Theo presses a kiss to my temple. “I always have time for family lunch. I’ve got thirty minutes before my next con call.”
“C’mon then, Pops.” Rora tugs on his hand, dragging him forward.
“How was work?” Theo asks as we walk out of his office side by side.
“Busy. And the waiting list is growing by the day. Jazz and I met with an architect and a representative from a construction company this morning to discuss plans to extend.”
When I graduated from Brown, I leased a building in Providence and set up my fitness center. It’s no ordinary fitness center. For starters, it’s for women only. And as well as the usual fitness classes and standard gym, we offer self-defense classes and boxing, and we have a small shooting range out back. Recently, we partnered with a local sexual assault charity to offer support services to their members.
Four years ago, when the lease on the building went up for sale, I purchased it so I can do what I like with the property. Hence why my comanager—Jazz—and I set up the meeting today. If we add more square footage, we can accept more new members. “I hate turning anyone down. Not when they need it.”
I fully believe self-defense should be on the curriculum, as a general class, within schools, but until that happens, I am doing all I can to prepare young girls to cope in a world that is growing increasingly violent. A couple of times a year, I speak at local schools and colleges about the importance of self-defense and how it’s imperative to be able to protect yourself in our current society.
As soon as my girls are old enough, I’ll be teaching them everything I know.
“Are you going to go ahead with it?” Theo asks as we enter the kitchen.
“I hope so, but I need Galen to crunch the numbers for me first.” The business part of my brain says it would be unintelligent to expand if the cost isn’t covered by forecasted new memberships, but the compassionate part says screw the money. We can afford to take a hit. We are lucky we are comfortable with plenty of money. We still haven’t used much out of my inheritance, and while Galen dipped into his savings to build us a vacation home on the grounds of his old home back in Prestwick, he has plenty left over. Theo’s high salary more than covers our entire living expenses so the money the rest of us brings in mainly goes into our savings account.
I feel so fortunate, which is why it really doesn’t matter what Galen’s financial analysis unearths. I’m expanding even if it means we lose money on the build.
“Let’s not pretend anything I show you will make a difference,” Galen says, handing a bowl of salad to Bishop. “You’re going to do it regardless.”
“You’re right. I am.” I love how well he knows me. How well they all know me. “I don’t care about the money. I want to help as many girls and women as I can. That’s the only thing that matters.”
Rora lets go of Theo’s hand, looping her arm through Luna’s as they head outdoors. I glance through the open double doors, seeing Galen has set the table outside for lunch al fresco. My favorite.
“I’m proud of you,” Theo says, reeling me into his arms.
“We all are,” Galen says, coming up behind me. He brushes my dark hair to one side, dusting kisses against my neck.
Theo smothers my lustful groan with his hot mouth, and I cling to his arms as Galen holds my hips from behind. Theo is the first to break our embrace. “We better stop before we reach the point of no return.”
“Spoilsport.” I fake pout even though I know he’s right.
“I need you, angel,” Galen says against my ear. “It’s been too long. Saintly can fuck off if he thinks he’s hogging you tonight. I’m claiming dibs.”
“I was planning on asking Theo to watch the kids so we could have a quickie,” I say, craning my head back, watching Galen’s eyes light up. “But he has a con call.”
“I can watch them after my call,” Theo offers. “If you make it worthmywhile,” he adds, flashing me a wicked grin.
Every nerve ending sparks to life in my body as I turn to face him. I can’t remember the last time we had sexy time during the day, and I need zero convincing. I plant my hands on his hard chest, pressing my body against his. “Trust me, I’ll make it worth your while.”
Theo grins. “Then we have a deal.”
_______________
“Oh my God,”I exclaim as Galen pushes me back against the locked door of my master suite. It’s situated on the upper level of our house, with soundproofed walls, for a reason. The other six bedrooms are on the level below, so no one hears a sound of what goes on in here. I still alternate my bed partners between my husbands, but Saint has been claiming that spot more regularly lately.
I try not to think about the reasons for that as Galen’s mouth descends on mine, because he deserves my full attention. His hands are desperate, his lips greedy, as he brutalizes my mouth while ripping my yoga pants and panties down my legs. I yank his running shorts down over his hips, freeing his monster cock and licking my lips.
“Need you now, angel,” he says, lifting me by the waist and positioning his length against my entrance.
“Wait!” I shriek when I feel him nudging against me. “Condom.” His heavy sigh says it all. “Galen.”
Slowly, he lowers me to my feet, bending down to fully remove his shorts. “It’s okay. I get it, and I want this for Saint. For both of you, but I fucking hate wearing condoms again. I miss being inside you with no barrier.”
“It won’t be forever.”
