“Oh. Well, uh, have at it, but I’m going to sleep after this,” she snarks, handing me one of the washcloths and passing the other to Marcus.
I arch a brow up at him. “You wanna warm my cock in your mouth until we go to sleep, Sugar?”
Pink stains his cheeks, and he nods. “I do.”
And that, my friends, is how I drift off on Christmas Eve Eve: Marcus contentedly suckling my cleaned-up, half-mast dick in the world’s most awkward as fuck sleeping position. No one ever claimed what we’ve got going on is anywherecloseto being normal, but hey—it works for us, and that’s all that matters.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ipractically grew up an honorary Mayberry. Lauren’s parents, Jackson and Maribel, have come up to Maine plenty of times, usually around Christmas, so that Brody can spend time with his grumpa and gran. I know more about her brothers, Xavier and Grady, than any respectable brother-in-law should have to know. So, someone please tell me why the fuck I am so on edge about them being here today?
It’s got to be my dress. It has to be about introducing Caleb and Cameron to them. It’s the same damn thing I went through when being completely authentic with Caleb’s family when they were in town. But that turned out okay. Completely fine, actually.
So the only difference this time is that this will get back to my parents, all the way down in Pennsylvania. They talk a lot, my parent’s and Lo’s. Usually about Brody, though, and the life we’ve built up here. I can’t rightfully ask for Jackson and Maribel to keep tight-lipped about this; that just feels wrong.
Secretive.
Yucky.
I don’t like it one bit. I run my sweaty palms down the cashmere fabric of this latest acquisition—a merlot colored turtleneck dress with a skirt that lands modestly just above my knees. This one hugs my body, showing off all my curves—for better or for worse. I feel radiant in it.
Probably the same way Wilbur was a radiant pig inCharlotte’s Webthough. Just like in the story, however, that swine had a cheerleader in his corner, spinning webs of encouragement. But unlike that tale, I’ve gottwouplifting spiders. Both of whom are smirking at me from across the living room while I’m in the kitchen listening to Grady prattle on about, of all things, his irritable bowel syndrome.
Fuck, maybe that’s why I’m so unnerved. I mean, seriously, I don’t care about the frequency of his bowel movements. I can’t evenpretendto be interested at this point.
Who could? That’s probably why both Lauren and Caleb casually slipped out of the kitchen in the first place. When it was clear that Grady had more important things to discuss, rather than my choice in clothing for the evening, they completely abandoned ship.
Assholes.
I’ve tethered myself to a couple of cowardly captains. Here I am, in the band, playing the violin as the ship sinks below the surface of the water. Thankfully, Xavier finally comes waltzing in, kicking the snow off his boots on the door sill.
He’s a jock—seriously, he’s a professional football player—and he and I don’t have much in common at all, but thank fuck he’s here, because the one thing he and Idohave in common is a deep seeded desire to shut Grady up.
He takes one look at me, a slow rake of his gaze over my body, and stops at my pained expression. He makes absolutely no comment about my outfit at all before saying, “Grady, why thehellare you talking about your IBS while in the kitchen? Can’t you see Marcus is trying to prepare food?”
Grady gapes, huffing in frustration.
Xavier drops his bag, and it hits the hardwood with athunk. Brody rushes over to tackle him while he’s still in the foyer. Xavier bends, picking Brody up and swinging him around in a hug as if he’s a ragdoll.
Have I mentioned that standing next to Xavier Mayberry is theonlytime I ever feel petite?
“How’s my favorite nephew?!” Xavier hoots, chuckling as he sets Brody down on solid ground.
Brody fixes him with an unimpressed look. “I’m youronlynephew.”
Xavier grins. “A win by default is still a win.”
“Holy shit,” a voice gasps from behind me as Cameron pops out of the bathroom. “Is that—oh my god—Lauren, is your brother Xavier Mayberry?TheXavier Mayberry?”
Lauren bites her lip and winces. “Imayhave forgotten to fill you in on that little tidbit, Cam. Before he became the toughest defensive end in the AFC East, he was just my brother. He picked and ate his boogers just like the rest of us.”
Xavier scowls at her. “I never ate ‘em!”
Lauren blows a raspberry. “The fuck you didn’t! We’d be watching movies and you’d be over there snacking on them like it was a bowl of popcorn!”
Maribel clucks her tongue, shaking her head. She gives Cameron a sympathetic look. “Yes, to answer your question, Cameron, these are my children.”
Jackson snorts. “Lord, and don’t they do a father proud, huh?”
