Thomas made a grand appearance, showing up at the office two hours late and looking just as shitty as I felt. “We didn’t get to talk about it yesterday, but how did the talk with Izzy go?”
I couldn’t be completely honest with him. I wasn’t stupid. Being married to his sister did complicate things at times. The man would probably have my balls in a vise if he knew half the shit I pulled with her.
He knew about our kink because he knew that side of my life before I ever claimed his sister as my own, but it wasn’t something we freely discussed—and I wasn’t about to start doing it now. There were certain topics that were off-limits, and that was certainly one.
“It went really well.” I couldn’t look him in the eye as I lied through my teeth. “She’s on board.”
The ending went great, and the middle was amazing, but the start of the weekend didn’t go exactly as I’d planned. I thought Izzy would say yes to my simple request and that we’d have a kick-ass fuckfest all weekend, but she had to draw it out and dig her goddamn heels in, making it a little more difficult. Not that I minded. Sexually tormenting my wife was almost like a sport to me, and I loved every minute of it. Just thinking about the way she wiggled and pulled against the restraints while completely naked and open made me hard.
“Izzy said yes?”
I kept typing, pretending to be too engrossed in the message on my screen to look up. “Yep.”
“That’s great, man. When do you guys leave?”
When he moved on to something other than my weekend activities, I leaned back in my chair and finally looked him in the eyes. “In a few days. As soon as I can get her out the door. But you know how that goes.”
That was easier said than done. Izzy could easily be mistaken for a Kardashian with the amount of luggage she brought even for a weekend getaway. The woman was ready for everything. Heels, dresses, shorts, boots…you name it, it was in her suitcase. It was more like a minimum of three suitcases that were bursting at the seams with so much shit that she couldn’t possibly wear it all in a month even if she tried. And trust me, she has tried just to prove her point, but she’s failed.
“It’s hell on earth,” he groaned. “Does she know why you’re going to Miami?”
“She knows were going for a case, but doesn’t know all the details yet..”
“That’s probably for the best.” He rubbed the stubble on his chin and narrowed his gaze. “But you’re going to have to tell her at some point.”
I nodded in agreement, and my stomach turned at the thought of doing it with anyone else. We’d taken on a new case a month ago and had tracked down a lead which led us to Miami. I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone and visit my parents while checking out the validity of the tip we had received at the same time.
But I had to convince Izzy to go with me. While she loved spending time with my parents, she hated Miami. I think it’s because of the slick-tongued Latinas that lived near my parents. She didn’t like to vie for hard-ass of the year with other females. Where we lived, no one rivaled Izzy.
“I know, Thomas. I’ll tell her before we get there.”
“I’m not exactly thrilled with the idea, but it’s necessary that she get involved. She wouldn’t want you to do this case with anyone else.”
I would’ve left her home if I could, but the case required me to go to a BDSM club that was located only a few miles from my parents’ house. I could’ve walked in there alone, but that would’ve opened me up to a slew of questions I didn’t want to answer. Having my wife and submissive by my side made everything easier because I wouldn’t be able to pull it off without someone I completely trusted.
“Angel okay with the kids staying over?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
I was sure Thomas had his ways of getting what he wanted out of his wife just like I did, but I didn’t want to know the gory details.
“She’s fine, and Nick’s excited to have some company.”
We’d taken Nick, Thomas and Angel’s only kid, on plenty of weekends so they could get away and have some “private time.” The poor kid never stopped smiling when he was around his cousins, and I always thought Thomas would have another so his kid wouldn’t have to be alone.
“I can’t thank you enough. I know your parents would take them again, but I think they’ll have more fun playing with Nick and hanging with their favorite uncle.”
“Don’t butter me up. I’m taking the kids no matter what, so there’s no need to lie to my face.”
What I said was true. The kids loved every one of their uncles, but Thomas was their hands-down favorite. Maybe it was because he was a lot like me, and he and I had a special connection since we went through DEA training together and were thick as thieves.
Bear walked past the door and then backed up, glancing between Thomas and me. “Everything okay?”
“James is heading to Miami to follow that lead this weekend.” Thomas turned, craning his neck to glance at Bear. “I’m going to need you to step up to second-in-command.”
“I’ll be whatever you need.” Bear glided into the room, his chest a little more puffed out than usual, probably feeling pretty damn pleased about being asked to help take charge in my absence. “You sure you don’t want me to handle the case instead?”
Thomas shook his head and laughed. “We’re sure, man. Aunt Fran would fuckin’ kill us.”
Fran and Bear were a perfectly odd couple, if that made any sense. I never would’ve expected them to fall madly in love and become inseparable, but it happened. It shocked all of us, especially Morgan, Fran’s son, but I’d never seen the old bastard happier.
