18. Meredith
MEREDITH
“So, you’re a screamer, that’s good to know.” Suit smirks as I sit on the couch next to him while Nate is getting me a drink.
I don’t know if everyone told everyone that I was here, because suddenly the whole MC seems to be down here. Men, women, and children have all come over to say hello and introduce themselves. Natalia is down for a nap, though, so she and Isla are the only ones I’m yet to be formally introduced to.
Suit is trying to embarrass me, but it won’t work. Instead, I wink at him. “You’re welcome. You can think of those sounds the next time you’re jerking off.”
He chokes on his drink, and I slap his back for him. “You okay there?”
“Fine.” He laughs. “And keep that up… Don’t let anyone here get to you.”
“I’ll remember that.”
Nate comes over with a pretty, petite Asian woman. I recognize her instantly. She’s stunning, with long dark hair and a wide smile. “Doc, this is Xanthe. Xanthe, this is Meredith. Apparently, she’s read some books of yours.”
My jaw drops. This is X.M. Love? “Oh my God, Xanthe. How could you not have told me this about you?”
She laughs and takes the seat on the other side of me. “I didn’t really tell anyone until recently. I know I only came to see you a few times, but I felt that’s all I needed. And I had a feeling you would be good for Bones, so I sent him your way.”
Nate hands me my drink, and I quickly take a sip. He frowns when he can’t sit next to me, so he takes the couch opposite us. “Xanthe must know me well because one look at you, and I was obsessed.”
Xanthe beams, glancing between the two of us. “Maybe I should start a new career as a matchmaker.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Please don’t. I need to read Bane’s book. He’s my favorite.”
“I’m just finishing up his now,” she says, playfully nudging me with her shoulder. “I’ll give you a copy when it’s ready.”
“Really?” I ask, excitement filling me. “I would love that. I’m so glad I showed up here today. I mean, it could have gone either way, but it was worth it just for this.”
Nate gives me a look that clearly says, ‘What about the orgasm I gave you upstairs?’ but I roll my eyes, which makes Suit laugh.
“So, who is your old lady?” I ask him, wanting to put him on the spot.
“No one is that lucky yet,” he replies smoothly, his eyes darting around the room. “I don’t know if I’m ready to commit to one pussy.”
“That’s what I thought before I met Doc,” Nate mutters, stretching his leg out so it touches mine.
“You’ve changed your lifestyle completely.” Suit smirks, which gets him a dirty look from Nate.
What does that mean?
“I’m a one-woman man now,” Nate adds, narrowing his blue eyes in warning. His eyes and voice soften as they turn to me. “If she’ll have me.”
The clubhouse isn’t anything like I envisioned. Everyone seems so nice and welcoming, and I haven’t seen anything traumatizing yet. I have a feeling that all happens after the women and kids go home.
Skull takes a seat next to Nate, and it’s so surreal seeing the two of them side by side.
They both hold their beer in the same hand and take a sip at the same time.
They’re both wearing black T-shirts under their cuts, with jeans and boots, and today their hair is loose and wild.
They even have the same amount of stubble.
“You’ll get used to it,” Xanthe whispers, and we share an amused look. “It’s hard to tell them apart.”
“I can tell,” I reply, smiling at Nate.
“Can you?” Suit asks, looking between the two of them. “I’ve known them for years, and I still get confused.”
Nate winks at me, and my heart races.
That’s how I can tell. While Skull is obviously just as attractive as Nate, he’s not mine, and my body doesn’t react the same way to him.
“What if we covered their faces and didn’t let them talk. Could you tell?”
“Yes,” I say with confidence.
“How?” he asks, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Because one is mine, and one isn’t,” I say casually, and Nate’s eyes fill with heat.
Skull turns curious as he closely studies me.
“Want to try?” Suit asks.
“I’m in,” Nate replies, and Skull nods.
“Seriously?” Xanthe mutters, intertwining my hand with hers. “Come on, let’s go get some of the cupcakes Lu made this afternoon.” When we’re out of hearing from the men, she adds, “You don’t have to go along with their games. I swear, sometimes they are like kids.”
“It’s okay, I’m happy to back up my statement.” I grin.
She laughs and pulls out a chair for me in the kitchen. “You both look so good together. And I can’t remember the last time I saw him so happy and… carefree.”
I’m about to reply when Isla walks in, Natalia in her arms. She smiles widely when she sees me.
“There you are, Meredith. I’m sorry I wasn’t down earlier, but Natty only just woke up.
” I stand up from the chair as she gives me a one-armed hug.
“I’ve been dying to meet you. And this is Natalia. Do you want to hold her?”
“Oh, um…”
She hands her to me anyway, and then I’m looking down into familiar blue eyes, framed in long dark lashes, soft, blonde hair, and a little button nose. She’s the cutest baby I’ve ever seen.
“Aw, look. She likes you.” Isla grins, her brown eyes warm and friendly.
She’s a beautiful woman, and I can see why Skull fell for her.
“I wanted to say sorry for Skull interrupting you both at the cabin. That must have been awkward when he just showed up unannounced. Those two have to know where the other is at all times.”
“I just showed up here unannounced, so we can call it even.” I grin, and she laughs.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she says, lowering her tone. “Really glad. We don’t want to lose Bones, and maybe if you like us, you’ll be around here more so that he is too.”
Xanthe sets a plate of cupcakes on the table just as Lu, Ora, and Atiana step inside.
“Yes, I was hoping it was cupcake time.” Atiana grins, pulling out a chair and taking a seat. “Lu, do you have any of the honey cake left?”
“Yeah, there are a few slices,” Lu replies, heading to the refrigerator.
“Wait, I’ll make up a platter in case Meredith is in the mood for savory.”
They all work around the kitchen in a blur until the table is filled with food and drinks, and I’m still sitting here holding Bones’ daughter. She’s staring up at me with those big, blue, curious eyes, her lips pursed.
“So,” Ora starts, picking up a piece of cheese from the platter and popping it into her mouth. “I heard a rumor. Please confirm or deny. Is it true that Bones kidnapped you?”
Isla gasps, like she’s surprised Bones would ever do such a thing.
I’m about to reply when Suit comes in, his gaze going straight to me. “Come on, Doc. We’re ready for you.”
I guess the nickname is catching on.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell the women, gently giving Natalia back to Isla, then following Suit. “You really don’t think I can tell them apart, do you?”
His lip quirks, and he wraps his arm around me. “Come on, just humor us. We don’t get out to play much.”
“I have a feeling you play too much, Suit.”
He laughs under his breath, both of us coming to a standstill when we run into a pretty woman with curly brown hair.
She places her palm on Suit’s chest and smiles up at him seductively.
“Where are you heading off to in such a rush? Want to meet me and Brandy in the pole room a little later? Maybe we can get Angel to join us.”
I have so many questions.
Suit glances down at me and smirks. “I’m a little busy right now, Rose, as you can see. Come and find me later when all the old ladies have gone to bed.”
Her smile fades, and she turns to me. “Who are you?”
“This is Bones’ woman,” Suit tells her, a warning in his tone.
She opens her mouth, then closes it, sadness flickering in her eyes. “Of course, it is. No wonder he hasn’t touched me in a few weeks.”
Okay. So, this is one of the club women Bones has been with. She obviously seems very comfortable with Suit, too, so do they all just share her?
Suit pulls me away before I can say anything, his hand going to my nape. “We all have pasts.”
“Yeah, and some are right here walking around in hot pants,” I murmur, and he barks out a laugh.
“Hey, at least you know he hasn’t touched her in weeks.”
“Do you ever kiss her and wonder if you’re swallowing one of your brother’s kids?” I ask, and he stops, his shoulders shaking with laughter.
“Fucking hell, Doc. No wonder Bones likes you.”
“He likes lots of people,” I grumble, but then forget all about Rose when I see Nate and Skull sitting there with skull masks on their faces.
Okay, why do I like that?
He looks fucking hot.
Everything else about them is identical, of course. I know Bones has one little curl of hair on his forehead that Skull doesn’t have, but as far as I can tell, that’s the only different thing about them.
However, I can feel Nate.
They have taken off their boots, leaving them in socks. I guess their boots must have been slightly different.
“You can smell or touch, but no removing the masks,” Suit announces.
Isla and the rest of the women come out to see what’s going on, and I look up at her. “Can I touch your man?”
She takes in the scene and laughs. “Go ahead.”
As I get closer, I place my hand on twin one’s chest, then on twin two’s. I already know which one is Nate. He’s the first one, but I think I want to play around with him.
“He’s this one,” I mouth, pointing to him, then sit on his lap and run my hands around his pecs and abs. Burying my face in his neck, I smell him and kiss his skin. This is my man.
“I might have to see a little more before I can decide,” I say out loud, lifting his shirt and running my fingers over his abs. I go lower, touching his thighs, every place except his dick, which I can see is now getting hard. “Hmm. I’m not sure, I’ll need to touch twin number two first.”
When I move off his lap, he growls and pulls me back down, and everyone starts laughing.
He takes off the mask and frowns at me, while Skull does the same, smiling when he sees me sitting on his brother’s lap.
“How did you know?” Suit asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I don’t know, I just do. I can feel that he’s mine. I looked at him, and straightaway I was drawn to him,” I say with a shrug. Nate cups my face and turns it to look at him, scanning my eyes before kissing me softly. It’s an intimate moment, and I can feel something almost change between us.
Strengthen.
“Well, I love her,” I hear Isla say, and I feel his lips curve against mine as he smiles. We enjoy the moment for a minute, and then I stand up and walk over to the women. “Okay, let’s get back to the interrogation.”
Ora laughs, and Isla hands Natalia back. I glance back at Nate to see him watching me holding his daughter, his eyes softening.
Skull is watching us, too, in that same intense way.
Winking at him, I head back to the kitchen to tell the old ladies all about how I was kidnapped.