I watch my dad run his eyes over our intertwined fingers, before sliding over to Theo and Brant, who are pressed close against my side and back. I can practically see the wheels in my dad’s head start to turn. He’s the master at playing it cool though, so he doesn’t say or ask anything. He just continues his perusal of the guys and Puddles before nodding his head and quickly swiping underneath his eyes.
“Thank you boys for bringing her home. She’s too stubborn to do it on her own.”
The guys nod, and I just shrug. He’s not wrong.
“Did you run into any trouble?”
Brant, Madix and Theo all turn to look at me, and I roll my eyes. Zeke and my dad’s chuckles bounce over the wall, so I shoot them the middle finger, which only seems to make everyone laugh harder.
“Remington seems to be her very own brand of trouble,” Madix answers.
“Hey!” I try to let go of his hand to smack him, but he just squeezes my fingers tighter, unwilling to let go.
“She is,” my dad agrees. “But I figured if anyone could get her to come home, it would be you three. Seems I was right,” he says, giving us a pointed look.
“Yep, we managed it. We aren’t sick, although we did come across some who might have been exposed,” Brant tells them. “But we’ve had no direct contact and no symptoms. We’re all game for a hot shower, some food that doesn’t come from a can, and some pillows.”
Zeke nods. “We’ve got a quarantine house set up just a mile up on Grove street. It’s got cots and clean sheets, but no hot water.”
I grumble under my breath. Bathing in ice-cold water sounds about as enticing as stubbing a toe repeatedly.
“That’s a big fat boo from me, Old Man,” I tell him, and my dad’s smile grows even bigger.
“Trouble, you’re not even inside these doors yet, and you’re already starting it.” he shakes his head as he and Zeke share an amused look.
“You know how I am about hygiene and cleanliness. Showering in hot water is a necessity.”
Madix snorts, and I shoot him a glare. I know his anal retentive sweet ass spent a whole day bringing my house up to his standards, but that doesn’t mean it was dirty. It just means this big, beefy package of crazy has standards that are impossible to meet. This dude would think bleach is dirty, so he better not be judging me on my need for a nice hot shower.
“We have a mandatory quarantine in place, Trouble, and not even you can talk yourself out of that,” my dad answers.
I smile up at my dad, and the phrasechallenge acceptedshines out of my toothy grin. My dad narrows his eyes at me. “These guys live on X and ¾ road,” I remark. “That’s off the beaten path and still secluded from town. Why don’t we serve out our quarantine there? We can walk around the outskirts of town to get there, and in a week, you can come let us know we’re free to mingle.”
My suggestion gives them pause, and Zeke and my dad turn to each other, speaking low to each other, and I see my dad raise a two-way radio to his mouth and start speaking into it. I roll my eyes. “You know you don’t actually have to ask permission. This town worships you and I know you’re the one who conspired to get me here. I would’ve been just fine alone on my mountain,” I remind him.
My dad looks down at me with a frown. “I don’t want you dealing with life alone anymore, Trouble. If it takes a plague to get you home, then so be it.”
“So dramatic,” I mumble.
They go back to discussing my proposal, and Brant nudges me. “Nicely done. They might actually let us go home.”
“Fuck, I hope so,” Theo says, low enough so that my dad and Zeke can’t hear him. “The thought of sleeping in my own bed tonight is about to make me come.” Madix and Brant laugh and grunt out their agreement.
I hum in approval. “Just you wait, soldier. I’m going to have you coming so hard in that bed that you and your cock won’t know what to do.”
Theo grins, while Brant gives me an approving growl. “Oh, we’ll see who gets fucked senseless. You forget that there’s three of us and only one of you, beautiful.”
I lick my lips and smile like a kid on her birthday. “Therearethree of you and only one of me, isn’t there?” I sigh dreamily. “This is about to be the most entertaining week ever. And I don’t say that lightly, either. I once spent a week in Morocco with a suitcase full of sex toys, and a group of kinkers who had a fetish for plastic flamingos. You know, like the lawn ornaments? Anyway—”
Madix slaps a hand over my mouth. “We donotwant to know. From here on out, our cocks are the only ones worth remembering. You got that?” he growls at me, and his demand and deep voice sink right between my thighs and send my clit pulsing with need. With his hand still over my mouth, I give him a salute.
“Well, shit, I was kind of hoping to hear what they did with the plastic flamingos,” Theo mumbles, and I start to laugh into Madix’s palm. Madix shoots Theo a glare, and a teasing smile spreads across Theo’s face.
Oh yeah.It’s going to be the most entertaining week for sure.
Zeke’s voice interrupts us when he calls down. “Okay, Remi, we’ve pitched that to the mayor, and he’s okayed it,” he says, lowering the walkie-talkie. “You guys can use the old dried up river bed to get over there. Where’s the car you borrowed?”
At that question, I blanch and dart a look to the guys. At this point, I’m so used to walking, that I completely forgot about the car. I can feel the others stiffen around me too, and not in the way youwantthree hot guys to be stiff around you.
