“Back atya,” I said, and climbed off of him, heading to the bathroom, sitting on the edge of the tub and settling my hands on my belly.
He followed. “What’s wrong?”
I took a slow, deep breath. “Just had a little cramp.”
He hunkered down in front of me. “No more sex.”
I gasped. “Um, no, you don’t get to arbitrarily make that decision.”
“Dani, you’re barely a month away from having our baby girl. I will not put you in jeopardy.”
“But I can’t go all that time without sex, Austin.”
He sighed. “You just want me for my body.”
“Well, this is true, but you knew that going into this partnership.”
He chuckled. “I’m gonna get you some Tylenol, then bed for you.”
I kissed him quickly. “I can live with that.”
He grinned and after helping me into bed, he held me close and whispered to our baby until I fell asleep.
Payton
“I got it,” Lily called out after the doorbell pealed.
“I will get it,” Hawk growled.
“Dad!”
“Baby girl, get your ass away from that door.”
“It’s Maverick.”
“And I’m gonna answer it.”
I rolled my eyes. Lily was almost seventeen and had been in love with Maverick Quinn since she was five (and he with her), but Hawk had a rule (one of many), and that was that he answered the door after six p.m. No exceptions.
“Ohmigod,” she said with a groan.
“Go help your mom in the kitchen.”
The doorbell pealed again, and Lily and Hawk argued for a few more seconds before my girl stomped into the kitchen. “I think Dad’s on his period.”
I chuckled. “He just wants a couple of minutes with Maverick.”
“Well, that sounds ominous.”
I handed her a knife and nodded to the veggies. “Chop.”
“I don’t think you should be handing me a knife, Mom. My man isn’t in front of me in one piece yet, and Dad’s the reason he isn’t.”
Our heads turned at the sound of Maverick and Hawk laughing, so I once again nodded to the veggies. “I think you’re good.”
She sighed, but started to chop just as her brothers walked in. Hunter snagged a piece of carrot from Lily’s pile and popped it into his mouth.
“Why’s Dad grillin’ Mav?” Case asked.
Case wasn’t really Case. He was Lincoln, but when he was little, he was extremely bossy and was always getting on everyone’s case, so we’d called him “Case,” and it had stuck. Now, no one ever called him Lincoln, and it kind of made me sad at times, but it was what it was.
Lily set the knife down. “He’s grilling him?”
Before Lily could slide off her barstool, Hawk and Maverick walked in and Maverick seemed perfectly fine.
“Hey, Lil,” Maverick said, kissing her cheek. I noticed he kept PDAs to a minimum when everyone was around. That would be Cassidy’s influence, because our men had no problem showing us how much they adored us... in public or private... and whenever the hell they wanted.
She beamed up at him. “Hi.”
“You ready?” he asked.
“Yep.”
“Did you drop everything off at the compound?” I asked Maverick.
“Yeah,” he said. “Prez wasn’t expectin’ so many toys. They’re planning on using one of the bunk rooms to store everything, but for now, it’s all safe in the truck.”
“That’s great,” I said. “Maisie said we have twice as many donations as last year.”
“Three times,” Maverick countered. “As of tonight.”
“Even better.”
“We also got Hatch’s present hauled and hidden,” Maverick said.
“What is it?” Lily asked.
“Secret,” he said, but I had a feeling she’d get it out of him later.
I grinned, rinsing potatoes in the sink. I knew what it was, but Maisie had sworn me to secrecy, and telling any of my kids would not be a good way to keep that promise.
“We better go,” Maverick said.
I set the spud in the bowl and faced them. “You guys have fun tonight.”
“You drive like you’re old and careful,” Hawk said to Maverick.
Maverick smiled, wrapping his arm around Lily. “Precious cargo, Hawk. Not lettin’ anything happen to her.”
“Okay, honey, I think you can release the tether, huh?” I challenged.
Hawk nodded. “You guys have fun.”
In pure Lily fashion, she got the hell out of the house before her father could change his mind, and I grinned at him, kissing him quickly before ordering Hunter to take over Lily’s chopping.
“Case, I’m gonna have you peel,” I said.
“It’s all good.” Case shoved his face in the fridge and grabbed a rootbeer. “Want one, Hunt?”
“Nah, I’m good, thanks.”
Case opened his pop and grabbed a peeler while I headed to the stove. My man closed the distance between us and wrapped his arms around me from behind, kissing my neck and whispering, “You wearin’ anything under that?”
I shook my head and shivered, leaning back against him. I was wearing a long skirt (sans panties, which my man loved), and a V-neck T-shirt.
“You wet?” he asked, for my ears only.
I nodded. He did shit like this to me all the time. It didn’t matter who was around, he’d get me so fucking hot, I’d nearly implode on the spot. How he did it without anyone else hearing, I had no idea... but he was the master.
“Gonna take care of that in a minute, baby,” he promised.
I swallowed and closed my eyes in anticipation. “I’d appreciate that, handsome.”
He patted my hips and turned away from me, chatting with our kids like it was any normal day, while I stood at the stove and squeezed my thighs together.
Once our kids were done with their food prep, they decided to head up to the game room for a bit.
“Dinner in an hour,” I called as they ran upstairs.
I heard their favorite video game start and Hawk bellowed, “Door.”
The house grew quiet again and I wasn’t surprised to find Hawk directly behind me. “Brace, Pay.”
I leaned against the island and braced as he lifted my skirt from behind and slid his hand between my legs. “Spread.”
I spread. “Alex, the boys—”
“Are busy.” Two fingers slipped inside of me. “Soaked, baby.”
I licked my lips and nodded.
“Spread more.”
I did and was rewarded by his hand slapping against my pussy.
“Alex,” I breathed out.
Before I could say anything else, my skirt was dropped, but Hawk stayed behind me.
“Mom?” Case called.
Ohmigod, how the fuck my husband knew we were going to be interrupted boggled my mind.
“Yeah, bud?”
“Oh, wait, never mind!” he called again. “Found it.”
Hawk’s hand slid between my legs again and he leaned close. “Payton, you’re closed up. Fuckin’ spread those legs.”