Chapter Fifty-Four
SETH
The three of us are still sitting on the couch when a team of people walks in carrying bags and boxes and talking among themselves. I memorize each of their faces and the sounds of their voices before dismissing them to return my gaze to Sunshine.
She’s talking with Oni, who led the pack, about something, and I really wish I could read lips because I don’t like the furrow in my girl’s brow.
That shit gets deeper and deeper the longer they whisper heatedly about something.
I’m getting ready to go over there when she sighs and mutters something that looks like, “Fine.”
“What’s up?” I ask the moment she’s within earshot.
“No more hiding,” she starts with, and it sounds ominous.
“I’ve got meetings with lawyers and the label and then a maternity shoot.
I won’t actually announce that I’m pregnant until after the baby is born,” she assures us when we all tense.
“But my fans—what remaining I have—will want to see and I’d like to share this with them. ”
“Okay,” Thorin says, taking it all in stride. “What do you need from us? When should we be ready?”
“Well… First, we have to talk about appearances. If you’re going to be my bodyguards, you have to look the part. That means uniforms.”
“I’m not wearing no damn tight-ass collar shirt and khakis like a jackass,” Khalil immediately fusses with a scowl.
It’s definitely a dig at Westbrook.
Aurelia glares at him for already forgetting her order to play nice, and he stares right back at her like he’s not sorry at all. “You’ll be wearing suits. Very nice tailored suits that the stylist did a great job picking out for you.”
“Not doing that either,” Thorin grunts.
“What’s wrong with our clothes?” I ask, worried she might be ashamed of us.
“Nothing,” Aurelia quickly assures us. “It’s just protocol. Most of the events I attend are closed to the public. They need to be able to tell you’re actually part of my security team and not—”
“Criminals,” Tyler coughs into his fist. “Stalkers. Psychos,” he coughs again.
“I’m so sorry to hear about your wife,” I respond with a tilt of my head. “Widowed so young. Such a shame.”
Tyler rolls his eyes at my thinly veiled threat. I’d omit the veil entirely, but Sunshine would only get upset.
“As I said, it’s protocol and temporary.” She gives Thorin, Khalil, and me a pointed look, reminding us that we won’t be her bodyguards forever. We’re just playing the part long enough to get near her uncle.
And then we’ll kill him.
“Here are the suits,” the stylist says as she lays them out. “Will the other two be joining us?” That’s when I realize there are five.
My gaze connects with Sunshine, and she winks at me. I don’t really want a suit but knowing Aurelia was thoughtful enough to make sure each of us—even Bane—have our own makes me want to do things to her that I’ve been told I’m not allowed to do when other people are in the room.
“Not this time. You can just match the measurements to Seth’s.”
“Oookay.”
In the corner, I see Tyler frown. I don’t like the way he hangs on our every word. Aurelia is ours to look after, not his. I don’t appreciate another man pissing all over my territory either.
I barely tolerate Thorin and Khalil, and I love them. They’re my brothers as much as Zeke’s. Actually, come to think of it, it annoys me when he gets her too.
But I don’t want to kill them.
I want to kill Tyler Westbrook. Or at least seriously maim him. Cut a finger off or two…
“Stop thinking about murder,” Khalil leans over to whisper.
“I wasn’t thinking about murder. I was thinking about maiming.”
“Stop thinking about maiming. We’re supposed to be nice,” Thorin says.
“Nice is for Sunshine. Maiming is for everyone else.”
“You’d maim us?” Khalil asks curiously.
“Only when you’re not nice to Sunshine.”
“What are you guys talking about?” Aurelia asks as she walks over with three black garment bags thrown over her arm.
“You,” I say.
“And maiming,” Thorin tattles.
Aurelia frowns and mumbles, “I’m afraid to ask.”
“Don’t be,” I coo as I pull her into my lap. “We’d never maim you.”
“You’re not allowed to maim my friends either,” she decrees since she knows us so well.
“You’re not allowed to have any friends but us,” I tell her as I nuzzle her neck. “We’re your BFFs forever.”
“BFF means best friends forever, Seth.”
“I know,” I say as I pepper her shoulder with kisses. “But when forever’s over I’ll want another go.”
“Aww. That’s sweet. But I don’t have sex with my friends,” she informs dryly.
“Oh.” My head pops up. “Well, then never mind.”
Snorting, Aurelia tries to stand from my lap, but she struggles to regain her feet so much that Khalil has to stand and help her.
She then goes about freeing the suits from the garment bags and laying them in our lap.
“I just need you to try them on, and then the tailor will take your measurements.”
I glance over at the bespectacled man wearing a sweater vest and eyeing Thorin like he can’t wait to get his hands on him.
“Can we have the room, please?” Aurelia calls out, and everyone except the tailor, the stylist, and her assistant leave. “It’s only temporary,” she promises again when she sees we’re still sitting.
Khalil and Thorin stand and start to undress while I eye the suit in my lap.
I’ve never worn one before. What if I look silly? What if Sunshine doesn’t like me anymore because I look silly?
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Thorin says after he’s stripped down to his boxer briefs and is shoving a leg inside the black pants.
“Very much,” Aurelia answers, her brown eyes gleaming with humor.
I slowly get up from the couch and try to ease out of the room, but Sunshine’s commanding voice stops me in my tracks.
“Stop right there, Seth.” I stand still as she walks over to me.
“I was just…” I scratch my head for an excuse. “Going…to the bathroom.”
“Please?” I feel her belly brush my arm as she reaches out to take my hand. “For me?”
Feeling myself cave, I raise our joined hands and kiss the back of it. “Of course for you.”
As soon as she turns away, I roll my eyes and reluctantly let her lead me back over to the couch. I undress and climb into the suit that looks and feels nice but makes me want to tear free of my own skin.
The urge is stomped under her cute little heel though when Aurelia turns around from grabbing the boxes of shiny shoes and her jaw drops.
I know it’s a genuine reaction when the shoeboxes tumble out of her arms. She tries to bend and grab them but doesn’t get very far, so I step forward and crouch to retrieve them. I turn and shove them into Khalil’s hands before facing Aurelia again. “Like what you see, Sunshine?”
“Do I?” she says, hyping me up. “I didn’t think it was possible for you to get any hotter, Seth Cura.”
Forgetting we’re surrounded by people, I bend and kiss her neck.
I hear a few gasps, but Aurelia doesn’t push me away. Unbothered by their stares, she just smiles and adjusts her head to give me better access.
Our debut as Aurelia’s bodyguards happens a week later.
First, we trail her to meet with her lawyers and label. The following week, we watch over her while does her maternity shoot, which happens in two locations.
The first is in Washington state, starting by a waterfall and ending on the edge of a rocky cliff that makes us swear and grit our teeth while overlooking the evergreens wrapped in fog.
She’s naked in those photos, her front covered in a simple white wrapping that becomes sheer from the pool created by the waterfall.
The second shoot takes place in a Los Angeles studio with far more dramatic outfits and poses and glamour.
It’s not until it’s over and Aurelia is in her dressing room getting redressed that it dawns on me why she did two.
One shows the haunting truth that will forever remain ours alone.
The other a pretty, digestible lie to fawn over.
“Why do they keep looking at me?” I lean over to ask Khalil when I notice for the third time a group of women whispering to themselves while stealing glances at me. I think they were the ones who did Aurelia’s hair and makeup.
Khalil still has his head on a swivel as we guard Aurelia’s dressing room when he answers tonelessly, “They want to fuck you.”
The women turn to stare at me openly when they notice my attention.
Suddenly, I feel like I’m about to be eaten alive. “No. No, they can’t. I won’t let them. They’re not Sunshine.”
“Seth, it’s all right,” Khalil attempts to console me. “Just don’t pay them any mind.”
“No, I don’t like it.” I shake my head as I back up against the door, grabbing the knob and twisting until I’m stumbling into the room and out of sight. I slam the door closed and lock it for good measure.
I hear a sound and turn to see that Aurelia is naked and pinned on the couch with Thorin’s hand over her mouth to keep her quiet while he kneels between her legs, eating her pussy and wrinkling his new suit.
I sigh with relief and lean against the door, resting my head against it and closing my eyes.
Much better.
When my heart calms and it no longer feels like I’m about to have a panic attack, I open my eyes to find Aurelia watching me.
A moment later, she comes against Thorin’s mouth.
Her skin is glistening from the body oil and gold flecks they painted her in for the shoot, and my gaze catches on her brown nipples that are puckered obscenely.
Thorin stands and wipes his mouth as he moves to the cooler and retrieves a bottle of water. He drinks one, washing out his mouth, and then grabs another before taking it to Sunshine.
“What’s the matter, Seth?” Aurelia pants as she takes it from him. “Something happened?”
“No,” I say, not wanting to upset her. As with all of us, I still see the wilds in her from time to time, and I don’t want to chance her going out there and painting herself in their blood next. Although it would be a delight to see. “I just wanted to see you.”
She holds out her hand to me, and I cross the small room to grab it and help her from the couch. “Thanks. I can’t wait to get home and shower all of this off me.”
“You looked beautiful today.”
“I could say the same about you,” she says as she straightens my tie. “You look so dashing.”
I hold her waist as I kiss her lips. “I’m glad you approve. I feel like your boy toy.”
“My dirty little boy toy,” she teases as she kisses me back.
“Wait until I get you home,” I promise even as I’m backing her toward the couch. “You’re the one who’s going to be dirty.” On second thought, I’m not sure I can wait until then.
“Guys, I’m still here, and this is getting a little cringy,” Thorin says, sounding annoyed.
I don’t take my lips from Aurelia as I glare over her head at him. “Then leave.”
Thorin doesn’t leave though, choosing instead to lean against the vanity table.
Aurelia tumbles onto the couch, and I reach for my belt as I climb on top of her.
She gaps her legs open for me, and I stare at her glistening pussy as I work my belt free.
I’m just shoving my pants down over my ass when a knock comes to the door.
I ignore it, and so does Thor as I work my cock into Aurelia while kneeling between her legs.
The knocking continues, but I don’t hear it as I focus on Aurelia’s moans instead.
“Oh, Seth,” she moans, “fuck me.” A moment later, Sunshine reaches up and grips my tie before yanking on it hard. Thorin swears while Aurelia whispers, “Harder.”
Goddamn. Of course, I obey and start fucking her hard enough to make the couch skid across the hardwood floor while she tosses her head back and takes it.
But then the knocking turns into pounding until I think the door might break down.
Or that someone is breaking in. Luckily, I feel Aurelia coming around my cock, and it’s a few seconds more before her tight pussy releases me enough and I slip out.
I stuff my still-hard dick back inside my suit pants before throwing the blanket on the back of the couch over Aurelia and then storming over to the door and snatching it open.
“What?”
“We got a problem,” Khalil says with a hard look in his eyes.
“Well, what is it?” Thorin snaps grouchily. I think he was enjoying watching us a little too much.
Khalil doesn’t answer and instead steps aside to show us an official-looking person standing there in business attire. Before I can ask who he is and what the fuck he wants, I’m elbowed aside as Aurelia, now dressed, comes to stand in front of me.
“Aurelia George?” the visitor asks.
“Yes?”
He holds out a yellow envelope to her. “You’ve been served.”