by Janie Marie
Archer kept laughing. “Jason has a death wish.”
“So do you, bitch.” Ryder only lost the rage when she squeezed his hand.
“Why are you so uptight?” Jane asked him.
David kissed her head again as he whispered in her ear. “He panics when someone touches you, baby. We all do.”
Now she understood. Her protective boys.
“Archer was just being himself,” she told Ryder. “And Jason only caught me because you lost your cool and threw me at him.”
“He was trying to get your number, babe,” he responded dryly. “Now you’ve got him thinking you’re into him because you were swoony and shit.”
The others laughed, and her face heated with embarrassment. She was such a stupid girl ruled by hormones. Jason is hot.
“Not even gonna deny it,” Ryder grumbled. “You’re getting chained to my bed.”
“She is not,” David said, laughing. “Calm down.”
“He just felt familiar.” Jane quickly hugged Ryder’s arm. “Stop being so possessive.”
“How can I not be?” He raised his free arm in frustration. “Damn, babe. You’re already dating two of my brothers and David. I’m husband, and I’m putting my foot down. No more boyfriends.”
“How about just one more—it counts less because I’m your brother,” Archer teased before getting dropped onto the ground. “Ow.”
“No more,” Ryder repeated, his fiery gaze narrowed on her. “I love you. I share you with them because it doesn’t feel like sharing, but I don’t feel that way about everyone.”
David sighed, lifting his arm off her and lightly pushing her toward Ryder.
“What the fuck, Papi?” Ryder snapped. “You better get your ass back over here with her. It’s her birthday, and she gets us both.”
“Sin,” Ryder said, throwing his friend a terrifying glare, “what the fuck is this I hear about you calling my girl ugly?”
Jane giggled as Sin’s normally tanned face paled. She didn’t mean to throw Sin under Ryder’s radar, but she was high on cake and soda—no one was safe.
“Do you want me to call her sexy?” Sin took a step back as Ryder’s gaze narrowed.
David had been walking past Sin, but he halted, shifting his gaze between Sin, Ryder, and Jane . . . before focusing on Sin. “You call Jane ugly?”
Sin held up his hands in surrender. “She knew it was meant to make her smile.”
Ryder relaxed, apparently content with David taking over whatever punishment they wanted to dish out to Sin.
Jane grinned as Sin made up apologies while also complimenting her ass, which had the guys howling and David advancing on him.
“Beat his ass, Papi,” Ryder hollered, holding her hand.
They were sitting on a set of chaise lounges in his backyard. It was the perfect setup with the firepit roaring and the mid-sized group of friends from both schools hanging out to celebrate wins and her birthday. They kept it casual, with Savaş heading up the grill for all the guys, but still ordered takeout and fried shrimp from her favorite restaurant, then topped it off with a chocolate cake with raspberry icing. The cake had been David’s idea, and he was the one who licked it off her lips.
Of course, Ryder pouted, frustrated he didn’t understand David’s comparison to raspberries. So, she had wiped some icing over his lips and straddled him in front of everyone before kissing him until the icing was smeared over her lips, to which he sucked them clean. He’d been nibbling and sucking her skin ever since, claiming she tasted sweeter.
“Babe, want to see if we can fuck without anyone noticing?” Ryder asked, snatching a blanket from someone’s chair and draping it over her body. His green eyes sparkled with mischief as he bundled her up then lifted her, settling her onto his lap. “I’ll press in real deep, only the tiniest movements. They’ll only know if you scream.”
She grinned, pecking his lips. “Cute boy.”
“Is this our kinky moment?” He smirked, sliding a hand under the blanket as Sin continued trying to make up excuses for calling her ugly. “Miss Mortaime, what are you doing with young Mr. Godson’s hand under your blanket?”
Her stomach hurt as she laughed, holding his hand still because he was trying to get into her pants. “I’m pretty sure you, young man, are trying to seduce my old ass.”
“Fuck, yeah, I am. It’s a sexy ass—not old at all.” He leaned closer, nuzzling her. “Too bad I’m so young—I’d ask you to be Mrs. Godson.”
He had her smiling so badly it hurt.
“That is too bad,” she whispered, closing her eyes as he kissed her neck. He’d been silly all night about her being older than him and that she was breaking the law with every kiss she gave him. After a while of his teasing, she’d given up and decided to play along. “I can’t be a wife from prison, can I?”
Ryder shook his head. “What countries let eighteen-year-old goddesses marry underage bad boys?”
“I think that place only exists in fairy tales,” she said with a smile.
“Hm.” He tugged her closer, kissing her jaw.
“I don’t think we have to worry, though,” she told him.
“Why’s that?”
“You won’t be underage for much longer.”
“That’s true.” He nibbled her earlobe then sighed. “Suppose I better see that you get the rest of your presents, then.”
“More?”
“Mhm.” Ryder pressed a firm kiss on her lips before standing, somehow effortlessly with her in his arms.
“I can walk.”
He steadied her on her feet and tugged her hand. “Come on.”
Jane realized almost everyone, including David and Tercero, were missing as Ryder led her through the house, toward the front door. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” He opened the door but halted her from seeing what the crowd was. “I didn’t buy it, but I’m gonna be the one who teaches you.” Now, he pulled her forward, and she gasped at the sight of a gold and black 67’ Camaro. Luc was opening the driver’s side door as Kingston climbed out of the passenger side.
“Happy birthday, Sweet Jane.” Ryder kissed her head and wiped her tears. “It’s the same one your dad sold a month before . . .”
She whined, nodding because she knew he meant before her dad died. She used to think his car was the coolest thing in the world, and she’d been sad that he was selling it.
Luc strolled forward, holding out a key with a half-moon keychain attached. “Your father’s memories still live in this car, as they do inside you, my queen. Happy birthday.”
Ryder kissed her temple as she accepted the key. “Don’t be afraid to drive. Your dad wanted this. He’ll be with you every time you get behind the wheel.”
“He’s right,” Kingston said, holding out what looked like a snow globe with a suction cup on the bottom. “Your father hated the idea of parting with this car, but money was tight, so he sacrificed it so your mother could go to school.” Jane darted her eyes over to see her mom standing at the edge of the driveway, her hands covering her mouth as tears streamed down her face. “She knew Eric wanted to pass this car down to you on your eighteenth birthday, and when Ryder proposed getting you a car, she asked Luc and I to help search for your father’s. We all chipped in, even if this one”—he gestured to Luc—“could pay for it with his lunch money.”
Luc leaned forward, kissing the corner of her mouth where he whispered, “Time to be great, Jane.” Then he moved aside for Kingston.
Kingston put the snow globe in her hands, kissing her head as she cried at the image of her dad holding her on his lap as she acted like she was driving. “Happy birthday, our darling flame.” When she cried, he turned it so she could see there was another picture on the other side, one of her mom laughing as she and Jane washed the car, bubbles floating all around because Jane had left the hose in the bucket for too long. “She doesn’t expect you to forgive her,” Kingston murmured. “But she still wanted to give you the best today.�
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Jane felt numb as she locked eyes with her mother, her mother whom she had begun to believe hated her guts for as long as she could remember. She’d done this, given her the last bit of her father that she would ever have. “I don’t understand . . .”
David came to her free side, his warm hand taking its place on the back of her neck. “She knows it doesn’t change the past or anything between us, but she accepts that I’m one of your boyfriends, and she fully understands she’ll see us together if you allow her to be in your life.”
Dropping her gaze back to the snow globe, her heart warmed at the sight of her mother’s happy face. It was unlike any smile she’d seen on her mom’s face since, and it was for her and her dad.
“There’s nothing quite like a first love,” Kingston said softly. “I love Sarah, and she loves me, but it’ll be our first love we cherish until the end of time. You are a symbol of your parent’s love, just as David is the symbol of mine with his mother.
“Sarah knows it’s her fault that she couldn’t accept your father still loved her just as much as he had before you. She knows and regrets how she has wronged you. And she knows that ‘sorry’ won’t make up for any of it. She only hopes to show you from this point on that she really does love you, and that she’ll support you in any choice you make—as long as it makes you happy.”
Ryder leaned down, whispering in her ear, “Let’s go tell her our happy news then—we’re getting married tomorrow.”
She choked out a laugh as Kingston glared at Ryder. “He’s joking,” she said, grabbing Kingston’s hand.
“Good,” he said, still glaring.
“We’re only pregnant,” she said, giggling as David kept her from falling and both Ryder and Kingston stared at her in shock.
“She’s joking,” David laughed now, kissing her head. “Baby, please stop. You’re going to break everyone.”
Jane laughed, turning and pulling Ryder’s face closer so she could kiss him. “I’m sorry. It was just too funny to see Kingston’s face.”
“Hilarious,” Ryder said dryly, but he smiled and kissed her. “Go see your mom before I put a baby in you in front of everyone. I wouldn’t even play the quiet game. I’d make you scream.”
“Jesus Christ,” Kingston muttered.
A dangerous smile spread over Ryder’s lips as he shook his head then smacked her ass. “Want me to come with you?”
She knew this was a moment between her and her mom, but she needed to do something. “Always.”
He grinned, taking her hand. “Longer.”
Still smiling, she turned to David. “Forever,” she told him, grabbing his hand.
David lifted their joined hands, kissing her fingers. “And beyond.”
“I’m gonna have my fairytale ending. Or maybe it’s just a new beginning.” Jane nodded, her eyes catching a dark pair and a silvery gray pair. “Never alone and an eternity beside his favorite star.”
Tercero smiled, and only the faintest slip of a smirk came and went on Luc’s perfect lips.
“Follow me?” she asked, already letting David lead her across the driveway to where her mother stood.
“They’ll follow you into darkness, babe,” Ryder said. “Just like David and I will.”
“Perhaps don’t compare meeting her mother as a trip into darkness,” Kingston grumbled as he reached her mother first.
Jane saw wickedness flare in Ryder’s eyes, but he winked at her and said, “Baby girl, I’ll behave. Introduce me to your mom so we can go for a ride with your dad.”
She didn’t think she’d ever really come face to face with her mom like this again, but Jane stared at her teary eyes, her trembling hands each receiving a gentle squeeze from fire and tingles, and she smiled at Sarah Leodegrance. “Mom, thank you for thinking of Daddy today. It means everything to me that you did this.”
Sarah sniffed, nodding. “You’re welcome, honey. He really wanted you to have it.”
Her eyes burned and her throat ached, but she breathed in deeply as she felt Tercero and Luc come to stand behind her. “I’d like to introduce you to my boyfriends: Ryder, David, Tercero, and Luc. I hope you can get to know them and approve of them just like Daddy did.”
Kingston put a hand on Sarah’s back and kissed her head, and it seemed it gave her mother the same strength Jane’s men gave her. Because Sarah smiled as she took them in, and not just them, but she took in the Helldonna boys and the other Godson brothers, and even the teammates who’d chosen to celebrate with them versus the bigger party with the team. “It’s lovely to meet you all. I would say take care of my daughter”—her eyes went to just Ryder, David, Tercero, and Luc now—“but I see she’s already protected, loved, and cherished—even given courage I never thought I’d see.”
Ryder leaned down, kissing Jane’s head as both he and David released her hands, and Jane took the final step to get her mother back, to never let go, even in the bad times. She hugged her mama tightly, crying with her.
“I’m so sorry,” Sarah croaked. “And I’m so proud of you.”
It meant more than Jane realized she needed it to. “It’ll be okay. Thank you, Mama.”
Sarah cried harder, kissing her cheek and holding her back. “Let them take you for a ride around the block so you can get back to your party. I know you’ve only just started.”
“Hell, yeah, the party’s only just begun,” Archer cheered from the porch. “Get in that car, sexy!”
Laughing, Jane wiped her tears and let Ryder pull her away as she smiled at Kingston hugging her sobbing but smiling mom.
“There’s my girl,” Ryder said, kissing her hand.
Jane shakily got into the car. David stayed by the driver’s door as Ryder left to get in on the passenger’s side.
“Be brave, baby,” David said, helping her adjust the seat so she could reach the pedals. “Just remember Eric is with you.” He handed her the snow globe. “Have fun. We’ll see you in a few minutes.”
Ryder took the snow globe, securing it to the dash. “Ready, angel? We’ve got thirty more minutes to do kinky older woman and young stallion shit.”
She peeked at Luc, to which he nodded and left with Sin and Damon, and she knew he would take care of the things she’d asked him to earlier in the night. “Let’s roll,” she said dorkily as she turned the key in the ignition.
Ryder yelled out as the most awful sound erupted from the car. “Fuck, Jane.” He covered her hand, returning the key to the off position. “Clutch, babe. You have to press your foot on the clutch.” He shook his head as Archer howled with laughter.
David chuckled, leaning in to kiss her no doubt rosy cheek. “Don’t worry, baby. Dad did the same thing. Have fun.”
Ryder shooed him. “Buckle up, babe, and try again.”
“I don’t think I can do this.” She glanced at the snow globe, memories of her dad showing her how to shift gears playing through her mind.
“You can do everything, Sweet Jane. Now, time to get up and try again. Ready?”
She blew out a huge breath and swore she could hear every instruction her daddy had given her. It had been as though he’d known she’d need to hear those instructions from such a young age.
“He’s watching, angel.” Ryder put his hand over hers. “Make him proud.”
With Ryder’s help, she hoped she did just that, and the engine turned over, roaring with the sound of cheers and whistles in the air. And with about five stalls in the driveway and two in the street, she finally went on a ride with her father and the man-boy he knew would always be with her.
Thirty
Ryder grunted as David laughed at him for a second time. “Shut up, bitch. Don’t act like you wouldn’t be upset that the moment your eighteenth birthday comes, Jane runs off with Luc.”
“Maybe she wanted to thank him for the car—he did pay for most of it.” David chuckled again. “You should see your face.”
“Getting her a car had been my idea. One day I’ll pay the bastard back.�
�� Ryder scanned the yard, frowning when he spotted Sin clearing some of the chairs away from the edge of the pool. “What is this motherfucker doing?”
David shrugged, but he waved Tercero over. “Have you seen Jane?”
“I saw her with Luc.” Tercero strolled over, sitting beside them. “She asked me to come find you.”
Ryder’s protective instinct kicked in. “What for?”
Tercero held up a hand. “She’s fine. I think she just wanted us to—”
Ryder jerked his head around as the pool lights and floodlights went off. He scanned the darkness as people started to panic, and his own dread climbed, only to halt as the tealights at the far end of the pool turned on.
Jane was there with Sin, Than, Damon, and Luc who sat on a chair with a guitar on his lap, his gaze soft as he stared at her. Everyone was staring at her. Her hair was in a loose bun, and she wore a simple white sundress with gold detailing sewn into the skirt and bodice.
A throat cleared, and Sin held up a hand to silence everyone as he also pulled a guitar in front of him. Than had one too, and they all took seats around Jane with only Damon and Jane standing now.
It was still Sin who spoke. “Tonight, we’ve celebrated the birth of a very special woman. I, as well as my brothers, call her the Little Moon.” Sin grinned at Jane, but she stayed still, her eyes closed as she appeared to whisper to herself. “Our Little Moon has been half for so long, but tonight”—he pointed upward, a full moon—“she glows her brightest. This is her gift to her world, her prince, her king, and one who protects the key to the treasure they keep.”
Now, Jane opened her eyes, finding Ryder first. She smiled but soon switched her gaze to Tercero. Another smile. Then she looked toward David. A blush.
Ryder chuckled quietly, smiling when that pretty blush deepened at the sound of his laugh.
Then she turned to Luc who sat nearest her. “My king,” she said softly as his brother brought her hand to his lips for a kiss.