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“Sweet baby Jesus!” Scottie yells right before I’m stumbling forward, trying to catch my balance with Poppy attached to my back.
“Shit, baby, give me some warning.”
“Put your shirt back on… please, please, please, do it now!” Her pleas are desperate.
Earlier this afternoon pops in my head, and I drop my chin to hide my amusement.
“This is not funny. Put your shirt back on,” she hisses.
“Too late, wildcat, the evidence speaks for itself. Those are recent, too; you can’t hide that,” Scottie chides. “It’s always the quiet ones.”
“Oh my God, we have to leave.” Poppy bangs her forehead against my shoulder.
I twist slightly, slanting an arm around her waist and shifting her to my front. She doesn’t put up a fight, and it’s easy to see why. Her chest, neck, and face are all flaming red.
Miller whistles his approval, and Ashlyn snickers as I walk us into the pool.
“Don’t be embarrassed, I’m not.”
“Of course you’re not. You don’t get embarrassed. Plus, it’s kinda macho to have claw marks marring your back.”
“Macho?” I quirk an eyebrow.
“Macho. Cool. Brag-worthy. Men love that stuff.”
“I don’t know how cool it is since it’s never happened before. But I love it because it’s a reminder of you clawing me while riding me so hard my brain rattled. It was fucking hot.”
“Stop. It’s one thing to know we’re having sex, but they know we had sex before coming here.”
I drop my head back and burst out laughing.
“Why are you laughing again?”
“Because, baby, you’ll learn. Miller got off work to come home, under the ruse of helping Ashlyn with tonight. They catered this shit. He came home to fuck his wife. Pierce arranged for his parents to bring Maya and Cole, going home to Darby early. Scottie and Billy are on vacation at the beach, alone. Do you get the picture now?”
The flush wanes and she nods.
“He’s right, you know.” Scottie appears over my shoulder, handing her a drink and offering me a beer. “It is hot.”
“Shut up,” I grumble.
He ignores me. “Plus, you’re newlyweds. With Darby and Ashlyn’s track record, I fully expect Stephanie to come home knocked up. Honeymoons with this crew start the baby watch.”
“When I get to take my wife on a proper honeymoon, you can begin your watch.”
“Can’t wait. Popsy will make beautiful little flower children.”
“That I can agree with.” I wink at her.
She relaxes, sipping the drink and choking back a cough. “What is this?”
“Special concoction. Go easy.” He straightens and leaves.
“Taste this.” She puts the rim to my lips, and the alcohol fills my mouth.
“Hell, babe, be careful.”
“I’ve never had drunk sex.”
“Drunk sex with you will be out of this world, but let’s not risk alcohol poisoning.”
“True.”
She wiggles against my waist. “I can see why you’d want our private pool now.”
“Property, view, pool, big house, and a gate to keep these fuckers out.”
Her smile grows so wide it fucking pierces straight to my heart.
“Nice battle scars.” Pierce pulls our attention upward where he’s standing with Devin in his arms and an all-knowing grin.
“Oh, hell,” Poppy groans, taking a large gulp.
Devin is wearing one of those body inflatables and not happy about it. He sees us, lunging down with a screech. Poppy moves off me, placing her drink on the side of the pool and reaching up. “Come here.”
Peirce crouches to hand him over and warns, “His good mood is limited. He didn’t get a decent nap. Darby’s hoping to wear him out.”
“Evin and I can handle wearing him out.”
Pierce flashes her an appreciative grin and goes to join the other men. I lean back on the edge, sipping my beer and watching them. He’s trying hard to get close, but the inflatable is in his way, which pisses him off.
He wails and I step over, unzipping the back and easing it off while she balances him. The minute it’s off, he dissolves into her, laying his head on her shoulder.
She kisses along his temple, staring at me, and our thoughts are the same. I can’t fucking wait until this is our life.
“You’re the baby whisperer.” Ashlyn swims up quietly.
“He’s just tired and cranky.” Poppy bounces him until his eyes are closed.
Darby comes out, takes one look at the scene, and sighs in relief. She strips off her cover-up and joins us, her smile appreciative. “Thank you. Mom took him all over town today, and he was too wired to sleep.” She slings her eyes to me. “I don’t want to know, don’t want to hear, but you better have a good excuse when the other kids get here and see your back.”
“Got it.” I place my beer on the deck, kiss the side of Poppy’s head, and take Devin in my arms. “Enjoy, baby, I’ll put him down.”
Pierce motions to the large lounger under the veranda already set up for him to sleep.
