by Piper Rayne
I glance at Rome because we might not have that telepathic twin shit going on, but we do understand the dynamic between Liam and Savannah. We’re too close not to know what’s under all that hate.
“And what a gentleman you are! Except for when the two of you argue about clothes left in the dryer and how you stack the dishwasher.”
“I get it. Savannah’s not always easy,” Austin says to Liam.
“It’s fine. We’re making do.” He shoots me his evil stare and to think I finally gave him an out, but he didn’t take it. I can’t help but wonder what’s really going on between them. Because I’ve never seen Liam so wound up before.
“Okay then. Let’s go back and talk about Rome’s new beer gut,” Kingston says.
“It’s not from beer, asshole.” Rome’s still pissed off. He’s a second from breaking and it might just happen that Kingston’s sporting a black eye at Austin’s wedding.
Chapter Seven
Harley
* * *
Calista goes down for her nap and I’m rocking Dion when Rome opens the door to our apartment. I press my finger to my lips, and he slows his movements. Not that Dion can’t sleep through a lot, we live above a restaurant in downtown Lake Starlight. It’s not a metropolitan, but it’s not as quiet as being on acres of land outside of town either.
“What’s with the down face?” I whisper.
He leans forward and kisses me. “My tux didn’t fit.”
I purse my lips together. I’ve noticed Rome’s new stomach a little, but he’s been trying new dishes and when I was pregnant, I craved all the junk food, so it hasn’t been easy for the man.
“We’re not even married yet and I’m getting a gut.”
“We’re practically married. You have two kids, had to see me through one of the pregnancies. Plus you run a restaurant.”
He silently swears to himself.
“I love you no matter your size,” I say.
He rolls his eyes.
“Are you saying if I don’t lose this baby weight, you’re not going to love me?” I ask.
He opens the fridge, shuts it and flops down on the chair adjacent to me. “No, I love you and if your tits stay like that, I’ll be a happy man.” He winks.
“Post-pregnancy fact, they will not. As soon as I’m done breastfeeding they’re going to look worse.”
“Not to me.”
With Dion’s nose crinkled and his fists finally relaxing, I stand and place him in the bassinet.
“He’s out?” Rome asks.
“Yeah.” I come over to him and fall to my knees in front of him, placing my palms on his thighs and parting them. “I think you need a little attention.” My fingers travel up to the button of his jeans. I flick them open and slide the zipper down.
“How can you even find me appealing? My dick is probably fat too.”
I quirk an eyebrow. “Is that a bad thing?”
He chuckles, sliding down in the chair because we both know he needs my mouth on him. “I suppose not, but babe, I have a gut.”
My hands slide up his stomach, raising his t-shirt and sure it’s not perfectly flat with a six pack like before Dion, but it’s not like he drinks a twelve pack every night.
“You’re hot.”
“I’m halfway to a dad bod.”
I laugh, my head falling into his lap. “Then I love dad bods because I love your body.”
His frown says he’s still unconvinced, but I entice him to raise his ass so I can slide his jeans off. I push them to his ankles and run my hand over his length, loving the feeling of it stiffening under my palm.
“You also did the tux fitting right after you and Li did the tasting for the fusion dishes you’re working on. Do you know how much sodium you’ve had today?”
He hems and haws but grunts as I apply more pressure.
“Don’t think about that right now. Just think about this.” I run my thumb over the tip of him through his boxers and he bucks into my hand.
I take him out of his boxer briefs and his dick stands at attention pointing straight up all rigid and strong and veiny. I clench my thighs, wishing he could be inside me, but sadly that’s not an option. So I lean forward and take him in my mouth.
His hands move to my hair and I do everything he loves. The lollipop swirl, the deep throat, the sucking and jerking off, my hand on his balls. I use all my best moves. The ones that make him say my name like a prayer. The ones that make his words almost inaudible. The ones where he grips my strands so tight my scalp tingles.
Long forgotten are the issues of the tuxedo or the worries about the rehearsal dinner, which I know is the underlying problem because he’s nervous to cook for that many people all at once and he wants to impress his friends and family. But I trust him. Besides, we have so much going on in life right now we have to take a time out and remember what matters most in this world is us. Us. Our family. The soon-to-be Baileys.
He comes with a jolt and I swallow, licking him clean. “Better?” I ask, resting my chin on his thigh.
“I wish I could repay you.”
“I’m good.” I crawl into his lap and he kisses my neck.
“You sure? I can be gentle.” His hands run up my chest and he squeezes my breast, and a small amount of milk leaks onto my shirt. “It’s kinda hot watching this.”
“Um, this is how your child is eating right now.”
“I just want to be buried inside of you.” He slides me closer, his breath heavy in my ear and his tongue swirling around my earlobe.
“Me too, but I’m not in any condition right now.”
“Post-pregnancy sucks.”
I laugh and Dion stirs, a small whine floating out of him.
“You go rest. I’ll be on daddy duty for a while.”
“I love you,” I say, climbing off his lap. “The bottles are in the fridge.”
He shoots me a look to say he knows how to care for his son.
But as much as I want sex, sleep sounds like winning the mega millions right now. So I go to the bedroom with the monitor for Calista.
I wake up to the sound of Calista whining about something. Bolting up, I look toward the window and see the sun low in the sky. Without even looking I can tell I’ve been asleep for a while, my breasts are engorged and sore.
“Shit!” I run out of the room to find Rome with Dion in the sling attached to him playing a game of kitchen with Calista. She’s dressed and out of her pajamas although Rome is still wearing his, which means he slept too.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” I come over to them, kissing each one of my loves.
“You needed the sleep. You were out cold.”
My head falls to his shoulder. “Thank you. Right now that’s better than an orgasm.”
He chuckles. “Glad I can satisfy you in and out of bed.”
Calista hangs up the pretend phone she’s speaking to someone on and hands Rome a plastic hot dog and a milk carton.
“Want me to take him?” I say.
He stares down at Dion. “I fed him using some of the milk from the freezer.”
“You’re the best.” I can’t help the smile that pulls at the corner of my lips.
He glances down at his chest. “I understand this wrap thing now. Gives you use of both hands.”
I nod and smile, taking in this man who never ceases to surprise me at how adaptable he can be.
My phone rings on the counter and I walk over to grab it.
“It’s been going off all evening, but I told them I wasn’t waking you up.”
I pick up my phone to see thirty-four missed messages in the Bailey girl group message.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him because to hell if I want to read thirty-four messages.
He meets my gaze. “As of right now, the wedding’s off.”
“What?” I yell so loud, Dion cries.
Rome soothes him with a rocking motion and a few rubs down his small back.
“Relax, it’s all so stupid. They’ll
figure it out.”
Chapter Eight
Austin
Two days before the wedding…
* * *
I ring the doorbell to Liam’s house. Visiting Jack wasn’t an option since Frannie would lecture about how walking out on Holly in the middle of an argument right before our wedding wasn’t my most brilliant idea. I know it’s not, but we needed a bit of space before things got heated.
The stress of the wedding has gotten to both of us. Case in point? She blew up when I refused to postpone our honeymoon to coach my team at state. Holly is always a little high strung, but this wedding has put her in the red zone for the past few weeks.
“Well, it’s not a celebration unless someone’s gotta kiss ass.” Liam opens the door. His clothes are covered in sweat and he has a green smoothie in hand.
“I just need to lie low for a while.”
“I’m not sure this is the place but c’mon in.” He opens the door wider and I step in, heading to the kitchen and finding Savannah in her pajamas sitting at the breakfast bar.
Her eyes leave her laptop and she glances over.
Liam’s place resembles a log cabin. The kind you find at the bottom of ski hills, not in the backwoods. It’s mostly all wood with a rustic feel. Somehow as sophisticated as Savannah is, she fits in this space.
“I heard you made a dip shit move,” my sister says.
Liam leaves me to go pour me a cup of coffee and puts it on the breakfast bar next to Savannah.
“I told her I was fine with missing the game.”
“But are you really?” Savannah asks. She crosses her legs and it’s then that I notice her matching pajamas. When she lived with me, she wore boxer shorts and old t-shirts. What’s up with that?
Forget it. None of my business and I don’t want to know if she’s trying to impress Liam or not. I can only deal with one crisis at a time.
“Yes, I really am fine with it. It’s our wedding. Our honeymoon. We only get one. This might sound dickish, but when the team won regionals, I was surprised. It’s not something I planned, but it doesn’t change that she comes first in my life.”
“That’s a wise decision. I mean, what woman wouldn’t be offended.” Liam takes off his shirt and wipes off sweat from his stomach.
I turn to Savannah to get her take. She’s been my female drama fix-it girl forever. She’s staring at Liam.
“Sav?”
She blinks and then her eyes transform to lasers. “I’m sure Holly understands the predicament you’re in, and if you would’ve listened to her instead of being hell-bent on proving some point, you’d be at your own house right now.”
Denver stumbles into the kitchen. “What the hell? I’m used to dealing with that one waking up early, but you too?” He points at Savannah. “All I could hear is your angry typing on the keyboard.”
Savannah gives him her bored look and circles back my way to continue to make her point. But the door to the house opens and in comes Rome, one hand pulling Calista along and the other on the baby carrier strapped to his front. Calista’s holding a box of donut holes and has powdered sugar all over her face.
“We’re here to save the day,” Rome says.
Calista laughs, putting on her best Supergirl act. Something I’m sure her daddy taught her to do before they walked in.
“I don’t need everyone here.” I run a hand through my hair, processing what Savannah said. Maybe she’s right. Ever since I almost boarded that plane like an idiot to leave Holly, I’ve tried to make sure she knows where she stands in my life—number one.
“Oh, come on. The girls are all getting together,” Rome says.
I look to Savannah. She nods. Without me even having to ask the question in my head, she answers. “I told them I’d stay since I’d be the only one here to talk some sense into you.”
I don’t argue her point, but Liam shakes his head.
Rome covers his heart and falters back like I shot him.
Denver, well, he’s standing with the fridge door wide open, staring inside and scratching his chest while still trying to wake up.
“Unless you want to chip in for the electric bill, shut it,” Liam says.
“I pay rent.”
“You really wanna go there?” Liam deadpans.
Denver pulls out a small bottle of orange juice and shuts the fridge, rolling his eyes in a dramatic fashion. He’ll eventually have to find somewhere to live on a permanent basis.
“Savannah had that make-your-hair-flat thing plugged in most of the day yesterday,” Denver says, twisting the top off his drink.
“It turns itself off,” she says.
“When?” He holds up his hand. “It burned me.”
“I warned you before I left for work,” she snips.
“Can we please talk about my problem right now?” I interrupt the sibling fight.
Calista climbs up on Savannah’s lap and offers her a donut hole, holding it up to her lips.
“Oh no. Thank you though, sweetie.”
“Auntie.” Calista displays her pouty face and Savannah opens her mouth. Instead of letting Savannah bite down on it, Calista sticks the entire thing into her mouth, surprising Savannah.
We all laugh. Liam reaches over for a napkin and hands it to Savannah. She nods a thank you and I’m actually impressed by how civil they are to one another.
“Feed me, baby girl?” Rome sticks his head between the two of us with his wide mouth open.
“Maybe you should lay off the sweets,” Denver says.
Rome flips him off behind his daughter’s back, but takes the donut, acting like he’s eating her fingers.
“Daddy!” Calista erupts into a fit of giggles.
I watch the interaction and I know it’s weird, but my heart fills with envy. I want what my brother has, and I want it with Holly.
“I’m guessing this is some stupid fight?” Rome says.
“Fight?” Denver asks.
“The wedding’s off,” Rome says.
Savannah, Liam, and I all turn to Rome. “It’s not off.”
He shrugs like ‘oh, my bad.’
“We’re arguing, but it’s not off,” I say.
“I figured there was another fight between Liam and Sav or something.” Denver downs his orange juice.
“I think Uncle Denver wants one.” Savannah takes one from the box. “Here you go.” She throws it at him.
He catches it in his mouth and winks at Calista. Her eyes widen like he’s her favorite Disney character and she takes one from the box and throws another one. He catches it in his mouth again. We’ll be here all day.
When she picks up a third, Denver shakes his head still chewing the first two. “I gotta watch my figure, not like your daddy.”
Rome reaches in and throws one, catching him off guard. It hits Denver in the forehead and drops into his lap. He picks it up and eats it.
“Stop with the jokes,” Rome says.
“Go for a run,” Denver counters.
“If my kids weren’t here, I’d throw down with you.”
Savannah and I share a look because this was what our life was like once upon a time, but we’re all too fucking old to break up their fights now.
“Anyway,” Sav says loudly, getting everyone’s attention. “Go to her. Talk to her. Tell her that you appreciate the fact that she delayed the honeymoon, and you humbly accept, but that it doesn’t mean baseball takes priority over her.” Savannah touches my arm.
Liam snorts.
“What?” She whips her head in his direction.
“It’s just interesting that you’re able to make so much sense and see things so clearly when it comes to other people’s love lives.” Liam crosses his ankles and presses his hands behind him on the counter.
“I don’t have a love life,” she admits, which I know upsets her. But the guys Savannah goes for don’t live in a small town like Lake Starlight.
“Exactly,” Liam says, face void of emotion.
“You�
��re right. I should talk to her. Clear this up and make sure she knows I’m not angry at her for delaying our honeymoon. I still have the whole issue of her dad to deal with though.”
“She wants that asshole there?” Savannah asks.
“I’ll be her bodyguard,” Denver raises his hand. “Rome’s got his hands full now.”
Savannah shoots him an expression as if to say, ‘go to hell.’ “Why would she want him there?” she asks.
“Because he’s her dad,” Liam says matter-of-factly.
Savannah turns to Liam and nods. I exchange a look with Denver like did she actually agree with him?
“I’m fine if he comes. Tell her whatever she wants is fine and I promise to keep my cool,” she says.
“I’m sure between me and Denver, we can make sure he doesn’t get close enough to her to be able to aggravate her,” Liam says and that mutual respect thing from moments ago disappears. Savannah looks sour.
“Do what you want. I’m going to spend some time with my niece and nephew.”
“Perfect. Here.” Rome hands her Dion.
Savannah takes the baby in her arms and tells Calista to go get her bag of toys. I’m sure people would be surprised about Savannah’s maternal instincts, but truth is, she helped raise six younger siblings. She was our mom’s helper even before her death, so she knows what she’s doing.
Rome sits down where Sav was and looks at the computer screen. “What’s this?” he asks.
Denver rounds the counter and I lean over.
“It’s just work,” Savannah yells out. “Shut it.”
It looks like a pro and con list of some kind, but Rome shuts it and slides it away before I get a good look.
“Buzzkill. Fatherhood isn’t boasting well for you.”
“Denver, stop the razzing.” My own fatherly tendencies shine through when the twins go at it. Denver won’t let this weight thing with Rome go and pretty soon there’s going to be a fight and I can’t have that at my wedding.
I knock on the counter. “I’m out. I have to go make up with Holly.”