AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Z shrugs and looks away. “Just figured she must be tired or whatever.”
“Uh, no. For once, she’s the one waking me up in the middle of the night.”
Naturally Hope chooses that moment to rejoin us. My dickhead brothers grin at her. “Why don’t you just tell her what we were talking about? It’d be easier, jackasses,” I growl under my breath.
Hope’s wary gaze sweeps over everyone before settling on Z, Wrath, Ravage, and finally me. “Hmm, what were you discussing?”
Ravage chooses that moment to pipe up. “Z asked if you’re only blowing Rock now so the baby doesn’t get a concussion.”
Hope’s jaw drops, which would be pretty damn cute under other circumstances.
“That’s not what I said, dickhead.” Z reaches across the table and punches Ravage’s arm.
“Ow! Fucker.”
“It’s nothing that bad, Hope.” Wrath smirks. “Prez was explaining the miracle of life to Z, because apparently the fancy private school he went to didn’t offer sex ed.”
“Shut up,” Z grumbles.
Hope snorts, her cheeks turn a tad pink. “Which miracle? The joy of holding my hair when I puke? My aching feet that need his big, manly hands to rub them every night?”
Z grins. “Getting warmer.”
Hope shoots me a look, a brief twitch at the corners of her mouth shows she’s more amused than pissed. “Ahh, the rapture of I-need-his-assistance-in-the-bedroom-five-times-a-day.”
“Five times.” Z whistles. “Go easy on him, Hope. Rock’s not a young stud anymore.”
“No, he’s better.” She perches on my lap and runs her fingers through my hair.
“You guys are disgusting,” Stash says.
Murphy chuckles and the guys look his way.
“What?” Ravage says.
Murphy flicks his gaze my way and for a second, I think he’s going to rib me about dancing in the living room with Hope this afternoon.
“Nothing,” Murphy says. “I was just thinking how sad it is that you’re gonna die alone.”
“Fuck that,” Ravage says. “I’m going out in a blaze of glory.”
Trinity carries out a huge chocolate cake and sets it in front of us. Hope’s eyes widen and she rubs her hands together in anticipation while I cut her a slice.
“Sex and chocolate cake,” Wrath teases. “Now we know what does it for pregnant ladies.”
“Is there any peanut butter?” Hope asks, sliding into her own chair and ignoring Wrath. She glances at the rest of us. “You guys better pray Swan bought more than one cake. I’m about to inhale this thing.”
Heidi sets a jar of peanut butter in front of Hope and she grabs it, unscrewing the top and dipping in her spoon. “Thanks, Heidi.”
Swan brings out a vanilla cake with white frosting. Hope gives it a brief glance and wrinkles her nose. “Keep the vanilla down there.”
“Someone’s kinky!” Ravage shouts.
Hope sputters. “What?”
Ravage nods at the cake. “Vanilla? Never mind.”
“You’re a douche,” Wrath says.
“Everyone already knows about their basement room of kinkery,” Z adds.
Heidi gags and covers Alexa’s ears. “Isn’t traumatizing me enough? Must you corrupt my daughter too?”
“There’s not… we don’t have,” Hope stutters.
I rest my hand over hers. “Let it go, Hope. Just let it go.”
My cheeks are still warm and I glare at Z, who quickly looks away.
Heidi seems to pick up on my discomfort. “Trust me, Hope. Nothing will cure embarrassment like having your legs in the air and everyone sticking their face in your hoo-ha,” she says, using her arms to demonstrate the wide in the air part. “Just wait.”
Trinity snorts and I glare at her.
“Maybe I should be knocked out.” I shovel another forkful of cake in my mouth and rethink my birthing plan.
“Well, but then you don’t know who’s been up in your business,” Heidi says. “So afterward, every time someone comes in the room you have to wonder…”
“All right. That’s enough,” I say holding up a hand to stop her. “You’re freaking me out.” I grab Rock’s hand. “You can’t leave my side.”
“Don’t plan to.” He glances at Heidi. “Especially after those visuals.”
Wrath’s laughing so hard the plates on the table rattle.
I glare at him too. “It’s not funny.”
“No, it’s not.” He shifts and mutters, “I won’t be able to get it up for a week.”
Trinity shushes him. “Continue, Heidi, this is the best birth control reminder ever.” She leans in, whispering in Wrath’s ear and he nods.
“There it is.” He gives me a cocky wink. “We’ll just double up.”
“I hate you guys,” I grumble, rubbing my hand over my stomach.
Murphy shakes his head quick, like he’s trying to dislodge the words we just polluted his brain with. “I don’t want anyone’s face in your business,” he says to Heidi.
“Well,” she answers slowly. “I guess you should stop trying to impregnate me, then.”
Trinity and Wrath lose it, laughing so hard my ear drums are in danger of bursting.
Charlotte’s hand tightens around Teller’s as he glares at Murphy.
“What?” Murphy shrugs. “She said it.”
“Yes, but you’re the one doing it.”
Charlotte turns to the side and bites her fist, trying not to laugh.
I can see Murphy weighing in his head which snarky response he wants to throw at his best friend. And while most days I enjoy how much Murphy’s grown up and the way he stands up to Teller, tonight, I’m too exhausted.
I lean my head on Rock’s shoulder. “I’m too tired for this. Can you two go beat each other up somewhere else?”
Rock rubs a hand over my belly. “Too much cake?”
“No way, I could eat the rest of that thing right now. I just don’t need the sugar rush.”
At the other end of the table, the guys start up again.
“You’re destined to die alone,” Dex says to Ravage. “There might be some hope for you.” He points Z’s way.
“If I die, it’s going to be in a pile of hot women living to serve my every need,” Ravage boasts.
A whole lot of eye-rolling goes on.
“Find a girl and treat her the right way and it’ll be better,” Teller says.
“You have to say that, ’cause your girl’s sittin’ right there,” Ravage shoots back.
“Fuck that shit,” Stash says. “Then it’s all missionary fucking and kissing. Giving head to get a little head. No thanks.”
“I’m not sure what you’re describing, but it’s not marriage,” Rock says.
I poke my elbow in his side and his deep, rumbly laughter warms me all over.
“Stop being such a selfish dipshit,” Dex says.
“Maybe he just hasn’t found the right person,” Murphy adds. “You can’t force it.” In a lower voice he adds, “Or find a woman desperate enough to put up with him.”
“I heard that, ginger Yeti.”
“Oh great.” Heidi rolls her eyes. “I’m glad that’s becoming a thing.”
“I said it first,” Z reminds us.
“Brag about it, that makes it less idiotic,” Teller says.
“My fiancé has a point,” Charlotte says as she spoons ice cream onto her cake.
“What’s that?” Ravage raises his eyebrow
s.
“That sex is better if you’re with the right person.” She squints like she’s trying to remember something. “I think they say only eleven percent of women regularly achieve orgasm with one-night stands.” She slides her hand through the air in an upward gesture. “But the longer a couple’s together the more orgasms the woman has.”
“In that case, Rock must be knocking Hope’s socks off ’round the clock,” Z says.
“Yes he does,” I mutter.
“I got a list a mile long of ladies who’ll tell you that’s not true,” Stash says with a smirk.
“They’re faking it.” Dex really seems to be enjoying bursting bubbles tonight.
“That’s the chick’s problem.” Ravage shrugs and sits back. “Long as I get off. That’s all I’m worried about.”
“And that’s why you’re gonna die alone,” Dex says.
“Well,” I announce, pushing my chair back and standing up. Rock quickly stands and helps, wrapping his arm around me so I can lean into him. “This has been fun.” I cast a glance at Ravage. “And disturbing.” I stare up at Rock. “But maybe we can take some of that cake home.”
“Oooh!” The guys make all sorts of horny cat noises at us, which we both ignore.
The slow smile that spreads over Rock’s face warms me from head to toes. He leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Another day in court that utterly kicked my ass. I’m exhausted. Emotional.
Horny the second I see my husband.
By the gleam in his eyes, the feeling is mutual.
I stand still by the front door closet, waiting for him to prowl over.
His steel-gray eyes capture mine. The intensity of his stare electrifies my skin.
“What are you doing to me?” Rock asks, coming closer.
I glance down and clasp my hands behind my back. “What?” I ask as if I have no idea what’s on his mind.
His gaze roams over my body and his pace slows. Becomes predatory.
“You know how I feel about you in that naughty librarian getup. Hair up. Glasses on.”
Oh, that’s actually not what I expected him to say.
“Lawyer, not librarian.” I run my hands over my skirt. “This barely fits, so get your jollies now. Probably the last time I’ll get to wear it for a while.”
