Emilio’s mouth falls open. “Wait. So I’m not a dog mom?”
“No, Nene,” I say through a fit of laughter. “You’re the babysitter.”
“Fuck that. I’m at least the stepdad. A fun one.” He pouts, clutching Paco protectively. My dog swipes a few licks to his chin as if agreeing. “Joint custody since I already bonded with the little dude. Look at his face. It’s so ugly only a dog mom could love it.”
“Yeah, his mom.” Massimo points to me. I nod. “But he does look like you. Small, loud, and needy.”
Emilio’s arms wrap around the harness, protective and unwilling to let him go. It just gets funnier. “Keep talking, bro. See if I share visitation rights.”
Massimo smirks. “You can’t even share a protein shake, much less a dog.”
“Because you steal the good flavors!”
I’m laughing so hard I have to lean against the counter for support. The two of them bicker like overgrown boys, Paco caught in the middle, barking as if he’s egging them on.
“Alright, enough,” I manage between breaths. “You, put him down before you fall. You, stop instigating.”
Massimo raises a brow, closing the distance and putting a hand on my stomach as if staking his claim all over again. “He started it.”
“Stop touching her like that, it’s not fair.” Emilio points a crutch at him. “And I’ll finish it. As soon as I’m cleared to walk, you’re dead, bro.”
Massimo laughs, all smug and unbothered, wrapping both arms around me and cradling me harder than Paco in the harness. “You can barely manage to stand and balance to pee.”
“Can too! Ryan showed me how. So, suck it.”
“Bring it on, dog mom.”
That sends me over the edge again, full-blown laughter shaking through me and into Massimo. He kisses my head. Emilio grumbles and pouts, still proud to have my Chihuahua strapped to his chest and not following my instructions. For the first time in a very long time, I feel lighter, less burdened, and actually safe. These two might drive me insane, but dios, they make me feel alive.
“You guys suck. Come on, Paco, let’s go bark at squirrels and shit. Watch the cars go by. That’s all I’m fucking good for,” he sulks, and I pull out of his brother’s arms.
Not that I pity him, but I do feel sorry for him. More wanting to take away the string of rejection because I know how crappy it is being on the receiving end.
“Nene.”
I walk to him, catching him as he’s struggling to turn his crutches and trying to protect Paco at the same time from tumbling out.
“Thank you for wanting to take care of my dog.”
I place my arm on his shoulder, slide it around his neck, and angle myself closer. Paco licks the column of my neck. Emilio’s eyes widen when he realizes what I’m about to do. A crutch clatters to the ground as his arm catches my waist. Wobbly and fast, he plants a hard kiss on my lips. Groans and practically stuffs his tongue down my throat. I nip at it, and he pulls back.
“You bit me!”
“You don’t kiss like that.”
His face is hurt and shocked. His weight leans into me.
“I always kiss like that. I have a powerful tongue,” he defends and then smirks, wiggling his eyebrows.
“No, I’ll show you.”
I cup his face, letting my thumbs brush over his stubble. Surprisingly, he waits, but his arm flexes tighter when he grabs my butt and grunts. Slowly, I press my lips to his. When he tries it again, I back off. It takes a couple of tries, but he finally follows, letting me kiss him however I want.
Soft, slow, and lingering.
He takes the hint, letting my tongue in his mouth instead of the other way around. Somewhere in the middle of our twisting tongue, his brother is behind me. His lips on my neck, breath hot against my skin. His hand slips under the shirt I borrowed from him, cupping my breast and teasing my nipple into a hard peak. The other skates along the outside of my thigh, climbing closer to my core.
Having one at my back and one at my front is doing things to me. Crazy things like making me want to take both at once. To dive into the deep end of the pool and not worry about swimming to the top. I want to drown in these two. Their grunts and groans, my moans get lost in the brother who tastes different than his twin. More salty than sweet. More metallic than fresh. It’s the medicine doing it, but strangely, it makes him more vulnerable and hotter at the same time.
