Chapter Twenty-Three

Odette

A keyboard gently clicking woke me. My body was pinned down by three large men, so I propped my head up the best I could to inspect the sound. Dominic was mid-sip—probably on his fourth cup—typing away at his computer. It was still dark, and I had no idea what time it was. “Do you ever sleep?” I whispered into the quiet room.

I used to think I never slept because I rarely got a good night’s sleep before I met my professors. Dominic had my old sleep habits beat by a long shot. He was always awake.

Dominic glanced up, his face dimly lit by his screen. He looked so comfortable on the sofa. Somehow, my three teddy bears ended up on the cushion next to him, probably when Aiden, Niko, and Wyatt kicked them out of bed to make room for themselves. Seeing such a large, intimidating man surrounded by teddy bears was cute.

“Did I wake you?” He whispered.

“You type loud,” I answered. “Sleep, Dominic, for me,” I requested, laying my head back down on the pillow, ready for sleep to take me again.

Unfortunately, my movements and our whispers woke the three light sleepers around me. Aiden shifted beside me, pulling me closer to him by my thigh. Doing so disturbed Wyatt, making him tighten his hold and try to pull me into his chest. All the movement woke Niko as well, and he groaned, giving each of their legs a shove. “I’m calling in,” he decided.

“Wyatt, if you don’t stop pulling her away from me, I’ll kick your ass like I used to in middle school,” Aiden rasped.

“I’m bigger than you, dick,” Wyatt shot back. Even half asleep, he sounded confident. I’d never heard him use such unfriendly language outside of sex.

“Only by an inch in height ,” Aiden shot back.

I sighed, feeling both of them pull me away from the other, making my body stretch uncomfortably. “What time is it?” I asked Dominic.

“Just past three,” he answered.

The four of us in bed collectively groaned, and Dominic snickered, amused by the late-night bickering of his friends. Even I had to admit, it was kind of cute—and I didn’t entirely mind them playing tug of war with me.

Niko suddenly sat up, standing at the end of the bed. He pulled his shirt over his head and pulled down his sweatpants, leaving him in boxers. “This is so fucking uncomfortable,” he mumbled. “I’m literally sleeping between her legs; how the fuck do you two keep kneeing me?” He complained.

Instead of climbing over the sheets again, he lifted the comforter at the end of the bed, sliding under it. “What are you doing?” I questioned.

“I can’t sleep with clothes on, and it’s cold as hell out here,” he halfheartedly responded, positioning himself between my legs again.

“Niko shut up; it’s three in the morning,” Wyatt scolded, attempting to kick his leg but kicking mine instead.

“Ouch, what the hell,” I pouted, but it didn’t hurt much past the initial shock.

Wyatt lifted his head, trying to see me when the only light source could barely even light Dominic. “I’m sorry, Baby,” he kissed my cheek before laying back. “That wasn’t meant for you,” he defended.

Aiden chuckled on my other side, taking the opportunity to pull my upper body towards him again.

Niko’s arms wrapped around my lower back, propping my hips up as he laid his head on my pubic bone and thighs, right above my pussy that was covered by the large t-shirt.

Wyatt groaned, annoyed that Aiden had stolen me again. “Last warning, Aiden,” he warned in a threatening tone, firmly wrapping his whole arm around my chest, pulling me to him again.

“Hey—” I tried to object to the manhandling caught between them.

“Or what, you’re gonna kick the poor girl again? Don’t worry, Doll, I won’t let him,” Aiden taunted, clearly not worried about my well-being in the slightest. He was just trying to get under Wyatt’s skin.

Niko’s head moved, and I felt a hot, wet tongue slide up my bare slit, vibrating as he let out a mischievous chuckle of his own from under the covers.

My eyes rounded, still very sensitive from the attack of the vibrator. I gasped. “Niko!” I scolded, pulling my body up by my arms and sitting by the headboard.

Aiden and Wyatt were forced to release me from their holds, but they stayed lying down where they were. Niko threw the covers off himself and the rest of us as he sat on his calves. “You’re not wearing panties and expect me to behave myself? I’m literally just a man,” he shrugged, pleading innocence.

“I’ve behaved myself all night, and you didn’t last five seconds,” Aiden gloated.

“You’re not wearing panties?” Wyatt sounded intrigued, running his hand up my thigh and over my hip for proof.

“You’re welcome for that,” Dominic murmured from where he sat.

“Can any of you behave yourselves?” I stifled a laugh, rubbing my hands over my face, now awake and alert.

They all spoke simultaneously, and I had to take a few seconds to untangle their voices.

“If Wyatt wasn’t hogging you, yes.” Aiden.

“I have nothing to do with their behavior. But in general, no.” Dominic.

“Obviously not. Especially when your pussy’s an inch from my face— come on. ” Niko.

“I’m perfectly capable; I just can’t share a bed with those two.” Wyatt.

A full laugh slipped from my throat, and I broke out in a fit of giggles. These four massive men, who intimidated nearly everyone they crossed, were bickering like teenagers. “It’s three in the morning; we all have class in a few hours,” I started.”If you insist on sleeping in here, you’ll have to stop playing tug of war with my body,” I smiled, although they couldn’t see. “Niko... either you keep your tongue to yourself, or you’re sleeping above the covers again,” I warned. “And Dominic... go to sleep!”

There was no movement or noise in the room as the four took my playful scolding. Sudden tension grew as the silence built.

“Ooh, someone’s feeling bossy,” Niko sang. “It seems like you forgot who gives the orders, Cari?o,” he said. Do you need a refresher from a few hours ago?” he threatened.

I widened my eyes, frantically shaking my head. “No! I was problem-solving,” I explained.

Wyatt and Aiden’s hands moved in sync, snaking up my legs until they gripped my thighs.

“You’re right; it is a problem that you woke up,” Dominic said. “I think they have something that would put you right back to sleep, Darling.” An evil smirk spread across his lips.

“Wha—hey!” I gasped as my thighs were spread apart, and I was jerked back down the bed, laying down between Aiden and Wyatt again.

“We’re going to play tug of war one last time, Babydoll,” Aiden husked against my neck.

Wyatt joined in on his attack on my other side, feathering my neck in wet kisses. Their hot breath tickled me, sending pulses to my core and making me whimper.

Niko’s finger prodded at my hole, and I whined at the tenderness. “I’m still sore,” my voice was breathy as I tried to focus.

He gently pushed his finger into me. I felt Aiden and Wyatt’s hands move lower until I felt their middle fingers join his inside me. “We’ll be gentle,” Niko innocently dismissed.

My mouth dropped open at the feeling of all three of their fingers fucking into me. “Oh, my—” my own pant cut me off as I felt Wyatt suck on the junction between my shoulder and neck.

Dominic hummed in approval from where he sat. “You sound so sexy, Darling. Tell me what they’re doing to you,” he ordered.

I was squirming under their touch, preparing for an orgasm to rip through me. “They’re—oh fuck,” I moaned as they picked up their pace, chuckling against my neck, deliberately stirring my mind.

“Words, Little One,” Dominic reminded. “I can’t see, so be specific,” he taunted. The devil just wanted to hear me say dirty things.

“Answer him,” Wyatt whispered into my ear, sending goosebumps across my skin.

“Their fingers,” I moaned, trying to find the words. “Are inside me. Niko keeps c-curling his,” I struggled to think, let alone speak.

“Yeah? They know how much you love having your little hole stretched, don’t they?” Dominic continued. His dirty words had me all the more flustered from across the room. “What else are they doing to you to make you sound so pathetic?”

Aiden propped himself up on his elbow, angling his hand so his thumb could tease my clit. My legs twitched at the pressure on the sensitive bud, and I gasped.

Seconds later, Wyatt went to play with my clit, not knowing that Aiden had beat him to the punch. The only sign of his continued annoyance was a small sigh.

Then, Aiden chuckled. It was a devious, challenging, cocky laugh, only intended to irk Wyatt.

For whatever reason, the two of them were at each other’s throats tonight. I knew there was no underlying issue between them other than the night air and my body between them. They were the cuddliest sleepers, and neither of them liked to share. Before I woke, they must have been fighting over who got to hold me all night.

Tension grew between them after Aiden’s wordless victory. I doubt Niko paid any mind to their squabble, especially when he curled his finger several times. “Niko...” I warned.

Wyatt’s hand suddenly started clapping against my core, slamming his finger into me hard. “How embarrassing for you, Aiden. Playing with her sensitive clit only for her to moan Niko’s name,” he jabbed.

Aiden slid his finger out from me, his full attention on my clit as he used three fingers to rub it. My eyes rolled back, and my mouth dropped open, unable to focus on the sensations. “Leave me out of i-it!” I shrieked, feeling Wyatt’s mouth on my nipple through the shirt.

Dominic chuckled, catching onto their feud that I somehow got caught between. “Are they playing nice with you, Darling?” He teased.

“No!” I whimpered.

“Shh,” Aiden hushed against my ear. His lips trailed gentle kisses from my ear down my neck and across my jaw, until they floated above mine. “Tell him how good my hands feel on you, Doll,” he coaxed, gently pressing his lips to mine.

My mind went blank at the kiss, quietly moaning into his mouth as he barely used his tongue to tease my lips. Holy shit. A wave of arousal spilled from me, now beginning to enjoy their dogfight.

Wyatt shifted next to me, pounding into me faster. “Kissing her is foul play. She’d argue that the sky isn’t blue if you asked her to,” he said.

Aiden smirked against my lips. “I’d never manipulate her like that. Would I, Babydoll?” he whispered. “It would be wrong of me to take advantage of how much you love having your mouth played with,” he taunted before taking my lips again.

I didn’t care what they did as long as they didn’t stop. Staying out of it, Niko continued to press up on my G-spot, finding his own pleasure in how I clenched each time. “Christ,” he groaned breathlessly. “Sei un fottuto disastro, tesoro. Dovremmo farti scendere alle tre del mattino più spesso. Anche dopo la dura scopata di oggi, il tuo corpo soffre per noi.”

[You’re a fucking mess, Baby. We should get you off at three in the morning more often. Even after today’s hard fuck, your body aches for us.]

Niko’s dirty Italian words put me on edge as I moaned against Aiden’s lips. If I had half a brain cell to use, I’d respond to him in his language, but my mind was otherwise occupied.

“Tell him,” Aiden lured, flicking my clit with the soft pad of his finger. My body jerked with each motion.

“Your hand feels so good against my clit,” I gave in, moaning like a whore against his lips.

Wyatt’s free hand gripped my cheeks, pulling me away from Aiden’s lips. My eyes widened as he replaced them with his own, smashing his lips against mine. Hyde.

“No, you tell him how much better my finger feels inside your pussy, Baby,” he ordered. His tongue was toying with mine, setting my body on fire. “Tell him how much you fucking love your hole being used like this,” he muttered darkly, continuing to slap his hand against me, plunging his finger under Niko’s curling one.

“I love it,” I cried out, rolling my hips up, impossibly craving more. “Don’t stop,” I pleaded.

Wyatt chuckled against my lips, then his movement slowed, going against my wishes. “Stop?” He teased.

“No! Please don’t stop,” I grabbed his wrist, begging him to continue.

“Awe, were you close, Darling?” Dominic mocked. “I thought you said you were sore?”

I rolled my eyes, my body now focused on Niko’s strokes and Aiden’s attack on my clit. “I don’t care if I’m sore,” I pouted. “Wyatt,” I panted, my voice coming out as a needy whine. “Please...”

Wyatt slammed his fingers into me again, making me cry out. I could only make out his silhouette as he tilted his head toward Aiden. “There you go, Baby,” he cooed. “Doesn’t she sound so pretty, Aiden? Begging me to touch her?”

Letting out a frustrated scoff, Aiden retook my lips. His lips were soft and gentle like before but much sloppier. His tongue flicked against mine with each flick of his finger, sending my brain into spirals—now imagining it was his tongue toying with my clit. “Are you gonna cum for me, Doll? Tell Wyatt how your cumming for me,” he growled against me.

Niko’s curls got faster, making my hips buck up into his hand. “Fuck,” I cried out, my eyes filling with tears. “I—”

Wyatt gripped my face, stealing me away from Aiden as he took over again. “Don’t you dare moan his name when it’s my fingers fucking you,” he bit my lip. “If you cum, it’ll be because of this,” he slammed his finger harder.

If Niko hadn’t been holding my thigh and Aiden’s leg hadn’t been pinning the other down, they would have closed.

“You could piss them both off and moan my name,” Niko finally joined in on their bickering. “We both know who’s making you making you buck your hips with every curl of my finger,” he gloated.

“You stay out of this,” Aiden warned.

“I forgot you were here,” Wyatt smirked against my lips.

In competition, all three of them began flicking, rubbing, and fucking me ruthlessly. Their voices mixed and jumbled together as they told me to come for them. Possessiveness blanketed over me as their dirty demands mixed together.

“Oh shit,” I panted. “Oh God, I’m cumming!” I cried out.

A strange wet sensation washed over me as I came. It was the most powerful orgasm I’d ever had, and it felt like I was literally gushing onto their hands.

Aiden continued to rub my clit, making the wet liquid continue to spill, my body convulsing in pleasure. “Is she—”

“Holy shit, Baby,” Niko chuckled. “That’s so fucking hot,” he moaned, his finger still pushing up into the sensitive spot.

The light suddenly flicked on, and my eyes burned as they quickly adjusted to the messy sight before me. All three of their massive hands were all over my pussy, each soaked, dripping with my cum. I was still cumming, only it felt better, and my cum wasn’t creamy. It was gushing out of me, splattering as Wyatt continued to fuck his finger into me. There was a literal pool under me as my stomach clenched and flexed, riding out the sensation.

Dominic watched with intrigue, standing by the light switch. He greedily took in the sight of the four of us, a smirk growing as I locked eyes with him.

The other three watched their own hands being covered in my cum in fascination. They all seemed to be over their feud, collectively pleased with themselves and me.

I squeezed Wyatt’s wrist, which I was still holding, trying to get them to stop the attack. “What’s—”

Aiden placed his free hand over my mouth, silencing me, still watching my pussy. His hand muffled my moans and cries as they finally began to slow their movements, bringing me down from my explosion.

“Fuck, Babydoll,” Aiden said breathlessly. “You can squirt,” he chuckled, sharing excited glances with my other professors.

They retracted their hands from me, and Aiden gave my mouth back. “What was that?” I panted, looking at the mess all over me, them, and the bed. I was lying in a puddle!

“A different kind of orgasm,” Wyatt absentmindedly muttered, still surprised. “How did that feel, Baby?” He laughed.

I widened my eyes in response. That was intense. “The three of you are not allowed to share a bed anymore,” I jokingly scolded. I pulled myself up, away from the puddle. Cum was everywhere, and none of us would continue to sleep in my bed in this condition.

Dominic crossed his arms. “Since everyone’s up, I believe we still owe Odette a proper date. Get cleaned up, and we can have that four in the morning breakfast that she likes,” he suggested, giving me butterflies.

I was flattered that he remembered that I like going for early breakfasts before the rest of the world wakes up. I gave him a sad smile. “As much as I’d love to, I don’t think that’s a good idea... what if someone sees us? One picture, and we’re all screwed,” I pointed out.

Dominic smiled. “We’re going. It’s early, Darling; no one will pay us any mind. What’s life without a little risk?” He added. “Now get up, get ready,” he ordered.

Dominic was right, as usual. No one else was at the diner we went to; Aiden chose it. None of the dishes matched, and I had two excellent cups of coffee and avocado toast. It was delicious, and I enjoyed spending time with my professors outside the house. Everyone was happy, smiling, and cracking jokes, and I was beyond upbeat going into the day.

Everything with them felt so easy. I felt silly about my breakdown a few weeks ago. It wasn’t just sex. I wasn’t just another woman. I knew that now; I was stupid to think otherwise.

As reassuring as that thought was, it was also terrifying. I’d been avoiding the thought—pushing it from my mind. I still had a restraining order to sign.

Graduation was less than two weeks away. I felt like I had so much longer with them. Time was unforgiving, moving too fast.

It was noon. I was in the empty auditorium, getting time away from my overbearing peers and studying for more of my finals. I had an iced coffee, a stack of study materials, and my wandering thoughts.

I needed to tell them. I couldn’t get out of Charles’ blackmail. He had them under his knife. Their house was under his name. Their careers and reputations were on the line. How could I admit that truth to them? I kept it a secret for too long, and they would be furious when I told them about it. I’d been selfish, wanting to soak them up and pretend reality wasn’t real. Our bubble was popped, and they didn’t even know it.

The courage I needed was lacking. I should have told them the night my father threatened me—threatened us.

The thought of never seeing them again...

Tears fell onto my work, and I quickly wiped them away. I couldn’t live without them. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t sign that restraining order.

If I didn’t sign, I got to keep them in my life. But everything they worked so hard for would be tarnished. I couldn’t do that... I wouldn’t. They wouldn’t want to be with me after that, anyway.

I didn’t know how to say goodbye to them. I knew they were stubborn; they’d try to fight Charles themselves—and lose. If I told them about the restraining order and the threats that came with it, they’d make it worse. Charles was evil, and I didn’t want them to face his wrath directly. It was terrible now, but I knew it could be worse.

More tears fell.

Every fucking scenario I thought of, all of us lost. I just needed to choose the route that would be the least painful and do the least amount of damage for them. They’d get over me; I was sure of it. It would hurt, but at least I wouldn’t be responsible for ruining their lives.

Before I could think twice, my phone was against my ear, ringing.

“Odette, what do you want?” Charles answered, sounding concerned as he coughed on the other end.

“I—” Why did I call? “I can’t sign the papers...” I admitted. I looked up at the ceiling, trying to collect myself. “Please,” my voice cracked, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Don’t make me do this,” I hated myself for pleading with the man, but I didn’t have another option.

It was quiet for a moment before he sighed. “I’ve given you my terms; I will not change my mind. One day, you’ll understand that this is the best decision you’ll ever make. Those men are manipulating you. They’re professors at the university you attend. Whatever feelings you think they have for you... it’s not real,” he assured.

“That’s not true. You don’t know them—”

“Aiden Anderson. Niko Moreno. Wyatt Wright. Dominic Owens,” he named. “I did my research, Odette. I know everything about them,” he said. “I’ve allowed you to have your fun, playing the part of their whore. You can come sign the papers whenever you’d like. You have 12 days until I ruin them,” he threatened.

I bit back a sob, shaking my head. “There’s nothing that’ll make you change your mind?”

“No. Jesus, Odette. You’re spineless. If you cared for them in the slightest, signing the restraining order would be easy. At least have the courage to leave them, leave them in peace before you fuck up their life,” he spat. “You call me crying about how much you love these men but won’t make a simple sacrifice for their and your own good,” he chuckled. “12 days,” he reminded firmly before the call ended.

I was sobbing into my hands. Charles would never understand; even if he took the time to hear me out, he was basking in my downfall.

They were going to hate me. If I was honest and told them everything, they’d try to fight it, be pissed that I kept it from them, and in the end, I’d still sign, and we’d all be heartbroken . If I took the coward’s way out and left without telling them, they’d hate me and be saddened. The upside to the coward’s way out was that they’d never know about Charles, the house, or their reputations at stake. Either way, I had to save them from myself.

“How was your day, Cari?o?” Niko smiled as I entered the house. He immediately wrapped his arms around me and kissed my forehead.

I smiled, taking comfort in his arms. “It was good,” it wasn’t exactly a lie because, besides my breakdown in the auditorium, it was generally a good day. “I spent most of the day studying for finals,” I added.

“You’ll do wonderfully, as always,” he assured, winking as he let go.

I followed him into the kitchen, where he cooked a feast. “Are we expecting company?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I couldn’t decide what to make. Although, Reesia is dying to see you. I think they’re all curious to see if you’re still alive after the club. You practically left in a body bag,” he laughed.

Placing my hands on my cheeks, feeling them heat up. “They watched the whole thing?” I blushed.

“You put on quite the show, Babydoll,” Aiden chimed in, giving my ass a slight tap as he entered.

I winced, flinching away from him. “That’s still bruised,” I scolded.

He simply hummed in satisfaction, pleased with their work. He wrapped his arm around my waist, kissing my neck. “You okay?” He questioned.

There was no way he could tell what was on my mind. I looked up at him, eyes wide as I replayed my earlier phone conversation. “Yeah,” I smiled. “Just tired. We got like three hours of sleep,” I thought of an excuse.

“You still take too long to answer when you lie,” he tsk’d, softly shaking his head at me. “What’s going on in that head of yours, Doll?” He pulled me over to the counter stools and sat next to me.

He looked calm, ready to solve any issue I could’ve expressed. He seemed so happy as he ran his hand up my skirt-covered thigh.

My lips pressed together. I should tell him. This was my opportunity. They had all been so happy lately. I wanted to hold onto that happiness for a few more days before I destroyed everything. I sighed. “Graduation is just coming up a lot faster than I anticipated,” I admitted.

Tilting his head to the side, he nodded once. “You’re worried about Charles?”

I wish I had the fucking spine to tell them. Charles was right about me but utterly wrong about them. I was spineless. “More than you know.”

“Don’t be. He’ll make lots of friends in hell—”

“Aiden,” Niko snapped. “Dial up the sensitivity a smidgen, huh?” He threw his hands up.

Aiden rolled his eyes; his distaste for my father made me giggle. I knew he was a disgusting, horrible, evil man more than anyone. I didn’t want to feel sad about his euthanasia, but he was still my only family... it was confusing. Borderline Stockholm.

“Whatever happens, we’ll be here for you,” he promised.

My chest tightened. I wanted to keep them. I knew it was selfish of me, but everything I was made of craved them. The reality was, in 12 days, I would be entirely alone. Legally, I would be forbidden to see any of my professors. Charles would be dead. I’d be graduated, interviewing for engineering jobs I’d been applying to. The proposals wouldn’t stop. My closest friend was Reesia, and after what I was bound to do to her friends, she’d understandably want nothing to do with me. My next best companion was Anna, who was hardly a friend outside of volleyball.

I would be very alone.

Aiden’s promise should have brought comfort, but it only made me feel guilty. I hated lying to them because I was also lying to myself. I knew how this relationship would end, yet I didn’t have the courage to admit it. I was going to hang on to them, our bubble, and their safety for as long as possible.

Smiling the best I could, I nodded at Aiden. “Thank you.”

He narrowed his eyes for a moment but didn’t comment.

“Where’s Wyatt and Dominic?” I asked, straightening in the stool. I didn’t see them when I came in.

Niko opened his mouth to respond, but Wyatt’s voice outside the kitchen interrupted him. “In the living room!”

“Dominic fell asleep after he got home after work,” Aiden jokingly widened his eyes in astonishment.

The thought of the sleepless man actually getting rest for once made me smile. “Really?” I matched his enthusiasm. “I guess there’s a first time for everything,” I joked.

Feeling peckish, I grabbed the bowl of pretzels Niko had out and began making my way to Wyatt for an interrogation.

He was sitting on one of the sofas, looking extra comfortable in gray sweats and a t-shirt, glasses on. God, I loved when he wore his glasses. When I caught his eye, he was scrolling on his phone, and he smiled. “Hi, Baby,” he grinned. He saw my smirk and cocked a playful eyebrow at me. “What?”

“I’ve got a bone to pick with you, Professor Wright,” I kept my tone playful as I straddled his lap, plopping a pretzel into my mouth.

Caught off guard, he placed his hands on the small of my back and widened his eyes. “Oh? And what might that be about?” He questioned, genuinely curious.

“Is there somewhere you need to be this Saturday?” I hinted.

Confusion flashed for a moment before realization dawned, and he looked caught. “Aiden!” He scolded.

“I didn’t say a word!” Aiden called back.

“Me neither,” Niko chimed in.

“None of them told me,” I clarified. I pulled out my phone, where I’d listened to all my voicemails earlier in the day. I clicked on one particularly long and unexpected one. I held the phone between us as it played on speaker. The kind, southern, familiar man’s voice filled the room, and Wyatt practically groaned.

“Hey, killer! It’s Pops—Chester; my apologies; all the kids call me Pops, the force of habit. Now, I know you’re busy being a celebrity and all, but I wanted to invite you to our family reunion. It ain’t much, but we have a big get-together with friends and family once every couple of years or so. My boy and my bonus sons denied my invitation, said they was busy... now I think we both know that’s a load,” he chuckled and I smirked at Wyatt, who was turning slightly pink.

“I know they wanna keep you all to themselves, but his mama and aunties wanna meet you. He calls his mama a few times a week talkin’ bout you—”

“Okay, alright, that’s enough—” Wyatt tried to take my phone, embarrassed. I held it behind me, shaking my head at him.

“She wants to meet ya real bad. I’m afraid if y’all don’t come out to the farm, she’s gonna come pay you a visit. Anyway, even if you ain’t brave enough to face the family, I’d really appreciate it if you talked some sense into those boys. They ain’t never missed a reunion, and lots of folks wanna see ‘em. I make a mean burger, and my old lady’s potato salad is famous, and we’ve got good drinks, good people, and good music. Alright, killer, I hope to see you all on Saturday.”

Wyatt was blushing. A lovely shade of pink tinted his nose and his cheeks. It was incredibly cute, and I couldn’t help but feel giddy at his reaction.

“Why are you blowing your family reunion off?” I started with a smile. “Obviously, everyone’s excited to see you, and you love your family. You all need to go.”

He sighed. “It’s complicated.”

I ate another pretzel, staring at him, waiting for him to respond. It wasn’t complicated. I’d be over every weekend if I had a family like that. He was so incredibly lucky, and I wanted him to realize it.

“Baby,” he cleared his throat, his blush fading as he considered his next words. “I love my family, but as you heard, they aren’t the best about minding their business. They can be... loud and a little crazy,” he looked down quickly before looking back at me. “Honestly, I want you to go. I think you’d have a lot of fun.”

My smugness was gone as I pondered the idea of attending. Meeting his family... Wyatt was asking me to meet his family.

“But I know you probably wouldn’t want to go, and that’s okay!” He added quickly. “I’d love it if you went, but I didn’t want to put you in an uncomfortable situation.”

He was right. I was a chronic overthinker. If they invited me and I said no, I’d feel awkward about it. And the thought of meeting his family was intimidating.

“If the four of us go, my whole family will bombard us with questions about you because Pops told everyone about you, then Mama told the aunties and cousins... we just didn’t want to deal with it, so we decided not to go,” he explained. It’s really not that big of a deal. I’m sorry that my dad called you like that—I’ll talk to him,” he gently shook his head.

“Wyatt,” I deadpanned. “I’m glad that he called me; I’m not bothered. I actually thought it was really cute,” I admitted. “So what if you have to answer a few questions? You need to go. I appreciate the consideration for privacy, but you can’t use me as a scapegoat to get out of this event,” I lightly scolded.

His eyes traveled between us, and he gripped my ass gently. “This is hardly fair with you straddling me,” he rasped quietly. “You’re very persuasive.”

“So you’re going?” I giggled.

He rolled his eyes. “We’ll go if you come with us,” he bargained.

I widened my eyes. “An ultimatum?” I grinned.

“Protection,” he corrected. “You’ve met my dad, and he adores you. My mom has been begging to meet you... you wouldn’t leave us to fend them off for a whole day, would you?” He manipulated, a slight smirk growing. He leaned in, gently kissing me. “Come,” he urged.

I sighed, leaning back away from him. “You can’t do that,” I scolded.

“What did I do, Baby?” He defended but couldn’t hide his mischievous grin. He propped his knees up behind me, trapping me between his legs and chest. He trailed a lingering kiss up my jaw. “I’d never do anything to persuade you,” he teased. His lips touched mine again, and my eyes fluttered shut. “Even if you’d do anything I ask with a kiss,” he whispered.

Devil.

“Before you let Wyatt convince you,” Niko interrupted while leaning over the back of the couch. He was smirking, looking between the two of us. “We’ve been friends forever, so our parents are close. My parents were invited, too,” he chimed. “Just so you have all the facts before Wyatt stirs your brain and coerces you into going.”

I cringed. Wyatt’s parents and Niko’s parents—that was a lot. “That’s a lot of pressure,” I deadpanned.

Aiden exited the kitchen and lingered with his arms crossed. “Odette,” he gave me a pointed look. “For your sake, I’ll be incredibly blunt,” he glanced at his friends, who also looked intrigued. “Wyatt’s family is the biggest bunch of foul-mouthed hillbillies. They’re nosey, touchy, and downright crude and intrusive,” he informed.

Wyatt sighed before nodding in agreement.

“With that being said, they’re also good people,” Aiden continued in a more optimistic tone. “They’re kind and very accepting.”

“Well said—” Niko was cut off.

“Now Niko’s parents are much different,” Aiden began again.

Niko perked up. “What’s wrong with my parents?” He defended immediately.

Aiden pressed his lips together as if buffering what he was about to say. “They’re kind of snobs. Don’t get me wrong, they’re very kind, but they hated me for years because I wore a baseball hat the first time I met them... when I was 13,” he gave me a look.

Niko’s shoulders dropped slightly. “Fine, they’re a little bit snooty,” he admitted. “But look at her!” He gestured to me. “I’ve never seen her in jeans... have you? They’re cut from the same cloth when it comes to being snobbish—sorry, Cari?o, I mean that most endearingly,” he said quickly.

“I am a snob,” I agreed, nodding. I wasn’t offended. I had extravagant taste; that wasn’t something to be ashamed of. I held my hands up, stopping their conversations. “So basically, Niko’s parents will size me up, and Wyatt’s family might tackle me,” I concluded.

“No!” Wyatt widened his eyes.

“I wouldn’t let them do that,” Niko scoffed.

“Exactly,” Aiden smirked.

They all spoke at once, making me laugh. I trusted Aiden and was grateful for his bluntness. “I’ll think about it, okay?” I decided.

Wyatt seemed content with my answer and gave me a little tap on the ass. “If you do go, I will be using you as a human shield to get away from my cousins and aunties,” he chuckled.

With a sarcastic roll of my eyes, I turned to Aiden again. “What about your parents and Dominic’s? You’d warn me about meeting them, too, right?”

Aiden nodded. Niko slightly tensed before turning to look at Aiden as well. I didn’t think much of it. “They won’t be there. My dad doesn’t come around much, and Dominic’s parents are dead,” he said nonchalantly.

I widened my eyes, feeling guilty for my question. Aiden mentioned that his mom passed away when he was young but never mentioned his dad. I was glad Dominic wasn’t in the room—dead parents were obviously a touchy subject, and I didn’t want him to have to think about such sadness.

Wyatt and Niko glanced at Aiden with a look I didn’t quite understand before they nodded in agreement.

“Sorry, I didn’t think that through before asking,” I mumbled.

Aiden chuckled, brushing my apology off. “Don’t be. It was a valid question. If I were you, I’d ask the same.”

After careful consideration and lots of back-and-forth, I decided to go. Meeting families was way out of my comfort zone, but so was going to the club. I figured it would be similar to that—just hopefully less nudity. I’d be nervous and get stares for the first hour, then any attention would die down.

Wyatt wanted me there, and they all did. In their own ways, they assured me the reunions were always fun. Although I was nervous to meet Wyatt and Niko’s families, I couldn’t help but feel intrigued by them myself. I had my own preconceived notions about them, what they’d look like, and how they’d act.

I’d never met them besides pops, but I thought highly of them. They raised such caring, affectionate men.

Everyone there (besides children for obvious reasons) knew that my professors liked to... share . While they’d never brought another woman home, their preferred lifestyle wasn’t a secret.

At Aiden’s suggestion, I dressed somewhat more casually than I typically liked. He insisted that Wyatt’s relatives weren’t exactly accustomed to heels and pearl necklaces. He told me to wear whatever I’d be comfortable walking around in grass. So, naturally, I wore a knit beige button-up sweater, matching brown plaid skirt, thick socks, and black loafers. My hair was tied back into a black bow, and I decided not to carry a purse.

It was a cute yet casual outfit. I wanted to impress their parents, and hopefully, I wasn’t over- or underdoing it. My professors assured me I looked lovely, giving me all the confidence in the world.

They dressed casually as well, in jeans and sweaters. The air had a bit of a bite today, but the sun was supposed to occasionally peek out.

Wyatt’s parents’ house was small, but the land around it was vast and went on for miles. Hay and corn fields surrounded the house and a small barn. Gravel crunched under our shoes as we walked from the car to the house. I could see dozens of people sitting at large tables behind the house—I assumed that was where the reunion was happening.

Overall, it was very cute. It was like they picked up a chunk of land from the south and moved it up here with them. I’d never seen anything like it in person.

“It’s the big guys!” Children running up to us while laughing broke me from my thoughts. Five or six children, all under ten, surrounded my professors and me.

“Uncle Wyatt! I’ve been waiting for you!”

“Lift me up, lift me up!” A boy clung to Dominic’s arm while he effortlessly curled him a few times.

“Me next!”

Niko crouched next to the growing pool of kids. “Hey guys, you’ve gotten so big!” He grinned.

“Who are you? You’re new. Do we know her? Are you Uncle Aiden’s girlfriend? Ooooo!” A girl started singing while making kissy faces at the two of us.

Aiden put a sarcastic hand over his heart. “My girlfriend?” he repeated. “Look how pretty she is. Do you really think I could pull her?” he joked while making a silly face at the group.

I couldn’t help but laugh as the four greeted and played with the kids. Who knew they’d be such softies? Especially Dominic. The kids were basically using him as a jungle gym, climbing up him and making him lift them into the air.

“What’s your name, bud?” A kid with a strangely deep accent eyed me down.

I bit back a laugh as I squatted down to his level. “My name’s Odette—”

“What are you doing with the uncles? You’re a girl,” he crossed his arms at me.

Maybe their parents weren’t the ones I should’ve been nervous about. Children had no filter and could be ruthless. I smiled. “Well, I’m their friend, and they wanted me to come and meet all their super cool relatives. Don’t you have friends that are girls?”

I felt my hair being touched and turned around to see two little girls trying to braid it. I smiled and turned back to the boy, who looked taken back. “Ick! Hell no, girls have cooties,” he all but shouted. “Do you have cooties? Are you gonna infect them with your girl germs?” He pointed a finger at me.

I widened my eyes. “Absolutely not! In fact, I used extra special soap today that gets rid of all cooties,” I assured.

“Uncle Niko, did she use the special soap?” He cocked a speculating eyebrow behind me.

Niko chuckled. “Come on, man, do you think I’d expose you to... uh—”

“Girl cooties,” I reminded.

“Girl cooties!” Niko laughed at the childish phrase. “Does she pass the inspection?” He asked, playing along.

The boy seemed to think for a dramatically extended amount of time before he gave a single nod. “I guess if you say she’s alright, she’s alright, bud,” he smiled at me, showing his missing front tooth.

“You’re so pretty! Can you come play with us?” One of the girls asked while braiding my hair.

“I bet she’s real good at tag with those giraffe legs—not in those things, though,” a little boy commented, pointing at my loafers.

I nervously chuckled, looking up at my professors for help. The only time I’d been around kids was when I was one. I didn’t particularly like or dislike them; I was indifferent and didn’t know how to relate to them.

Wyatt crouched next to me. “She’s very good at tag,” he encouraged. “She can’t right now; we’ve gotta go see Mama and Pops, but she’ll find you later, okay?” He said, signing me up for a game of tag. I didn’t know if it was just a ploy to get me out of it now or if he was serious.

“ Okay, Uncle Wyatt,” the girl let go of my hair, and she and her friend ran back behind the house where the rest of the people were.

“Please!” I caught the end of one of the boys begging Dominic and Niko to go with them, pulling at their hands. “You have to see it. We’ve been working on the fort all day, dudes,” he added.

Wyatt and I stood. Dominic sighed but smiled at the kid before turning to us. “I think Niko and I are going to go find a table,” he slightly widened his eyes as if saying he didn’t even want to try arguing with the boys.

Wyatt chuckled. “Good luck,” he said as Dominic and Niko were dragged away with the crowd of kids.

“You have so many... nieces and nephews?” I questioned. I didn’t think he had siblings.

Wyatt shrugged. “Second cousins. I’m so much older than they are; they’ve always called me uncle,” he explained.

“That’s not even all of them,” Aiden muttered, gesturing for me to follow him inside. “Don’t be nervous; they can smell it,” he smirked.

I sarcastically rolled my eyes as we entered the house. “Watch it or I’ll infect you with my girl cooties,” I joked.

He discreetly palmed my ass. “God, I hope so,” he flirted.

I sent him a wide-eyed look and swatted his hand away, noticing how many people were in the house. “Aiden,” I warned. Now was so not the time. In response, he sent me a mischievously innocent smile.

It was a small, open floor plan. They had a living room, kitchen, and a hallway where the bedrooms were. The furniture was dated, the carpet had a couple blue stains, the curtains were grandmotherly white lace, and it smelt amazing. A mixture of home-cooked turkey and cinnamon filled my senses as I watched what must’ve been ten women all arguing, laughing, and running around a small kitchen.

Wyatt held and squeezed my hand, sending me a comforting glance as he led us further into the house.

An older woman with gray tied-back hair and an apron’s mouth dropped open when she noticed us. “We’ll, I’ll be damned!” She exclaimed loudly, throwing the towel she was holding down on the counter. We had everyone’s attention now. “Look at you!” She sang in a southern accent as she walked up to us, wrapping Wyatt in a huge hug.

“Hey, mama,” he sounded nervous as he returned the hug. For such a short woman, she seemed to have quite the grip on him, and I smiled.

“I’m so happy to see you, son. Your Daddy didn’t think you’d come, but I told him—I said you’d come because you always do,” she said, giving his cheek a small tap before wiggling a finger in front of his face.

She turned to my other professor and wrapped him in a bear hug as well, making Aiden ‘oof’ from the force of it. “Hi Baby, you’re looking fit!” She complimented. “Where are my other boys?” She asked while still hugging him.

“They got kidnapped,” Aiden deadpanned.

She waved him off and finally turned to me. “As long as they’re here,” she said. “I have been waiting to meet you,” she greeted me, wearing a massive smile she could hardly contain. “My God, you’re even prettier in person than on the TV. Margaret, look at this young lady!” She called over her shoulder.

I blushed and laughed nervously. “I’m Odette, it’s nice to meet you,” I stretched my hand to her.

She whacked my hand out of the way. “The hell am I supposed to do with that? C’mere, sugar, we hug in this house,” she lightly scolded before wrapping me in a massive hug.

Strangely, it made me want to cry. I didn’t. But I could have.

After a few seconds of her squeezing me, she let go and grabbed my shoulders. “Goodness, you’re nothin but skin and bone. Don’t you worry, Mama will fatten you right up. I swear, everyone leaves ten pounds heavier every time we have a reunion,” she bragged.

“Boys, why don’t you go fix the TV or hit something with a hammer,” she waved them away before pulling me further into the kitchen and pushing me down onto a stool by my shoulders.

“The TV broke again?” Wyatt asked but was already making his way to the living room.

Aiden winked at me before he left out the back door, probably mingling with the seemingly hundreds of people.

“I’m glad your husband called me; thanks for inviting me,” I said, watching her begin to chop away at cilantro.

One of the women, probably in her late thirties, widened her eyes at me. “We’re all just surprised you were brave enough to show up. Our family can be... a lot,” she chuckled. “But you probably know all about crazy families, Miss Billionaire,” she joked.

Mama gave her a hip bump. “We were asked not to bring that up, Tracy,” she scolded. “Sorry, sugar,” she said sympathetically.

I widened my eyes, glancing at Wyatt, who was messing with wires on the back of an ancient TV. “No, it’s okay,” I held my hands up. I’d been on every local news outlet for weeks; Wyatt’s family had every right to be curious about me.

Mama got a stern look as she began aggressively chopping. “I just think it’s awful to put you in that position—we all do. You can’t buy or sell love. Not for any amount of money,” she ranted.

“Well, most people can’t,” I tilted my head. “Charles—my father—has always done whatever he wants,” I shrugged. “Is there anything I can help with?” I asked, feeling useless as they ran around the kitchen.

“Yes!” A woman holding a Baby walked over and plopped him in my arms. “Hold Junior for a sec; I can’t hardly move around, let alone cook with him in my arms,” she said.

I widened my eyes, somewhat panicking, as I stared at the baby. “Oh, I—uh...” What the fuck do I do with this?

I was impartial to kids, but I didn’t like babies. They were fragile, cried, pooped, peed, and puked everywhere. I didn’t know the first thing about how to hold one, especially one this tiny!

Support the head? My heart was hammering as my mind ran a mile a minute, thinking of any way to get rid of him. I was the absolute last person in the world who should be holding a baby. I was clumsy!

We were so high up... what if I dropped him?!

I quickly stood and took a few cautious steps, making sure to keep my palm and fingers wrapped around the Baby’s head and squeezing his body to mine. I quickly sat down on the ground, propping my legs up and leaning him against my thighs. I sighed, feeling much better about our proximity to the floor. Even so, I practically caged him with my arms.

He kind of looked like an alien. He was very red, and I worried I might have held him too tight.

“He ain’t gonna bite you, Sugar,” Mama laughed at me.

Didn’t babies teethe? He might not bite, but he certainly will gum me. Ew...

He made a crying sound, and I widened my eyes, more panic settling in. “No, no, no,” I shushed. “You’re okay...” I cringed. I looked up at the amused women. “Is he okay?” I asked. Why was he crying?

“He’s just a little fussy, he’s alright,” his mom assured without even turning around.

A large body sat beside me and took the baby from my lap. “Hey buddy,” Wyatt cooed at him, holding him in the crook of his elbow like he’d done this a million times.

Thank God. I finally breathed in and gave him a grateful look, which he just chuckled at. “Odette has a tendency to squeeze small cute things, Val. It’s a miracle our cat hasn’t been taken to the vet,” he informed, poking fun at me.

“I don’t squeeze him that hard...” I defended.

“Ain’t that a sight,” Mama gushed, looking at the two of us on the floor with a baby. I widened my eyes. Please no... “I hate you for choppin’ your baby makers off. All of you would make such pretty babies, especially with her genes!” She scolded.

Wyatt rolled his eyes like this was a conversation they’d had many times before. “Mama, nothing got chopped off. What do you think a vasectomy is?” He cringed, his voice sounding like he was in pain as he said the word.

She shrugged. “Your daddy never got one, so you could still become a big brother, you know,” she teased, and the woman in the kitchen laughed with her.

Wyatt looked disgusted, unable to meet his mother’s eyes. “I don’t wanna know that...” he cringed. “Alright, I’m taking him to his dad before you overshare again.” He stood with the baby in his arms and gestured for me to follow.

“Where do you think you came from?” She shouted as we walked out the back door.

I laughed as Wyatt shivered in disgust. “Sorry,” he nervously apologized.

I shook my head and touched his arm. “You’re cute when you blush, and your mom is adorable,” I gushed. “Thank you for saving me,” I gestured to the baby as we walked.

Wyatt’s eyes scanned the area as he looked for the father. “I’ve never seen someone panic so much from holding a baby,” he laughed, glancing down at me. “They’re not as fragile as you think, Baby.”

“Maybe not in your arms. I don’t like babies; I don’t know what to do with them,” I cringed.

He nodded in agreement. “You do this,” he said before he tapped a man on the shoulder. “Take your kid, Bob,” he playfully said.

After Wyatt returned the crying baby, we began making our way to the table where my professors sat. There were two men and a woman talking to them. One of the men wore a black button-down shirt, expensive jeans, and dress shoes. The woman was beautiful and middle-aged, and even from here, I could tell the black dress she wore cost thousands. The other man was facing away but had a beer in his hands as Aiden smiled at him in friendly conversation.

“Are those Niko’s parents?” I asked Wyatt. They must be. From Aidan’s description, they fit the bill with their tanned skin, similar to Niko’s, and obvious wealth.

Wyatt gently nodded and slowed his walking. “Yeah, and the man beside them is Aiden’s dad,” he sighed. “I’m sorry. I swear to God, none of us knew they invited him,” he shook his head.

“Do he and Aiden not get along or something?” I asked, not understanding why he was apologizing.

“No,” he quickly said. “I just don’t want you to feel like you’re being put on the spot, having to meet all our parents today. Walt is a nice guy; he just has a bit of a drinking problem,” he assured.

“Aiden didn’t know he’d be here?” I asked.

Wyatt shook his head. “No. Our parents have been friends for years. Pops probably told him he called you, and given that none of us have brought a woman around, he probably wants to meet you,” he pressed his lips together. “If you want to go, we can go—”

“Wyatt,” I grabbed his hand, giving him a pointed look. “You’re overthinking this more than I am. I definitely wasn’t expecting to meet all your parents today, but it is what it is. If they end up sucking, I can always go back to your mom, and she can tell me how pretty I am and how I’d make beautiful babies if your dicks weren’t chopped off,” I smirked, trying to ease his worries.

A small smile grew before he snickered. “I do have the best parents—I told you they’d love you,” he gloated. “Just... please, if my family or their parents get to be too overwhelming, tell me. My feelings won’t be hurt in the slightest if you want to go home early,” he placed a kiss against my hair.

Meeting Niko’s parents and Aiden’s dad was nerve-wracking, but I also wanted to meet the people who raised them to be such gentlemen. It was like unlocking a piece of their puzzle.

“And there she is,” Niko chimed when his eyes landed on me. His parents turned around fully and faced me. His father was handsome, like an older Niko with a salt-and-pepper beard. His mom was drop-dead gorgeous, so much so that I was intimidated by her Angelina Jolie-like stare. His father seemed kind, but his mom was undoubtedly sizing me up as her eyes scanned me from head to toe.

Niko stood from his chair as he introduced us. “Odette, these are my parents, Isabella and Mateo,” he smiled.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I shook their hands, noticing how icy cold Isabella’s hands were. They matched her gaze.

His mother slightly upturned her lips as she greeted, “Ciao, Odette. We’ve heard good things about you from our smitten son.” Her Italian accent was thick, only adding to her intimidation factor.

Behind her, Dominic smirked at Niko, finding amusement in the awkwardness. Niko didn’t seem phased by his mother’s admittance; he simply smiled at me.

She looked over her shoulder at her husband and lifted a brow. “è giovane... almeno sappiamo che non è con loro per la loro ricchezza,” Isabella spoke softly.

[She’s young... at least we know she’s not with them for their wealth.]

I chewed the inside of my lip, knowing I wasn’t meant to understand what she said. I wasn’t insulted by her speculations; I would have thought similarly if I was looking at our relationship from an outside perspective. Still, I wanted his parents to like me—unfortunately, I was coming off as a gold digger.

My eyes flicked to Niko to gauge his reaction, but he was shooting daggers at the side of his mother’s head.

Mateo’s shoulders dropped slightly as he let out a small, inaudible breath. He placed his hands on his wife’s shoulders before responding in his own language. “Sí, ella sola tiene mucho de eso. Sé amable, mi amor. La chica ya está bastante nerviosa sin tu escrutinio.”

[Yes, she has plenty of that on her own. Be kind, my love. The girl is nervous enough without your scrutiny.]

“She speaks Italian, mother,” Niko informed bluntly. “And Spanish,” he added. “Non tollererò che nessuno le manchi di rispetto. Voi due non ne siete esclusi. Sono chiaro?” The Italian rolled off his tongue effortlessly as if he had no reservations about scolding his parents.

[I won’t tolerate anyone disrespecting her. The two of you are not excluded from that. Am I clear?]

I hated that there was even a hint of conflict, but from Niko and Mateo’s smile, I knew it wasn’t an actual argument. Butterflies swarmed in my stomach at his response. Even in front of his parents, he was proud that I was his—that I was theirs.

Isabella’s tight mouth smile turned genuine as she took in her son. “Ti abbiamo cresciuto bene,” she patted his hand gently, a proud expression before she turned back to me. “My apologies, Cara. Where did you learn our languages?” She asked, her tone more civil than before.

[We raised you right.]

I folded my hands behind my back, hiding my nervous twiddling—although Aiden’s father would see. “I traveled a lot. I knew five languages by the time I was 15,” I explained.

“Pretty and smart,” Aiden’s father chimed behind me, making our group turn to him. He had Aiden’s electric eyes, only they were dull. It was apparent life had taken its toll on the man. He had a glass with dark liquor in it that he’d been nursing. “Well done, boys,” he jokingly winked at my professors.

Bury me.

Aiden forced a sarcastic smile at his father. “Stop talking, I beg of you,” he said through his teeth, making Wyatt and Niko chuckle. Aiden looked less than thrilled as he gave me an apologetic glance. “Odette, this old drunk is my father, Walt. You’ll have to excuse him; he doesn’t have a filter.”

“Is that where you get it?” I shot, shaking Walt’s hand while smiling at him. Aiden smirked, gently shaking his head.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Little Lady. I think I can speak for Isabella, Mateo, Dominic’s dad (wherever he’s been hiding), and Wyatt’s folks that we are very happy to meet you. We didn’t think they’d ever bring a woman home,” he nudged me.

He must not have been informed of Dominic’s father’s passing. From the unbothered expression on Dominic’s face, it wouldn’t be mentioned anytime soon.

In response, I smiled. This was going well—much better than it could’ve gone. Considering my only troublesome moments were holding a baby and Isabella’s worries about my age... I’d call this a win. No one was screaming, and the house wasn’t on fire.

“The pleasures all mine, really,” I glanced at my handsome professors before addressing the parental units again. “You did a wonderful job raising them,” I complimented.

“Y’all look like you could use these!” A loud voice chuckled from behind me, making me jump. “Hey, Killer!” Pops put a bottle of whisky and shot glasses on the table before wrapping his arms around me in a big hug. “Thanks for coming,” he whispered.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, giving it a squeeze as he greeted the others. “Don’t let the skirt and bow fool ‘ya, she tried to kill me the first time I met her,” he teased.

“I did no such thing!” I shook my head and smirked at Wyatt.

Pops widened his eyes at the group. “Whatever she says. Just don’t let her get a hold of the cookin’ tongs,” he chuckled. He let go of me and began pouring shots of dark whisky.

Isabella moved closer to me until she hooked her arm with mine. “Mi dispiace per quello che ho detto prima. Rendi mio figlio molto felice e per questo ti sono grato. Sono passati molti anni dall’ultima volta che li ho visti sorridere come fanno adesso,” she gave my arm a squeeze.

[I’m sorry for what I said before. You make my son very happy, and for that, I am grateful. It’s been many years since I’ve seen any of them smile the way they are now.]

Bashfully, I glanced down at her admittance. “Anche loro mi rendono molto felice. Non sono cresciuto in una grande famiglia come Wyatt o con due genitori che si amano. Incontrandoti, capisco perché sono così gentiluomini,” I explained, taking the opportunity to respond in her language.

[They make me very happy, too. I was not raised in a big family like Wyatt or with two parents who love each other. Meeting you, I understand why they are such gentlemen.]

She pressed her lips together in a heartwarming smile. “Come madre, non riesco a pensare a complimento migliore.” She perked up, giving my hand an excited tap. “Il tuo italiano è molto buono, Cara! Meglio di quello di Niko,” she laughed.

[As a mother, I can think of no better compliment. Your Italian is very good, Cara! Better than Niko’s.]

Niko handed me a small glass of whisky before wrapping his arm around me. “You’re lucky I learned Italian at all. With Dad speaking Spanish, you speaking Italian, and everyone else speaking English, I didn’t know what words went with which language for most of my childhood,” he joked.

“I made your mind beautiful,” she bragged before standing by Mateo again.

Niko glanced down at me. “Quattro colpi e scommetto che Wyatt indossa un cappello da cowboy e parla con accento,” he mumbled next to my ear.

[Four shots, and I bet Wyatt is wearing a cowboy hat talking in an accent.]

I laughed at the idea of my put-together man doing such things. “è quello che succede di solito in questi eventi?”

[Is that what usually happens at these events?]

With wide eyes, he nodded and took his shot. “Every year,” he smirked.

An excited, giddy giggle left my lips as I slightly bounced on my heels, excited to see Cowboy Wyatt.

Niko was wrong. It didn’t take four shots; it took eight. Wyatt had somehow found a cowboy hat, his shirt had the buttons undone, and he had a very distinct southern drawl.

The sun was beginning to set, and the party was in full swing. It’d been hours since we arrived, and I was feeling comfortable. As promised, I played tag with the kids—only after dragging Niko with me. My hair was a bit messy, and I was slightly tipsy from three shots of whisky. It wasn’t my favorite, so I didn’t have much.

A few of Wyatt’s cousins could play the guitar and sing, and they were putting on quite the show, playing old country songs. Groups of people danced in the grass, beers in their hands. I was so happy I decided to join them. Their families were amazing, even Walt, who Aiden was obviously embarrassed by. They were kind, and I was so glad to meet them.

Walking back to our table after the kids stole me again, I smiled at my professors. Wyatt pulled me into his lap before I could take my own seat. “Hey Baby,” he flirted, his hand palming my thigh.

I couldn’t help but laugh at his bold drunkenness before looking up at my other men, who were just as amused by him. “Wyatt,” I warned with a smile, turning to ensure no one—especially their parents—saw the PDA.

The corner of his mouth turned up in a mischievous grin. “What? I can’t hold you?”

“Not in front of your parents!” I widened my eyes at him. “I don’t want them to think I’m a whore,” I teased.

“Oh Baby, if they knew what a whore you could be, they’d understand,” he rasped against my neck, which he was trying to nuzzle into.

Arousal slicked between my thighs, and I quickly stood up from the horny cowboy’s lap. “You’re trouble,” I nervously laughed, still standing.

Dominic let out a hearty laugh. “Not a fan of PDA, Darling?”

“Not when their families might be watching,” I defended. “They like me, I want to keep it that way.”

“I love drunk Wyatt,” Niko sighed happily.

“I’m not drunk; I’m tipsy,” Wyatt corrected. “God, I wanna fuck a baby into you,” he smirked at me.

As my other professors laughed for about ten seconds, I was stunned silent. Obviously, he didn’t mean that, but it’d be fun to let him try.

Aiden was barely breathing as he laughed. “Dude, volume check. Your whole family doesn’t need to know about your breeding kink, okay?” He shook his head in amusement.

“You should drink water,” I ran a hand through the ends of his hair. He would feel this in the morning or possibly later tonight at home.

His eyes were slightly red as he wrapped his arm around my waist, as I twiddled with his hair. “Sit on my face, and I’ll drink your water,” he winked.

He was on a roll with the innuendos. Niko, Dominic, and Aiden were in fits of laughter as their friend tried to seduce me.

“Okay,” I quietly clapped my hands together. “I’m going to go get you some water and use the bathroom,” I informed before stepping away.

“I’ll help you find it—” he began to stand, but I placed my hands on his broad shoulder.

“We are not fucking in your parents bathroom!” I whisper yelled at him.

False innocence grew on his lips as he gasped at me. “Who said we were, Naughty Girl? Get your mind out of the gutter, Baby.”

Sharing a look with my other men, I laughed as I took my leave. Of course, a drunk cowboy whistled behind me, making me blush. I was lucky everyone was occupied or too busy to care what we did in our corner. That man was going to be the death of me.

When I entered the house, I was greeted by Wyatt’s mother, who practically tried to force-feed me more potato salad. Still, I stood my ground (unlike last time.) A few others were in the small living room, watching a football game.

I thought I heard a woman say my name just as I shut the bathroom door behind me. I was willing to bet Wyatt’s mom was talking about me again or pointing me out to ‘the aunties.’

After using the restroom, I nearly ran into a man on my way out. The hallway was narrow, and I was glad I wasn’t looking at my feet, or a collision would have happened. “Sorry,” I mumbled while passing.

A big hand wrapped around my elbow, making me stop and stare wide-eyed at the stranger. He immediately withdrew his hand and chuckled. “Sorry, I just wanted to catch you before you left—I’m probably not making a good impression,” he smiled.

“It’s no problem,” I straightened my posture, wondering where he fit in the family tree. He was older, maybe in his late 50s, and towered over me. Besides his height, his only prominent feature was the two scars across his chin. “Sorry, did we meet earlier? I’m not good with names,” I surmised.

With a slow shake of his head, he responded. “No, I just got here a couple minutes ago. I actually came just to meet you,” he gestured to me.

No pressure at all.

I tried not to look intimidated as I nodded. “Oh... Um, are you one of Wyatt’s uncles?” I guessed, hinting for him to give me something to go off of. This was strange.

“No,” he laughed. “My name’s Court, I’m Dominic’s father.”

A thick silence of confusion washed over me. Either I was speaking to a ghost, or Aiden lied. “Dominic... Owens ?” I lifted my brows in question, thinking maybe another man named Dominic was running around somewhere.

“He probably hasn’t mentioned me much; we didn’t have the best relationship when he was younger,” he shifted on his feet. “Chester invited me and mentioned you, so I couldn’t help but be curious,” he explained.

Discomfort draped over my shoulders, and I wrapped my arm around my middle. This didn’t feel right; he gave me a bad feeling in my stomach. “Does Dominic know you’re here?” I pried.

“No,” he rushed out. “Between you and me, I don’t think he should. I’m not staying long, and I doubt he’d want to see me,” he nervously chuckled.

Alarms rang in my head as I slowly nodded. “I think I should go. It was nice meeting you,” I muttered. If Dominic didn’t have a good relationship with his father—enough so for Aiden to lie about him being dead, I had no business talking to him. The man had barely spoken to me and had already asked me to lie. I had no loyalty to Court and every reason to immediately tell Aiden and let him decide. It was clear he wasn’t welcome in Dominic’s life.

He stepped to the side as I tried to retreat, blocking my exit. He held his hands up in surrender. “I’ll just be a second!” He assured. I crossed my arms, feeling nerves crawl up my throat. “Look, for whatever reason, my son wants no relationship with me. The only details I ever hear about him and his life are from Walt or Chester. I just wanted to meet you, and I’m happy that you seem... normal,” he rambled. “And very attractive, I should add,” he tried to joke, but his laugh fell short.

Normal? Why wouldn’t I be normal?

“Excuse me,” I quickly squeezed past him, immediately walking to the back door.

I was beyond confused about the entire interaction. First, I was told that Dominic’s father passed away. Then, he shows up and asks me to lie about his being here. Dominic was incredibly private, and the little I knew about him came out over nearly four months. He only mentioned he had a bad childhood once when I had a panic attack, but even then, he gave no details other than he used to get them, too.

“You forgot the water,” Niko chuckled as I approached the table.

“I’m plenty hydrated,” Wyatt dismissed before wrapping his arms around my thighs and hugging my legs to his side.

“What’s wrong?” Aiden narrowed his eyes on me. I probably looked concerned, with my eyebrows knitted in confusion.

“Um, nothing,” I lied, unsure of how to bring up what just happened. “Actually... Dominic,” I glanced up at him, and he stared back at me. “I’m really sorry to ask you this, but is your father dead?” I asked bluntly. Aiden lied right in front of Niko and Wyatt, but neither of them corrected him. Dominic was the only one who’d give me a straight answer. If the towering height of Court weren’t a factor, part of me would believe that someone might be playing a sick joke.

Caught off guard by my question, he only stared back at me with a blank expression. It was hard not to fidget under his intense eyes, looking through me rather than at me. Slowly, his eyebrows fell, and his eyes darkened, his expression changing from neutral to unpleasant.

Although looking away from Dominic’s clenched fists was hard, I glanced at Niko, Aiden, and a wide-eyed Wyatt. The tension grew when I realized that my other three professors’ eyes were locked on him as if he were a ticking time bomb.

“No,” Dominic all but growled his short response, ruling out any speculation I had about the man in the house. “Why?” The question came out as a demand.

“Did someone mention him...?” Niko guessed under his breath, seeming uncomfortable.

My gut feeling during my short interaction with Court was only validated by their rigid posture and weary behavior. I didn’t plan on keeping it to myself, but now I was all too confident in my decision to tell them about the meeting I had.

Pointing a thumb over my shoulder, I kept my eyes on Dominic as I answered. “He’s inside.”

Dominic’s features had gotten impossibly darker, and from how hard his fists were clenched, I was surprised blood wasn’t leaking from his palm.

Before the darkness took over, there was a split second when he looked... scared. It was gone in the blink of an eye, but I was certain it happened. Something in me suddenly felt defensive, like I should’ve asked Court to leave. Somehow, a part of me understood that fearful look, and I wanted to protect him from his monster.

From that one childlike pusillanimous flash of his eyes, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that Court was Dominic’s monster. I didn’t know how, why, or what he did... I just knew that look.

“Oh shit,” Aiden murmured before glancing at the house.

“Dominic, I didn’t think they’d invite him—I didn’t know they still spoke,” Wyatt apologized, gently slurring his words.

“What did he say to you?” Dominic asked, each word like venom as I held his stare.

I sat down next to Niko and Wyatt before I answered. “He said he wanted to meet me and not to tell you that he was here. He mentioned that you two no longer have a relationship, and he was happy to see that I’m attractive—and normal?” I rushed out, trying to recall the conversation. It happened so fast.

“What else did he do?” Dominic pushed.

“Nothing, that was it,” I shook my head. “I mean, he tried to keep talking, but after what he said, I came out here to tell you.” My voice was soft as I spoke, hoping to calm him.

“Dom, I’ll go ask him to leave, okay?” Aiden gave him a soft look before moving to stand.

I could never be scared of Dominic—but the murderous look in his eyes and the way he slowly rose from his chair made me shrink.

“Dominic, don’t—I’ll handle it,” Aiden placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to usher him back into his seat.

It was as if he didn’t hear Aiden’s words as he began taking long, confident strides toward the house. “Dom—fuck,” Aiden sighed, glancing down at Wyatt. “I can’t hold him back myself,” he gestured for Wyatt to follow as he chased after Dominic, who was already opening the back door.

Wyatt downed the glass of whisky on the table before he stood and followed suit. Drunk, shirt open revealing his abs, and a country hat on. If I weren’t worried, I probably would have mimicked his whistle from earlier—but this wasn’t the time for jokes.

The three disappeared inside, and my shoulders fell, worried about Dominic. Something told me Court was about to get the beating of his life, probably worse than Mr. Ridley (who had two black eyes for weeks after what Dominic did to him).

Niko wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “You did the right thing by telling him,” he assured in a hushed tone.

“It doesn’t feel like it,” I admitted.

He placed his hand under my chin, making me look up from my lap into his hazel eyes. “Dominic wasn’t mad at you, you know, despite the glare,” he halfheartedly smiled. “Court knows he isn’t welcome, and he’s a fucking idiot for showing up—let alone seek you out and think it’s okay to talk to you,” he scoffed and shook his head, a glare of his own.

“I know he wasn’t mad at me,” I sighed. “The look on his face...” I shook my head, deciding not to mention it. If I had, I might’ve cried for him.

Movement in my peripheral caught my attention. From where we sat in the back, we had the only view of the front of the house, where all the cars were parked. Dominic was seething in the sunset, dragging Court out of the house by the back of his neck—like a dog. Wyatt and Aiden were following closely behind but didn’t make any move to stop the manhandling.

“Niko,” I widened my eyes at the sight, too interested to look away.

Niko followed my eye-line, where he took in the unfolding scene. “At least they got him out of the house,” Niko humorlessly chuckled.

“Court?”

“Dominic,” he corrected. “You might want to look away, Odette,” his thumb gently ran over my hand as he held it.

Ignoring his suggestion, I watched as Dominic flung Court forward until he stumbled to find his footing. The music was far too loud for us to hear what they said. While I was curious, I was thankful no one else was aware of the scene happening in the front.

Court said something with his hands held up in innocence but was cut short by Dominic’s right hook, followed by the left... until he swung repeatedly. Every punch landed until his father was bloody on the gravel. Even then, Dominic didn’t stop.

Even with Aiden and Wyatt on each arm, trying to pull him off Court, Dominic barely looked interrupted. Court tried to hit back, but Dominic didn’t allow him to.

Niko’s leg was tapping beside me, seemingly ready to join Aiden and Wyatt in pulling him off his father.

Finally, Wyatt and Aiden pulled Dominic off. Dominic was saying something to Court, practically spitting the (what I can only assume) threats.

Court’s face and shirt were covered in blood—I was surprised when he was able to stand. He stumbled to his feet and ran to a car, fumbling with his keys before he flung the door open.

Dominic harshly shrugged his shoulders, breaking free from my other professors. He strode up to the car, pointing a finger at him as he seemed to be yelling. I could make out the words ‘If you ever...’ before the music drowned his voice out.

Dominic got three more hits in before being held back, and Court skidded out of the driveway, his tire leaving a bare spot in the gravel.

I’d never seen anything like it in real life, but it wasn’t an easy sight to witness. My heart ached for Dominic, especially seeing his shoulders relax once the headlights were long gone.

Aiden and Wyatt let him go after a few extra seconds as if he’d chase down the car. Dominic didn’t say anything as he stared blankly at where the car was parked. His fists were stained red, dripping blood.

Aiden said something, but Dominic just shook his head before turning and locking eyes with Niko and me. His anger was gone; instead, he seemed disappointed in himself. He turned around and began walking in the opposite direction, heading towards a red barn.

My heart sank. I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around his massive frame and take away any pain, anger, or sadness he felt. Niko placed a hand on my thigh when I went to stand, ready to go after him. “Let him cool down a bit, Cari?o,” he suggested gently.

If I hadn’t seen the site myself, I would have thought nothing happened. The party was still in full swing, now with small lights illuminating the area from the darkness of the night.

It’d been half an hour since Dominic’s attack on his father, and he still hadn’t made an appearance. Aiden and Wyatt assured us that he was fine. I understood that he wanted to be alone, but I was worried. That was heavy , and I wanted to make sure that he wasn’t beating himself up.

Wyatt continued to have fun and joke around with his family, no longer sobered up from the adrenaline. It was amusing to watch and served as a distraction from my worried thoughts. Aiden asked me several times if I was okay or if Court had said anything I hadn’t mentioned earlier.

With Wyatt playing corn hole, Niko chatting with his parents, and Aiden finally having a beer with Walt, I took the opportunity to slip away. While walking through the empty kitchen, I saw a coffee machine in the corner and smiled.

“Where you running off to, beautiful?” Wyatt flirted as he entered the house, leaving everyone else outside. His drunken clinginess continued as he wrapped his arms around me from behind.

“I was going to bring Dominic a coffee,” I said.

“He’d like that,” he hummed in approval, gently trailing his lips down the back of my neck.

Shivers ran down my spine at his attempts at seducing me, and I giggled. “Wyatt,” I warned. “If your family sees, I’ll—”

He pulled away and moved in front of me with raised brows. “I’m not vile enough to try anything in my parents’ house with a village outside, Baby,” he defended. “I was asked to grab something from my childhood room—would you be kind enough to delay the coffee and help me out?” He plastered a dazzling grin across his mouth. It was impossible to say no.

Wanting to see Wyatt’s childhood bedroom, I eagerly nodded. I had a hunch that it was full of books. “Lead the way, Cowboy,” I rocked on my heels.

With my hand in his, he casually walked down the long hall to the closed door at the end. On the door, there was a single Shakespeare sticker lifted around every edge. “I’m not surprised,” I mused while running my finger over one of the dry corners.

He chuckled once, “Yeah, I got in lots of trouble for putting a sticker on my door,” he recalled while opening the door.

We stepped in. The blinds were closed, but the room was gently lit by the lights outside glowing through them. Wyatt made no move to turn on the light, as it was plenty lit enough to see.

The room was small. A twin bed tucked into a corner, freshly made with blue sheets. The walls were the same beige as the rest of the house. My hunch was correct; what seemed like hundreds of books were stacked on shelves, against the wall, behind the bed, and in the open closet. An old wooden desk was pushed against a wall, and even that had a stack of books. A full-length body mirror with a flannel that wouldn’t fit Wyatt anymore was propped in a corner. The room was frozen in time from Wyatt’s teenage years.

Wyatt closed the door behind us, where I broke out in laughter, seeing dozens of stickers on the back of the door. They ranged from tractors, poets, famous quotes, football, and dirt bikes. “And how much trouble did you get in for that collage?” I teased.

“I don’t think they’ve seen it yet. No one ever comes in here anymore,” he grinned mischievously.

“Strangely, this is exactly what I expected teenage Wyatt’s room to look like,” I gestured to the stacks of books. I crossed my arms over my chest and glanced around the room. “So, what are we supposed to be looking for?” I asked.

The muffled music playing outside the window was the only sound for a few seconds, raising my suspicions. Turning to look at him, I cocked a brow. “Wyatt?”

An evil, amused smirk plastered across his lips as he stalked further into the room. “Poor girl, did you really think I was above fucking you here?” he mockingly pouted as if pitying my gullibility.

My eyes rounded, and I held up a finger at him in warning to stay back. “I think vile was the word you used, actually,” I shot back in disbelief. “Are you crazy?!”

Dismissing my scolding, he easily held my protective arm, removing my buffer between us. He wrapped his big arm around my back, pulling me against him. “No one will know,” he drunkenly assured.

“There’s not even a lock on the door,” I whispered, eyeing the door that could be opened randomly.

“Does that excite you?” he teased, holding my wrist as he ran my hand down his exposed abs.

Trying to ignore how tempting he was—and had been for the past few hours—I clung to the strand of self-control I had. “No,” I fibbed. I was a sicko; of course, the risk was compelling, but I’d throw myself off a cliff if anyone caught us.

Moving my hand to the massive bulge in his jeans, he tucked his head into the nape of my neck and licked from my collarbone to my ear. “Then why is your skin burning? I think you’re a dirty little liar, Odette,” he rasped against me.

Wetness slicked between my thighs as my knees trembled. I blamed the alcohol that I’d drunk, but really, I knew I was just a slut for them.

Letting my composure slip away, I gave in, palming his dick through his jeans. He was extremely hard, making my mouth water as I groped him.

Wyatt smirked against my neck, sighing in pleasure, sending hot air down my body.

Craving him in my mouth, I began lowering myself onto my knees. To my surprise, he wrapped his hand around my throat, pulling me back up. “We don’t have time, and if your tongue touches my cock, I’ll cum. Strip,” he ordered, stepping back from me and pulling his button-up off his arms.

He expected me to get all the way naked? If I kept my clothes on, at least I could attempt to cover myself, pulling my skirt back into place if someone walked in.

Confusing me, I watched as he grabbed the mirror and placed it flat on the floor, mirror up. He removed his belt and shook his head at me. “Do you want me to rip your clothes off of you?” he threatened. “Strip. Now.”

Playing with fate, I wiggled out of my skirt and pulled my sweater off. When I pulled the sweater over my head, Wyatt grabbed it and tossed it onto his bed. He reached behind me and effortlessly unclasped my bra. “Eager?” I joked despite my skin buzzing where his fingertips brushed.

Ignoring me, he fell to his knees, taking off my shoes and socks before hooking his hands around my panties and jerking them down my legs. He was impatient, and how much he wanted me turned me on.

Without warning, his mouth was against my pussy, eating me out unforgivingly as I stood on unstable legs. My mouth dropped open, and I quickly covered it with my hand, terrified that someone might hear. The other tangled in his disheveled hair.

His hands wrapped around my thighs, keeping me against his face as he devoured me. With how ravenous he was acting, you’d think he was drunk off me, not the whisky.

He pulled away from me, staying on his knees. “Get on your hands and knees over the mirror, Baby,” he instructed.

Glancing at the mirror, I immediately understood his vision and what he wanted. Oh... I was going to hell. As I lowered myself to the floor, he greedily grabbed my hips while I prepared myself for the absolute railing I was in for.

“Watch it go in,” Wyatt gruffed with burgeoning excitement.

In this position, I didn’t have the choice to look away. I could see everything. From my blissed-out expression, perked nipples, and long torso, to Wyatt’s dick slowly pushing into me—it was enchanting to take in.

Their anytime, anywhere promise was proving to be true.

Keeping my lips tightly sealed, I withheld my moans as he rocked into me. His bloodshot eyes were cast downward, watching my ass and whatever part of us he could in the mirror. “Jesus, you’re gorgeous...” he whispered the compliment.

A deep, throaty sigh escaped him as he lifted one of his legs, allowing himself to give me more of him. Fingertips tickled me as he just barely traced them up my spine, making me arch further onto him. The feather-like touch quickly turned rough as he placed his hand fully over my mouth. “Be a good girl for me and try not to scream,” he husked into my ear before sticking his middle finger into my mouth.

I didn’t know which excited me more, having his finger in my mouth or the sudden violent sloppy jerks as he roughly fucked into me. Either way, my two favorite holes were filled, and I was seeing stars.

Slutty muffled moans and the quiet slap of Wyatt’s hips against my ass filled the space. He swirled his finger around my tongue, numbing my senses—but most importantly, keeping me quiet.

My orgasm was quickly approaching, and my arousal dripped onto the mirror beneath us. Wyatt drunkenly chuckled, “Such a sloppy pussy, making a fucking mess everywhere,” he teased, and I blushed at my reflection.

A sinful smirk lifted across his mouth, and his eyes darkened. Shoving the mirror forward with his knee, I watched his reflection as he tilted his head. “Lick it clean,” he demanded, slowly removing his finger and hand from my lips.

My eyes rounded at the degrading request. Before I could protest, my pussy clenched around him with need, giving me away.

He moaned, pushing my head down to the mirror. A mixture of adrenaline and embarrassment flooded my system as I stuck my tongue out and licked my cum off the mirror, watching Wyatt’s reaction.

His dick twitched, and his lips parted, “Fuck me...” he rolled his eyes back as if he didn’t think I’d actually listen to him. “You’re so hot,” he groaned. Glancing at the bed, he leaned over and grabbed his phone from the pocket of his jeans. He held the phone up before taking multiple pictures of me. “I’m not going to remember this, and I need to remember this,” he slurred an explanation. Not that I minded if he had a picture, I knew he’d never share it with anyone. Well, with three people as the exception.

I giggled before lifting my head again, seeing the mirror clean of any cum droplets. “Take as many as you’d like,” I flirted, rocking on my knees.

Keeping his phone above us, I didn’t know if he was taking pictures or a video as I lost myself in pleasure again.

“You’re going to make me cum, Baby. So fucking good—bad?” He corrected himself, seeming unsure.

“D-definitely bad,” I agreed as I came. My hand flew up to my mouth, pressing hard, silencing my moans.

“Shit, that’s it, Baby, keep rocking back on me like that,” he grunted. Meeting my thrusts, I felt him twitch as hot cum spilled inside me. “Fuck,” he whimpered one last time, struggling to keep quiet himself.

We stilled for a few moments, recovering from our highs. I shrunk down, resting my head against my arms as I caught my breath. “Woah,” was the only word that I could muster.

Drunk Cowboy Wyatt was something else .

He wrapped his arms around my chest, lifting my back to his front. He kissed my cheek several times with overexaggerated muah sounds. “So. Stupidly. Beautiful.” He chimed.

I giggled and turned to look at him. “You, Sir, are very drunk,” I teased.

His brows lifted as he slowly blinked. “Sir?” He repeated. “Are you trying to go round two?” He quipped.

Huffing a laugh, I shook my head. “Absolutely not.” I was far too scared to get caught—one round was all the risk I was willing to take. Also, I was anxious to check on a certain anatomy professor.

Wyatt surprisingly came prepared with wet wipes. We exited Wyatt’s room once we cleaned ourselves–and the mirror–of any evidence. I made sure to fix my hair and makeup in the bathroom before anyone saw me. Wyatt stayed in the kitchen with me, cracking jokes and sly teasing comments about our... encounter as I made Dominic a steaming hot cup of coffee. I’d watched him make it for himself what seemed like hundreds of times. I knew how he liked it—at least, I hoped I did.

Casually going our separate ways, Wyatt slipped out the back door as I exited the front.

Gravel crunched under my shoes as I walked through the darkness to the barn. The door was slightly ajar, and a small amount of light was coming from inside.

Careful not to spill any of the coffee, I slipped into the barn, my eyes landing on him instantly. He was sitting on a hay bale, his elbows on his knees as he watched the floor in front of him.

“Dominic,” I whispered into the quiet space, the music and voices from the party muffled.

His brows knitted as he lifted his head to look at me. Exhaustion was heavy in his eyes as they scanned my body. He tilted his head at me. “C’mere,” he ordered.

Eagerly accepting the invitation, I walked over and stood before him. His hands were covered in dried blood. “I brought you coffee,” I wiggled the mug in my hand.

A genuine smile spread across his mouth, surprising me. He stood up and walked over to a sink that looked like it was used exclusively to clean dirty barn supplies. Still, the streaming water and soap cleansed his hands from any blood until they were left scarred and bruised.

“I’m not in here to talk about what happened,” I started, knowing he probably didn’t want to live through it again. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

He sat down on the hay again, taking the mug from me before he pulled me into his lap. “I’m just ashamed that you had to see me like that,” he placed a kiss against my head.

“Don’t be,” I pulled away to see his face. I shifted in his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Dominic, you don’t have to hide any part of yourself from me,” I touched the ends of his hair as I spoke. “You had your reasons for doing what you did. If it bothered me, I would’ve looked away,” I promised.

His eyes softened as he ran his bruised hand through my hair. “I’m sorry that you got brought into it. He should have never even looked in your direction. I promise you’ll never see or hear from that man again.”

I understood the dynamic between Dominic and his father. From what I could tell, it was similar to mine and Charles’. Dominic obviously knew things about his father that no one else did. He wanted to protect others from him. It was a feeling I knew all too well.

I wanted to assure him that Court really didn’t say anything that raised any red flags to me, but I knew Dominic wouldn’t care. It wasn’t about what he might have said; it was the fact that he said anything to me at all.

There was nothing I could say to further comfort him, so I kissed him. It was the kind of kiss at the end of a romance film, where the guy gets the girl and there’s a happy ending. It was a passionate kiss that said, ‘I know. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.’

It was another one of those unspoken moments that I’d been experiencing with them lately. Wordlessly, we shared hidden emotions that neither of us could admit aloud.