.” He comes to a stop and brushes his hand over my stomach while the other moves to cradle my cheek.

“Make sure you eat something nutritious for lunch. I’ll do my best to be home before it gets dark.

” With that, he dips his mouth to mine for a quick but tantalizing kiss.

“And when I get back, you’re finally going to open one of my courting gifts. ”

“I can’t wait,” I say, struggling to catch my breath. “Please be safe.”

I make my way into the living room and approach Hartley. He’s got stickers everywhere, open glue sticks, and scraps of paper littering the table.

A silly smile crosses my face that I can’t help. “You look like you’ve been to war with the craft supplies,” I say, laughing.

“Yeah, I’m just not sure if I won or lost.” Hart snags my wrist, pulling me toward him.

I almost think he wants me to sit on his lap, facing the table, but he directs me to kneel with my face toward him. The baby, who really needs a name, is busy wiggling around, and with my stomach resting against Hartley’s abs, I’m not shocked when he can feel it.

“Jesus, that’s crazy.” He smiles and works a hand between us to chase the movements. “I love being able to feel her moving.” He’s so damn handsome with his eyes sparkling, and his blond waves falling over his forehead.

“Me too,” I agree, keeping my voice low, just in case Ridge did manage to fall asleep.

“My gift isn’t as fancy as what Ridge or Trigg got you,” Hart says, chasing the baby as she stretches or rolls.

“I’ll love it just as much,” I assure him.

And it’s true.

Hartley is the kind of guy who puts in time over lavish gifts. He’s the one who stood around talking to me about the future when the restaurant was slow. He helped Ridge build all the furniture, and if I’m not mistaken, he made a memory book for the baby.

Even before I knew he was interested in me, I used to muse about what an amazing husband that he would be to some lucky woman someday. I just never imagined that woman would be me.

You don’t drop your life to move states away to help out your brother with his business unless you’re the kind of person who puts family first.

I’ve had a hell of a crush on him for ages, but I’m pretty sure the light fluttering in my stomach that comes any time he smiles at me is proof that I’m falling in love with him.

And I think now more than ever, he needs to hear that.

“I understand how important courting gifts are between alphas and omegas, but I already know I’ll love your gifts no matter what they are because you’re the type of person who puts thought into everything you do.

” I wrap my fingers around his jaw, brushing them through his fluffy beard as I tilt his face down to mine.

“Presents are nice, but you’re the prize I’ve got my eye on.

” Okay, that was cheesy. It’s how I feel, though.

I smile, stretching up on my knees until I can reach his mouth.

“You’re brave and loyal and so damn handsome it makes my brain melt.

I love you, Hartley. I started falling for you when I thought we were just friends, and it’s so much more now?—”

A low growl rattles out of his chest, and he shoves his lips to mine.

Pulling his hand from between us, he relocates it to wrap it in my hair.

The way he holds me in place and sucks on my bottom lip sends a pulse through the bond that settles directly in my nipples and clit.

My new claiming bite is tender, but I find it fascinating that any of them can send such a reaction through the link.

My head gets hazy as our kiss goes on and on until I find myself grinding over his lap.

Everything about Hartley just does it for me. Working my hands between us, I catch the bottom of the long-sleeve shirt he’s wearing and tug.

He chuckles and gives me one more open-mouthed kiss before leaning back. He tugs the shirt off with a hand at the back of his neck and drops it on the carpet. “By the way, beautiful, I love you too.”

My heart thunders, and I grin at him like a total goofball, which might be how I miss what he plans to do next.

His hands wrap around my back and ass, and he manages to stand while lifting my not insignificant weight with his.

“Hart!” I squeak. “Holy shit! You’re going to destroy your back.”

“My back is fine,” he says, striding over to the couch. He holds out a hand, and I twist to find Ridge is awake. “You’re just as bad as your dog with the one-eyed peeking. Are you coming or not?”

“Far be it from me to turn down that kind of offer.” Ridge clasps his hand in Hartley’s. “Sorry, King. You gotta stay down here. I can’t be responsible for scarring your innocent eyes.”

Undressing three bodies can be chaotic, but it can also be a lot of fun.

Ridge’s facial hair digs into my cheek as he sucks on his bondmark. Fun fact, while anyone can send a pulse through the bond, it’s way more intense when they tease their own claiming bite.

I’ve already helped him out of his shirt, and I fight back a smile as I get his jeans undone. They fall down his muscular thighs, and he’s once again commando. I have no idea why, but I find that super sexy.

My fist wraps around his length, jerking it as he shakes out of his jeans and kicks them aside.

Hartley crouches behind me, helping me out of my underwear.

I squeal as he bites my ass cheek, and Ridge chuckles, brushing his palm over my stomach and pushing his lips to mine once more.

Hartley’s hands skim up my thighs and over my waist as he stands. He tugs me backward, causing me to break the kiss with Ridge.

“My turn.” Hart spins me to face him, and I have no choice but to release Ridge’s hard shaft.

I barely have time to lament that loss before Hart cradles my cheeks in his massive hands and kisses the hell out of me.

It’s a good thing alpha saliva can seal a claiming bite because neither of them has been particularly tender with my new bondmark.

It’s not like I’m coherent enough to mind, anyway.

My spoiled little omega heart is content having both of them completely focused on me. They’re both very aroused, and their scents sit heavily in the air, causing my head to get foggier with each gasping breath.

“You, lie down,” Hartley says between filthy, open-mouthed kisses. It takes my hazy mind far too long to comprehend that he’s speaking to Ridge. “Stay at the end of the bed and let your legs hang off.”

Hell, I barely notice that he’s guiding me toward the edge of the bed until the backs of my thighs bump Ridge’s knees.

Hartley lifts me without breaking the kiss, and Ridge helps by positioning my feet toward his head.

I end up hovering over Ridge’s hard cock with my front vertical to the end of the mattress.

My clit pulses almost painfully as Hartley cups my tit, flicking his fingers over my already hard nipple.

“Fuck,” Ridge growls. “She’s literally dripping on my cock.”

“You might want to do something about that before my patience runs out.” Hart smiles dangerously as he pulls back from our kiss.

My lower lips glide over the bottom of Ridge’s shaft, and I wiggle enough to reposition him at my opening.

Hartley fists my hair, pulling my head to the side. It bares my throat to him as my hair falls down my back. “All this perfect skin just waiting for me to mark it up with my bite.”

I groan, and my core contracts around nothing. I need them both in a way that’s hard to explain.