20. Rory
RORY
“Oh! Before we go, I need to check on my pixie garden. Do you want to come out and see?” You did buy my newest additions.
“Of course.”
I run to the door but stop when Lex touches my shoulder.
“Always let me or one of my guys go first.”
“Sorry, I’m excited because I haven’t been out there for a few days. Since Brendan’s been gone.”
“It’s okay for you to go outside, but always let one of us go first.”
“Okay.” I nod.
He kisses my nose, and I push him outside.
“So, this is my pixie garden.” I flop on the ground, and he squats next to me. Makes sense he wouldn’t want to get his fancy suit dirty.
“It’s beautiful, rabbit.” He points to a small house made out of a teapot. “Did you make those?”
“Some of them.”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
“Some of them were a gift from someone who was trying to get back on my good side,” I accuse playfully.
“Did it work?”
“Not completely.”
“Ah, so more groveling is necessary?”
“Yes.”
“I’d ask what the pixies need, but I don’t see any.”
“Oh, they only come out at night. You should see how pretty they are.”
“Maybe next time I sleep over.”
“You want to sleep over again?”
“Rabbit. We’re going to spend every night together. Here, my house, or a tent.”
“I don’t like camping.” I wrinkle my nose.
“Me neither. But you get the point.”
“Yes, I will always sleep with Daddy, from now until eternity.”
“Exactly.”
God, I hope he means it.
“Here.” I grab him my stool and put on my gloves. “You can sit here while I pull this bad weed.”
“Aren’t all weeds bad?”
“Pixies don’t judge, but they don’t like prickers.” I grab one and pull so hard I fall over when it finally comes out.
Daddy catches me before I can hit my head.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
I make sure that there are no more prickers and water the flowers before it’s time to go to Lex’s house.
I’m sure it’s going to be an overwhelming mansion, which makes sense since he owns a building and we’re sitting in the back of his very nice car while Mal and Tag argue “quietly” about nothing in the front.
“Would it be okay if I checked my emails?”
“Of course.” Why would he ask me?
“I don’t want you to think I’m ignoring you or that work is more important than you.”
It’s been two days. How am I more important than work?
“You mean that, don’t you?”
“I do.” He winks and pulls out his phone, but his left hand is sitting there. I could just reach out and hold it, but he’s not out. I could never be the one to out someone, but I don’t want to be a dirty secret either.
I’m probably getting ahead of myself.
Some hot blonde divorcee is going to walk by and he’ll be like “I’m straight, this was just a phase. I was curious, but you’re too pathetic.”
Still, I don’t know how I’m going to guard my heart against a man like him.
He’s everything I want in one edible package.
I remember the taste of his milk and how hard he was beneath me.
The warmth of it against my bottom, but that’s just a normal thing.
Sucking on anyone’s chest would get them hard.
He did say that he was attracted to me, but for how long?
Especially if I’m going to panic before he can do more than kiss me.
A man like him is virile, strong, and in demand.
I won’t be enough…
A warm, rough hand grabs mine. “Are you alright, rabbit?”
Lex is watching me intently, but he looks so kind and concerned right now.
“Are you out?” I whisper.
“Out? Oh.” He kisses my hand and yells to the front. “Mal, Tag. I’m bisexual and Rory is my boyfriend.”
They’re both quiet for a bit.
“Is that supposed to be news?” Mal asks in a cheeky tone.
“WHAT?!” Tag places both his hands on his cheeks and continues sarcastically. “You’re dating! I’m so surprised.” He finishes with a wink in the mirror at me.
“Don’t wink at my boy.” Daddy growls, and I swear the temperature in the car drops fifty degrees, while my lower belly feels all tingly.
“Ha! I knew you were a Daddy!” Mal shouts triumphantly.
“Yes, well. You might have given me the idea to do some more research.”
“Did you say boyfriend?” I ask.
“Yes, rabbit. Is that okay?”
“Yes—” My voice cracks. “I’d like that very much.”
He leans over to kiss me, but it only lasts a moment before Tag starts cheering, and Mal punches him in the arm.
“Ouch! You dick.”
“I will kill both of you if you cause an accident and hurt Rory.”
Both men instantly apologize. That was Daddy’s “fuck around and find out” voice, and I liked it. He’s so growly and manly.
The corner of his mouth twitches up, and he knows the effect his voice is having on me.
“Everything about you is so sexy,” I blurt and then blush the color of the sun.
“Why thank you, rabbit.” He kisses my hand and pulls me close.
“So where is your bro?” Mal asks, clearly trying to stop us from making out again.
“He went to see our mom.”
“Why didn’t you go?”
“Because my homophobic asshat of a father doesn’t agree with my life choices and she chose his side.”
“Let me take care of him for you,” Lex growls in my ear.
“No,” I say sternly.
“That sucks, but you have your bro, and you have us now. And I’m sure when you meet Chef, she’ll adopt you too. It’s her sworn duty in life to feed everyone she meets.”
“That sounds nice. Brendan and I don’t cook much.”
“What do you eat then?”
“Nuggets,” I answer, and all three men laugh.
“Chef is going to make it her personal mission to expand your palate.”
“I don’t like sardines,” I say sternly.
“Gross,” Tag spits. “Who does?”
“I do,” Mal answers.
“Of course you fucking would,” Tag accuses, and they start arguing again. So I tune them out and focus on Daddy.
Daddy, swoon.
I have a hot-as-fuck Daddy, and he’s a mob boss.
Yep, I just said that.
My Daddy is a mob boss.
Actually, it doesn’t feel that scary.
“Where is your house?”
“Just outside the city about ten minutes.”
“It’s a mansion, isn’t it?” I tease.
“Stereotypical, I know.” He lifts an arm. “Come here, rabbit.” I gladly move over, and he snuggles me in close, placing a soft kiss on my head.
Sighing happily, I say, “I missed this.”
“Being with me?”
“No. Well, yes, I did miss you,” I confess softly, and he practically purrs. “But I meant touch. No one’s held me like this for a while.”
“I’ll hold you as much as you want, rabbit. You just let me know.”
“This is good.” I snuggle even closer and close my eyes. He’s so warm and smells amazing.
“This is perfect.” He kisses the top of my head again and gets back to checking his emails. From this angle, I could look over and read them, but he’s not trying to hide it. It’s nice to know he trusts me.
Soon, the city gives way to trees and then to gates.
I sit up to get a better look, and the houses are gorgeous. Straight out of fancy-pants mansion monthly, and the one we pull up to has to be the biggest one on the block.
It’s a gorgeous stone-and-brick monstrosity that reeks of old money.
“How long have you lived here?” I ask as we drive up the long-ass driveway.
“Liv was just starting school, and I wanted her in the best school, so maybe twenty years.”
“Twenty years!” I gasp, and then it hits me. He’s got a daughter who’s my age. In theory I know this, in reality… Well, what if she hates me?
“Can I tell you a secret?” he whispers.
“Sure.” I nod, my mini panic attack forgotten.
“I really don’t like this place,” he whispers, and I laugh out loud.
“Then why did you buy it?”
“It was the biggest, gaudiest house on the block, and I wanted everyone to know who the boss was.”
“Well, it positively screams money and importance.”
“Exactly.”
The car stops, and Tag opens my door. Daddy growls when Tag offers me a hand to help me step out.
“It’s so he doesn’t trip, boss.”
“Rory, I’ve assigned Tag to be your bodyguard.” He turns to growl at him. “But if he keeps flirting with you, I’ll kill him instead.”
“Come on, boss. I know he’s yours.”
“If you ever need anything or feel threatened and I’m not around, you go to him.”
“Do I really need a bodyguard?” That sounds kinda scary.
“Men from your trial are getting hurt.”
“Do I really need a bodyguard from the men who are getting revenge on my behalf?” I challenge.
“What are you implying?” He sounds mock offended.
“Nothing.” It’s probably best if he doesn’t say it out loud. “But it sounds like I’m safe from the revenge, so why would I need a bodyguard?”
“I have enemies.”
“Like the men who were chasing us?”
“Yes.”
“Who were they?”
“We don’t know for certain, but there’s a new group in town that goes by the name Hellhounds,” Mal answers.
“Yeah. We take some small groups out and more appear. Like fucking roaches,” Tag spits.
“Okay, when I’m out, but if I’m here, shouldn’t I be safe?”
“Of course,” Mal and Tag assure me.
“I’d rather have someone with you if I can’t be. I don’t like it when I can’t see you.” What does that mean?
“You haven’t been with me for days.”
“No, I wasn’t.” The way he says I makes my eyes drift to Tag who grins like the Cheshire cat. So Tag was watching me, but still, he wasn’t in the house.
“How did you know I needed you?” I ask Daddy.
“Brendan said to keep an eye on you.”
“And how did you do that?”
“Cameras, lots of cameras. Oh, and I’ve been watching you since Lex met you.”
I turn to face Tag. “Really? You don’t get days off?”
He snorts. “I do. Someone else just fills in.”
“Usually me.” Mal raises his hand.
“Wait, since you met me?!” I turn to Daddy.
He wraps me in his arms.
“I knew you were mine when I first saw you.”
“He just didn’t get crazy about it right away,” Mal adds.
“Shut up, or I’ll use you as a punching bag.”
“You wouldn’t.” He waves Lex off, and I think the only reason he gets away with it is because he’s family.
“Fine,” he grumbles. “Let’s go meet Chef. When she heard I was bringing home someone, she shooed me out of her kitchen and started cooking.”
“I can’t eat that much.” I laugh and gesture to myself. “I’m small. Remember?”
He eyes me up and down hungrily. “I remember.”
“Stop it.” I blush, and he grabs my hand, leading me through the house. It’s beautiful and warm, but still somehow empty.
“It looks like no one lives here but ghosts.”
He laughs and looks around. “There are no ghosts here, rabbit. I promise.”
“I wasn’t actually scared. Ghosts are cool. The living are the monsters,” I say.
“You’re not wrong there.” He gives my hand a squeeze, and we walk into a huge dining room.
“Wow! You must hold some amazing parties in here.”
He nods but frowns. “All the movers and shakers in the city have been here, and all of them are fake as fuck. That’s why I like you, rabbit. You’re so real it’s refreshing, and it makes me want to be real too.”
“You seem pretty real to me,” I tease and poke his side.
“You might be one of the only people who knows the real me.”
“And who is that?”
“A man who wants someone to take care of and not have to hide for fear of being seen as weak.”
Now I fondle his huge bicep which he flexes. “I know you’re not weak.”
“Hold on.” He grins, so I wrap both arms around his bicep and hang on. Then I gasp when lifts his arm, and I dangle from it before he sets me down.
“So strong,” I purr and press my groin to his hip and look up at him for a kiss which he happily gives me.
“So greedy, rabbit.” He smiles against my lips and kisses me again.
“Well, who do we have here?” A female voice has me startling away from Lex and hiding behind him. “You said you were bringing home someone special. You forgot to mention he was a man.” She doesn’t sound mad or judgmental. “Well, let me see him.”
“Rory.” He tries to move me out from behind him, and when I peer around him, I see a tall, skinny blonde woman with harsh features, but kind eyes. “This is Cece. She’s my chef.”
“You say that like I just feed you. I have to feed the beasts he calls his soldiers too.”
“You’re former military, and that’s part of the reason I hired you. You’re used to feeding soldiers.”
“No one in my unit ever got as big as them, though. I swear it’s like he feeds them growth hormones.”
“It’s all the training Mal puts them through.”
“Hey, boss.” Another voice joins us in the kitchen, and I turn to see a petite woman with long black hair falling in waves around her shoulders and ice-blue eyes that match Lex’s.
Oh shit! This must be his daughter. Will she hate me because I’m a man or seeing her dad or both? Or what if she thinks I’m a gold—
“It’s nice to meet you in person, Rory.” She holds out a fist, and I bump it reluctantly. “I’m Olivia, but I prefer Liv.”
“Nice to meet you too,” I say, and she steps back into Cece, but instead of apologizing and stepping away, Cece wraps her arms around Liv and pulls her close before burying her nose in Liv’s hair.
I smile at the open display of affection.
“I can’t wait to get to know you better.” My head tilts, and she laughs. “Not what you expected me to say. Would you like me to accuse you of being too young for my dad?”
“No.” I shake my head.
“Don’t worry.” She aims a smile at her dad. “He’s happier than he’s been in years, so why would I want to take that away from him?”
“Thanks,” I whisper.
“I feel like I should warn you, though. He’s obsessed with you. Like ob-sessed. I mean cameras, guards, presents.”
“Enough, Liv,” Lex snaps, but it’s playful.
“We’ll talk more later, Rory.” She winks at me. This girl’s trouble, I can tell, and I like it.
“Sounds good,” I say, and Lex grumbles something about us ganging up on him.
“Come on. Let’s finish our tour.”
“It was nice to meet you both,” I say.
“You, too.”
“Dinner is in an hour,” Cece calls as we leave the room.
“This bed is huge.” I bounce a little.
“It’s not very comfortable, though.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s too big and cold.”
“I’ll keep your bed warm.” My eyes widen at my brazen comment. “I meant like warm with my body heat, not sexually, and now I made it worse.”
He chuckles and pulls me in for a quick kiss. “I know what you meant, and I’d be happy to have you in my bed either way.”
“I’ll be happy to be there.”
“Perfect. I’ll move all your stuff here tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?!” I gasp.
“Too soon?” he asks, and I shrug.
“Give me some time to get used to this humongous house first.”
“I suppose I can wait a few days.” He gives me another kiss so I can’t protest. “Let me show you the bathtub.”