Dad steps forward, his hand out like he’s going to shake Colt’s hand. And he does. Except he tugs him into him, whispering viciously in his ear, and I only hear because I’m there too. “Colt, where I live, things are different. Here, these people will report my daughter for being involved with a minor quicker than they can say, pass the fucking baked camembert. What you do behind closed doors I don’t want to know about, but you risk her again, and I will gut you. Before I cut you up in pieces and feed you to my pigs.”
We don’t have pigs. For the record. I mean, we’ve talked about getting them but as of this minute we don’t. Colt shrugs, “Easy. Hey, sorry, King, about the kiss thing, but you know I wasn’t wrong. You’d give me shit about not being man enough for the rest of our days.”
“You’re a cocky little cunt, Colt. Lucky Raney likes you,” Dad growls, but there’s this little twinkle of respect in his eye too. Still, no one pushes the subject.
“Apparently, young Colt here was explaining what happened. It won’t happen again, and I’m sure you all agree nothing actually happened. Jenn, as always, you’ve laid it on thick for our girl. Thank you. And to all Jenn’s friends, I appreciate you being in my ex’s life, because fuck knows I can’t be.”
Fake laughter fills a small gap in Dad’s speech. Either way, he successfully steers everyone away from Colt’s epic gesture and turns their attention back to my birthday.
“On that note, Raney, you are incredible. Happy birthday, baby! Jenn and I are super proud of you and wish you nothing but success. Now, apparently someone here was hoping for a neat ride instead of the shit box Joker’s been letting her use.”
Dad digs in his pockets and throws up a set of keys.
“But I couldn’t bring your new car because your mother would have a screeching fit.”
I walk over to mom first, because seriously, she’s got these big tears rolling down her face. “Hey, Jenn, thank you so much. It’s amazing!”
“Yeah, well you know your dad. I wanted to get you a silver BMW. Anyway, happy birthday, Raney.”
Making my way over to her, I lean in and give her a giant hug before returning to Dad.
“You promised me…”
“Well, you know how your mother is. Except we had to compromise, there’s no way my girl is driving some imported piece of shit. There’s a white mustang back home with your name on it. And a Fallen logo for tax purposes, which means anyone in the club can drive it.”
“Errr… doubtful. You just gave me the keys, Dad, she’s mine now.” I laugh a little crazy before giving him a huge squeeze. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
“Enjoy your time here, kid. You’ve got a lot coming up when you get back.” He gets all serious and turns me away from the crowd, walking us away from the celebration. “If you feel your designation stirring, and you want to be home when it happens, you let me know. In the meantime, make sure you do what youwant.Or I’ll come down with Joker and crack some fucking heads.”
Dad says the same thing every year. I stay cuddled in his arms, my eyes moving over to Reid, Talon, Hayes, and Colt, who are waiting. Dad knows too, and he gives me a final squeeze before announcing it’s time to cut the cake.
* * *
And much like every year; I cried like a baby when he left. I stayed glued to the pavement until I couldn’t hear their bikes anymore.
I knew I wasn’t alone. His scent might be missing but Hayes’s presence is more than enough. Once I stop being such a sook, we make the rounds saying goodbye to everyone else.
Jenn left with her girlfriends, to have a late dinner. Supposedly, to cry about having a twenty-year-old daughter. But we all knew what was really going on—she was giving us privacy.
Hayes stays with me as I lock the house down.
Locking the door to my suite, I take a running leap at Talon. Stretching his arms up over his head, trying to pin him down, “You look good naked in my bed, alpha,” I whisper before leaning in for one of his kisses. Now we’re alone it gets way, way deeper.
“I never thought the day would end.” He smiles against my lips. His hands snaking up my legs, moving under the hem of my dress. He groans deep when he finds me bare. But he doesn’t stop. His hands race over my body, cupping my breasts. “Shit, Raney, you can’t walk around without panties on.”
“Yeah, I can.” I smirk before my hands start discovering all his physical changes. His body is harder, his skin warmer.
I feel the moment Hayes re-joins us. And I twist around to watch him without being worried about how hungry I must look. The towel hanging around his hips accentuates the drops of water running down his tanned chest. Instead of coming closer, he leans against the wall watching me dry hump his best friend. And it does all sorts of things to me. I roll my hips over Talon’s thickening length but move so Hayes can see the tip of Tal’s cock poking out from under me. Talon uses his hands on my hips to set our pace.
“Yeah, like that,” I whisper. “It’s my birthday, Talon, pretty sure I can do whatever I want. I want you.”
“You’ve got me.” He purrs, leaning up to kiss and lick his way up my body, nibbling over my collarbone to bite under my jaw. “God, I want inside you so fucking much,” he growls softly before he leaves a burning trail over my skin with his mouth, paying extra attention to my nipples.
“Where’s Colt?” I moan, holding him closer. He bites down around my nipple, dragging the flesh through his teeth.
“He had to go home. Mom called him back,” Reid answers as he walks out of the bathroom completely naked. And ready to join us.
Yeah, we’re doing shit we shouldn’t be doing. Including signing and sending off the forms needed to set up our pack. Go us.
