Smiling, I peek down at him, “Your girlfriend, huh?”
He nods, eyes still closed, “I licked it so it’s mine. No take backs.” My face heats and my eyes dart to Sully who’s trying to hold back his laugh.
Smacking his shoulder softly I chide, “Rowan Byrne!”
Sully stands up and as he walks away he throws out, “Brady. Rowan Brady Byrne. You’re welcome.” Rowan lobs a pillow from beside us in his little brother’s general direction, while Sully laughs and shuts the door giving us privacy.
“Rowan Brady, you did NOT just say that in front of your baby brother.”
He chuckles as he snuggles in again, “He’s not a baby anymore, he’s seen, done and heard much worse.” Continuing to play with his hair I can’t help but smile. Girlfriend? I’m a girlfriend. He looks up at me and gives me what I’ve declared is the world’s sexiest grin.
“Before you ask, Rhett’s eating breakfast and coloring in Kieran’s tattoos with washable markers.” It’s then I realize I actually wasn’t freaking out about where Rhett was, because I knew Rowan wouldn’t have left him somewhere unprotected and unsafe.
“I knew you wouldn’t leave him somewhere unsafe, babe. I know it’s fast, and it makes no sense, but I trust you.” He smiles and kisses my stomach gently. We sit here in silence for a few minutes. I’m playing with his hair, and he’s pressing little kisses all over my belly and snuggling. Sully was right, it’s clear to see that Rowan’s able to shed his mask and be vulnerable. He’s always sweet to us, but never this vulnerable, not like this. I’m soaking it up because I know it won’t last too long before he has to put that mask in place again. I’m beginning to realize that he may be our safe place, but we just might be his too.
He sits up abruptly pulling me from my thoughts. Pulling me into his lap so I’m straddling his hips, his lips instantly find my pulse point in my neck. Kissing up and down the side of my neck, I begin to squirm on his lap. Long gone is the sleepy man who wanted to snuggle. In his place is the man with a grin and promises filthy enough to make my panties dampen. Pulling away from my neck his mossy eyes lock onto mine, “You trust me?” Biting my bottom lip, I nod. Rowan cups my cheeks and brings his lips to mine. Using his teeth he gently pulls my bottom lip from my own teeth and traps it between his, before kissing me tenderly. It doesn’t take long before the hunger takes over and he’s pouring everything he has into our kiss. Opening my mouth I let him control the pace and movement. His hands move to my hips and pull me closer to him. When he’s touching me like this I can’t help myself, so I grind down on his hardening dick. He groans into my mouth and starts moving my hips for me exactly where and how he wants me.
I go to move my hands under his shirt needing to feel his skin on mine when I hear one of the brothers yell out, “INCOMING!” We break apart panting and both turn to the door just in time to watch Rhett sprinting out the door and dive between what little space is between us. We catch him midair as my favorite sound hits my ears. He’s laughing; real genuine full belly laugh.
“Uncle Declan and Uncle Kieran are lions! They chased me!”
Rowan schools his amused face into a mock surprise,“They chased my Little Bear? Well that wont work”He moves me to the side and gently kisses me, “I’ve got to go show them who’s boss.”“Come on Little Bear.”Rowan stands up acting like a bear on his hind legs before he tosses Rhett onto his back andstomps into the house. He signs and yells at the same time,“You’re in trouble now, Lions!”
I hear them all laughing when Mac yells, “Watch out Papa Bear is coming in hot.” My heart has never felt this overflowing love before, I just hope it isn’t too good to be true.
14
Chapter Fourteen
Rowan
That happy, care free, and vulnerable mood I had with my family earlier? Yeah, that didn’t make it to the warehouse. I’ve suppressed my rage for as long as I can and now I’m making my way to the back room whistling with my hands in my pockets. I’m on business which means long gone are my casual clothes, messy hair, and glasses. In place are my typical freshly pressed suit, perfectly styled hair, dress shoes, and contacts. This is the part of myself that I refuse to show Clara and Rhett.
Walking into the back room with Dec on my heels, I stop to examine the men hanging from the ceiling by industrial hooks. The hooks hang from the ceiling and are just high enough that their feet barely touch the floor. The poor unfortunate Bratva soldiers are hanging to the hook by their cuffs attached to theirwrists. They’re glaring at me through clearly beaten bodies. Little do they know, that was light work. “Good Afternoon, Gentlemen.” I boom so loud it echoes off the walls.
After removing my suit jacket and laying it neatly on the table with my instruments, I roll up my cuffs. While doing so I explain, “So I have it on good authority that not only is your boss batshit crazy, but he’s been trying to tail me.” The men are of similar heights and build both with blonde hair, although one has blue eyes, and one has brown eyes.
Brown speaks up first, “We aren’t going to tell you shit.” He spits at me and I shake my head, slightly amused.
“Why are they all so tough at first, Declan?”
Dec smiles and shakes his head, “No idea, Boss. Must be stupidity.”
I’m ‘Roe’ every other moment of the day, but when we’re on business I’m ‘Boss’. My brothers wouldn’t dare disrespect me in an official capacity. Roe checks in and checks out at the front gate of our estate.
“We haven’t been tailing you.”
Oh right, back to what I was doing. Picking up two freshly sharpened pairs of cable cutters I toss one to Dec, “Who do you want?”
Declan studies them both then smiles, “I’ll take brown.” Of course he will, because he always has to pick the hardest target.
I’ve made it through three fingers on Blue before he’s screaming for me to stop. Brown cries out but otherwise stays silent.
“We aren’t the only ones tailing you.” Blue gasps out.
Brown shoots him a ‘shut the fuck up’ look. Too bad for them now I’m intrigued. Using the cutters I take his index finger between the blades and start adding pressure. “Whoelse?”
Blue sniffles, “I don’t know, man..” Fucking Preston. He screams out and I realize I just took his index finger, oops.
