24. Eric
Chapter 24
Eric
T he little shits fluttered around Cassidy like moths to a flame. The twins purposefully positioned her to sit between them, despite my clear warning. I sat at the end of the table, beer in hand, watching them silently. Shadow was by my side, waiting patiently for the opportunity he’d be given a piece of anything. We sat around the wooden dining table my parents had owned for as long as I could remember. A table for ten, a little excess in size but as they said, “just in case we ever had guests,” for moments such as these, I supposed.
I threw back another bitter sip. Cassidy also took a small sip from her beer one of the twins had given her. I wondered if it was the first time she’d ever had its bitter taste. She was a woman used to finer class and palates. She much better suited the backdrop of Manhattan—or even Chicago for that matter—but somehow, she seemed to fit into any space she filled but with a beer in hand… I wasn’t so sure.
“And he actually did yoga with you?” Declan’s eyebrows rose and the entire table stared back at me. Fuck. It was exactly what I feared.
“It actually has fantastic benefits and considering how active he is I was certain his muscles were tight,” Cassidy chimed. Innocently, she was only feeding fuel to their fire. I’d never hear the end of this, but nor was I going to stop her. She appeared to be having fun. I took another swig.
“Wow, physical and tight, that does sound like Eric, doesn’t it?” Jude gleamed.
“And notice how Shadow likes her too!” Thomas said spitting food across the table. My hand tightened around my beer. They were acting like a bunch of animals.
“Boys, enough! Stop giving Eric a hard time. And, Thomas, eat with your mouth closed,” my mother chastised. Fuck, some things never changed around here.
Lori scooped a forkful of the potato bake, smirking through the entire dinner silently. Somehow that irked me even more because I knew exactly who was feeding them with all this ammunition. Lori and Thomas were no better; Declan and Jude were the last nails in my coffin and nerves.
“Eric’s been very kind to let me stay in his home for a few weeks. And I’m grateful to you all for having me over for dinner as well. It’s refreshing here, I’m so used to the city that I feel like this is the first time in a long time I’ve been able to breathe,” Cassidy admitted with a smile. “So even if his downward dog pose needs to be polished, I’m definitely grateful for his hospitality.” She winked at me, throwing in the last remark for extra measure.
My brothers laughed and Lori raised her drink. “To Eric. Because as much of a grump he is, he’s come through for all of us in one way or another.”
A heat spread across my cheeks. I didn’t deserve their thanks. Not after my actions and last failed relationship affected them all. Sure, I’d been able to get us out eventually, but I’d been the one to put them in that comprisable position. And yet years later here we were, right where it all began.
“Here, here,” my brothers cheered in unison. It was the bane of my existent how in unison they were. Even Thomas seemed to be on that train of telepathy, especially when they taunted my nerves.
My mother raised her glass of wine—the only one drinking it. “Well since we’re doing toasts, I’d like to thank all of my children for coming back here at least once a year to help manage the shop while your father and uncle go away on their hunting trip. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without you, and not to forget to mention I miss you all dearly. And to throw in for luck, because we’re still in the festive season, I better get some grandbabies out of someone soon because I’m sick of waiting.”
Inadvertently, mine and Cassidy’s eyes met. I immediately looked away, my heart missing its beat. The glance wasn’t missed by Lori, silently smirking and picking at her plate.
“What?” I grumbled.
“Oh nothing.” She shrugged nonchalant.
“Eric’s the oldest!” Jude chimed.
“If anyone’s going to get anyone pregnant it’s Thomas,” Lori remarked.
“What? Why me?!” Thomas raised his hands in defense.
“Because you’re such a little fuckboy,” Declan announced.
“Rich coming from you!”
Amongst all the bickering, Cassidy’s laughter fluttered through the air, tears wetting her eyes. The tension melted off me. If she was comfortable and enjoying herself, the night didn’t seem so bad after all. Giving up on me, Shadow walked over to Cassidy and without a second glance she fed him a piece of cheesy potato. I was going to have to put this dog on a diet when we returned to Chicago. She had him wrapped around her little pinkie. Or was it the other way around, I wasn’t so sure?
“So, what kind of meals have you been cooking together?” Mom asked pointedly, looking between Cassidy and me, ignoring the bickering of who was a bigger fuckboy at the table. Were we always this loud? I was surprised Cassidy fitted in so casually around my loud dysfunctional family.
“Umm, we’ve been baking sweets and Lori’s been giving me recipes for vegetarian alternatives.”
“Wait, are you vegetarian?” Jude asked.
“I told you that, you dimwit,” Lori said, her fork suspended and pointed at him.
“So, what’s big beast over here been eating?” Declan asked, pointing a thumb my way. Man, they were enjoying this way too much. I’d have to find a way to punish them for it later. Maybe I’d start with kicking them out of the apartment in Chicago I’d bought for them.
Cassidy seemed affronted by the nickname, but her lip curved into a stifled smile. “He’s been eating the stuff I’ve been cooking,” she said, somewhat confused. I took another swig because I knew what was coming and it was like watching a natural disaster unfold, there was nothing I could say or do to intervene and stop the inevitable.
Jude’s jaw dropped. “No shit, you’ve got him eating vegetables? All he ever eats is meat and potato. I haven’t seen him eat greens since we were kids and grew up to be bigger than Dad and he realized he could say no.”
Again, my family stared at me like I’d grown a third head, and it was the smug smile and twinkle in my mother’s eye that unnerved me the most.
“It’s all carbs,” I mumbled under my breath.
But Cassidy stared at me with surprise. Great, now I really would look like, as she would put it, “a teddy bear.”
Declan fell back into his chair. “Shit, I thought I’d seen it all.” They all glanced at my finished plate that had only contained meat and potatoes soiled in gravy. I wasn’t a complete saint.
“And how long do you think you’ll be staying?” my mother asked Cassidy.
Cassidy nervously tucked her hair behind her ear. “Um, I’m not sure yet, maybe a week or so?” She looked at me in question.
“Oh how lovely, why don’t you take her target shooting tomorrow, Eric?”
“I’d be down for that,” Lori was quick to assert.
“Yea let’s do it!” the twins yelled in unison.
“No, you two boys can actually handle the café for once. Give Eric and Lori a day off.”
A twitch threatened the corner of my mouth. Maybe I didn’t have to serve out punishment after all. Because my mother had already done it.
They grumbled their complaint. Considering the twins were in town for a few nights, it might offer Lori and me a small break.
For once, I couldn’t read Cassidy’s expression. “You don’t have to,” I was quick to say.
“It’s not that, I’d love to.” She perked up. But there was hesitation.
“Sounds like a plan,” my mother chimed again, that mischief was gleaming in her expression. She was up to something and in the way her and Lori looked at each other, it was like they were in on it together. I took another swig. When those two schemed, nothing good ever came of it. Well in my experience the result was always an inconvenience to my daily routine. “Now with that decided, who’s ready for dessert?”
A s expected, the twins found themselves elsewhere when it was time for cleanup. I stood in the kitchen, scrubbing at the dishes as I considered tonight and the silent promise that had perfumed the air all night between Cassidy and me. I’d claim her tonight, there was no doubt about it.
I imagined Cassidy beneath me, her thighs wrapped tightly around me. I considered her vow of celibacy and had I been a better man, I might’ve made the decision for her that this wasn’t best. But I wasn’t a better man and I wanted to fuck that sweet little pussy more than I needed my next breath.
My cock twitched and I sighed. Not in my mother’s house, however.
“Eric,” my mother’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I almost dropped the plate I’d been absentmindedly cleaning.
“Mom, what’s up?” I replied, pressing a kiss to her cheek as she came to a stop at the sink and began wiping over the drying plates.
“It’s always interesting how your brothers find themselves busy elsewhere when it’s time to clean up, huh?” she said with a knowing smile.
“I told you, you went too easy on them growing up,” I teased. “And where’s Thomas?” He usually helped out.
“He’s with Lori and Cassidy.”
A tension rippled through me. I loved my younger brother, but he was a fuckboy and on top of that, women seemed to love the whole “doctor” idea. He was in placement as of next year and closer in age to Cassidy. And I certainly wasn’t comfortable with this mixed jealousy and protectiveness. She wasn’t mine. I’d made that very clear to even her. She was in town for as long as I was and then that would be that. “Something memorable” she’d said. So why the fuck did I care so much?
“She’s sweet, the little stray you’ve brought in,” my mother said as she began stacking the dry plates on top of one another.
“You’d say that about anyone who compliments your cooking,” I said.
“Not entirely true because everyone likes my cooking. It’s only a select few I’d invite back.”
I smirked. “You’d invite anyone into this home, even if you didn’t like them,” I said honestly. My mother was giving and loving in nature. She’d ensure everyone else was looked after before prioritizing herself. And I could never give back to her or my father what they’d extended out to me over the years. Even when I built the IT company from the ground up to pay them back tenfold for my fuckup with Katia, it never truly replaced what had been taken or those years of stress I’d put them through.
“You like her,” my mother said, staring at my side profile. “I haven’t seen you look at anyone since… that woman .”
I blew out a breath. Katia was not something we’d spoken about for years, and I certainly wasn’t going to relive the past with my mother over how badly and naively I’d fucked up.
“I see the way you two look at each other,” she continued.
“She’s just staying in town for a few weeks, Mom, just like me, that’s it.” I blew out a small, frustrated breath. I was a forty-two-year-old man still getting lectured by his mother. And I didn’t have the heart to tell her that the supposed look she’d seen flash between us was made from us wanting to fuck one another’s brains out, nothing more.
“Out of all my sons, I worry about you the most.”
Frustrated, I placed the plate down. This is why I didn’t come over as often, because every time I did, my mother would voice her concern. “You shouldn’t. I have everything I need. I run a multi-billionaire company, own multiple properties and can provide my family with everything and anything they’d ever need. I’ve achieved my objective and I’m happy.”
“Having money isn’t happiness, Eric.”
I kept my temperament in check. I didn’t care for the money. What I’d wanted was being able to provide for them. I’d vowed I’d never be in a predicament again where I couldn’t supply for my family. They’d never again go through years of stress and loss that I’d forced on them. That was my happiness and redemption.
“And it’s time you start thinking about growing your own family. You’re forty-two, Eric. You have to settle down at some time.”
“Why won’t you believe I’m happy alone?”
“Because I’m your mother and I know when you’re genuinely happy and you, son, have just been going through the motions for so many years now. Just think about it a little. I’m proud of all of you, but I want you to consider being open to the idea of letting someone else in as family, not just us. Your father and I aren’t going to be around forever.”
I grimaced. I hated when she went down this route. No matter how many times I’d suggested they moved to Chicago so I could better look after them, they’d always denied me saying this was their home. That’s why we all came back the same time every year, so Dad could continue his hunting with my uncle until… until he couldn’t anymore.
Thomas bound in with a bowl full of candy. “Are you guys talking about my awesomeness?”
“I can’t believe you’re still eating,” Lori chimed as she walked in behind him. Cassidy was by her side, my disloyal dog on her tail.
“We don’t need to mention your awesomeness you seem plenty capable of reminding us every day,” my mother cooed. “But perfect timing, here.” She threw the hand towel to my brother. “I’m about to find those brothers of yours.”
“I don’t mind drying,” Cassidy insisted.
Lori piped up. “Yea and we have to check out Mom’s engine real fast too, Thomas. Remember?”
“Since when?” he asked, confused. I felt my temple pulse at Lori’s not so subtle mischievous workings.
“Oh yea,” Thomas said slowly. “Cassidy can you help Eric. I’ve got some stuff to do.”
The three left, leaving Cassidy, Shadow, and I in silence. She walked to my side, grabbing the first plate.
“They don’t really have to check your mother’s engine, do they?”
“No.”
Her laugh fluttered through the kitchen and the tension from my conversation with my mother eased.
“Do you think they know?” she whispered quietly, leaning closer toward me.
“Know about what?” I asked, naturally leaning into her, tempted to tuck her under my shoulder, she was so tiny in comparison. I had to hunch over just to wash the dishes, and yet I felt like she somehow was a perfect fit. Or maybe I’d just had blue balls for so long that I was romanticizing shit.
“About you and me… you know… almost…”
I gave her a side-glance, trying at best to keep the smile away. She seemed so coy and delightfully na?ve.
“We haven’t done anything,” I said incredulously.
She huffed out an irritated breath. “Don’t I know it.”
I laughed this time, her pouting lips and irritable expression rather adorable.
“Hey, your hands are wet!” she screamed as I scoped my arms around her waist and tucked my body around her. I wiped my hands all over her, eliciting a small shrill squeal out of her.
“Ew, yuck sod water!” she screamed. I trailed my fingers along her neck as she playfully tried to duck and wriggle out of my reach. She tried to reach for the water, but I pulled her light weight back. She clung to the side of the bench, trying her hardest to be immovable. It didn’t take me long to pry her fingers off. By now, my hands were dry as I played with the edge of her long skirt. She sucked in a sharp breath as my fingers trailed over her seam—it would’ve been so easy to tuck my hand beneath.
Goose bumps sprouted along her lower abdomen as my cock twitched at the thought of pinning her against the edge of the bench. Her breath became shallow as I pressed my growing cock to her lower back. “See the things you do to me, sweetheart.” I nipped her ear. “You’re not the only one frustrated. And what are we going to do when we get home?”
Her response was low and husky. So foreign to the usual bubbly little brat that treated annoying me as a full-time job. “You’re going to fuck me.”
I cupped her sweet pussy through the thin skirt, imagining what she might look like wearing only those leather boots. I played over the fabric, her sharp breath sending my cock rigid. “And you’re going to be my little slut, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“You’re going to let me do all nasty things to you until your limbs can’t move anymore, aren’t you?”
“Except for anal,” she breathlessly whispered.
I chuckled, gliding my hand up and holding her stomach. Holding her into me and taking in her smell. In only an hour I’d be smothered in her scent and taste. “You’ll do as I say,” I growled.
“Yes, sir,” she said, again another loosed breath as she placed her hand over my forearm, tucking further into me. My mother’s words echoed in my thoughts. Was this what she considered as normality in her eyes? Happiness? Companionship? The thought had become so foreign, and yet with Cassidy, it was easy to fall into this situation and feeling. And that terrified me more than anything.