Matty stuck his tongue out at me and lightly kicked my shin. “I’ll be fine. I have everyone’s numbers programmed in my phone, and I’ll keep it with me at all times. Diego has a tracker in both that and my watch, which I also have on.” He wiggled his wrist in my face. “I promise I’ll call or go outside to Leo and whatever other bodyguards he’s dragging along if there are any problems. Plus, Harley’s father is a marine. I’m good, Brooks. I’ll be back tomorrow for the cookout.”
Groaning, I pulled up to rest on my elbows and looked at the kid who had grown to mean so much to me. I’d already had this conversation with Luca. He’d reminded me that Matty was eighteen now and he needed to be able to live as much of a normal life as was possible for him. And seriously, when Luca of all people was telling you to take it down a notch, you should probably listen.
I guessed I was more on edge because Luca and Wes would be leaving for a job overseas in just a few days and would be gone for three weeks. It was a security gig, low risk, but we all seemeda little uneasy when any of us had to leave. I couldn’t let my anxiety, however, keep Matty from having a life.
“Okay, fine. Go have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Matty rolled his eyes. “I think you should say don’t do anything I would do.”
Laughing, I threw one of the fidgets he had on his dresser at him. They were mine anyway; I could throw them if I wanted. “Whatever.”
Matty knocked into me again. “Seriously. Have fun. Do whatever weird, kinky shit y’all get up to, and I’ll try to act like I don’t know about it.”
“Yeah, can you not mention that part to Maverick?”
“Eww, definitely not. That’s so awkward.”
I climbed off the bed and held out my arms for a hug. Matty wasn’t touch averse like Diego, but he hadn’t grown up with a lot of casual affection and sometimes it was odd for him. So, I took the same approach with him that I did with D and let the kid dictate what he was okay with and when.
Now, he was okay with a hug. He shook his head like he was humoring me but still fell into my arms. “Happy birthday, B. I can’t wait till you see your gift.”
My eyebrows went up, my curiosity immediately getting the better of me. I held him at arm’s length so I could see those hazel eyes that screamed mischief.
“What gift? Yours to me?”
He grinned. “You’ll see.”
The little shit knew how much I hated not knowing things, made apparent when he slid out of my hold and ran out of his room. Damn it! What did he know? Everyone had been super tight-lipped about any presents, and it was driving me wild. I was used to that with Diego, but typically my mom slipped. She was always the weak link during Christmas and birthdays. This year, she either didn’t know what my guys had gotten me or shehad suddenly gotten much better at keeping quiet. My guess was the former.
I followed Matty out but didn’t bother pushing for more information. I’d never get it. That kid could keep a secret. It was a little alarming how good he was at it.
I wandered down the halls, planning on bothering Diego in his office. I could stalk Matty there, at least until someone dragged me out.
“Where are you going?”
I turned to find Maverick leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. He looked sexy as fuck in his black joggers that hugged his tree trunk thighs and the plain white T-shirt that barely fit over his chest. I often wondered if he purposely bought his clothes a size too small or if he was just so massive it was impossible to get the right one. I never asked—I wasn’tthatmuch of a pain slut.
There was something about Maverick’s tone and that glint in his eye that let me know he wanted to play. Immediately, I found myself straightening, my hands going behind my back like I was on autopilot.
“Um, I was going to bother Diego.”
Mav’s eyebrow rose toward his hairline. “You mean track Matty until he arrived at his friend’s house?”
I wasnotadmitting that. “What? Of course not.”
Maverick smirked. “Mm-hmm. I think you have other plans, brat.”
That familiar feeling of nerves, excitement, and horniness began to settle in my gut. “I do?”
My mind raced as I wondered what my Sir had planned. It could be anything.
Maverick pushed off the wall, stalking toward me, making my toes curl. The look in his eyes made me wonder if he planned on taking me right here in the hall. I would not complain. I was ayes to free use and public sex, but with Matty living here, we had to be more cautious. But Matty wasn’t here now.
Mav’s fingers curled around my chin in a tight grip, tilting my head up so I was looking in his eyes. I wasn’t short at 5’10”, but Maverick was a giant, so I still had to tilt all the way up . . . and fuck he looked dangerous.
I swallowed. I wanted to bounce, my natural reaction in these kinds of situations, but Mav’s hold was too strong for me to move.
“You do. Go to the shower in the playroom. Skye’s waiting for you.”
