"That's not a bad idea."
"Oh, leave her alone." I giggle. "It's cute how she worries about her big bad brother."
"If you knew the kind of pain I was in while I tried to end that call, you wouldn't call that shit cute."
I wiggle, my dress hiking up and allowing me to spread my legs. When his crotch falls against my hot sex, he groans and closes his eyes. "I don't know, Shane. You turned into a savage after, taking what you needed and giving me everything at the same time. If we need to schedule more phone calls during our sexy time, I'm not going to say no."
"Little vixen," he grumbles, smiling and betraying the seriousness he's trying to fake. "One day, you're going to do what I expect."
"I doubt that," I jest. "Kiss me, you fool, then fill my belly!"
His eyes spark, the golden swirls coming to life. "If I fill your belly, we're going to be late."
He kisses me, though, and pays me back for teasing him by taking me right to the edge before standing and adjusting the hardness of his dick then holding his hand out for me. I take it, my blood still roaring through my body, crazed for what he held back from me. I narrow my eyes and adjust my dress before calling him every version of mean I can think of. His gruff chuckles follow me out of his bedroom and through his house. Not once in the thirty-minute drive to the Italian restaurant does he stop smirking either, the big hunky tease.
"Is that her?" I whisper, clutching his hand and looking through his windshield at the beautiful young lady waving in the direction of his car when we pull up and park. "She's adorable." And she is. I didn't even really need to ask because there was no denying they're siblings. The feminine version of Shane, tiny and petite. "She looks like Tinker Bell with brown hair," I continue.
Shane chuckles, shutting the engine off and opening his door. Before he steps out, he looks over at me. "Have you ever seen what Tinker Bell looks like foaming at the mouth and trying to kill someone?"
"What? Of course not. She was sassy but not murderous." I scoff. "You need to brush up on your Disney movies."
"Cherie, I didn't mean in the literal sense. Humor me," he says with a smirk.
"Okay. Humoring. No, pumpkin, I've never seen that."
He nods, his wolfish grin in place, and steps out of the car. He walks around the back of his car to my door and opens it, offering me his hand and backing away so I have room to stand. I shimmy my dress down, biting my lip when he groans. One thing I've learned about Shane in our six weeks together was I was wrong when I thought he was all about the booty. No, he's made it clear that every single part of my body drives him insane, but when my legs are bare and on display wearing a short dress, he's bloodthirsty for my body. Something I've made no qualms about taking advantage of.
The first day of my unemployment, I purged my closet of all my teacher clothes. I packed them up all neat and tidy, stashing them in Shane's garage at his urging when he watched with laughter dancing in his eyes while I ranted and grumbled about the mean hags who made me resent the job I should have loved. One day, I'll bring them back out, but not until I'm comfortable with the environment of my next teaching position. For now, I'll wear my short skirts and low-cut tops, driving my man insane every time he sees me. Plus, it's not like my new charge, little Miss Quinnie-Q Reid, cares what I wear when I watch her so Ember can get all her projects painted for her next show.
I snap out of my thoughts when Shane shuts the door, his hand taking mine, and starts walking toward his sister. Now, I'm not a tall person, but I'm not tiny either. At five-foot-four, I'm the perfect little pint size to Shane's six-foot-three. However, his sister is tiny. When we step up to her, even in her heels, I'm guessing she isn't much over five foot even. Totally Tinker Bell.
"Libs," Shane says with affection painting that one word thickly.
"Hey there, big brother. You going to release her so I can say hi?"
"Maybe. Got a hug for your favorite brother first?"
She rolls her eyes but walks into her brother's arms when he releases my hand and hugs her tight. Her face pressed against his torso, low under his pecs. Her brown eyes smiling at me and open with her happiness shining bright.
Then Shane opens his mouth and wipes that off her face.
"I missed you, Tinker Bell."
Holy Hanson, he was spot-on. If Tinker Bell was a snarling vampire on the verge of starvation and the only available blood was her brother's, that is. Shane's laughter is uncontrollable while he playfully fights her off. His whole body relaxes as he looks at his sister with so much adoration I feel my throat get thick. Seeing him like this, I feel another piece of my heart become Shane's forever.
"Okay, okay," he grunts, taking a jab of her elbow to the gut. Laughing through it, he puts his arm around her shoulder, spinning her to face me.
She runs her hands through her hair, grumbling about her brother and seemingly forgetting I'm even there. My smile grows with his, but my eyes are all for her.
"1Dis boujour a ma petite amie, Nikki, mon petit ange. Avec le monde entre mes mains et les deux femmes les plus importantes dans mon monde qui se recontrent finalement, mes jours sont tres brillants." he says softly, his sister's eyes getting misty as he continues to croon that delicious language. I have no idea if he's telling her I'm a slob who snores, but it doesn't matter when he speaks his beautiful language. He looks at me, eyes happy and carefree. "Nikki, this is my little sister, Liberty. I'm thrilled as fuck that you two are meeting."
"Holy crap." Liberty gasps, looking back and forth between her brother and me, her eyes full of unshed tears. "Hi."
"Hi," I mimic, smiling and itching to hug her.
"I knew you were different," she continues in awe, whispering so softly that I have to strain to hear her.
My cheeks heat, and I shrug. "I just let him think he's in charge is all."
Liberty, two tears falling, bursts out with the most adorable laugh, pulling out of her brother's hold and slamming into my body with a force that someone so small shouldn't be able to achieve. I rock back on my wedges, wrapping my arms around her just as tight as she's hugging me. I sense something a lot more powerful than her just accepting her brother's girlfriend here, and when I look up at Shane, seeing the same thoughts written all over his face, I hug her a little tighter.
"It's really great to meet you, Liberty."
"You have no idea," she whispers in my ear. "I've waited for so long to see the shadows leave his eyes. Thank you."
It takes so much effort not to let her words show on my face. Right then, in front of Altoberli's, I give another Kingston a piece of my heart.
"Party's here," I hear bellowed from behind us, recognizing Nate's voice anywhere.
Liberty releases me, and we smile at each other. "Before we leave, let's swap numbers and pick this up for lunch next week?" I offer.
"I'd love that."
"Little Tink," Nate jests, and I watch the beautiful Liberty turn back into a bloodthirsty pixie, laughing as she launches herself on Nate.
Ember gives me a hug, looking tired. She's been dealing with morning sickness all week, and I know firsthand from being at her house with Quinnie so much how hard it is for her to do just about anything lately.
"Feeling any better?"
She shrugs. "I'm about eighty percent sure I won't throw up during dinner, but only about twenty percent that I won't fall asleep."
"Well, Em, that's better than yesterday," I joke, smiling when she starts laughing.
Who would have thought that one dinner date with these four would make me feel like I've found something I didn't even realize I had been searching for. Shane pulls me into his side, his scent enveloping me. Yeah, this is what it feels like to be full.
* * *
1 Say hello to my girlfriend, Nikki, little angel. My days are brighter with the world in my hands and the two most important women finally meeting.
I WALK OUT OF THE local bookstore with a spring in my step. Having more time on my hands since leaving Rosefield has all
owed me to finally tackle my Pinterest boards. I've tackled all the DIY Pinterest projects I had collected over the years, read some amazing romance novels, and got to spend a ridiculous amount of time with my best friend and goddaughter. Sure, Ember and Nate are technically paying me to watch Quinnie while Ember works, but it's hardly work. Sitting with my bestie while she gets lost in her creations and playing with an angel? Not a hardship.
Shane's been busy at Dirty. It took a few more not so subtle hints about my thoughts for a Filthy night at Dirty, but he finally agreed it was a good idea. I could see it in his face when he agreed, though, that he's still worried about me not being able to handle his job and the women who surround him there. A small part of me is worried he might always have those fears. Lacey did a number on him, but I'm stubborn enough that I won't stop trying to prove to him that I don't get jealous. It's hot. He's not humping them; he's standing above them and dancing alone. Knowing that women want him but will never have him is delicious.
Speaking of Lacey, ever since that run-in on our first fake date, she's been keeping a low profile. From what Shane says, he doesn't think that's the last we'll hear of her, and I hate to say, I agree. Seth, on the other hand, moved back home to Iowa last I heard. I guess Shane's just more intimidating, and Seth tucked his tail after their run-in. Even though I got what I wanted, knowing that Lacey is still in town doesn't fill me with gumdrops and rainbows. However, she can keep her crap on the sidelines as long as she keeps her nose out of our relationship.
My phone rings, so I stuff my purchases from the bookstore into my large tote and pull my phone out, smiling when I see Liberty's name on the display.
"Hey," I greet, smiling while unlocking my car and tossing my tote in the passenger seat. "I'm on my way to the restaurant now. Are you already there?"