Ramon grinned at Sebastian before he said, “Madison and Olivia had the talk together. Olivia sat there, looking bored while staring at her father, who squirmed. Right, Lucien?”
“I remember,” Lucien drawled. “Madison went bright red the moment her father said penis.” He smirked at Sebastian, who shook his head in remembered horror.
“The moment we finished talking, they quickly got up and left the room.” Michael laughed. “All we heard the moment the door closed was the two of them screaming laughing. They’d planned the whole damn thing.”
“Hell”—Garrett winced—“I can’t imagine giving one of those talks to my son or daughter. I shudder at the thought.”
“Their grandpa sounds like an expert, send them to him,” Derek laughed.
Michael winced. “I can do without that.”
Sebastian stood and cast his eyes over the younger generation before he turned to his brother, Ruben. “I’m sure you have some bananas around here, right?”
Ruben’s eyes popped. “Sit down, Sebastian.”
“Please,” Lucien begged. “Sit down and have a drink.”
Rob, the assistant manager of Kenza, placed Sebastian’s drink on the table in front of him.
“If you insist.” Sebastian took a long sip of the caramel-colored liquid he’d always favored—the finest single malt Bowmore.
Ruben looked at Sebastian warily and rightly so because anything involving his younger brother could get their wives hot and bothered, and not necessarily in a good way. “Are we safe from the sex talk now?”
Sitting back in the booth, Sebastian grinned. “You are.”
A roar of laughter drew their attention toward the younger generation, where they stood around catching up. It was good for them to be able to hang out together now that they were older with wives—and some of them with families—of their own. Sebastian thought it was especially nice to have Levi in the thick of things with the others.
“Is it a good idea to let Sebastian sit quietly?” Lucien, commented.
Sebastian cast his eyes over his brother. “How much of that Irish whiskey have you been drinking?”
“Enough to know you’re thinking about something, and that has me worried. Tonight, of all nights, I do not want to be in trouble with my wife.”
“I didn’t come up with anything other than the condom talk, but as that was voted against, I’m sitting here being thankful for everything I have. Everything we have.” He sighed. “When I was their age, I never thought I’d have what I do today.” He looked around the room before meeting the gaze of each one of his brothers. “We need a toast.”
Standing, Sebastian put two fingers into his mouth and whistled to get the attention of the men in the room.
“I’ve been told I have to behave myself tonight because my brothers all want sex with their wives,” he grinned, and added, “me included.”
“Dad, I feel sick,” Dylan moaned.
“Me too,” Ryan added.
“Grow up boys!” Sebastian winked at Dylan. “I just wanted to say how proud we are of our sons and the men you’ve become. A special mention to the men who have taken on our daughters, we thank you.”
As he expected, laughter erupted throughout the room, and once it had quieted, Ruben stood. “Let’s raise our glasses.” Ruben held his glass up. “To my youngest son, Jaxon, on the eve of your wedding.”
“Jaxon!”
40
Ryan
When Rob delivers a round of drinks, I grin. “Go and pour yourself a drink of my uncle’s Bowmore and join us.”
His eyes widen. “Really?”
“Go, before I change my mind.”
He’s back within minutes. “Thanks, boss.”
“You’re welcome. You’re off the clock now. They want anything else to drink, they know where it is.” I clunk my glass with his and Levi joins in.
“You do realize that we are the only three bachelors in the room,” Levi observes.
“Dylan,” I mumble. “Dylan and Jenna are engaged, not married.”
Levi rolls his eyes. “You know what I mean.”
I do know what he means except, I have Gretchen now, and the funny thing is, only Levi and Rob know about her. “Can you two not mention Gretchen to my family,” I ask quietly. “I’m taking her to the wedding tomorrow so that will be soon enough.”
“Sure,” Levi agrees. “I’ll keep her company tomorrow while you do your best man duty.”
Frowning, I turn to him. “Why are you offering to look after my girl?”
“Stop being a jealous asshole. She’s going to be out of her depth with all the McKenzies around, plus it’s been a while since I was around everyone.”
Gretchen is going to be nervous in the family gathering and I’m surprised to hear that Levi will be too. Instead of teasing him about it, I’m grateful. “Thank you. I’m sure she’ll be happy for the company.”
Rob snorts. “Since when did you get all proper.”
“I’m turning over a new leaf,” I say as Rob disappears behind the bar.
He sits back down a minute later and takes the bottle of Bowmore from behind his back. “Refill, anyone?”
“Uncle Seb is not going to be happy,” Levi mumbles, having another glass of the amber liquid.
“He’s driving so will only have the one glass.” I sit back and just enjoy watching my family together.
There are a lot us, so when we are together it gets noisy and we have been known to get competitive—the girls being more so on occasion. It actually feels strange them not being around tonight. I thought with Poppy not being able to stay awake in the evening that something would have been arranged for us all during the day. However, from what I heard Poppy was insistent that Jaxon had his bachelor party, so of course, I offered Kenza. It’s working out well, because everyone is having fun just being together.
Time passes quickly while I’m drinking the single malt with Levi and Rob, and it isn’t until I try and get to my feet that I realize I may have had a bit too much whisky.
“Fuck!” I slam into Rob who laughs. “When did everyone leave?”
Levi speaks. “Do you have him, Rob?”
“Yes. I’ll get him upstairs and lock up.”
Rob, I think it is, wraps an arm around my waist. “You’re drunk, boss. I’m going to help you upstairs to your girl.”
“She’s hot.” I sigh. “Sweet. Sexy. Pierced.” I grin.
“She’s pierced? Where?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Fucking hell! How much whisky did I drink?
“Forget I mentioned anything.”
“You got it, Ryan.” The asshole laughs.
“You’re not going to forget it?”
“No. But I’m hoping you’ll forget you told me.”
“Fucker!”
“He’s drunk? How did that happen?” Gretchen asks and for some reason I find her questions funny.
“Shut up, Ryan,” Rob chuckles. “Shove him in the shower and he’ll sober up.”
I swing the door shut in his face and hear him shout. “Thank you, Rob. How’d you like a pay rise? Thanks boss, I accept.”
“I’m not that drunk,” I shout back, and turn to a giggling Gretchen.
“Bathroom.” She takes my hand and leads the way.
“I need your help in the shower,” I suggest while kicking my shoes off. I struggle with coordination, so Gretchen knocks my hands away from my zipper.
“If you’re meaning what I think you are, then I’ll be very surprised if you get hard with how much alcohol you’ve consumed.”
Naked as the day I was born, I allow Gretchen to shove me into the shower. I cup my balls and dick, and smirk as she watches me stroking myself. “If I prove you wrong and get hard, you have to get on your knees and suck me off.”
She narrows her gaze. “Okay.” Tossing her clothing off, she stands and watches my flaccid cock swell with arousal while I jerk off watching her play with the pierced
nipple. I wince, knowing there is no way in hell I’m going to admit I’ve told Rob about it. What the fuck possessed me to blurt that out?
All thoughts fly out of mind when Gretchen knocks my hand away. “I can take it from here,” she mumbles, pressing her lips to the head of my erection. Her hands slide over my thighs to land on my ass, which she caresses before holding me still.
My eyes roll and I hiss as she takes every fucking inch of me into her mouth and down the back of her throat. The sight of her on her knees with my flesh disappearing into the heat of her mouth is fucking hot. I cup her face in my hands and hold her gaze when she locks eyes with me. “I’m going to come, Gretchen.”
She slowly releases me. “That’s the intention, Ryan.” Her mouth encloses me again, only this time, she swallows.
Oh! Fucking hell!
My vision blurs as my release is sucked out of my body. It’s fast and dirty and the more I watch Gretchen’s mouth work, the more I squirt inside her. She doesn’t give a shit either because once I’ve stopped coming, she very slowly licks me, and pulling back, lets me slip from between her swollen lips. She pinches my ass, moving away, but as I start to slide down the wall, she grabs me. “Oh, no you don’t. I need you to help me get you to bed. I can’t do it if you pass out on the shower floor.”
“I want you to sit on my face.”
Her eyes heat. “I’m not taking advantage of you while you’re drunk.” She hiccups a laugh. “Actually, I think I just did take advantage of you.”
“Honey, you can take advantage of me any time you want.” I smirk. “Besides, I’m fairly sure I only managed to get hard while laced with liquor because you said my junk wasn’t working. I had to prove you wrong.” I grin like the sated fool I am. “I also think having you standing naked in front of me helped.”
“Duh, of course, it did.” Wrapping us both in towels, she says, “I hope you remember this in the morning, otherwise, I’ll have to do a repeat so you can remember it.” She smacks me on the ass as I follow her toward the bed.
She gets under the covers and before I fall asleep with her wrapped in my arms, I whisper, “I think I have amnesia.”
41
Gretchen
Ryan’s brother, Jaxon, is getting married in an hour, that is if he doesn’t pass out. Jaxon has been trying to hold it together. However, having his brother and male cousins ribbing him about being tied down isn’t helping the poor guy.
“It’s a family tradition to get to the groom,” Sofia, Ryan’s sister says. “They’ll have a bet going as to who will make him crack first.” She rolls her eyes. “I dread to think what would happen if the teasing worked on getting the groom to run…Idiots!”
“I’m not from a large family, so I like watching how close everyone is.”
“We are close. Would you believe everyone here is immediate family? Poppy only has a brother present and he is walking her down the aisle. So, this is all the McKenzie’s.” She grins. “Well, technically, I’m a Fletcher now, but you get what I mean, right?”
“I do.”
Nerves flutter in my belly as I look around at the gathering at the home of Ryan’s aunt and uncle, Lily and Michael. They have a horse training center on their property, which is managed by someone else now that Lily and Michael are enjoying their retirement. From what Ryan told me though, it sounds like his uncle Michael is still heavily involved.
“I’ve hidden for long enough.” Sofia winces. “Elias, the son of my cousin, Sirena, is the page boy and he is the devil.” She picks up her dress, which looks fantastic on her. “Excuse me, Gretchen. We’ll talk later because I want all the details about you and my brother.” She pauses. “You can leave the naked bits out.” Laughing at herself, she moves through her family on the large patio and disappears from view.
Overwhelmed being the odd one out in such a large family gathering, I let out a massive sigh of relief when Levi joins me.
“How’s Ryan this morning?”
I feel a blush rush into my cheeks and Levi chuckles. “I take it he’s fine?”
“Very.”
“That’s enough of that.” He shudders. “I promised Ryan I’d keep you company, so no need to look like a scared kitten.”
“I’m so out of my depth here.”
“Me too.”
Startled, my eyes jump to his. “How? I thought they’re your family.”
“My mum and dad are cousins to Ruben and his brothers, right?”
I nod.
“We haven’t hung out for maybe ten years. The only person I have spent time with over the years is Ryan. I’m still family and in town, so I got an invite.” He shrugs. “It’s nice seeing everyone, but it makes me anxious to be around them.” He drains the glass of champagne, helping himself to another as the waiter passes. “As we’re the two strangers here, how about we sit together as Ryan has other things to do?”
“I’d love that.”
He busts out laughing. “Don’t let Ryan know you’re relieved to have me for company.” Holding his arm out, I slide mine through and let him lead us to seats on the back row. “Oh,” he mumbles as I sit, “I should have asked if you wanted to sit back here or up there.”
“I’m fine here.” I pat the seat beside me. “You can tell me who everyone is as they take their seats, and, maybe, I’ll remember.”
“Yeah, good luck with that.”
I nudge into his shoulder. “You have nothing better to do, so humor me, please.”
“I love a girl who begs.” He wiggles his brows suggestively.
Rolling my eyes, I remind, “Who’s who?”
“If you’re not willing to play, then I guess I can do that.” He glances around. “So, who do you know?”
“Lily and Michael. Alexander, of course, and his wife, Rachel. Her sister, Paige, and her husband, Seth. Jaxon and Poppy. I was doing my masters while they were at college together. I’ve met Ryan’s mom and dad today, along with Sofia and her husband, Shane. Some of the others I do recognize, but it’s been a long time.”
“Okay, then! At your two o’clock is Ramon and his husband, Noah; adoptive fathers to Paige and Rachel. Then we have near the oak tree, Lily and Michael’s offspring. Michael Jnr, his wife, Brooke. Michael’s twin, Charlotte and her husband, Tanner. Their sister, Sirena, who is married to Garrett…I hope you’re following?”
“I think so.”
“Talking to Lily is the youngest, Joshua and his wife, Mallory. Just arrived is Lucian and his wife, Sabrina. Of course, you know their son, Alexander—” Levi waves his hand in the air. “And then their daughter, Olivia, and her husband, Geary.” He pauses. “I’m going to need a refill when I’ve finished.”
“I’ll get you one.”
“Last of all, we have Sebastian and his wife, Carla. Their son, Dylan, who went to Ireland for Christmas and came back with a girlfriend, Jenna. Madison is a few years older and is married to Derek, father of Tanner and best friend of Garrett. Confusing as fuck, but they’re family.”
I laugh, wanting to know their story because both Garrett and Derek are much older than their wives. There are probably a lot of stories to be told and I can’t wait for Ryan to tell me. I’m not going to remember their names either—too many of them for that.
“Levi,” a male voice rumbles behind him, “nice seeing you here.”
“Uncle Eric.” Levi jumps up and hugs the man. “I’m coming around for you, Aunt Sylvia.” He slips in front of me and takes his aunt off her feet.
“Put my wife down,” Eric says.
Laughing, Levi stares at the man behind the couple. “Well, fuck! Ryker, what the hell are you doing on this side of the Atlantic?”
“On my way home for Valentina’s graduation. I can’t believe my little sister is old enough to be going to college.”
“Hell, I forgot about that. Don’t tell her I said so. I’ll be there.”
Ryker’s eyes drift over me, which Levi notices. He takes me by the hand and tugs me into his side. “My uncle
Eric and aunt Sylvia.” He points to Ryker, “My cousin, Ryker, son of Eric’s brother, Aiden and his wife, Sarah. This is Ryan’s girl, Gretchen.”
“Hmm.” His uncle Eric gives him a look before shaking my hand.
“Trust me, Ryan is my boyfriend. Levi had his tongue down a girls’ mouth last night.” I cringe as the stupid words tumble from my mouth.
Ryker bursts out laughing as his eyes fill with amusement.
Levi slams a hand over my mouth. “My sensitive Aunt doesn’t need to hear that.”
“Your sensitive Aunt has heard a lot worse than that,” Sylvia says with a teasing smirk on her face as she eyes her husband.
“I bet,” Levi hisses under his breath. “Join us.”
They take their seats beside us, and Levi asks, not so politely, “I know why Ryker is here, but why are you?”
I choke on a sip of champagne and laugh. “Sorry,” I chuckle.
“We’re used to him,” Eric says. “Sylvia held McKenzie Holdings together once upon a time.”
“A long time ago,” Sylvia sighs, whimsically. “That’s how I met Eric.”
“The best thing that ever happened to me,” Eric adds.
“You didn’t think so at the time,” Sylvia counters.
“I didn’t know what the hell to do with you.”
“You sure figured that out quickly.”
“Oh, God! Please stop.” Levi shudders.
“I forgot how good it is to be around family.” Ryker grins.
Eric gives him a long look. “You need to come home more often.”
“You sound like my mom, although Valentina is the worse. I can’t talk to her without her asking when I’m coming home.” Ryker looks pained as though he wants to be home but can’t for some reason.
Sylvia changes the subject. “So, Levi, you’re opening a business with Ryan, huh?”
“We used to talk about it as kids.” Levi shrugs. “And now it’s going to become a reality. I can’t wait.”
“From what we’ve heard, Emma is excited to be involved and can’t wait for a trip to Lexington.”
McKenzie Cousins Box Set Four: Books Ten, Eleven, Twelve Page 18