Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

DOM

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 6:30 P.M.

Everyone starts talking at once. Most with the opinion we should just tell them what's going on. Lucinda holds up her hand, and we all get quiet. No one wants to hear that whistle again. "Callie is in a fragile state. She's sad… She gets sad around this time every year. But this year, it's been worse."

"It's the bakery." I stand. They all stare at me, but I know I'm right. "Mom and Callie drew up plans to start a business together. I think they wanted us to take it over. Not sure about that part. But after we turned twenty-five, they planned to travel the world together."

"How do you know that, Dom?" Cage asks, and I try to answer him without blushing. This man is not related to me. I still can't wrap my head around that. But the possibilities make me dizzy. "I found a notebook in a shoebox. There were drawings of restaurants and bakeries. And a timeline. We all turned twenty-five on June twelfth." I gesture to them all. "How is it we were all born on the same day?"

"And both mothers have struggled since then." Lucinda nods.

"I agree we should tell them. In person. We need to break it to them gently." Paxton points to Xander and me. "We'll go talk to Sophia?—"

"No." Everyone turns to Cage. "I want to see her. Sophia. If she says she doesn't want—this might be my only chance to meet her."

"Sure, that's the reason," Paxton says, and Cage glares at him. "What about you, Dom?"

"I'll go with Cage." I don't like the smirk on his face.

"I agree," Xander says. "We need at least one twin to be from there. I'll go with Tor to Grandville."

He wants to help me, but Erik is also from Grandville. Does that have anything to do with his decision? Not that I mind. Xander has smiled more in the last few days than ever before. He's also been close to tears. Tradeoffs.

"Perfect," Lucinda says, with a clap of her hands. She rises to her feet. "When do you leave?"

"Mom—" I stop because she's not my mom. A wave of sadness hits me, but I shake it off. "She expects us back tonight. Our train leaves at eight."

Lucinda checks her watch. "That's a little over an hour from now. We better get started."

We hash out a plan. Tor and Xander go to Grandville. Cage and I go to Chicago. We each see how the mothers are doing. It will devastate Mom—Sophia—if this doesn't work out. Cage and I will lay low until we get the signal.

Paxton is on the same train, so we all pack, and Cage drives us to the station. Xander and Tor will leave after us in Cage's car. "Take care of my baby, Tor."

"Oh, I will." He winks, and Cage shakes his head.

"Goodbye, Tor," Paxton says. "Try not to mess anything up."

His smirk widens into a grin. "I'm going to miss you, Paxton."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Who else am I going to…mouth off to?" He bites his lip and looks at Paxton from under his lashes.

Paxton growls. "You're a brat. Someone needs to give you a good spanking."

"Are you volunteering, Daddy? I'm not opposed to that idea."

"Jesus, make it stop." I shake my head free of that mental image and give Xander a quick hug. "Take care, bro." Xander and I have never been apart for long. Instead of dwelling on that, I grab Cage's hand, not caring who sees. "Let's get on the train."

The ride to Chicago is both uneventful and pure torture. I'm exhausted from the weekend and want nothing more than to sleep in my bed. Except, that's a lie. I want Cage in my bed next to me. I'm too tired to actually do anything. Just having him there with me will be enough.

But isn't that another lie? Every time the train jerks, his leg bumps against mine, and the feel of him combined with his hand on the seat next to me, has me rock hard. Sleeping is the last thing on my mind. But Paxton is right there so we don't do anything. Much. Cage finally grabs my hand and holds it on his leg. My thoughts continue their slide south, along with all the blood in my body.

"Are you okay?" Cage's dark eyes study me.

"Yes. You?"

He shrugs. "It's a lot. Finding out your mom isn't your mom."

"Yeah. And finding out your brother isn't your brother."

"I'm okay with that part."

I hold his hand between mine. "Same."

Once we get off the train, a car is waiting for us. Cage leans over and whispers, "You have a chauffeur?"

"No." I've never thought of it like that. "Just a driver."

He tilts his head and his eyes sparkle with amusement. "Isn't that the same thing?"

We pile into the back of the car and drive the thirty minutes home. The city rising into the sky captures Cage's attention. "Wow. This is amazing."

"I love your enthusiasm, but you might want to tone it down, Xander." I nod at the driver. Charles hasn't been with us long. But long enough that a grinning Xander is unusual.

As we pull up to the house, which now I realize looks more like a mansion, I wonder if this will be another thing. Cage mentioned needing the prize money. He didn't grow up wealthy. How will he take all this?

But he stares in awe at everything. "This is amazing," he whispers as we enter the house.

Maya, the housekeeper, welcomes us home. "There's dinner for you in the fridge if you're hungry."

"Is Mom already in bed?" It's ten thirty, so I expect her to be asleep. But I want to make sure.

Her smile drops. "Yes. She's been…going to bed early lately."

I nod. "Thank you, Maya." I'm glad Mom isn't around. Is that selfish of me? Maybe. But I don't focus on that. "Hey, Xander." I take Cage's hand and squeeze. "Want to have a sleepover?"

"Yes, please. Although I am tired."

"I'll try not to wear you out." Just thinking about kissing this man has me pulling him up the stairs.

Once I'm in my room, surrounded by my things, I lose my nerve. This room isn't just full of me—my books, mostly mysteries, my swimming medals, and my video games—it's also full of Xander. Playing Zelda together. Trips we've taken with our mom. No, not my mom. Or my actual brother. "Is this weird?"

"Yes. This entire thing has been weird from beginning to end. But you and I, sweetheart? Not weird at all." His eyes are as fond as his words.

"I like the sound of that."

He kisses my forehead, and I huff in protest. He laughs, and the next kiss is spot on—his lips on mine. Soft. Sweet. I want more, but I'm not sure I'm ready, and freaking out during sex would not end well.

"We don't have to do anything but cuddle. You do like to cuddle, right?"

"Is it a dealbreaker?" I bite my lip, pretending to be worried.

Cage studies me, his eyes serious. "No dealbreakers, Dom. I want you exactly as you are."

My insides feel as gooey as the butter bars the restaurant serves for dessert. "Then yes to cuddling. And a solid maybe to more."

I slip my arms around him and turn us so the picture of Xander and I at the Taste of Chicago, each holding up a turkey leg, isn't staring at me. Cage kisses my neck, and I try to let go of the tension in my body, but it's impossible to focus. I pull away with a groan.

"Did I do something?—"

"No." I cut him off before he can take that thought further. "I just need to do something real quick." I walk backward, holding his gaze. "One teeny tiny sec." I turn and put all the pictures of Xander, and even ones of just me, face down. I take a step toward him and hesitate. Pinching my fingers together to indicate I need another second, I grab all the pictures off the dresser and bookcase and shove them into a drawer.

"Better?" he asks with a smile, like he finds my neurosis charming.

"Much." I wrap my arms around him again, but this time, I don't hold back. These kisses aren't soft or gentle. I cling to him as our lips come together again and again, our tongues trying to get more. Taste more. I'm ready, but my body is not. Exhaustion has me sagging against him. Fuck. I want this so much. "Cage, I…" How can I explain without pushing him away?

"Shh. It's okay." He lifts me off my feet and carries me to the bed. "Let me take care of you." His words have me tearing up. Has anyone ever offered to take care of me before?

He lays me gently on the bed. "I'm going to undress you." The question in his voice is in his eyes, and I nod my consent. He unbuttons my shirt, his eyes hot on me, and opens it, exposing my chest to his hungry gaze. "You're beautiful, Dom."

I start to argue because I'm really not, but I don't want to lose the look in his eyes. "Don't stop now," I say, pulling the shirt off and gesturing to my pants. "Still too many clothes."

As he unbuttons my jeans, he kisses me again and slowly pulls the zipper down. My dick gets harder still, and I'm torn between wanting him to hurry the fuck up and enjoying the delicious tease of anticipation. My chest rises and falls as my breathing increases. I need him now. He leans over and plants a kiss right above my belly button, tearing a groan from me. There's teasing, and then there's just plain torture.

"You're so responsive. I can't wait to fuck you, Dom. I hope you want that?—"

"Yes," I say. "Definitely want." And then I seal it with a fierce kiss to his mouth.

Familiar sounds from outside filter in. Horns honking. Sirens blaring. Tree branches slapping against the window frame as the Chicago wind riles them up.

Cage returns to my chest, lapping at one nipple until it's hard and tight and then focusing on the other. My dick strains to get loose while my body tingles with excitement. The heat of his mouth clamps onto my nipple, and he sucks like he's trying to get milk. Fuck. I arch off the bed, needing more. His hand slips into my pants, squeezing my dick and coaxing another moan out of me. His hand slips farther down, rolling my balls between his fingers. I squeeze my eyes shut because the visual of him kissing his way down my body has me closer than I want to be.

"Cage, please."

He lifts up, his eyes on mine. "What do you want, sweetheart?"

"Your mouth," I say, frantic for more. Anything more. Cage grins, and before he can remind me that his mouth is technically on me, I bravely say, "On my dick. Please, suck me."

"Oh God, yes, sweetheart." He strips my jeans off and pulls my briefs down until they're just below my balls. I move to take them off all the way, but he grabs my hands. "I'm taking care of you, remember?"

"Yes. Please." I nod too many times, and he kisses me sweetly.

"If you want me to stop. If this isn't what you want, tell me. Okay?"

I nod again. "Stop teasing me and get on with it," I say with mock fierceness.

And he does, but at a very slow pace. I'm being punished for my sass. And fuck, I love it. He nibbles on my legs, and the way he has me positioned, I can't move. One hand rests on my hip and the other on my thighs. I lean up on my elbows to watch him. He winks and then takes my cock in his mouth all the way down. The heat of his mouth surrounds me as he sucks me down. I jump from horny to right there in an instant.

"Cage," I say, crying out a warning. One he doesn't heed as he rolls my balls in his hand and slips a finger down my crack. The orgasm hits hard, but Cage doesn't budge, taking as much as he can while drops of my cum spill out the side of his mouth. And fuck, that's the sexiest thing I've ever seen.

He pulls off and licks his lips, and I might have to revise my earlier thought. Because that right there is sexy as hell. There's a question in his eyes as he leans over me. I answer by crushing our mouths together, enjoying my flavor on his lips.

Cage goes to the bathroom, and I try to keep my eyes open. He needs a turn. And my sleepy mind is determined that has to happen. The feel of a warm cloth on my stomach wakes me from a brief slumber. Damn.

"Not much here." He grins at me. "I didn't want to waste it."

I return his smile, probably looking dopy as hell. My mind feels groggy, but I'm determined. "Your turn. What chew…?" I lick my lips and try again. "What do you want?" I ask, enunciating each word to get it right.

"Good question." He looks up as if he's thinking while stripping off his clothes. First, his shirt, exposing his glorious chest covered with dark hair. And the dark trail that continues under his pants. He shucks those off next. Fuck. My eyes want to shut, but I need them to stay open. Then his briefs are off, and I realize twins aren't exactly alike. Not that I've seen my brother…Xander undressed often, but enough to know Cage is bigger. Girthier.

"What do you want?" I ask again, more awake than before. Please say a blowjob .

He slips into bed and pulls me against him. His hard-on pokes against my ass, and I again revise my thoughts. I want Cage inside me. But his warm body against mine and his strong arm pulling me closer trick my brain into wanting to sleep. That and the exhaustion. "I want to cuddle," Cage whispers in my ear. "That's enough for now."

When I wake in the morning, I stretch my body, feeling amazing. Last night flashes through my mind. Cage giving me an outstanding blowjob and me not being able to reciprocate. I cover my face with my arm. Great job, Dom . Way to impress him with your nonexistent stamina. I roll toward him, but Cage isn't there. His side of the bed is still warm, so he can't have gone far.

"Morning, sweetheart," he says in a chipper voice as he strolls out of the bathroom.

"Good morning." I sit up and stare at my lap. "Sorry about last night."

"Sorry? What for? The best cuddling I've ever had?" He kisses me, ignoring my morning breath. "I do not accept your apology."

"Maybe I should apologize in a different way. Using my tongue…"

He shakes his head. The no is on his lips, but his eyes and the bulge in his pants both say yes. "I just got dressed."

"So you're saying I get to undress you? Not seeing a problem here."

"You're the problem. You and that gorgeous mouth that's begging to be fucked."

I open my mouth to respond, but what can I say? He's absolutely right.

After a round of me apologizing with my hands, mouth, and body, Cage and I shower together. I can't believe I get to touch him. Kiss him. And it's not wrong.

Unless you're part of the staff and think Cage is Xander and my brother. Then, it's still considered wrong. We almost get caught during breakfast. Twice.

We touch each other while eating. Nothing too shocking. Just a hand on his shoulder as I munch on my bacon. Or his hand on my leg while we share a piece of toast. When the door swings open, I move away. It's only Paxton, and I sag in relief. Just sitting next to each other is unusual. Xander has rules. No touching. No sitting or standing too close. Respect the bubble, he would always say.

Whereas Cage's bubble includes me. Warmth fizzes through my body, and I sigh happily, earning me a glare from Paxton as he takes his seat.

"So, do you, like, live here?" Cage asks Paxton, his voice low enough that the staff entering the room can't hear.

"No. Not really, but I do have a room."

Cage doesn't respond as the servers take his empty plate away. Once they are gone, he raises a brow at Paxton. "You have a room. How is that not living here?"

"It's one of the guest rooms. I stay when Sophia needs me to stay."

"Like today?"

"No," Paxton says slowly, his eyes darting to me and back to Cage. "I'm here today because of the plan. So you two don't fuck it up. Did you forget already? Too much sex?"

"Jealous?" I ask with a smirk.

"Of you and him? No. Of sex? Definitely." He mumbles the last part.

The door swings open again, and Mom—I'm always going to call her that—strides in. She's wearing a light dress that still comes off as business casual and her hair is up in a clip with dark tendrils framing her face. She looks beautiful. And tired. We stand, which is normal. But Cage knocks over his chair. Which is not. He scrambles to pick it up, his eyes huge as he stares at his mother. The one he's never met. I reach out to touch him, and Paxton coughs. Shit. I grab my coffee instead, almost spilling it in the process.

"Everything okay, boys?" she asks, glancing from Cage to me and back to Cage. She tilts her head. Is it too late to move to the other side of the table? Way too late. "Paxton told me what happened."

Cage's eyes widen even more. He wipes his hands on his pants and clears his throat. Oh God. Is he going to speak? Can he be cool at all? Paxton's panicked expression says no.

"We lost." I frown like this is the worst thing that could have ever happened instead of the best.

"Yes. But at least you tried."

I'm positive Paxton didn't tell her why we lost. It's obvious she still thinks Xander failed. Again. And I just can't let it go. "Xander was amazing, Mom. He kept it together even when everything around us was falling apart. We made it all the way to the end. We lost on a technicality, basically."

"Of course, dear." She adds sugar to her cup of coffee, and I've already lost her. She moves on. Because that's what we do when Xander messes up.

"Mom."

Her startled eyes meet mine. "Yes, dear?"

"I need you to hear me. Xander did amazing. He did what he needed to do. He took charge.

"I see." The room is still as she sets her cup down and faces us. "Xander did great. Then why are you the one telling me instead of him?" Her gaze shifts to Cage.

What the fuck is wrong with me? How could I forget even for a second?

"Xander…I mean, I did amazing." Cage points to himself. "So good. I baked my ass…" He clears his throat again. "I mean, Dom and I baked…well."

She leans in, deep lines on her forehead as she stares at Cage. "Baking was never your issue, Xander. I've told you this. What's going on here?" She addresses her question to Paxton.

"Nothing. It was an exhausting week…end, and we're all just tired."

"Don't lie to me, Paxton. You know I can tell?—"

Paxton's phone goes off, and he grabs it like a man in the desert grabs a bottle of water. He scrolls and then sighs. "Thank fuck."

"Paxton!" Mom's voice is sharp. "Can you please tell me what's going on?"

"Absolutely," he says, and I wave my hands at him because what the fuck? He grins, and Mom's mouth drops open. Grinning is a new thing for Paxton. "That's the signal," he says to Cage and me. "We're good to go."

"Go?" Mom asks, throwing down her napkin and scooting away from her chair. "Where? Why?"

The distressed look in her eyes breaks my heart. I reach out and touch her arm. "It's okay, Mom." Emotion clogs my throat, and I swallow. I have to tell my mom she isn't my mom, and I'm not sure I can do that.

"We have something for you, Sophia," Paxton says, taking pity on me.

"For me?"

"It's something you lost, Mom. Long ago." I need to go on, but I'm not sure I can.

She glances from me to Paxton and then to Cage. I can almost see her attempting to put the puzzle together. Xander is not acting like himself. The fact that we were so close to Grandville. She gasps, her hand going to her mouth. "It can't be, can it? Are you…Xander?" She shakes her head. "Cage?"

He nods, tears flowing down his cheeks. "Yes, Cage. I've lived in Granville all my life."

Mom's crying, and I'm crying, and even Paxton sniffs a little.

"Were you raised by your grandmother Lucinda?" she asks tentatively, as if she's afraid of the answer.

Cage smiles, and it's so unlike Xander that there can be no doubt. "No. I mean, she helped. But I was raised by my mom." He blinks and glances at me. I nod for him to go on. "The woman I thought was my mom. Callie March."

"Oh my God. Callie?" She's full-on crying now, her hands pressed into her chest. "My Callie?" at Cage's nod, she smiles through her tears, and relief floods through me. "My Callie. And Cage. And Toretto?" Her eyes dart to me.

"Tor is fine."

"Sarcastic and irritating," Paxton adds, "but otherwise fine."

"How is this possible?" She stands and rushes over to Cage. He meets her halfway, and they hug. Mom squeezes him so hard that I wonder if she'll ever let go.

She motions to me with her fingers, and I join the hug-fest. Her arm tightens around me. "So that means you're Callie's biological child."

"I guess so." I keep my face hidden. There's no reason to bring everyone else down.

"You're still my son, Dom. I don't care about biology. You're my sweet boy. Don't ever forget that." I nod, unable to say much without choking on my tears. She brushes the hair away from my face. "You look just like her."

"I know. I met her."

Her hands tighten on my arms as she stares at me. "You did?"

"Yes, but she thought I was Tor. She doesn't know yet, Mom."

"And now it's time to implement the rest of the plan." Paxton takes a sip of his coffee and stands. "Is everyone ready?"

"Ready?" Mom asks. "Ready for what?"

Paxton takes Mom's hands in his and squeezes. "Sophia Marchetti, enough time has been wasted. Let's go get your girl."