Chapter 24
***Memphis***
Remy was standing at the back of the car with the door open, glaring at Jake when I looked around for them. Boone was on the phone a few feet away, casting dark looks all around, like he wanted to punch things. I patted Jake’s chest and thanked him before moving towards Remy to get inside the car.
He caught my arm before I could step inside and stopped me between his body and the door.
His hand was hot against my skin and his fingertips brushed the side of my chest as he stared down at me.
“I made a mistake. Bringing you here wasn’t a conscious decision.
It’s the only place I’ve ever gone to and I didn’t think about it. ”
I nodded and tried to get into the car, but he stopped me again. Sighing, I looked up at him and met his gaze. “I think I just want to go home.”
His fingers tightened ever so slightly as his face pinched. “Home? Memphis, there’s no reason to leave us. I fucked up, but I can guarantee it won’t happen again. Seeing your face right now will make sure of that.”
My hand moved to rest over my stomach at the thought of leaving them. I shook my head and shifted closer to his body. “To the guest house, Remy.”
He pulled me the rest of the way into his chest and I breathed in his scent hungrily.
Wrapping his arms around me, he lowered his mouth to my ear and growled.
“I didn’t like seeing him hold you. I’ve known Jake for forever and I want to fire him right now.
I’m right here if you need comfort, sweetheart.
I’m right here for whatever you need. Do you understand me? ”
I was torn between melting into a puddle of desire at his feet and telling him to take a flying leap.
I could feel his heart racing against my cheek, though, and I lost all desire to correct his behavior.
I pressed a light kiss to his chest, hoping he wouldn’t feel it, and looked up at him. “Are you sure about that?”
“I have five stores in walking distance that aren’t sizeist assholes. Let’s go, people.” Boone tugged me away from his brother and slung his arm over my shoulders. “Remember me as the brother who didn’t take you to the place where he dresses his playthings.”
“Where do you dress your playthings?” I smiled at Jake as we walked by. “We won’t keep you waiting too long, Jake.”
“Jake.” Remy’s voice was angry as he stopped next to Jake, but I couldn’t hear what he said because Boone tugged me farther down the street.
“I don’t dress anyone but myself. And that’s hard enough.
Why do you think I picked a career with an outfit?
” He led me into another high-end store and it was almost an exact repeat of the earlier debacle with Amanda, but this woman didn’t know the brothers or how they liked their women to look. Thank God.
“We’d like to be a part of the experience.” Remy surprised me as he joined us. “I want to see each outfit as it’s put on and styled.”
I turned to him in shock. “What? Remy, no. That’s ridiculous.”
Nina, my new stylist, deferred to Remy. “I can move some things around if that’s what you want, sir.”
He nodded and sent her away before looking down at me. “If we’d watched last time, we would’ve known immediately and not had you trying on clothes that didn’t fit for an hour. That was cruel.”
My stomach fluttered. “If you’d watched last time, you would’ve thought I was already pregnant and not doing well.”
Remy’s eyes narrowed, but it was Boone who wrapped his arm around my waist and spoke in a low, dangerous voice against my ear.
“Don’t blame your body for what those clothes lacked.
Remember, Memphis, we’ve seen you naked and spread out under us like a goddamn buffet. There’s nothing wrong with this body.”
I forgot how to speak as his words washed over me. I knew I was bright red, but there was nothing I could do about that.
Nina rejoined us before I could respond. “Everything’s ready.”
I was led to another large dressing room and stood in front of the room while Boone and Remy sat in two high-back chairs facing me.
Once again, I was undressed like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Naked and exposed, I looked everywhere but at them.
I didn’t want to know what they were thinking.
Nina and another woman came at me with clothes then, dressing and undressing me faster than I could even decide if I liked something. It was only when Remy stood up and told them to leave us alone that the tornado stopped. Of course, the women did as he said.
I finally got the chance to inspect the dress I wore and felt a sense of pride as I took in the way the soft material hugged my curves and highlighted the best parts of my body. The green silk matched my eyes perfectly and I felt like a princess in the floor-length gown.
Remy pressed into me from behind and stroked his hand over my stomach. “You’re absolutely gorgeous, sweetheart.”
I leaned into his chest and smiled at his reflection in the mirror. “Thank you. I like this one. A lot.”
“It’s yours.” His hand moved up to my breast and he slipped under the silk and found my unprotected nipple eager and ready for his touch. “They say that most people don’t get pregnant after one time. We’re not being fair to the process by keeping our distance.”
Boone moved to stand in front of me and knelt there. “We’ll go home after this so Wells doesn’t murder us, but I need to make you come, Memphis. Put your leg on my shoulder.”
Remy gripped the bottom of the dress and lifted it over my thighs. “Let him eat your sweet pussy, M.”
Lost to desire, I lifted my leg and rested it over Boone’s shoulder, lightly so I wouldn’t crush him.
He had other ideas, though. He grabbed my ass and jerked me into his face.
My weight settled mostly on my thigh, on him, but if he cared, he didn’t show it.
He buried his face in my core and didn’t come up for air until I’d come twice.
My body was so relaxed and loose that I wasn’t sure how I’d walk. I stroked my hands over Boone’s scalp and moaned as he pressed open-mouthed kisses to my thighs before gently easing my leg back down to the floor. I sagged against Remy and tried to remember which way was up and which way was down.
“Now that everyone in the shop knows what you sound like when you come, I think it’s time for us to go home and try again at the pregnancy thing.” Remy pressed his hips into my ass and rocked his erection into me. “We should try a lot.”
Boone stood up and wiped his wet face on the back of his arm. He grinned like a hungry wolf while capturing my face in his hands and taking my mouth in a hard kiss. Tasting myself on his lips, I stroked my tongue over them and felt him shudder.
“We’ve got to get you home or Wells is going to be left out.” Boone kissed me once more and then helped yank the perfect dress off of me.
Remy went to settle the bill while I pulled on my own dress and underclothes. Moving on unsteady legs with Boone holding my arm, I got to the front of the store just as Nina read a number off to Remy that made me stumble. Jerking a shocked look up at Boone, I shook my head.
“That can’t be right. That’s a mortgage. No, that’s too much. Tell him, Boone.” I gripped his shirt and tugged his face lower. “I don’t need that. I...”
He kissed me again and cupped the back of my head. “You act like you’ve never gone on a shopping spree before. That’s not a big deal, Memphis. Knowing my brother, he’ll have even more clothes ordered in for you. That price is a drop in the bucket.”
I turned to look at Remy as he slid his black card back into his wallet and signed something. My stomach sank. “It’s too much.”
Remy glanced at me and frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“She’s freaking out over the cost.” Boone grunted. “Maybe stores are cheaper in Georgia.”
I knew by Remy’s stare that he was questioning me and I knew that I wasn’t acting like a wealthy woman from family money. I was acting poor. I forced myself to breathe normally and shrugged. “It’s just a lot of money for clothes that I won’t fit into soon.”
“I can afford it.” Remy turned away from me again and I could hear him telling Nina where to have the packages delivered.
I felt gross as I walked out on the street and saw a man sitting in his wheelchair, catching his breath. He wore tattered clothing and looked dirty. His chair was weighed down with multiple bags and I knew they were his only possessions just with one look.
I didn’t have my purse with me, so I took a deep breath and looked up at Remy. “Do you have any cash on you?”
He frowned but reached into his jacket pocket to retrieve his wallet again. “Some. Why?”
“You can take this out of what I make.” I took his wallet and pulled out several bills before pushing it back into his chest and moving around him to the man in the chair. “Sir?”
The man was much younger than I’d thought at first, and when I got closer, I could smell that he was as dirty as he looked. He reminded me of my youngest brother and I knew that Jackson could easily be in his shoes.
He looked up at me and blinked a few times. “I’m moving. Sorry.”
I smiled and gently rested my hand on his, pushing the money into his palm.
“You’re not in my way. How are you doing today?
This hill is pretty intense. How about I help you up it?
What do you say? Please don’t be one of those guys too proud to let a woman help them.
I’ll push you back down the hill the other way, I swear. ”
A beat passed before he smiled up at me and nodded. His hand clutching the money had moved into his lap and I could see him holding it protectively. “T-thank you.”
I got behind his chair and gripped the handles. “Sure. What’s your name, by the way? I’m Memphis. I know, I know. It’s...different. I promise I’ve heard anything you can say about it, though, so don’t waste your breath. Your name?”
“Tanner.”
I struggled up the hill and was about to take a break when Remy’s big hands replaced mine on the handles. Smiling up at him, I pressed my hand to his chest and slipped out from under him so I could walk next to Tanner. “Well, Tanner, it’s nice to meet you. You’re a talker, aren’t you?”
I watched as Tanner shifted to see who was pushing him and started to panic at the sight of Remy’s large body. He started to struggle and I worried he’d hurt himself.
Leaning down, I gently touched his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, Tanner. That’s just my friend, Remy. Turns out I’m weak and he stepped in to help get you up this hill. You’re safe.”
After focusing on me for a long moment, Tanner swallowed and nodded. “Don’t like surprises.”
“Then you’re not going to like her, friend. She’s full of them.” Remy’s voice was quieter than usual and I could tell he was making himself smaller for Tanner’s comfort.
We got to the top of the hill and I bent down in front of Tanner. “Do you need anything else?”
The young man suddenly lurched forward and wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tight. His voice was thick with emotion as he spoke. “Thank you.”