Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 119852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
An image of Kayla wearing nothing but my jersey pops into my mind. My name on her back, her nipples hard beneath the slick fabric, her long legs sticking out, her pussy bare and ready for me to touch, taste, and fill.
I groan, shifting in my slacks. “Fuck, we should go to your place tonight instead.”
Kayla gives me a faux-pouty look, puffing her lip out the slightest bit. “Oh,” she says, feigning disappointment, “I was hoping for a nice, long soak in the hot tub after wearing a tight dress and high heels all night.”
She knows I’m wrapped around her finger and we’ll end up in our hot tub. But next time we’re at her condo? She’s getting fucked in my jersey. Probably Riggs’s too. And yes, I know that means getting her dressed and undressed mid-fuck, but it’ll be worth it… for all of us.
“Hot tub it is,” I concede, trying to make it sound like my idea.
Her smile is victorious, but we’ll all win. I’ll make sure of it.
KAYLA
We make it through the rest of the gala, clapping as Mom and Dad announce how much has been raised for the foundation.
We tell my family goodbye, and I can’t help but smile as Riggs and Maddox shake hands with each of my brothers, including Chance. They’re still a bit distant, the drama not forgotten or fully forgiven, but they’re getting better. At least Riggs didn’t crush his knuckles hard enough to make them pop this time.
The ‘special handshake’ with Kyle is getting ridiculous, though. It’s some weird bro-combo of a shake, a twist of their hands, a knuckle bump, a fist bump on top then bottom, and three high-fives. I swear they add another move every few weeks. I again compliment Luna and Samantha on their glows, though Luna claims hers is mostly a result of the cheese tray they commandeered from a passing waiter during cocktail hour. Dani, Riley, and Grace all seem as ready to go as we are, exhausted at the late hour and vowing to sleep in tomorrow. Dani is an early riser and her version of late will probably be all of six a.m. Grace? She’ll sleep past noon for sure. And Riley? She’ll probably stay awake with Cameron when they get home, celebrating their recent vows again because they’ve been accepting congratulations all evening.
But my favorite moment of the night happens as we’re leaving, when I spot Janey and Cole hiding in a quiet, dimly lit corner. He’s softly swaying with Emmett in his arms, and at first, I think he’s dancing the baby to sleep before their drive home, but Emmett always falls asleep in the car anyway. That’s when I realize Cole is dancing with his wife, who has her cheek pressed to Emmett’s back.
The moment of tenderness from the least tender of all my brothers is a surprise, and as I glance from them to the rest of my family, who are gathering purses, tuxedo jackets, and auction prizes with smiles on their faces, I’m struck by a sense of peace.
Despite the picture-perfect image our family has always projected, we’ve had some seriously rough patches. But right now? We’re all in a good place, and I couldn’t be more relieved. We made it. And so did I.
On the long drive home, we laugh over the craziest of the bidding wars and wonder what the funds will ultimately be used for. The foundation has several causes they support routinely, but Mom always manages to develop a soft spot for something new each year and her help comes whether through the foundation or from her and Dad’s private bank account.
As we walk into the house, I head straight to the back door while Maddox adjusts the yard’s dimly glowing lights and the hot tub’s jets. If I pause along the way, I will be detoured to a bedroom, and I really would like to soak. At least for a few minutes.
Outside, I pause to take my shoes off, but Riggs immediately kneels down to help undo the buckles on the strappy heels and Maddox comes up behind me. “Allow me,” he says, his voice low and full of emotion. “You deserve it.”
He slides the zipper at my back down slowly, the humid night air caressing my skin as his fingers dance along my spine. I step out of my heels and then out of the dress, standing in only lacy panties.
“What about you two?” I tease, pulling on both of their bowties. Riggs unties his immediately, long done with the thing, but Maddox shakes his head, telling me no. “Excuse me?”
Maddox’s lips quirk in amusement. “You said you wanted a nice, long soak. Get in. We’ll wait for you.”
I freeze, not expecting that and not having a response prepared. But in the end, I decide to play along with Maddox’s game. Riggs looks like he’s still considering climbing in with me, but he eventually, albeit reluctantly, follows Maddox’s plan too.