Chapter Twenty-four
***Autumn***
Thenextcoupleof weeks passed by in a blur of fun. The kids were opening up to me more and more. Caroline was even learning to speak her mind instead of just crumbling into a screaming fit. Jones was having fewer and fewer angry outbursts, though they still happened. Having the dogs around to focus on seemed to really help the kids come out of their shells. They were also spending time away from Stacy for the first time, I found out. She had been more constant in their lives until Griff had gotten sole custody at the end of the previous year.
Stacy was a black hole of trouble over her children and it was wrong of me to wish her away, but I couldn’t help it. Watching the kids retreat into themselves when they had to visit her was hard to sit by idly for. I wanted to scream and punch and kick the shit out of everyone who allowed it. She did so much damage, more so when they had to go to her apartment and be trapped inside with her. She would take them into her bedroom and keep me out. The kids would come out angry; angry at me, angry at the world. It was torture to watch.
Each week, after their visit, we took time to do easy things together that allowed the kids to be quiet and slowly relaxed. We’d spent one evening floating in the ocean, under the sunset. Just floating. None of us spoke until we were drying off and heading back inside. The next time, we’d gone to a friend of mine who led meditation retreats. She’d somehow made it interesting enough for the kids to enjoy it. They’d left a lot lighter than they’d gone in.
We had family breakfast on the balcony every day, and we’d even gotten Zeke and Greta to agree to pizza nights once a week for dinner. It was almost like a normal family in the massive beach house. If you didn’t know about the after-hours activities.
I’d been on several dates with the men. Griff had taken me swimming in the pitch-black ocean one night, holding me close and talking to me about life before taking me on the beach with my hands held above my head and my thighs wrapped around him. Zeke had taken me to one of his restaurants after it was closed and taught me how to make the cheapest dish on the menu. We’d christened one of his prep tables, but I’d made him clean it before we left.
Con was the surprise. He’d taken me out for walks on the beach, and we’d even spent one morning in a canoe together, but he hadn’t made any moves to take it farther. There was tension between us that I didn’t have with Zeke or Griff, but the attraction still sizzled. I spent most of our dates wondering when the hell he was going to kiss me. Each time he didn’t, I walked away feeling like ripping his hair out for not doing it. I knew he was working at something, but I had found my sexual stride in life, and I wanted him. Sooner rather than later.
Con was the man who could sit at a table and spend a ridiculous amount of time perfecting tiny little lines to design a building just the way he wanted it. He was meticulous, and as patient as any man I’d ever known. It was sexy that he had the self-control, but I was past the point of needing to be impressed. Each time he was near me, I remembered the way he’d stroked me, the way he’d introduced me to sex with that same patience and precision. I wasn’t sure there was another woman on the planet who’d had multiple orgasms the night she lost her virginity. I had, though, and I wanted that again.
Not that I wasn’t getting more than my fair share of multiple orgasms from Zeke and Griff. I was. I was just greedy. I wanted them all.
I was lost in thought on the beach after putting the kids to bed when both Zeke and Griff came strolling up. I smiled up at them, watching as they pushed each other and acted like little boys. “What brings the two of you down here?”
Griff shoved his brother and knelt next to me. “We got our dates mixed up. I think it’s my turn to take you out and Zeke thinks it’s his.”
Zeke sat next to me and glowered at Griff. “It is my turn.”
“Okay, so one of you take another night.” I shrugged. “I’m not picking if that’s what you think is happening.”
Griff groaned. “Just pick me and let him down easy already, woman.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Nope.”
Zeke stood up and jabbed a finger at Griff. “Fine. You can come with us on our date. We’re going dancing, and I know how much you love that.”
“You’re fucking kidding me. Dancing?”
I bit my lip and tried to contain my excitement. “I do like dancing…”
Griff swore and stood up. Catching my hand, he tugged me up and into his arms. “Fine. We’ll go dancing together.”
“I get first dance.” Zeke took my other hand, and we all moved back up to the house together. “Go, get ready, Autumn. We’ll meet you back down in half an hour.”
I wiggled in excitement, already shaking my butt. “Okay, I’ll hurry! I can’t wait to dance!”
Running upstairs, I searched through my clothes and found a tiny dress that I never should’ve packed for work. I was glad I did, though. I’d already showered so I just stripped bare and pulled the dress on. It hugged my curves and pushed my breasts up like magic. Stopping just under my ass, it was dangerously small, but it was perfect for a night out. I pulled a pair of heels on and then pinned my hair up in a messy updo that looked sexy paired with the dress. Makeup and a spritz of my favorite perfume and I was ready.
I didn’t like going out a lot, but I loved it when I was in the right mood. It’d been so long, and the idea of a strong drink and a night of dancing with two handsome men sounded perfect. I rushed out of my room and ran straight into Con.
He stepped back and looked me over, his eyes going hungry. “Holy fuck, Autumn.”
I grinned and did a little spin for him. “We’re going dancing.”
He gripped my hips and pulled me into his warm body. “I heard. I’m dying of jealousy right now.”
I licked my lips and stared into his heated gaze. “You could take me dancing if you wanted.”
“Right now, the only place I want to take you is my bed.” He crushed my lips in a hot kiss and growled softly against my mouth. “I’ve been sitting around, waiting like a fucking idiot. That’s over. Enjoy your night out, Auti. Tomorrow, you’re mine.”
I almost moaned as he pulled away and walked back to his room. My body was being pulled in two different directions, but I didn’t have to make the choices, thankfully. The guys made the decisions, so no one got their feelings hurt. It made it easy on me, but in that moment, struggling to walk down the stairs on shaky legs, I wasn’t sure I didn’t want to crawl back up to Con and beg him to take me right there on the hallway floor.
Griff and Zeke were waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs, both of them dressed in all black. They looked like sexy devils, set out to tempt all of womankind and ruin lives with a single glance. The way their shirts hugged their bodies, the way their pants did absolutely nothing to hide the instant reaction they had to me, it was all enough to get me refocused on going out with them.
“Motherfucker.” Zeke shook his head and stepped forward. “You look like every wet dream I’ve ever had, baby.”
Griff growled low in his chest and stood there with his hands balled up at his sides. “We should go if we’re going. I’m seconds away from breaking all the rules.”
I giggled and stepped around them. “Take me dancing, boys!”