Chapter 26
“It will be great, baby. Pops will be so thrilled to meet you, and Dad knows you from the gym.” Knox sounds confident enough for both of us. I still have my doubts. They also knew Tate, and he caused a shit ton of trouble that put Noah in a dangerous situation.
“You say that so easily, but Tate caused a huge problem,” I bring my concern out in the open.
“That was a long time ago. Saint and Noah have no issue with you; I know you’re friends with Noah and Memphis. Come on before we’re dragged in.” He takes my hand and opens the front door with the other. “We’re here,” he calls out.
I wait, holding my breath at the sight of Robin. He’s one of the kindest, huge hearted men I’ve met; he’s smiling and opening his arms to hug Knox. Except, he doesn’t; it’s me he embraces. “Roman, I’m so happy to meet you. Thank you for making my boy so happy. He’s glowing.”
“Let him go, Pops. He needs to breathe. And, more importantly, where’s my hug? You know I’m the favourite son.” I hug the smaller man as he chuckles.
“All of them think they’re the favourite. Let’s eat, and you can tell me all about you, Roman,” Pops says enthusiastically. “We’re still waiting for Royal and Memphis, but they’ll only be a couple of minutes. I hope you’re hungry.”
“I’m always hungry. My mum says I have hollow legs.”
The kitchen is huge and has wide bi-folding floor to ceiling windows. The large wooden table doesn’t fit in with the sleek kitchen, but I can see how loved it is.
“Hey, Roman, it’s great to see you,” Saint says. Noah is kneeling on a cushion next to Saint’s chair. He stays silent for now; he’s obviously deep in his role. Saint runs his fingers through Noah’s hair. I’m sure if I were closer, I’d hear him moan contentedly.
The total power exchange is a hard one and definitely not one I could do, but I’ve seen this evolve over the last couple of years, and they make it look easy. It’s intense and demanding, and to them, it’s everything they need.
Drake is sitting next to Finn. The look of bliss on his face that matches the pale pink tint to his cheeks tells me they’ve had a loved-up morning. They both greet us with relaxed hellos as if I have breakfast with them every Sunday.
“Knox, get settled, and Roman, you can come and sit by me,” Robin says as Knox grips my hand a little tighter.
“No way, Pops. You’re not interrogating him as soon as he sits down. He can sit next to me.” He walks up to Kip and gives him a hug. “Good to see you, Dad. Control your husband, please.”
This is obviously something they say a lot. Luckily, the sound of others coming in stops any counter argument from Robin. “The favourite son has arrived,” Royal announces as he walks in with Memphis. “Oh, hey. Hi, Roman, good to see you here.”
After that, everything was easy, the food plentiful and delicious. Robin gets to ask a few questions and seems happy with my answer. So does Knox, and he squeezes my thigh under the table. By the time we’re all full, Noah, who Saint fed, is now on his master’s knee.
Knox looks at his brothers. “I need your help this afternoon. Roman is moving in with me today, and he’s got some furniture he wants to bring. Saint, you still okay to use your truck.”
“Oh, congratulations, boys,” Robin enthuses, happily. He seems pleased the last of his sons are coupled up at last.
“I have one more thing. Maddox Levin will be here with us next Sunday. It’s a long story, one that Drake has helped us understand.” He looks at Drake. “Am I okay to talk about it? Maddox is okay with it.”
“As long as he’s given you the go ahead, then yes, but it doesn’t go any further than this table.” He looks a Robin and Kip.
“What? Why?”
“Maddox Levin is the kid I was with when I was on the streets. Dean Mitchell. He got into some trouble with a drug gang and had to be protected.”
“I remember, Knox. He died. You were so unhappy for such a long time. It will be good to finally meet him. He kept you safe and alive before I could.”
I don’t understand this. Robin saved Knox from a life on the streets. I’ll ask Knox later.
Kip looks confused. “I know the name. He’s a European MMA fighter. How did you find out?”
Knox fills them with all the complicated twists and turns, ending with them coming together and working it all out. “I want him to be the part of this family he should’ve had when I asked him to come here all those years ago.”
“Of course, Knox. He’s very welcome here.”
That seems to satisfy Knox. We get ready to leave after that.
“I reckon Saint and Knox could bench press his huge truck.” It’s serious muscle central at the house now. Royal and Drake have come to help, too, which means Noah, Memphis, and I are enjoying the show as they lift dressers and desks.
“God, I love it when he’s all sweaty.” Noah shamelessly ogles Saint. “Going down on him when he’s like this is one of my favourite things.”
“You’re such a slut,” Memphis says as he nudges him with his shoulder.
“For him, yep. I’m never going to say no to him.” He looks at his master. “Hey, Sir, don’t even think about showering.”
Saint grins and comes jogging over to us. “You gonna lick me clean, dirty boy?” Then he kisses him like it’s the last one. “Starting with my dick. You wanna get on your knees here?”
“Yes, Sir.” Noah hops down off the wall we’re sitting on in Knox’s little front garden.
“You’re such a cock-whore. You’ll have to wait; I don’t want to put on a show for the whole street.”
Memphis and I laugh as Noah pouts and rubs up against Saint like a cat.
Knox walks up to me, playfully shoving his older brother out of the way. “Do you want to come and help instead of causing trouble?” He laughs and gives me a quick kiss. Nothing like the one that’s still going on in front of us.
“I can if you want. I thought I’d get in the way, but I promise to do the unpacking.” I realise, guiltily, that I should be helping.
He’s shaking his head. “I’m kidding; stay there and look pretty.”
The sound of a car slowing down has us looking out into the street. It’s a packed street even with Royal and Drake’s cars here that it has to park a couple of houses down. The door opens, and Maddox gets out; he sees me and smiles.
“Maddox is here,” I call out to Knox as he walks back out of the front door empty handed. It’s a look of surprise rather than pleasure.
Maddox is at the driveway before Knox can say anything. “Hey, I thought you might want another pair of hands.”
“The more the merrier,” Saint says and holds out his hand to shake. “Good to see you again, mate.”
“We’re the cheer team,” I say, not wanting to feel awkward as Knox hasn’t said anything yet.
“Best looking team I’ve ever seen.” He’s so friendly; Knox needs to get his head out of his arse.
Knox does, in fact, stop acting like a twat and says hi and even gives him a bro hug. “Come this way. We’re having to shift some of my old crap out of the spare room to make room for Roe’s stuff.”
“Hey, anything you don’t want, let me know. I’ve not got much in mine yet; it’s definitely a work in progress. I hate going furniture shopping,” he grumbles, but I smile.
“I love shopping; I’ll take you,” I say and look at Knox. It’s not like I need his permission, but still, it feels like the right thing to do.
“That’s an offer I’m not going to turn down, thanks, Roman.”
“In the meantime, just tell us what you need. We can definitely help,” Saint offers and looks at the other brothers, who are already nodding in agreement.
He looks astounded, surprised by the generosity of the Foster brothers. “Thank you.”
An hour later, everything of mine is inside, ready for me to unpack and find homes for. Now, instead of us living in a total mess, Maddox has a whole lot of borrowed stuff.
“My place next,” Royal says. “Since Memphis moved in, we’ve got doubles in furniture. You want a dining table?” He doesn’t wait for an answer, just collects Memphis from the wall, and they walk to his car.
Saint grumbles about charging for the use of his truck after a small dining table with a couple of chairs go into the flat bed of the truck. There’s also a comfy chair and a coffee table along with it.
“What about you two? You must have doubles of stuff.” Knox looks to Drake.
With a nod, he says to Maddox. “D’you need cooking stuff? We’ve got loads of saucepans and plates.”
The next trip is to Drake’s place.
I overhear Knox talking to Maddox. “Don’t be daft; it’s what families do.”