Tori’s mouth dropped open.
Resa looked confused. “How is that even possible? Like I saw you remove them, but how? We had no idea you were packing, well at least not like that.”
Tori nudged her as they both snickered. I just winked at them and then kissed Olivia once more.
“Completely unarmed,” I said with a smirk.
“Cool,” Macie said running over to check out my toys.
“Not cool,” her mother protested.
“No touching, short stuff. We’ll have a safety class later. First, I’m going to kick your uncle’s ass.”
“Language,” Tori warned.
“No permanent damage, though. You heard Mom.”
“You got it, kiddo.” I fluffed her hair as I walked by and she groaned in protest.
Killian was already outside and pumped for a fight having missed the entire scene. Felix shook his head.
“Eight years brewing, Kill, what are you going to do now?”
I was cocky, too cocky. I didn’t even notice the sharp right hook until I felt my jaw crack. I swayed but recovered quickly. “So that’s how it’s going to be, huh?”
“Shut up and fight, Baine.”
Killian and I had sparred for years, but we had never actually fought. I knew I had the upper advantage, but I also knew he needed to settle a score with me so I let him get a few punches in. When he went for my groin on a low blow while screaming something about doing his baby sister a favor, my instincts kicked in and I blocked him.
He came at me again, and this time, I didn’t hesitate. When his knee came up, I grabbed it and forced it into the air knocking him off balance and sending him to the ground on his back with a loud thud. It knocked the wind out of him. While he coughed and sputtered on the ground, Silas walked up the driveway with Kano.
“What the hell are you doing?” he ordered.
“Just settling things,” I said.
“Watch your six,” Tarron yelled.
I turned just in time to see Killian on his knees lunging for me. He wrapped me up around the legs and I went down hard. Fists and feet were flying in my direction. I could take the blows, but could he? I swung back blindly, thanks to the dirt he was kicking up as we rolled around beating the shit out of each other, until Killian’s anger finally fizzled.
Kano shook his head. “Just ignore them. It was bound to happen.”
With the fear of being blacklisted once again gone, I hauled back and punched Killian in the eye.
“Oh shit, that’s gonna be a shiner,” he said, but he sat up and started laughing as he covered his newest injury.
As I sat up next to him. I could taste blood. He had definitely split my lip. Olivia wasn’t going to be happy about this.
Tarron shook his head. “That was the most pathetic fighting I’ve ever seen from you. Silas is going to have your ass for that piss poor show.”
I shrugged. “Promised my girl I wouldn’t actually harm him.”
“What do you call this?” Killian whined pointed to his already blackening eye.
I smirked. “Collateral damage. Are we good?”
He hesitated but slowly nodded.
“Can you ever forgive me?”
I sighed and looked up at Tarron as he extended his arm. I took it and he hoisted my ass up off of the ground. “Not a word of this to the guys.”
He laughed. “Do you really think I didn’t already run full perimeter monitoring on your family? You know the rest of the team is back there watching this live. Wave to the camera, Baine.”
I groaned, and moved to take him down, but I was sorer than I was willing to admit from a few good blows that Killian had delivered on me, and besides that, Tarron was always fast on his feet.
He turned and waved up to a tree. I couldn’t see it, but then that’s why he was so great at his job. Instead of waving I flipped them the bird before turning back to Killian and offering him my hand.
“I know things will never be the same between us, but for whatever reason, your sister loves you despite it all. I’ll forgive you for her sake, and Macie’s. That kid adores you.”
He frowned. “I don’t deserve it.”
“Oh, I know,” I said as he took my hand and I helped him up in a show of good faith. “I won’t be blindsided again, Kill. Trust me when I say I have eyes everywhere.”
Tarron grinned. “Everywhere.”
Olivia
Chapter 14
I gasped when they walked inside. I hadn’t been able to make myself go out and stop them. Killian deserved whatever was coming his way as long as Baine stuck to his promise not to seriously hurt him. I was mad at my brother, but I didn’t want him to die or anything. He had always been overprotective of me. Baine knew it. It was the number one reason why he had insisted on keeping us a secret until I came of age.
I didn’t understand what had changed his mind or why he had confided in my brother. I also couldn’t fathom the hurt and disappointment Baine had been through when his best friend stabbed him in the back like that. It broke my heart for the both of them.
The Killian that would do such a thing to his best friend in the entire world wasn’t the guy I knew. I didn’t care how angry or upset he had been, it still just didn’t make sense to me. Someday I hoped we could talk about it and maybe my brother could actually explain it all to me, but for now, seeing them walk in side-by-side covered in dirt, bruised, and bloodied with smiles on their faces made my heart feel a little lighter.
“Don’t you dare sit on my furniture,” I said, wiping a tear from my eye.
I had already been deemed worthless and evicted from the kitchen while Tori and Resa finished up dinner.
Kano had also arrived with Silas in tow and Felix and Tarron walked in behind Baine.
“Hi,” I said, offering my hand to Silas and then Tarron. “Welcome to my home.” I looked over at Baine and cringed a little at the blood crusting his lip. “Wait, you’re not leaving again already, are you?”
Silas huffed. “No, not yet.”
“So we can have him tonight?” Macie asked with a grin.
Even the grumpy one fell quickly to her charms. “Looking like that, he’s worthless to me.” Silas winked at her. “He’s all yours tonight.”
She walked over and took Baine’s hand. “Come on, Uncle Killian leaves some comfy clothes here in case he’s running late picking me up after school. Uncle Kill, you can use my bathroom.”
I watched as she walked him into my bedroom as if it were the most natural thing in the world, then ran back out and grabbed the clothes from the spare room on the other side of the house to deliver to him.
Knowing Baine was in my bedroom, and soon would be naked in my shower was making my brain mush.
“Will you be staying for dinner as well?” I heard Tori ask our new arrivals.
“Uh, yes, please do. Why don’t you ask the rest of the team to join us,” I said.
“Are you sure? There’s a lot of us,” Tarron said.
I nodded. “I’m sure. “Tori, are we good?”
“Yeah, sure, it’s no problem at all.”
I smiled. “Please make yourself at home. Excuse me for a moment.”
I turned and walked into my bedroom before I could stop myself. When I closed the door behind me, I looked around and didn’t see Baine. I listened and heard the water running in the shower. My heart was racing as I stepped inside.
Dirty clothes were piled up on the floor. I smiled and shook my head before bending over to scoop them up.
The water turned off and I froze. I heard the shower curtain pull back and slowly turned around. A small gasp escaped me and my eyes trailed down his body and back up again. I gulped hard. He was sculpted like a masterpiece now. My breathing became heavy just staring at him. I knew the second we found ourselves truly alone, and he touched me, I was going to instantly combust.
He hardened right before my eyes as his erection became evident.
“Uh, um.” I licked my lips and h
e groaned. “I just wanted to get, um, the things, uh, your clothes into the thingy, I mean the washer.” I knew I was talking to his dick, but I couldn’t seem to pull my eyes away.
“You keep looking at me like that, O, and we aren’t going to make it back out there.”
I gulped and forced myself to look up and meet his eyes. A pained expression crossed my face. “I invited them all. All of them. We’re never going to have a moment alone.”
Baine laughed and shrugged. “I’m sure Tarron has an extra dampener on him. They’ll understand.”
“What? No. We can’t.” I knew my face was bright red as reality came back to me.
He stepped out of the shower and I frowned.
“You’re dripping on the floor.”
“Don’t have a towel.”
I huffed this time and walked over to the cabin under the sink. When I bent over, I heard Baine groan. “You’re killing me, O.”
I should have just tossed the towel to him and left, but I wasn’t thinking straight. I walked over and handed it to him. When our fingers touched my entire body lit on fire. That’s all it took. Before I could get away, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to him.
“You’re wet,” I screeched.
“I’m betting you are too,” he whispered in a deep voice that caused the hair on my neck to stand up.
I neither confirmed nor denied it.
He gave a knowing smirk and leaned down and kissed me. This wasn’t a quick kiss, nor was it the branding kiss we’d shared earlier. This was so much more. I all but melted in his arms. I was ready to take him right there on my bathroom floor and make him mine once and for all.
The metallic taste of blood in my mouth knocked some sense into me and I pulled back.
“You’re hurt.”
He shrugged. “It’s just a little cut.”
His lip was split and swollen. I started to worry. I knew it had likely started to clot, but we’d just reopened it.
He brushed back a lock of my hair pausing to twirl it between his fingers. “I’m fine, O. So much better than fine.”
“Dinner’s ready,” I heard Tori call from the other side of the house.
I sighed. I was more than ready for alone time with my mate. All I had were years of old memories. Was he really as great as I remembered him?
He leaned down and kissed my collarbone. “Soon.” There was promise in his voice. “But I know you’re going to worry every second while we have a houseful of unwelcomed guests.”
I snorted. “I invited them, so they aren’t unwelcomed.”
“The way you’re staring at me, yeah, they’re very unwelcomed. I’m happy to get rid of all of them and keep you to myself.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Wouldn’t I?”
I suspected he absolutely would. I sighed. “Later. Let’s go eat.”
He paused and I looked back to see a hungry look in his eyes.
Mine widened with awareness. “Food, Baine, actual sustenance.”
He nodded. “Yeah. I’m probably going to need that for later.”
He made me feel like the most desired woman on the planet. It made me playful and cockier than ever before. I grinned back at him as I reached the door. “Promise?”
His breath hitched as he nodded.
I noticed the clothes still on the floor, and scurried back in to grab them, and escape his wanton stare.
“Macie left clean clothes on the bed for you.”
I got out of there before he could say another word that might sway my resolve.
I knew my cheeks were pink as I left the bedroom and I also knew that everyone was staring at me.
“Macie, grab Uncle Killian’s clothes so we can get them in the wash.”
“I already did but didn’t turn it on.”
“Thanks.”
I avoided all eyes and went to the laundry room. Once there I paused and took a deep breath. How soon could I get everyone out of my house, and I wondered if Tori would be willing to take Macie for the night. The moment I thought it, I chastised myself. I wasn’t some horny teenager anymore. I had responsibilities I couldn’t slack on.
After a quick pep talk with myself, I rejoined the group with a smile on my face. Baine was already there laughing with two of his friends as they teased him about the fight.
“I made a promise. Olivia, come here. Tell them you made me promise not to actually hurt him.”
Killian looked at me like I’d betrayed him. I shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“What?” he declared as he grabbed me by the waist and pulled me into his lap as I squeaked while his brothers cheered him on.
“I can’t believe you’d bet against me, Liv. He may be more seasoned and technical, but I still held my own,” Killian insisted.
“Oh, we saw,” Ben chided.
I knew Baine wasn’t going to live it down anytime soon either.
He shrugged good naturedly. “She took all my toys.”
“Toys?” I snorted. “Is that what you call them?”
“Are you going to teach me how to shoot?” Macie asked excitedly.
The guys all got quiet as they waited for Baine’s response.
“I’m going to have to talk to your mother about that one, short stuff. Only, if she gives the okay.”
“Right answer, Landry,” Tori yelled from across the room.
“Landry,” Tarron said shaking his head.
Baine shoved him, and Tarron pushed back. That was my cue to move on.
I quickly learned they were like a pack of cubs when the team got together off duty. The stories were endless and by the time everyone said goodnight I felt like I knew them all, but more importantly, I got a better picture of the man Baine had grown into. I was happy to see that despite everything he hadn’t lost himself along the way. There were still plenty of glimpses of the boy I used to know.
Tori and Resa stuck around a little longer and even cleaned up everything for me.
“Mom, Tori said if it’s okay with you I can stay with her tonight. Is it okay?”
“Are you sure about this? It’s a school night,” I reminded her.
“It’s cool. We’re overdue for a sleepover, right Mace?”
“Right.”
“Um, okay. Go get your stuff packed and don’t forget your backpack. I’ll call Killian and tell him to pick her up at your place then.”
“Nah, tell him he’s got the morning off. Since Baine’s back, Kano announced it’s back to work for all of us.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll drop her off on my way in. Plus, you can sleep in. Betting you’re going to need that.”
Before I could respond, Macie was back and encouraging Tori to leave quickly before I changed my mind.
“Bye Baine. See you tomorrow.”
“Bye, kiddo.”
“Call me tomorrow,” my cousin yelled as she was dragged from the house.
The energy in the house immediately altered as we found ourselves completely alone.
Baine looked worried as he stared at the door. “She didn’t have to take Macie. I grabbed an extra dampener from Tarron.”
“Presumptuous, aren’t you?”
He grabbed my wrist and pulled me down on the couch with him. My breath caught as he kissed me. As his tongue swept across my lips, I moaned and opened for him. He grinned against my mouth and chuckled.
“No, I don’t think I’m being presumptuous at all.”
“Still just as cocky as ever, I see,” I pouted.
His lips latched onto my protruding lip, then pulled it into his mouth, and he sucked on it before turning it into a sensual kiss that practically had my toes curling.
“God I’ve missed you so much.”
I was completely consumed by emotions all at once and tears started falling down my cheeks.
“Babe, don’t. Don’t cry.”
He pulled me into the safety of his arms and held me close.
“I’m okay,” I said sniffing.
“You’re crying.”
“It’s not bad. It’s just, I never let myself believe I’d ever see you again. Add in this bonding stuff, and my emotions have been all over the place. I’m sorry.”
He kissed my nose and then each of my cheeks. “Don’t ever apologize for feeling, O. You have such a big loving heart. I don’t know how you managed forgiving your brothers so quickly.”
“Having you here already when I found out what really happened certainly helped. Are you okay?”
Baine had always trapped his emotions down deep, everything except his love for me. Killian used to tell me he was incapable of feeling anything, but I knew better. My mate felt everything deeply.
“I have my mate in my arms and I’m about to carry her to bed and make love to her. Macie’s safe with Tori. Nothing else in this entire world matters to me more than the two of you, so I’d say I’m a whole lot better than okay. I feel whole again.”
Baine
Chapter 15
I stared into the blue eyes that often haunted my dreams at night, but this wasn’t a dream. She was here. She was real. She was mine.
I wasn’t good at letting myself feel things, at least not the good stuff, except when I was around Olivia. She had a way of opening me up and expressing myself in new ways. I could pour my heart out to her and I knew it would be safe in her hands.
“Right now, I don’t want to think, O. I need you. Tell me you need me too.”
She bit her lip and nodded as she kissed me. I tightened my grip around her and stood up. Her legs wrapped around my waist and our bodies melded together as if they were made to be one, because they were.
I carried her to the bedroom kicking the door shut behind me. I knew we were alone, but I wanted to shut out the entire world and cocoon the two of us in as much as possible.
I fumbled around for the hem of her shirt to lift it over her head. I laughed. “I guess I’m out of practice.”
She sighed. “It’s okay. I’m sure I am too. I, um, haven’t been with anyone since you left. It’s only ever been you, Baine.”
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