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If you want us, then the world should know. As father-son events start to happen at Zayn’s school, I can understand where he’s coming from. It’s a very complicated issue. Alastair, Ciaran, and Draven stay out of the press, but only because they don’t want it to reflect on their ability to play hockey.

There are a lot of clauses built into contracts regarding morality, and I can see their concern. San Diego is a long way away from Denver, I doubt we’ll run into issues here. If we do, then we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

I’ve been hiding from my devils, not the world. Now that they’ve found me, I care less about if I’m Noor or Isla.

“I’m glad,” Carmichael says. “By the end of the night, everyone is warm. I’m glad you came prepared.”

I glance at my fan and smile with a small shrug.

“We did a lot of dancing,” Ciaran chuckles, his hand sliding underneath my hair to stroke my neck. He’s not hurting me, it doesn’t trigger me, it simply relaxes me into the moment.

They’ve been very attentive, watching my water glass, and once walked me to the restroom when I began scanning the room to find it.

“I hope you decide to come back,” Carmichael says. “It’s hard to find a place to unwind without people bothering you. We’re very nonchalant about celebrities dining with us.”

“We appreciate that,” Draven says with a smile as Carmichael moves on.

Alastair takes care of the bill, while I put away my fan and allow Ciaran to help me stand. His arm wraps around my waist as I lean into his body, and it seems as if he’s simply holding me as I get my bearings. Large meals and I are enemies due to less blood flow moving through my arms and legs.

Breathing slowly, I let myself relax as my body gets used to standing before lifting my head.

“All good,” I murmur.

Ciaran drops his head down to brush his lips lightly across mine as he takes in a deep breath.

“Is your mom staying with you tonight?” he asks.

“She is already on her way home,” I say, smiling slowly. Mom heard my nerves through the phone and jumped into the car immediately. She didn’t have any therapy appointments, and nothing was stopping her from coming to see me.

“Can we spend the night together?”

I can feel his erection against my stomach and my teeth sink into my lip as I nod.

“Thank god. I’m making a mess in my pants,” he mumbles as he places my hand on his bicep. “How are your panties?”

“Ruined,” I say truthfully, enjoying the way his eyes heat.

“Hey, Romeo, get moving,” Alastair chuckles, his hand on Ciaran’s back as we walk toward the exit. “What are we going to do with our brats, Dray?”

“Whatever we want,” Draven grins, holding my hand.

The four of us walk out linked in some way into the night to the rental vehicle, and Draven follows me into the back seat. He puts on my seat belt, tilts my head up, and smears my lipstick with his thumb intentionally before his lips pull my soul from my body.

The man knows how to kiss, that’s for damn sure.

“Oh fuck,” Ciaran groans, his head hitting the cushion behind him as he listens to Draven’s tongue suck on mine.

“Sounds like music to my ears,” Alastair chuckles, pulling away from the curb.

Draven’s touch burns in the best way possible as he squeezes and massages up my thigh.

“We need to talk before we go inside your house,” he groans.

“Okay,” I whimper, chasing after his lips.

“We do need to discuss things you don’t like,” Alastair says, sobering. “Hard limits, things like that. Hair pulling is one of them, right?”

Arran. I’m no longer surprised by the things they discuss. I don’t consider it an invasion of privacy, because it’s something I wouldn’t necessarily think to disclose.