I chuckled and moved to the refrigerator. “I’m not sure what Emery has to drink,” I said and pulled open the door. “Milk, beer, what looks to be a pitcher of tea, and some juice boxes,” I told the women. Then I tried to picture Emery drinking from a juice box.
“The juice boxes are for us,” Ally said, and I looked over to the door at her.
“That is sweet of him to keep you guys drinks at his house.”
“Yep, and he keeps chocolate for us. Can we have some?” Neely asked as she moved to stand by Ally.
I smiled at the girls when the thought that I might learn more about Emery from them instead of the women.
“If it’s okay with your moms.” I looked at the Bailey and Sami, and they nodded. “Okay, juice boxes and some chocolate. You’ll need to show me where Emery keeps your stash.”
Ally and Neely walked over to the island, opened the cabinet underneath, and knelt. I pulled three juices boxes and set them on the counter, then water bottles for Sami, Bailey, Luna, and River.
Pans could be heard clanging together. “Need help?” I asked, and Ally’s head popped out of the cabinet.
“Nope, got it. Uncle Coast puts in the back inside a pot,” Ally said as she and Neely stood with a bag of candy. Then they closed the cabinet.
“Do you want to sit at the bar?”
“Can we go to the living room and watch TV?” Ally asked.
I looked over at Sami to see if it was okay. I had no idea if Emery allowed the kids to eat in his living room.
Carly got up from the table and handed the bottles of water to the other women, then she held her hand out to Ally for the bag of candy.
“Give it up, shrimp. You each can have two pieces, then put the bag back. I’m a little pissed, I didn’t know about this stash. What else does Uncle Coast got stashed around here?”
“We’ll never tell!” Ally and Neely yelled together.
“Hmm...keeping stuff from the cops.”
I didn’t know what to expect when I watched the smile form on Neely’s face. The one she shared with her brother. But I bit my lip to keep from laughing when she looked up at Carly and said, “Dev said never admit shit to coppers.”
“Oh good grief, that man,” Bailey said and laid her forehead on the table, not even bothering to say anything to Neely. I shouldn’t, but I found it all amusing. It said so much about the men and the little girls’ relationships.
Sami reached over and patted Bailey’s back. “I share the same pain, daily,” Sami said, and River and Luna snickered. I looked at Carly, and we both laughed.
“I’ll help you get them set up in the living. Coast lets them eat and drink in there all the time. He doesn’t worry about messes since Shakes, and a couple of the other ol’ ladies clean the house.” Carly grabbed up the juice boxes while the girls chose their candy.
“Why do they clean his house?”
“They used to do all the houses. Now they only do Flirt’s and Coast’s since we moved in with other men. Shakes was so thrilled that her baby boys were settling down, she wanted to help us with the cleaning, too,” Carly said as we walked into the living room with the girls.
I hadn’t paid much attention to the room before. It was laid out nicely with two couches across from each other and a loveseat separating them. In the middle of the u-shape of furniture was a square overly large table. The furniture faced the fireplace with a flat screen mounted above it. Everything flowed together, and with the throw blankets on the back of the couches and throw pillows in each corner, it helped give the room a cozy feel.
With the girls settled and the TV on, we went back to the kitchen. Carly pulled the tea out while I got us each a glass. Once filled, we joined the other women at the table.
River handed Poppy her sippy cup. “I don’t care that Shakes has spoiled those men. I’m thankful she and the other ol’ ladies did keep up with the houses. Dom is a slob. I cringe just thinking what his house would look like if the cleaning had been left to him.”
When River used the shorten version of Jag’s given name, Dominic. Calling him Dom, it reminded me of the evening before. “What do you guys know about Whispering Nights?” I asked and didn’t feel the least bit guilty asking the women. I was curious.
“Ah, did you figure it out on your own?” Luna asked, then patted Karma’s head when the dog stirred at her feet.
“What are you talking about?” River asked.
Carly shook her head. “Whispering Nights is the sex club Flirt goes to, to get his Dom on.”
River blinked. “Get out. That answers so much about him.”
Luna laughed. “Seriously. First time I met the man, I knew. He might look like he should be at the beach, catching waves on a surfboard, but his aura screams Dom. How can you guys not see that?”
“Probably because they don’t have your hippie vision.” Luna continued to laugh, unaffected by what Carly said.
“I knew. I thought everyone did, too,” Bailey said and shrugged.
“I didn’t know until I heard the guys talking one day and pieced it together,” Sami said.
“Okay, enough about Flirt getting his BDSM freak on. I want to hear how Mac ended up at Coast’s house,” Carly said and cocked a brow when she looked at me.
“Oh, enough. There are times you don’t need to know everything. I’m just glad Coast wised up and went for it. Because he deserves to be happy and so do you, Mac. Whether it is with each other or not. I’m just happy you are here now,” Sami said.
“Thanks, Sami.”
“Please, you all want to know the answer, too. I just don’t have time to beat around the bush. I’m not like some people who work Monday through Friday. I’ve got to go to work in two hours,” Carly said.
“Evidently, the woman agreed to come. I don’t see that you need the details,” Sami said.
“I’m not sure I did,” I said, then chuckled. “Yet, here I am.”
“I’ve been in your shoes, Mac. It doesn’t take much to fall for one of these men. Our situations are pretty similar. When I first met Dom, he came across as an arrogant ass from the start. We circled each other for a few months and tossed insults every time we did cross paths. The man got under my skin. Then he had to fly across the country to meet a daughter he didn’t know about, and I went with him. I’m going to warn you, though. You’ll never win against their dads. You can’t say no to them. I ran into Flyboy, Dom’s dad, literally. It was before I even knew he was Dom’s dad. We argued on the street in front of the bakery. Anyway when the man asked me to help his son, and I saw the pleading in his eyes. I knew I was in trouble. How those men have gotten to their age without a woman latching onto them is amazing to me. They can be gruff, controlling, and a little scary when you meet them. But what you can’t deny about them is they love their sons and would and will do anything for them. Even pleading for someone to help them. And the men are just like their dads.
“What I’m trying to say, Mac, is don’t put a time on falling in love because you might just miss out on something special. I almost did. If you feel anything for Coast, give him a chance, you won’t be disappointed,” River finished, and I hadn’t even noticed how quiet the room had gotten while she spoke.
“Well, I’m going to add congratulations because the man is fine. His dark looks make him seem mysterious and dangerous, and who doesn’t like those qualities in a man,” Luna said.
“Ghost know you think Coast is fine?” Carly asked and grinned.
“Brax knows he doesn’t have to worry. I’m carrying his sons. Besides, I’ve loved the man my entire life,” Luna said.
These women made it sound so easy to love one of these men. Could it really be that easy? And could I take the leap to explore the possibility with Emery? I was brought out of my inner debate when Bailey asked if I wanted to go shopping with them the next weekend for baby things.
“I’d love to. It will be fun,” I answered.
Before anyone else could say anything, Karma stood and walk
ed out of the kitchen.
“Well, I think our impromptu party is about to be crashed. Karma can hear her daddy’s truck, and you know he won’t be alone,” Luna said and stood.
“I don’t hear anything,” I said.
Luna held up a finger. “Give it a second.”
Sure enough, the sound of an engine could be heard growing louder as it grew closer.
The rest of the women stood, and we walked out of the kitchen. Sami and Bailey headed for the living room where Ally, Neely, and Sawyer sat watching TV.
No sooner than the sound of the engine died that I heard several doors slam, then the front door open, and Emery walked in with the other six men behind him.
“You’re still here,” he said as he walked toward me.
“And why wouldn’t I be?” I asked.
Emery pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. “That bunch,” was all he said before he pulled me into his arms and kissed me until my head started to swim. The clearing of a throat brought me back, and I realized we stood in the entrance to a living room filled with people.
I shoved against Emery’s chest until he released me and stepped back.
“Dam...dang, brother, give us a minute to round up the women and kids, and we’ll get out of here,” Devil said, and the other men chuckled.
I felt the heat rise on my face. “No sense in getting embarrassed, Mac. Not much stays private here with this bunch,” Flirt said as he stood by the front door. He was the only one of the men who hadn’t walked entirely into the house.
When I looked at him, I realized if I was going to be around these men, I needed to be able to hold my own.
“I found out today that evidently, there are some things that stay private around here,” I said and jumped when Flirt threw back his head and laughed. I looked around, and the women stood with their mouths open while the men beside them all had grins on their faces. I had to admit, I started to worry I’d overstepped until I looked up at Emery and he winked.
Flirt recovered and looked at me. “That there is, Mac.” Then he turned his graze toward Emery. “Happy for you, brother.”
The women and men with the kids leading the way started walking toward the door. I watched Dr. Agassi’s daughter stop beside Flirt and look up.
“Who do you belong to?” she asked.
I shamelessly watched Flirt’s reaction to Sawyer’s question. And when I looked over at the other women, their eyes were on the two also, so were the men’s.
I saw Flirt’s brow crease when he looked down at the little girl. “Who do you belong to?”
“I asked first.”
“Come on, Sawyer. Let’s get back to the house,” Sami said and moved closer to the door, putting one hand on Ally’s shoulder and the other on Sawyer’s.
“He don’t belong to anyone. That’s my uncle Flirt,” Ally told Sawyer.
“What’s wrong with you? Are you one of those men who are interested in younger women? Or one who don’t have a job?”
The men chuckled, and I watched Flirt’s lips twitch.
“Ah, you’re the interrogator?”
“What’s that?”
“Yeah, she the ped’s daughter, Sawyer,” Devil interjected.
“The one in the building next to Mac’s?” Flirt asked.
“Yes, her pediatric practice is next to mine,” I answered. Puzzled when Flirt grinned down at Sawyer.
“To answer your questions, Sawyer. I don’t belong to anyone. But I’m hoping soon to take care of that. And there’s nothing wrong me. Plus, I have a job.”
“That’s good. Women want those things. You’re pretty, too. Everybody needs someone. My mom does. She don’t have a husband.”
“Well, now I know why she and Ally hit it off. Let’s go,” Speed said chuckling and reached for the door.
After everyone walked out and the door closed behind them, I looked at Emery. “What just happened here?”
“Family, cariño.” Was the answer I got from Emery before I was picked up and carried upstairs.
Needless to say, we never made it to get my car at the hospital or for me to pick up some clothes at my house.
Chapter Eleven
Coast
“Fuck!” I yelled and reached up and moved the hand from my face.
“What’s wrong?” Mac asked sleepily as I touched my nose and expected to see blood when I pulled my hand away.
“Oh, nothing. I like being woken out of a dead sleep by a smack to my face.”
The bed shook as Mac giggled. “Sorry. When I’m overly tired, sometimes I thrash around in bed.”
“And you find this funny?”
“Ah, poor baby,” she said, then shifted until her face was above mine. “Let me kiss it and make it better.” She leaned in and started peppering my face with kisses.
“Hell, if I’d known you were going to do this, I would have said you hit me on the dick.” I chuckled, then flinched. “Ouch. No need to twist my nipple, cariño.”
She moved, kissed the nipple she’d twisted, and started giggling. I smiled, enjoying the playful side of Mac a lot. But her playfulness had me hardening so I pushed her on her back and had her under me with my mouth taking hers before she could react.
I ran my tongue over the seam of her lips, and when she opened, I pushed my tongue in. I broke the kiss only to bury my face between her neck and shoulder while I gained my breath. Her breaths came just as hard. Her breasts raised with each one she took, and her nipples grazed my chest.
Raising my head, I trailed kisses down her neck, then across collarbone and down until I reached her breasts. I circled her nipple with my tongue and bit gently as I pinched the other nipple between two fingers.
Her nails dug in my back, and she moaned. When her back arched, I knew she enjoyed what I was doing to her.
My cock throbbed between us, impatient for the wet warmth it would find. Having Mac like this would never grow old to me. I wanted so badly to spread her wide and sink into her, but she deserved so much more. So, I continued my journey down, kissing down her stomach and across to each of her hips. Her hands released my back only to grab onto my hair as if to guide me where she needed me.
“Relax. I’ll get there.” I kissed the top of her mound.
“Easy for you to say.”
I smiled as I slid my hands down her body until I reached her thighs. I spread her wide and wasted no time as my tongue snaked out, and I licked her from back to front.
My groans and her moans were the only sounds in the room until I pushed my tongue through her folds, causing her back to arch and her nails to pierce my scalp.
“Emery!” she screamed when I pushed down on her clit with my tongue. Then I circled the nub with the tip of my tongue and sucked while I pushed a finger inside her. I felt the tremble of her thighs against my cheeks. “More, I need more.”
I added a finger into her depths and pumped in and out. When I used my teeth to bite down gently on her clit, her body shook as the orgasm took hold. I used my fingers and helped her ride out the tremors, and when her body went lax, I began my journey back up her body. When I reached her lips, she opened and allowed me to share her taste with her.
One arm held my weight as I reached down with the other hand and grasped my aching cock. I ran it through her wetness, and when the head of my cock rested against her entrance, and I felt her heat, it hit me that in my rush to get to her, I hadn’t grabbed a condom. I groaned and laid my forehead on her chest and her hands moved to run over my hair.
“What’s the matter?” she asked as her hands continued to move down until they rested on the back of my neck.
“I need to grab a condom, and I’m trying hard not to shoot my load before I even enter you.”
Mac blinked, and her eyes filled. I rolled until she laid on top of me.
“Cariño?” I said. Unsure why she had tears in her eyes. “Talk to me.”
She shook her head, pushed up and off me until she knelt on the bed beside me. I watched as
she wiped at her cheeks, then took a deep breath and let it out slowly. When she looked at me, I could see the pain in her eyes.
“You can tell me anything, Mac.”
“I never planned to be in this position. But goddammit, you had to push me. When I avoided you, I didn’t do it so you would chase me. I ran the opposite direction and hoped you get tired of the chase and lose interest because I didn’t want to be here.” She pointed at the bed.
I didn’t respond, but I did run a hand over my chest where my heart was. I stared at the woman who knelt naked on my bed. The woman who for the last thirty-six hour or so, I thought felt the pull between us same as I did. I’d always been able to read people, but I’d evidently had blown it with Mac. I’d read her completely wrong.
I dropped my eyes from her face and started to rise. My plan was to get out of the bed, get dressed, and take her home. Before I was able to rise, she clasped my forearm.
“Don’t act hurt or pissed. You’re responsible for it.”
“And I’ll correct it if you let go. We can get dressed, and I’ll drive you home.”
“Oh no, you won’t.”
“Excuse me,” I said, confused about what the woman wanted. She didn’t want to be here, but she wasn’t going to let me take her home.
“It’s too late now. You wormed your arrogant ass under my skin. I was fine on my own, then you sat beside me in the diner. My first thought was I’m not sure I’m strong enough to resist him. Then you got butthurt when I said I could pay for my own lunch; I decide then that I’d been confused about what I felt.
“But you couldn’t leave me alone. Every time I turned around; there you were. Don’t get me wrong, I knew we’d run into each other because I had no intention of losing the friendships I’ve made with the girls. I was doing good, too, until Jag and River’s reception. You had to be sweet and attentive. And when your hand touched me, I felt it to my core. No one has ever made me feel that way. Being in your arms when we danced had felt fantastic and right, like I was always meant to be there.
Coast (Black Hawk MC Book 6) Page 10