He poured for all of them.
“Here’s to married bliss,” Xander said, offering his glass up for a toast.
“I’m not toasting to that,” Jaxon said. “You guys may buy into the marriage thing, but I’m a bachelor to the end.”
“Right,” Xander said. He tossed back his drink. “Just wait. You’ll meet a woman one day out of the blue and before you know it we’ll be toasting you.”
“Never. Going. To. Happen,” Jaxon said.
Bishop snorted, then gulped his drink. “You’re next.”
“No way,” Jaxon said. But the panic in his eyes belied his confidence.
Bishop shrugged as if he didn’t care what Jaxon believed.
“So when’s the rugrat due, Hunter?” Colton asked.
Everyone turned to find a very pregnant Allison out in the crowd. She stood with Gracie and Elena and a bunch of older women.
“Another month or so,” Hunter said, looking for all the world like he’d just taken over another billion-dollar empire.
“You two better get to work if you’re going to catch up,” Jaxon said, waggling his finger between Xander and Damian, maybe trying to shift attention away from him again.
“I’m not making any babies,” Damian said. “You’ll have to do it yourself. Now, if you assholes will excuse me, I’m going to go dance with my wife.”
“Never thought you’d say that, did you?” Xander said, laughing as he poured himself another glass of Damian’s scotch.
“Not in a million years, bro,” Damian said.
“Feels good though, doesn’t it?”
“You know it.”
Damian made his way through the crowd, accepting congratulations along the way, until he reached Elena. He placed his hand on her waist and she leaned into him.
“Dance, Mrs. Caine?”
“Vertically or horizontally?” Gracie asked, wiggling her brows.
“I…” Rarely left speechless, he still wasn’t used to his blunt sister-in-law so just sputtered in response. This had the ladies giggling. He tried not to blush in response. How the hell had he fallen so far?
Elena patted his arm. “I told you you didn’t have the proper training for this kind of crowd.”
He squared his shoulders and stretched to his full height. The hell he’d let a bunch of girls intimidate him. “I can handle a few women.” He gave them the full weight of his SEAL glower.
They all froze for a moment, then broke out into fits of giggles and raspberries.
“Oh, God, I think I’m going into labor,” Allison managed between wheezes of laughter.
His withering gaze didn’t seem to have any effect on them, so he took Elena’s hand and dragged her away from the pit of humiliation.
“Don’t blame me,” she said, snorting as she trotted along behind to keep up with his long, determined strides. “Where are we going?”
“In the house so I can assert my dominance over you and regain my manhood.”
“Oooh, that sounds like fun.”
He rolled his eyes. “You could at least pretend to be intimidated by my power and virility.”
They climbed the steps to the deck where his brothers had nearly finished his scotch. No respect.
“Oh I am, hotshot. Really. I am. In fact, I’m shaking in my shoes. Quivering, really.”
“Did I hear the lady say she was quivering?” Jaxon asked. “Way to go, bro.” He offered a high-five, which Damian ignored.
“Shut-up and drink my expensive booze. I’m going to go teach my wife who’s boss.”
This earned him more raspberries, and a gaggle of snort-laughs.
“Keep telling yourself that, man,” Xander said. “At least you get sex out of it. That’s the important thing.”
He stalked into the house and into the kitchen, then stopped. At this point a lot of his blood had rushed south in an effort to inflate his cock, which had made his uniform pants too tight, so all he could think of was getting out of them. He forgot the layout of the house. All he needed was a fucking room with a door.
He turned and headed down a hall, shoving open the first door he came to, only to be greeted by a squeal and a grunt.
When he focused on the scene he realized first, that he’d found the library—which he didn’t know even existed in the first place—beyond that he saw Wolfe banging one of the bridesmaids up against the shelves.
“What the hell?” he asked
“They don’t call me Big Bad for nothing.” Wolfe grinned and thrusted for emphasis.
“Ugh.” Damian slammed the door. “Not a word from you,” he said to Elena who bit her lip to keep from laughing.
He marched her back out through the kitchen and upstairs. Her room was up there somewhere. At this point his balls ached.
At the top of the stairs he threw open the first door he came to, only to find Chill Winters humping another bridesmaid on a huge four-poster bed.
“Jesus,” he said, banging the door shut. “Is everyone but me having sex right now?”
“Looks like it,” Elena said.
He tried the door across the hall. Sure enough, Suede Monroe had some girl spread across a plush rug on the floor.
“Hey, Beast. Nice reception,” Suede said.
Elena burst out laughing as Damian shut the door and moved down the hall.
“My room’s at the end,” she said. “If that helps.”
“I don’t think I can wait.”
The next door was an enormous bathroom where Buck McCormick was busy with a redhead; and finally in another bedroom he found Terrell cavorting on a California King with two women.
“What the fuck, Dick-for-brains?” Damian barked.
A blonde had her lips wrapped around the reason Terrell’s nickname was Hung, while a brunette sat very nearly on his face. Damian struggled not to smirk.
Terrell looked up from the tangle of limbs, “Hey beast. How’s it hanging?”
“It’s not.”
Terrell glanced down at Damian’s pants then back up, a bright grin on his face. “You’d better do something about that.”
“I’m trying,” Damian said through gritted teeth.
Elena popped her head in and grinned. “Hey Hung. Looks like you hit the jackpot.”
The brunette said, “Other way around, Elena.”
“Okay, we’re outta here. Clean up before you leave,” Elena called over her shoulder as she hauled Damian out of the room. “Follow me, hotshot.”
She led him to the end of the hall and into her room. Thank God it was empty.
Once inside, he pushed her against the door and crushed his lips to her. He pressed his body to hers, trapping her against the door and ravishing her mouth. He could never get enough of her. Just when he thought, okay, I’m sated, all it took was another look at her and he needed her again. Talk about prisoner of desire. Sometimes he wanted her so badly it hurt.
“Get that dress off,” he said as he worked the buttons of his shirt, practically ripping the damn thing to get it off.
“I can’t reach the back.” She contorted her arms around her back as proof.
By now he had his pants undone. He let them drop the floor and kicked them away. “It didn’t occur to you to wear something easy to get out of? I’m ready to just tear the damn thing off you,” he growled. He stalked toward her, but the look on her face made him stop in his tracks. “What?”
She swallowed hard, her eyes wide, dark pools of desire. “I will never get tired of seeing that naked body. Holy shit, you’re gorgeous”
“And I’m all yours.”
“Damn straight, you are.”
He couldn’t wait for her to get out of the dress. They had the rest of the night and a two-week honeymoon they could spend rolling around naked in bed or wherever else they wanted. For now, he just wanted to be inside her.
Bracketing her waist with his hands, he pushed her to the bed, picked her up and threw her onto her back. He stood over her, fists on his hips and cock standing hard and tall. “Yo
u better not be wearing anything under that dress.”
Her gaze crawled up and down his body as real as a caress, leaving gooseflesh in its wake, but then she licked her lips and waggled her brows as she inched the dress up her legs in a slow reveal.
When the hem floated up past her naked pussy he just about shot his wad where he stood. Then something happened he hadn’t expected—his throat tightened and he had to swallow hard past a wave of emotion that almost brought him to his knees. She was his. She loved him, and wanted him. How had he got so lucky?
“You’re drooling,” she said, a wicked look in her eyes.
“Cocky much?” he asked climbing over the top of her.
“On no, hotshot, that’s your job,” she said reaching down to wrap her fingers around his cock. “Now, bring it…”
THE END
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To Wren and Anne: Thank you for your sharp eyes and spot-on suggestions and attention to detail. You helped polish the story and whip it into shape!
To the Relentless Writers: Thank you for helping me with all my out-of-the-blue panic when scenes don’t work, and for always being there to listen to my whining and still offering your help anyway! You guys are my homies.
To Wren: Thank you for commiserating, for making me laugh, for tolerating me, and for sparking the idea that has grown into the Caine Brothers.
To the Badass Book Bitches: Thank you for all your helpful advice, your tips, your resources, and your continuing generosity of spirit.
To my family: As always, thank you for being there for me. I love you.
To my readers: Thank you for your support and for your enthusiasm for my books. I’d be nowhere without you!
To Deena and eBookBuilders, the formatting wizard.
BOOKS BY MARGARET
HUNTER
By Margaret Madigan
He had a billion reasons to be happy…until he met her. Then only one reason mattered.
When Hunter Caine takes over the CEO position at his father’s multi-billion dollar real estate development company, he also inherits his father’s sexy blonde personal assistant, Allison McDowell.
Allison doesn’t appreciate being passed around like property, but when she meets Hunter, sparks fly. Sure, he’s gorgeous, but if Hunter’s anything like his misogynistic father, Allison’s ready to resign.
Hunter’s considering the purchase of a resort in Costa Rica. It’s currently a couples-only resort, so he asks Allison to go undercover with him, posing as newlyweds. Allison’s skeptical, but it’s a free trip to Costa Rica, and Hunter’s easy on the eyes, so why not?
Those sparks turn into raging hot flames as Hunter and Allison explore the resort—and each other—and discover that what happens in Costa Rica may or may not actually stay in Costa Rica.
XANDER
By Margaret Madigan
Falling for the daughter of his sworn enemy means making a choice between passion and peace.
When Xander Caine administers a little biker justice to a wife-beating scumbag from the rival Ravagers, he and his fellow Huntsmen walk a fine line between keeping the peace and breaking a long-standing truce.
Gracie Buckner is the daughter of the Ravagers’ president, but she left the biker life a long time ago for college and a career as a photographer. When her sister’s husband beats her yet again, Gracie hires the Huntsmen for due process—the biker way.
Showing up at the Huntsmen’s tavern to confirm the job’s been done turns into an episode of hot—anonymous—sex when Gracie runs into the irresistible Xander. Horrified, Gracie bolts, only to run into him again—leading to more anonymous sex—at a local bike rally. The bigger problem is the instant—and deeper—connection that haunts them both. Once they finally reveal their identities, their fates are sealed.
The Huntsmen-Ravagers feud is the stuff of legends, and finally reaches a tipping point when the rivals learn of Xander and Gracie’s relationship, leading to an epic battle in the middle of the rally. When the dust settles the landscape of both clubs looks vastly different, but Xander and Gracie are determined to stand together in peace and celebrate their star-crossed passion.
Making it Right
By Margaret Madigan and Merissa McCain
Adrenaline junkie Nina Osborne never misses a hockey game or an MMA fight on TV. After the storage facility she owns is burglarized, one of her favorite MMA fighters, Drew “Juggernaut” Warner, shows up furious and blames her for his stuff getting stolen. When Drew returns to apologize and clean up his storage unit, Nina parlays it into a first date and burgeoning relationship, which comes with an introduction to the exhilarating world of live MMA.
Drew has no idea when he brings smart, sassy, and super-sexy Nina into his life that she’ll rock the foundations of his carefully planned-out career. But when she decides that law enforcement isn’t doing enough to solve the burglary and takes the investigation into her own hands, protecting her jeopardizes his career. The smart thing to do would be to leave her be. Problem is, while he wasn’t looking Nina took a firm grip on his heart.
Nina’s determined to make things right; however, her investigating leads to big trouble, forcing Drew to fight both inside the cage and out if he and Nina are to have any hope of a future together.
Faerie Fate
By Margaret Madigan
Holly Spencer is a 22-year-old IT major who’s ready to graduate and find her place in the world. What she really wants is a good job and a condo with a view.
But when she’s rescued twice in one day by a mysterious man who claims to be a fae warrior, she’s plunged into a world she grew up believing existed only in fairy tales, and is forced to run for her life from warring factions who all want her dead.
Shadow’s on a routine mission when he runs headlong into Holly—the soul mate he’d given up on ever finding. Even when she refuses to believe they’re meant for each other, he fights to protect her from the very thing that brought them together, even when it means making a dangerous deal with Fate to save her life.
Gambling on the Outlaw
By Margaret Madigan
He’s gambled everything…except his heart.
Beth Caldwell is no man’s property. A gambler’s widow with a willful, independent streak, she’s already courting trouble after rejecting an offer of marriage from a foul-tempered and land-hungry cattle baron. But when Beth discovers a handsome outlaw hiding in her barn, she lands in a whole new heap of trouble…
Isaac Collins survived the Civil War only to find himself scapegoated for stagecoach robbery and murder. With nothing left to lose, he gambled everything on revenge and barely escaped with his life. Now he’s relying on the kindness of a fierce, strong-willed woman…and God help him if there isn’t something both sweet and forbidden simmering between them.
But Beth’s rejected suitor is no gentleman. He’ll do whatever it takes to get her land. And in Nevada, sometimes everything can ride on one high-stakes game of chance.
Depending on the Doctor
By Margaret Madigan
Lydia Templeton teaches other people’s children, but dreams of having a home and family of her own. Plain and mousy, she protects her heart and relies on herself, accepting that she may never find a place where she really belongs.
Emmett Wilder served as a Civil War battlefield surgeon. After the war he dosed himself with plenty of alcohol to forget the blood and violence. Unfortunately, drunk doctors make mistakes, and Emmett's no exception, so now he travels the country selling homemade medicinal tonics and trying to outrun his demons. Keeping to himself he can’t hurt anyone else and he likes it that way.
But Emmett owes a favor to Lydia’s brother, Randall, who decides it’s time to collect. After their mother dies, Randall sends Emmett to Nevada to find Lydia and bring her home to Nebraska. Along the way Lydia and Emmett tangle with train robbers, natives, and an accidental marriage only to find that Randall is the worst enemy of all.
As Lydia journeys across the country w
ith Emmett, she’s forced to face her worst fears and deepest desires, discovering along the way that her real strength comes from Depending on the Doctor.
ABOUT MARGARET
I write historical romance for Entangled Publishing and paranormal romance for Evernight Publishing. I write contemporary romance and science fiction through M&M Publishing.
I’m an Oregon Ducks fan.
I’m a donut and pastry addict (pretty much any carbs, really).
I like cats.
I’m terrified of balloons.
When I’m not writing you’ll find me in a college classroom teaching English, or working as a literary agent for an amazing agency…and of course, wrangling my family.
CONTACT MARGARET
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FORMAT & LAYOUT
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Damian (The Caine Brothers #3) Page 11