I slam the car door with my hip and try not to drop anything as I get to the front door. Just as I’m trying to unlock the door, something odd catches my eye. I drop the bags on the bench on the porch and look at what's in front of the door. It looks like a doll of some kind, with angel wings and a halo on it. What the fuck? Where did this come from? I grab my phone out of my pocket to take a pic of it and shoot a text off to Nicky, wondering if this is something from him. A joke I don’t get.
Me: Did you send this to me?
It only takes a minute for my phone to alert me to an incoming text.
Nicky: WTF is that?!? No, I wouldn’t send you a creepy-as-fuck doll. Have you gone into the house yet?
Me: No, I haven’t touched the creepy doll ’cause I didn’t know where it came from.
Nicky: Wait, I’m like 10 away and I’ll be there.
Me: K
I sit on the steps and wait for Nicky. Less than five minutes later, I hear the unmistakable rumble of motorcycles heading this way. Before I can even get up off the step, I see both Jon and Juan hurrying off their bikes. Both look pissed off which I can’t quite understand.
Juan is the first to speak. “What the fuck, babe? Why didn’t you call us when you needed help?”
Excuse the fuck?
“I didn’t need help. I texted Nicky to see if he sent the creepy angel doll to me as a joke that I didn’t get. I see Tyger on his spot on the couch and everything else looks normal. Why would I have bothered you with this?”
“Why, she asks? Why would she… why…” Juan mumbles incoherently and pulls at his hair as he walks back and forth in the front yard. Suddenly, I feel a hand on my chin and my head is being turned to the angry eyes of Jon.
“You call us because you areours. You need to get that wewantyou. All of you. Every beautiful inch, every bit of who you are.Youare who we want.”
Before I can realize what’s happening, one of the sexiest men I have ever met kisses me. This isn’t just a kiss, but a soul-grabbing, panty-melting, almost orgasm-inducing kiss. It’s the claiming kiss I’ve read about so many times but doubted its existence. Holy shit. Jon breaks the kiss and for the first time, I realize he has my face in both of his hands.
“Now, I hear your Nicky approaching and we need to deal with the weird shit on your porch. But tonight, wearehaving a conversation about this. Get me?”
Not certain of my ability to speak at this very moment, I just look at him and nod. Why do I feel like I’m in serious trouble… with a chance of maybe something too scarily amazing to think about?
Jon
It wasn’t my initial intention to kiss her at this very minute, but fuck that woman drives me nuts with just how oblivious she is to us being attracted to her. Juan and I had just left Pa and Ma’s place and were at the gas station just a couple of blocks away when we got a text from Ry. Maybe Pa’s conversation with us is what caused my reaction and unconscious decision to kiss her.
???
One hour earlier:
No matter how old I get, I know walking through Ma and Pa’s door, I’ll get an ear to listen to and some sound advice on whatever the subject may be. It’s been over a month and I’m not sure Juan or I are any closer to getting Jane to be ours. The woman truly believes we’re just being friendly and can’t see that both of us are halfway in love with her and are dying to kiss, touch and feel her. Even Rory is all in when he gets out. It’s time to get some help from the man who snagged Ma before anyone else could.
“Boys, to what do I owe this pleasure of seeing both of you on this Friday?”
Juan, always with the charm, says, “Ma, you know we don’t need a reason to come see your beautiful smile.”
“Son, you may ooze charm, but it ain’t working on me. Why do I think you’re here to chew on Pa’s ear about a certain young woman who seems to be blind to your charm and flirting?”
Smiling at Ma while I give her a kiss on the cheek, I say, “That’s because you are wise and observant, Ma. We came to talk to Pa about a couple of things. Is he awake or—”
“Son, don’t you finish that sentence, acting like I’m over the hill. Jane’s gotten me almost fit as a fiddle and that means I can still kick your ass.”
Turning to the hall, I see Pa walking into the room, using just a cane and glaring daggers at me.
“Sorry, Pa. I just didn’t know if you were restin’ after your session earlier.”
“Nah, Jane has me mainly doing stuff with my hands and such, so your old man can take it pretty damn good. Now, what is it you two need help with?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ma head back to the kitchen and family room.
