“But did you hear what he was saying to us? He said we had sex problems!” complained Dylon, handing Jessica’s bottle to Lizzie.
“Kieran was only trying to help, weren’t you, honey?” Lizzie asked Kieran. “All new parents can do with a little help.”
“That’s right, Miss L. I have some ideas to spice up their sex life I can run past you, and if you agree, then I can find out where to buy the items online…you know, since they are new parents and all.”
Growling, Dylon spat, “You are not going to discuss my sex life with my mother…do you understand? No way! No how! Never! Kieran, am I making myself clear?” Then turning to his mother, he said, “Mother, don’t, just don’t. This is embarrassing me and my mate.”
Holding up his hands, Kieran said, “Whoa, big guy! If you don’t want my help, then no problemo. I’m sure Jackson or Colton will appreciate my help in getting their sex life back on track. If you want to suffer, then who am I to interfere? But you really ought to think about Cody before you go issuing your orders. Right, Miss L? It takes two to tango.”
Handing Jake to Dylon, Cody said, “Kieran, that’s enough. While I appreciate your offer to help us, there’s no need as we’re very happy with our ‘sex life’. You and I are going to have a talk later about boundaries, or, in this case the lack of them. Now, I think for all our sakes, we forget this conversation ever occurred. Lizzie, is breakfast ready?”
“Oh, my goodness. That’s what I came in to tell you. Here, Cody, take Jessica. I have to go help Dakota with the food.” Before hustling towards the kitchen, she swirled and smiled at Kieran. “Honey, you’re special so don’t lose that part of you that makes you so.”
“Thank you, Miss L. I won’t.”
Jackson stood, taking Daniel from Steel, adding, “Lizzie is right, Kieran, don’t lose that part of you that’s special but maybe you can fine tune it a bit, huh?”
“Righto, Alpha, I’ll get right on it, well, maybe after breakfast. I’m so hungry, I could eat a…well never mind. I’m sure you get my drift,” replied Kieran.
“Yes, I do. Now, let’s get to the table before Dakota threatens us with going on strike.”
Theodore, Norman and Kieran looked at each other, alarm clearly written on their faces while they processed that possibility. Coming to the conclusion it was unacceptable, they fell over each other getting to the breakfast table and sat down. After years of near starvation, food wasn’t something to be taken for granted.
Cody watched them run to the table, sadness overcoming him at their reaction. His boys—as everyone called them—were making progress but they had a long way to go to make up for the years of abuse suffered at the hands of Arald. Being here with the Blackwood Pack was helping them to heal, but Jackson was right—they needed to be part of it, too. So today, after consulting with Jackson, Cody was giving each of them chores to do. Cody hoped to accomplish several things but first he wanted to integrate his boys into the pack, so they felt secure and protected. After having their entire lives ripped away from them by parents who forgot the part about unconditional love, Cody wanted to repair the damage that had been done.
After the twins were settled in a portable crib nearby, Cody noticed that Oracle, Maximus and Frank had joined them this morning, but Logan was missing—again.What’s up with that?He wanted to ask his brother how far he’d gotten with the design for the nursery but that would have to wait. Catching Dylon’s eye, he smiled as he teased his mate through their mind link about Kieran’s offer to help with their sex life.
“Where’s Logan?” asked Oracle. “I was hoping to speak with him about redesigning our suite.”
“He’s in his studio, trying to get caught up with all the jobs he has,” Jackson said, smiling. “If I know my twin, we won’t see him for a while. Thank goodness Dakotadoesn’t mind bringing his meals to him, though I think he got Logan to agree to redesign the kitchen as a trade-off.”
“Redesign the kitchen?” Zane asked. “Does that mean Dakota won’t be able to cook when it happens? What are we going to do?”
“Relax, Zane,” Steel said. “Dakota is adding onto the kitchen. He’ll be able to cook even while the new part is under construction.”
When he heard Oracle mention Logan’s name, Kieran tuned out the rest of the chatter around the table, listening avidly to find out where Logan was. This morning when Theodore told him he’d spent some time with Logan, he felt a tug on his heart followed by jealousy flooding his body. That emotion took him aback because he’d never experienced anything like it. And why about Logan? Since he’d arrived, Kieran barely saw him. Well now he knew why. Logan was busy working. For a moment, Kieran thought he might have been the reason.Fat chance!
Oh, he knew he was good for a blow job or a quick fuck, but other than that, nope. If a lover found out about him, they would flee the scene so quickly it would make Kieran’s head spin. The dream of finding someone who would love him was what kept him going during his years with Arald. But when he emerged from that nightmare and faced the harsh reality of life, he knew it was not to be.No, I better come to terms with that dream and kick it to the curb because it’s not for me.The best he could hope for was dreaming of Logan in his bed every night.
Tuning back into the conversation, he heard Jackson ask Ian when he and Colton would be leaving for Scotland.Hmmm, traveling, I could do that.Backpacking through Europe, hitting up all the hot spots and seeing the worldwas definitely on his list of things to do. All he needed was a job, to earn enough money to go. Well, he would have to make sure Theodore and Norman were settled and in school first.Maybe I should talk to Ian and Colton about going with them? Just to learn the ropes.Suddenly, he heard his name mentioned.What now?
“Before we go, I promised Cody I’d give Kieran, Theodore and Norman a complete exam. Once I have all the test results back, I can set up any therapy that might be needed before we leave,” Ian said to Jackson.
Oh no, I can’t do this! If I do, everyone will know and then what?
Chapter 2
Jackson looked around the breakfast table while he was feeding Daniel and smiled. They had come such a long way since that fateful day in Las Vegas when he led his brothers through the night, fleeing for their lives. But they made it to safety—himself, Logan, Cody, Colton, Carson, Dakota, and Zane—all safe with the help of Jimmy and his wife Mystia. He was the first of the brothers to find his Fated Mate, but he wasn’t the last. Glancing first at Colton’s lips whispering into Ian’s ear, and then seeing Cody and Dylon cradling their twins while exchanging looks filled with love, Jackson was pleased those two brothers were settled.
Now, he wondered when the rest of his brothers would find their Fated Mates; he wanted his brothers to experience the happiness that being mated would bring. His gaze landed back on Daniel’s sweet face and Jackson saw his son’s blue eyes turn to silver as his wolf made a brief appearance. Leaning down and placing a soft kiss on Daniel’s forehead, he whispered, “Love you, sweetie, to the moon and back.” Finally, his mind returned to Ian’s comment about examining Kieran, Theodore and Norman. “Do you need more than a week, or can you finish all of the examinations within that time?”
“A week will be fine. I want to check Jake and Jessica over one more time and I can do that this week also,” Ian said.
“We plan on leaving next week…if you don’t have a problem with that, Jackson,” said Colton. “I want to make sure we have enough time in Scotland before Ian experiences morning sickness.”
“How long are you going to be gone?” asked Steel.
“A month, maybe a little longer,” answered Ian. “We have a list of places I want to see, but we left it loose in order to accommodate my parents. They gave me a list, but I’m thinking once they meet us in Scotland, it may grow.”
