A smile pulls on my lips, but the phone is yanked out of my hand; Coty thumbs in a response before I can do a damn thing about it. He then tosses the phone back onto my lap and snuggles me against him harder, reclining us deeper, smug, legs spreading wider as he gets extra comfortable with me by his side.
:Me: Oh I am going to fucking tease you all right. Hope you like beer tap handles up your ass, because as soon as you get back here, I’m gonna pick you up and settle you right back down on top of one nice and slow.
My eyes widen impossibly large, and my gaze flits over to the bar where the generously-sized tap handles poke up above the counter. Just like that, I will never again look at beer taps the same.
:Vincent: Trying to do an assignment here, Coyote, and now I have to rub one out… thanks a lot. Poor timing to finally tell me how you really feel. Trying to trick me by using Lace’s phone to let me know you’re thinking about reaming my asshole is not quite how I pictured it… going down… though.
That image imprints vividly, too. My stomach clenches as I try to keep from laughing. Hot, rough fingers grip my jaw, and Coty yanks my head sideways. Chin upright, his steel eyes bore hard into mine. “Something funny?”
Hilarious. Nevertheless, I shake my head and blink my eyes coquettishly, letting my expression loosen and sag under his grip.
He sniffs in sharply and exhales, nostrils flaring. I keep my practiced, demure gaze locked, waiting patiently for him to work through the test. Less than a minute goes by before his fingers loosen, drag lightly down my neck, and drop away. He gets comfortable again, tosses his head back, and sighs.
I pick up my phone and get back to my new, reformed “job.” Coty adjusts, and his chin meets my crown so he can broodingly watch me continue.
:Me: Speaking of jobs, if you need a… hand… tonight, just let me know.
Coty’s knee starts to bounce, but he behaves. Vee is super quick to reply, which sets me at ease for the time being. The quick response means that he is safe at least.
:Vincent: All good VP, Bay has a grip on it.
Coty makes a noise that sounds oddly a lot like laughter. I angle my head back so I can catch that spark of happiness before it leaves. Coty locks in and gifts me with a tentative smile.
Attention returning to my phone, I snuggle into him harder. He squeezes me tight. Mid text, though, the screen flares to life with an incoming call. From Vincent. I shoot to my feet, swipe on the call, and hold the phone to my ear, heart rate accelerating.
“Bella?” he whispers.
“Mm-hmm?” I choke out.
“You and Coty in the saloon?”
“Yeah.”
“Everyone else there?”
“Yep, everyone is accounted for.”
“Are we being listened to?”
I almost… almost… flutter a glance over my shoulder at Coty, but decide against it. He had remained on the couch, and he needs to stay that way. Instead, I take a couple steps forward to the nearest table, turn around, and lean against the edge. One arm crosses over my torso, and I prop the opposite elbow on it to hold my phone-hand erect. “Nope,” I state.
“Good. Is he treating you right?” Vee asks.
I let out a massive breath, shoulders instantly releasing all the tension, and chuckle weakly. “Like a bodyguard protecting his queen.”
“This will not be easy for him, but it is essential. Do you understand, Bella?”
No, not really. Rather than admit to that, I refuse an answer altogether.
He continues. “You will let one of us know if he steps over a line, sì?”
“Sì,” I answer. “Vee?”
“Hm?”
“You will let me know if you need me, right?”
The line buzzes silent. I almost pull the phone away to make sure the call is still connected, but he answers just in time. “Yes, Bella. Were you really thinki—” A distant voice murmurs across the line, and the scuffle of a hand covering the microphone hums in my ear. A couple seconds pass before Vee responds again. “Time for me to go. See you tonight.”
“Bye,” I breathe out. My heart kicks back into gear again. I try to never worry about these men, but that has changed now that I’m responsible for all them. Things are different this season. Tensions are high. Something is off kilter… and I have no idea how best to help the situation.