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“It’s like having children who never grow up and leave,” he says. He’s smiling, though.
I lean against him and pat his chest. “You’re a proud papa watching over all his cubs, aren’t you?”
He snorts. “Want to go for a swim?”
I peer up at him. “Honestly, all I can think about is how many kids have probably peed in that pool already today.”
He rumbles with laughter. “Me too.”
In a lower voice, I add, “I will happily climb in our little Jacuzzi tub with you later, though.”
“It’s a date.”
A few minutes later, Rock’s giving me a what-did-you-get-us-into look when Murphy drops a dripping wet Alexa in his lap.
“I’ll send Carter down to grab her,” Murphy promises.
“We’re fine,” I answer, waving him away. Rock glances at me as if he had another answer in mind.
“I feel bad Carter has to be the babysitter for the whole trip.”
“I think he knew what he was signing up for,” Rock says.
Later in the evening, it’s a few degrees cooler, but the thick humidity continues to cling to the air.
“The hotel has an adult pool. Want to check that out?” Rock asks.
We were in such a hurry to make it to dinner, I left my swimsuit on under my dress. “Sure.”
I follow him to a secluded pool in the shadows of the maze-like hotel. Lush bushes with large pink blooms surround the wrought iron fence. The gate whines when Rock pushes it open.
Small solar lights illuminate the stones around the pool, throwing off enough of a glow to see what we’re doing. Rock strips off his shirt and wades into the pool. Turning, he holds out his hand.
“Is it cold?”
He snorts. “Compared to out of the pool, yeah.” He curls his fingers, beckoning me closer. “Come on. I’ll warm you up.”
He watches with a hungry gleam in his eyes while I slip my light, cotton dress over my head and toss it on the chair with his shirt.
“Can you check and make sure my room key’s in my wallet?” Rock asks.
I turn and bend over, searching for his wallet.
“Very nice.” His intimate tone suggests this was a set-up.
“You just wanted to stare at my ass,” I accuse, turning and glaring at him. Too bad I can’t stop laughing.
“Hurry up,” he urges, holding out his hands again.
I gingerly dip in a toe, then my whole foot, then the other.
“Dive in, it’ll be easier,” Rock says. An amused smile plays over his lips as he swims closer.
The water’s kissing my calves when he hooks his arms around me and drags me all the way into the water, spinning us around.
“It’s cold! You lied.”
“It’ll feel good in a minute.” His lips curl into a sexy smirk. “If not, I’ll warm you up.”
Breaking free of his hold, I glide into the pool, swimming for the deep end.
“You trying to outswim me, baby doll?” Rock’s low, rumbling voice drifts over the water.
I turn, floating on my back, gently moving my arms back and forth. “Couldn’t if I wanted to.”
“That’s right.” He captures my ankle and drags me through the water until my legs circle his waist. “We should’ve put in a pool at our house.” He eases me up out of the water and I wrap my arms around his neck, holding on tight.
“Trinity and I were talking about joining the Y to take water aerobics. It’d be fun to have a pool so we didn’t have to leave the property.”
“What about water-fucking?”
“I don’t think Trinity’s into that—”
“Sass-mouth.” He spins us in the water faster and I tilt my head back to look at the stars.
“Uh-oh, are we interrupting?” Someone calls out above us.
Rock groans and stops our movement. The tension in his body returning automatically.
The possessive, protective way he wraps his arms around me sends a shiver through my body.
“Not at all,” Rock answers in a neutral tone. I squeeze my legs around him, but he doesn’t so much as move a muscle. I turn to see who’s joined us and smile at Priest and Valentina.
“Hi, Valentina. Good to see you again.” I hope it’s dark enough to hide the disappointment on my face.
But I knew this was more of a working vacation, so I smile and relinquish my husband’s attention for a few more hours.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
For the last night of the get-together, everyone’s invited to a big cookout.
“Should I dress up more?” I ask Rock.
He tilts his head as if it’s an absurd question.
“Some of these women don’t mess around.” I toss clothes out of my suitcase, searching for the right thing.
I finally settle on a short, black flippy skirt that falls just above my knees, a silky royal blue sleeveless blouse with ruffles down the front, black high-heeled sandals and my property patch.
Rock stares at me for a second before commenting. “We should just order room service.”
“This sounded like a mandatory event.”
He comes closer and leans down for a gentle kiss in contrast to the coarse words that come out of his mouth. “It’s mandatory that I fuck my wife.”
Laughter spills from my lips and I take his hand, dragging him to the door. “We’ll have plenty of time for that later. I don’t want you to get in trouble. Priest seems kind of scary.”
“Now you want to be on time,” he grumbles. He tips his head down and frowns at me. “You think I’m worried about Priest?”
“No, but I think you respect your national president too much to miss this dinner.”
He groans as if he doesn’t want to admit I’m right.
Downstairs, I spot Trinity and Wrath. Without waiting for Rock, I run over and grab her for a crazy hug. “I feel like I haven’t seen you all weekend.”
“I know,” she says, hugging me back. “You’ve been very popular.”
I duck and shake my head, embarrassed.
“We’ll have plenty to talk about when we get to Florida,” she assures me.
Wrath’s lips curl into a sinful smirk. “There won’t be a lot of talking going on.”
He lifts his chin at Rock. They do their usual silent-president-enforcer-communication thing before ushering us outside.
There’s a long buffet set up outside. Four huge grills are being manned by two nervous-looking prospects under Priest’s watchful eye.
After scarfing down large quantities of fried crab claws, Cajun fried chicken, pulled pork, and cornbread, I’m ready to burst.
“I’m going to explode.” I rub my stomach.
“Told you we take our food seriously,” Valentina says.
“Totally worth the hours on the treadmill I have waiting for me when we get home.”
She laughs and moves on, checking on every member and their significant other with an easy, welcoming manner.
Rock takes my hand and tugs me toward the grass.
“My hands still have barbeque sauce on them,” I warn.
He answers by licking my fingers.
“Stop, stop! That tickles!” Anywhere else I might feel silly. But there’s a playful, festive atmosphere surrounding us tonight. The Lost Kings must have concluded all their serious business and now they’re ready to party.
We cross the yard and find Sparky sprawled out on a blanket, under a tree where the party seems to end and the woods begin. “What are you doing all the way out here?” I ask.
He peels one eye open and gives me a serene smile. “Listening to the trees. I need to get in touch with nature occasionally.” He squints and lifts his arm, lazily pointing up at me. “Your panties match your shirt. That’s cute.”
“Asshole,” Rock grumbles, kicking Sparky’s thigh.
“Ow!” He rolls over and hugs his legs to his chest.
“I meant it as a compliment, boss.”
“Stop looking up my woman’s
skirt.”
“Well, all right, then,” I say, holding my skirt tight to my legs and backing away. “Thank you, Sparky.”
He seems to forget about his injured leg and flashes another blissful smile. “You have nice legs, First Lady.”
“I like you better when you’re in the basement.” Rock snarls and leads me away. When we’re alone he leans over and whispers against my ear, “Why are you wearing panties at all?”
“Uh, in case one of your brothers decides to look up my skirt?”
He rears back and laughs. “Good point.” His laughter abruptly stops, and he pins me with a simmering stare. “But don’t get used to them.”
“Stop that. We still have a long night ahead of us.”
“Fireworks!” One of the guys shouts. People start moving toward the empty field to set up with blankets and drinks to watch the show.
I clap my hands and bounce up and down. “Oh! I love fireworks. I can’t remember the last time I saw them.”
Z stops next to us and hands Rock a blanket. He leans in and says something to Rock that I can’t hear over all the noise around us. A few seconds later Z’s headed toward the hotel.
“He’s not staying?” I ask.
“I think he plans to watch from somewhere else.”
