Chapter 8
Cassie
“You ever shave that beard, I’ll hurt you,” I moaned as he woke me up with his mouth between my thighs.
I felt him smile against my pussy, “Yes, ma’am.”
***
I was sitting beside Alec on his couch as I painted my toenails blue.
He was sitting there watching a game.
I glanced at one of the candles he had gotten and smiled.
He must have caught it because he asked, “What’s that smile for?”
I smiled wider, “Picturing you buying those candles.”
He chuckled, then he looked at me, “Sniffed them all too. Had to get good-smelling ones.”
I laughed. “Seriously?”
He winked, “Never lie to you, Cupcake. Just say I can’t talk about it.”
Then he sighed, “Got hit on by a woman I used to fuck.”
I gasped, “Say it ain’t so.”
He chuckled, “I told her I was taken. Then she said she could share. I informed her that I don’t.”
I was about to reply when my phone pinged.
He leaned forward, nabbed it, and then he froze.
Then, in a tone I’ve never heard from him, he asked, “Who the fuck is Kyle?”
I sighed, “My ex-boyfriend. Broke up with him two weeks before I moved here. He’d been fucking my best friend. Caught them as they were fighting while they were getting their clothes on.”
He nodded, then he handed me my phone, “Say the word, I’ll knock his lights out.”
I smiled, then leaned over and pressed a kiss on his shoulder.
Then I tapped my screen.
Kyle – Cassie, baby.
Kyle – It’s been over a month. What the fuck?
I sighed, then called him.
He answered on the first ring, “Cassie?”
“Stop texting me. I thought when I didn’t reply to the other twenty messages you sent, that I didn’t want to have anything to do with you.” I snapped.
“I thought you needed time. That’s what Sara suggested.” He said.
I growled.
No. He. Did. Not.
Alec lifted a brow, “What?”
Kyle asked, “Who the fuck is that?”
Then I told Alec... “My best friend, ex-best friend, the one he cheated on me with, her name is Sara. She suggested that Kyle give me time.”
Alec nodded then held out his hand.
I shrugged, then handed him the phone.
He pressed it on speaker, then he said, “Yeah, this is her man. I’m a territorial motherfucker. If you don’t stop bothering her, I’m getting your address, driving up there, and shoving my foot so far down your throat you’ll be able to taste the leather for the next fifty years. You feel me?”
Kyle stuttered, “Um. What?”
Then Alec bit out, “Say you understand, motherfucker.”
“Um, I understand,” Kyle said.
“Good. And thank you for being a fucking dumbass and screwing up with her. I won’t make that mistake.” He told him.
Then he tapped the screen and handed me my phone back.
I took it and burst out laughing.
Alec just winked at me.
***
We were headed to his parents’ house for their family dinner when I said, “Would you be okay if I drove your truck while you're gone?”
He glanced at me, then he said, “Yeah.”
“What if I wreck it?” I asked.
He smirked, “Long as you're wearing a seatbelt and nothing happens to you, run into everything you want.”
I swooned.
Right then and there.
The moment we pulled up into his parents’ drive and I saw all the cars there, I smiled.
He caught it and asked, “What’s that smile for?”
“I’ve dreamed of this. Family dinners. A whole house.”
He winked at me, “Give you anything you want, Cupcake.”
Then he parked, cut the truck off and climbed out.
He rounded the truck, opened my door, and held out his hand for the dish we brought.
I climbed down then he held out his arm for me.
I placed my hand in the crook of his elbow then we started up the driveway.
For some reason, my pace was slowing.
And Alec missed nothing.
Therefore, he asked, “What is it?”
I looked down at the pretty dusky pink full-length, long-sleeved maxi dress I had on, and asked, “Am I dressed, okay?”
He stopped, then smiled down at me, “Cupcake, first thing we’re doing when we get home, I’m pulling that dress up and fucking you against the back of the couch.”
I slapped him on his chest, “Don’t say shit like that when we’re about to walk into your parents’ home.”
Garrick chuckled as he held Sage’s little hand and Tatum’s in his other hand, “Don’t go into the powder room then.”
Tatum gasped, “Honey.”
“Two hundred and seventy-nine.” He replied.
I frowned.
Tatum winked, then she mouthed, “Later.”
Alec tagged me along beside him, and then he opened the door.
Once we walked in, I took in the country vibe to the home and whispered, “I’d love to have something like this one day.”
Alec lifted a brow, “Yeah?”
I nodded.
He smiled, “I can make that happen.”
To say I was shocked would be an understatement.
And before I could reply, I was tagged by Harlee, Lila, Everly, and Talia, as was Tatum, and we headed into the kitchen to see Misty.
She winked at me, “Glad you're better, hun.”
I smiled, “I am. Much. Thank you.”
We helped her get things ready, and then we were shooed to the living room to wait.
Laughter bounded throughout the home, and Alec wrapped his arms around me from behind.
Then Misty called out, “Dinner’s ready. Come and eat.”
Alec guided me to the table in the dining room, winked, and then pulled my chair out for me.
Frank chuckled, “Knew my boy had some manners.”
Alec leaned down and whispered, “He wouldn’t be saying that if he knew about the shower sex this morning.”
My cheeks flamed, and I slapped his leg, “Hush.”
He chuckled, then took his seat beside me.
Platters of food were passed around.
And we all dug in.
“Dang, Cassie, this is good,” Harlee said as she took another bite.
I giggled, then I looked at Alec, who winked at me.
“Thanks, Harlee. But I didn’t make it. Alec did.” I said.
His entire family stared at me, then slowly moved their eyes to Alec.
He just shrugged.
“I fucking knew it. You can cook.” Talia gasped.
Mom narrowed her eyes at her.
Then she sighed, “Yes, ma’am.”
Alec caught me staring at him, and he winked.
That was when I started truly running everything through in my mind about him.
The fact that his family didn’t know he could cook.
The fact that Misty had seemed surprised that he had risked getting sick so he could make something I wanted to do happen.
Then I stared at him, and he mouthed, “What?”
I didn’t think.
I just leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss on his lips.
He winked.
***
It was then that I learned why Alec insisted on doing the dishes if I cooked.
The men had all congregated in the kitchen to clean the dishes.
Misty winked at me, “Trained them right for y’all.”
As if it had been choreographed, we all said, “Thanks.”
Except for Talia, Lila, and Everly.
“What about Ethan?” I asked.
Misty sighed. “His ex, Melanie’s mother, did a number on him. It’s going to take a lot of trust for him to try a relationship again.”
I winced. I got that.
Just then, my phone pinged.
Sara – Can I come visit you? Talk?
I narrowed my eyes.
Me – No.
Sara – Why not?
Me – You fucked my boyfriend. That’s why.
Sara – I did you a favor... so... who is this new man you have?
I growled, and I saw red.
Harlee was the first to ask, “Do we need to make a trip?”
“Took a few self-defense classes from Bronson, I can help.”
“If it’s a man, I’ll take one of Garrick’s wrenches,” Tatum suggested.
Lila nodded, as did Everly.
Misty narrowed her eyes, “Who is giving you a hard time?”
And that was when I told them all about Kyle and Sara.
“What a bitch.” Talia said.
Misty nodded.
Lila sneered, “He wasn’t good enough for you.”
Everly nodded, “Totally agree.”
Tatum narrowed her eyes, “What did she say to you?”
Then I proceeded to read out what she sent me.
“Give me that girl’s address.” Tatum snapped.
“What girl?” Alec asked.
All the men had narrowed looks on their faces.
Harlee snapped, “That cum dumpster, Sara.”
Alec stalked forward and tapped my screen, then he laughed.
I narrowed my eyes at him, “Why are you laughing?”
He smirked, “She did do you a favor. Got him out of the way for me.”
I thought about it.
Then I texted her.
One word.
Thanks.
Then I blocked her skanky ass.
Granger was on the floor playing with Melanie, Cole, and Madalyn.
Sage was giggling with Lola and Hattie.
Zaden was reading a book.
Alec caught me smiling at them when he said, “I wouldn’t mind having two. How about you?”
I felt a lump form in my throat.
I just smiled and wanted to bow down at Frank’s feet when he said, “Okay, love y’all, but y’all gotta go home. Haven’t had my woman all day.”
Misty snapped, “Frank.”
We all stood up, gathered our coats, and piled out into our own vehicles.
Alec was silent in the truck as I ran through what he said.
And felt something in my heart crack open.
Fuck.