“And if I get pregnant?”
The grin he flashed her didn’t look quite genuine. “Wasn’t that the point?”
It had been, but he hadn’t actually explained his feelings. He’d seemingly been all in last night, but… Maybe he was just tired or anxious about what he had to say. Maybe she was the one making a mountain out of a mole hill.
She smiled back and tried to loosen the knot in her chest as he took her hand and they headed downstairs for coffee.
“I can’t wait to tell Raine about our engagement,” she said.
“Since she’s probably somewhere over the Atlantic on their way to honeymoon in Paris, maybe you should wait to call until they get back. No need to interrupt…things and piss off her grooms.” Seth smiled and tapped her on the nose.
He was probably right. After everything Raine and her men had endured, they deserved a romantic getaway.
At the bottom of the stairs, they stopped short at the sight of Beck leaning against the granite counter, talking to Pike, of all people. He looked thoroughly disreputable and out of place in their pristine kitchen, dressed in head-to-toe black—T-shirt that showed every muscle, leather pants that cupped him in all the places he wanted to show off, and big, scuffed combat boots. Why was he dressed like that before seven a.m. on a Sunday morning? Then again, other than her father’s funeral, he was always dressed that way.
“Cooper,” Pike said stiffly as he turned toward them, maintaining a careful distance from Seth. Then he nodded her way. “Heavenly.”
“Pike,” Seth returned with equal coolness, squeezing her hand protectively.
“Morning, Cullen.” She tried to lighten the mood. “Coffee?”
“He was just leaving.” Beck clapped Pike on the shoulder and hustled him to the foyer. “Good to see you, man. Thanks for stopping by.”
Then, with a slam of the door, he was gone.
“What the hell was that about?” Seth demanded the moment Beck returned.
Heavenly crossed her arms. “Please tell me this doesn’t involve Madame Zelda and Clovis.”
Beck sent her a wry smile. “No donkeys or rubber sheets, I promise. Club business. You know Hammer left me in charge of Shadows while he’s gone, and I wanted to touch base with Pike since he’s DMing.”
“Gotcha.” Seth relaxed.
She didn’t understand. “DMing?”
Beck pulled at the back of his neck. “Yeah, he’s been a Dungeon Monitor for years. He watches everyone at Shadows, making sure they’re playing safely?—”
“And putting a lot of scenes in his spank bank,” Seth quipped.
Heavenly swatted his shoulder. “Don’t put that visual in my head. Please.”
They all laughed before Beck went on. “And since Pike was here, I picked his brain for something…special.”
Seth raised a brow. “Ideas from Pike? Since that man’s idea of ‘special’ involves livestock and bodily fluids, no thanks.”
“I used his extraordinarily bent fetishes for good this time,” Beck assured, turning back to finish cooking breakfast. “I think you’ll like this. I’ll explain while we eat. Come here, little girl.”
Heavenly smiled and crossed the floor to kiss Beck’s cheek. He caught her around the waist, and the quick peck she intended became something raw and passionate that made her knees go weak.
“I need caffeine and food before any of that, mister.” She wriggled free with a grin.
They all laughed, but as they sat with their plates, Seth’s nervousness ticked up.
Beck’s sharp gaze missed nothing. He slammed his coffee mug on the table with a clatter. “Whatever’s up with you, man, spit it out.”
Seth set down his fork and heaved a long sigh. “I know this is the worst fucking timing ever, but…” He recounted the call he’d received from his mother and her horror at finding the twins sharing a woman. “She wants me to fly back there and, um…talk some sense into those ‘deviants.’ Yes, the ridiculousness of her request isn’t lost on me.”
It wasn’t funny…but it kind of was. It was also deeply concerning. If Grace thought Jack and Connor were deviants for sharing the same girl, what would the woman think of her? Heavenly couldn’t help but fear Grace would see her as the harlot who had corrupted her son. Would the woman ever accept Seth’s relationship with her and Beck?
