Chapter Twelve

They spent the rest of the day in the cabin. He took her in every position he’d ever fantasized about and some he hadn’t until he’d seen her body move in a certain way. But reality crashed in on them when Matheus knocked, pulling Brock from bed. Brock hadn’t bothered with clothes, jerking open the door enough to glance out as his brother.

Matheus wrinkled his nose in disgust. “Christ, open a window.”

“Jealous?” Brock questioned, knowing his younger brother had always liked Jemma.

Matheus laughed. “Do I look stupid? Anyway, you’ve been summoned by our alpha.”

“What’s wrong?” Brock jerked the door wider, and Matheus grinned when he glanced over Brock’s shoulder. Brock turned his head, taking in Jemma where she lay sleeping like the dead on the bed. The sheet barely covered her, and the way she lay gave Matheus the perfect view of her curvy ass. The fact it still bore the print of Brock’s hand and the mark of his teeth was the only thing that appeased him.

“Stop staring at my mate,” Brock ordered.

Matheus flushed, glancing down then closing his eyes. “Fucking save me from mated couples,” he muttered under his breath. “Laramie has postponed punishment for Walker until tomorrow. He wants all of us in his office,” Matheus paused and glanced at his watch, “in five minutes.”

“Why the postponement?”

“I’m guessing we’ll find out when we see him,” Matheus said. “Hurry up. We’re going to be late.”

“Fuck,” Brock muttered, leaving the door open while he grabbed his clothes and tugged them on. Matheus opened a couple of windows, avoiding the bed as he did. Smart man.

“It smells like a damn sex den.”

“And how would you know how that smells, brother?” Brock asked, noting the way his brother’s cheeks flushed. That was interesting. “Do tell?”

Matheus ignored the question and tapped his watch.

“Yeah, yeah,” Brock muttered. “Meet me on the porch.”

He went to the bed and nuzzled his mate’s neck, pressing kisses along the slender column of her throat.

“Mmm,” she mumbled. “Again?”

She made to roll over, and he almost laughed. She was barely conscious and willing to go another round with him. He’d fucked her into exhaustion. Fucked them both into it. But seeing her there, noting the scent of sex in the air and on their skin, he felt his cock thickening in his jeans.

“Sleep, love. I’ll be back in a little bit.” He kissed her again, and she mumbled into the pillow as her body relaxed back into slumber. He pulled the covers over her, not wanting her to get cold. Then he shut the windows Matheus had opened. Brock liked the way the room smelled.

Finally, he forced himself to step outside and close the door behind him.

“She’ll be fine,” Matheus said as if he knew Brock’s worries. “No one will dare touch her.”

Brock nodded, but he couldn’t forget when Fletch had carried her to Jensen. How she’d looked unconscious and covered in blood.

“It’s normal to worry,” Matheus offered as they ducked into the clearing at the back of the main cabin. Em and Jaeda were outside by the swings, watching over little Ruby.

“Hey, Baby Bear,” Matheus called.

She ran to him, screaming his name at the top of her lungs. Brock watched the smile take over his brother’s face, and Matheus knelt, catching her as she flung herself against him. It was a genuine pleasure. Of all of them, he was the most natural around children. Someday, he’d make an amazing father.

“Mama Em. It’s my fwiend.” She bounced on Matheus’ forearm as she yelled at Em. She turned back quickly, and Brock wasn’t sure how Matheus kept her from tumbling out of his arms. Then she cupped his face. “Did you come to play with me?”

Ruby still had trouble with her r’s. She was getting better with her l’s, but when she was really excited or angry, she went back to a y sound on them.

“Not right now,” Matheus said, and Brock almost laughed as Ruby’s bottom lip trembled. “I have to go talk with Laramie, but I’ll come back to play when I’m done.”

Ruby narrowed her eyes. “Daddy Lawamie will let you stay. He loves me the mostest.”

It still baffled Brock how Ruby had fallen so hard for Laramie, but the little girl practically worshipped the ground he walked on. Her father would have his hands full when he finally returned. The cunning Baby Bear, as they’d all taken to referring to her as, would pit the two men against each other if it meant she got what she wanted. Brock had no doubt of that. He’d already witnessed it between Em and Laramie. Little Ruby had them both wrapped around her finger. Hell, she had most of the pack that way.

Em laughed as she scooped Ruby out of Matheus’ arms. “He’ll be back later. Crocodile tears and pouty lips don’t work on me,” she warned as Ruby’s eyes filled. The little girl glanced back and forth between Matheus and Em.

“I go talk with Lawamie, too.”

Matheus opened his mouth, but Em beat him.

“No, you can see him later.”

“Daddy Lawamie love to see me. I’m his baby beawah.”

“Malachai’s going to love that,” Brock said, bringing a snort from Em.

“No one to blame but himself,” she muttered. “Now, give Matheus a kiss so he can go.”

Ruby leaned in, cupping Matheus’ face again. She planted a wet kiss on his cheek before moving her lips to his ear. “We have ice cweam later.”

They all heard her, though it was clear she thought she was whispering. Em’s gaze narrowed on Matheus when he opened his mouth, cutting off the yes Brock was sure he’d intended.

“We’ll see what Mama Em thinks when I’m free.”

Ruby leaned back to frown at him, crossing her arms over her chest. “I likes you mostest. Fow now,” she warned as if he could fall out of her favor very quickly.

“I like you the mostest, too,” Matheus said.

“I know,” Ruby agreed with a smile before wiggling in Em’s arms. “I go play now.”

Em let her down and sighed as Ruby took off at a full run, yelling like a banshee. “You two better head in.” She smiled at Brock. “Congratulations. I’m glad you and Jemma worked things out. She’s an asset to the family.”

“I’m a lucky man,” he agreed.

“As long as you know that.” She turned to Matheus. “No ice cream. If you try to sneak her sugar later tonight, I will gut you and leave you to bleed out in the dirt.”

Matheus laughed as Em walked away, not even remotely worried by his sister-in-law’s threat.

“Did Declan or Wood mention if there’s news on when Malachai will return?” Brock asked.

Matheus shrugged. “Maybe, Laramie will have an update on that.”

They were both in their own thoughts as they headed to the office and the rest of their brothers. Brock wasn’t surprised to see Holt already there with Koby and Laramie. He wasn’t a Holloway by birth, but he fit in as if he were. Brock noted that, other than Holt, the Holloways were the only ones there.

“Where are the others?” he asked as he and Matheus took a seat on the open couch. Laramie and Koby were in their usual chairs. Declan, Slade, and Holt sat on the other couch, and Jensen slouched in a chair, looking as if he’d just rolled out of bed.

“You’re late,” Laramie reprimanded. “And this is everyone. Fletch and Milo are with Helen and her family. Chance is with Jasper, and Wood’s around somewhere, making arrangements with Malachai and keeping an eye of Em and Ruby.”

“He’s heading back?” Matheus asked.

“In a few days. He’ll be bringing more people with him. Titus Walker among them. He doesn’t think Titus had anything to do with Lawrence and the attacks, but I’d like to get the two of them together and see what happens.”

“You don’t trust Malachai?” Slade asked.

“I trust him completely. I wouldn’t have my mate or Baby Bear without him. But it seems Titus wants to come here. To join us along with the rest of Em’s former pack. I need to be sure before I allow that to happen.”

They all nodded. None of them wanted another attack. Just the thought of anyone hurting Jemma again made Brock see red.

“I see you finally mated your mate,” Holt said, bringing all eyes to Brock. “Congratulations.”

“She’s going to drive you crazy,” Laramie stated with a grin, and all his brothers chuckled.

“No more than Em does you,” Brock fired back, though he found himself grinning, too. He had to admit, he looked forward to his next argument with Jemma. Anticipated it even. “By the way, no sneaking Ruby down for ice cream later. Your mate threatened to gut whoever does and leave them to bleed out.”

Laramie shook his head. “God, I love that woman.”

“Was that all you needed us to know?” Jensen asked.

“No. With everything that’s happened, I want all of us under the same roof at night. Slade, I know your mate’s preferences, but you and Rissa need to be here. Jensen, that goes for you also. No more crashing in the clinic office. Here. Brock, you’re moving Jemma into your room?”

He nodded. He understood what Laramie wasn’t saying. With Walker here and Malachai bringing another Walker, Laramie wanted the family together.

“Malachai will join us here. I’ll use Baby Bear to persuade him if needed,” Laramie admitted. “I don’t want Ruby out of our sight for a moment. We protect all the mates.”

“Xandra’s going to balk if you try to make her stay in this lodge,” Declan warned.

“All of them will,” Laramie agreed. “I’m not suggesting we put them under lock and key. Just be aware. Em, Sidia, and Jaeda are pregnant. They’re strong. They can fight. But I don’t want any of them alone.”

“Xandra will want to protect her sisters,” Declan conceded.

“Is Em aware of this caveat?” Koby asked.

“Yes, and she told me exactly what she thinks of it. Then she conceded it was wise to stick together. Her words were along the lines that I was an asshole but she’s not stupid.”

That sounded like Em. Hell, those words could have come from any of their mates, Jemma included. His mate. Who he wanted to get back to soon.

“Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s plan,” Laramie ordered, and Brock realized he had a long night ahead of him with his brothers.