Chapter 2
It couldn’t have been more than a few hours later that my eyes peeled open. The room was still submerged in darkness, save for the soft glow of the moon through the sheer curtains. I faced away from James, but I felt his attention on me.
Every now and then he’d force himself to doze but that night, there was a certain edge to the energy in the room—an uneasy charge that almost made me roll over and press him for information.
But as I turned and tucked myself into his neck, his arms fell around my waist and that plan went out the window. The only thing I wanted was him.
“What time is it?” I murmured against his skin.
“Too early,” he answered with a kiss to the top of my head. “Go back to sleep.”
I grimaced and forced the next words out of my mouth. “Are you sure we shouldn’t have that talk? You seem unsettled.”
He chuckled, the sound vibrating my skin. “Don’t worry about me. We’ll talk soon enough. Get some more rest.”
I nuzzled deeper into his neck, and the combination of his hand i n my hair and his lips on my skin sent me right back to sleep.
The next time I woke up, it was the sun’s fault. Shading my eyes with one hand, I reached out for James with the other, but I only found cold sheets. I pried my eyes open, rubbing the sleep away as I looked around the room for him.
The bathroom light was off, so he wasn’t in the shower. He wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye.
The coffeemaker in the kitchen started gurgling. I smiled, dragging myself from the bed.
Once I was washed and dressed, I followed the country music floating down the hallway. James always knew when I entered a room, but he let me pretend to catch him dancing in the kitchen—in nothing but his underwear. I leaned against the doorway, inhaling the aroma of coffee and watching him until the song faded away. Only then did he look over his shoulder and give me that heart-stopping smile. The ridiculous grin on my own face was completely involuntary.
“Morning, love.”
I shivered, goosebumps pebbling my skin. Damn, the man’s voice alone did things to me I couldn’t explain. “Morning. Someone’s in a good mood.”
His eyes raked over my body. “How can I not be when you’re standing there looking like that.” He approached, fingering the hickey on my neck. “You look so damn good with my mark on you.”
I preened under the praise. James leaned in, and I tipped my head back in invitation. I hummed, and his tongue darted out to swipe across the tender skin. “Don’t get me riled up,” I groaned, though my cock was already rising in interest.
James chuckled. “Doesn’t take much with you, does it?”
His fangs elongated, eager to play, and I wriggled out of his grip. “I’m serious, James.” I took a long pull from my coffee, lettin g it burn its way down my throat and distract me from the pressing need hanging between my thighs. “I can’t fall victim to your spell right now. The Jenkins clan gets in this morning and I promised I’d pick them up at the airport.”
He continued peppering my skin with kisses—lighter ones, thankfully. Those I could handle while I drank my coffee. “I’d forgotten. I guess we’re postponing that talk?”
Was that hope in his voice? I was starting to think that maybe James was avoiding the conversation as much as I usually did. “Well, they’ve been flying all night.” I arched toward his touch. “Th-they’ve probably b-been awake with— fucking hell .” That damned tongue! James was shaking with laughter. “I’m glad you find this funny!”
He pulled back, hooked a finger under my chin, and tugged me in for a chaste kiss on my lips. “Simply a reminder of what’s waiting for you tonight. You’ve got breakfast in the microwave. I have to open the bar.”
“Cocktease,” I muttered under my breath, knowing he heard me clear as day.
I pushed away from the doorframe, tending to Carlos and finishing up my morning routine. In Hannah’s room, I made one last sweep to make sure it was clean. Not that Raleigh cared much for cleanliness, but Angel had enough trouble sleeping as it was. He didn’t need anything adding to his stress.
Boston Logan International Airport was about an hour away, and I was buzzing in my seat the whole drive. After they’d had to postpone their trip by a month because the baby got sick, I was ready to see them. Raleigh and I hadn’t seen each other in over a year, and I almost couldn’t believe how much had changed. I wasn’t surprised in the slightest when they eloped—astronauts in outer space could see that the two men were in love—but now they were dads. Even more outrageously, I’d abandoned my party phase to do the same thing, moving to a cozy little town to be closer to my daughter.
And James. God, he was one thing I never saw coming. I didn’t want to panic too much by overthinking our situation, but we were comfortable. I didn’t see why it had to be any more complicated than that.
To save everyone the trauma of jumping into the car with the baby, I parked and went inside. I scanned the crowd of people, knowing that I had no chance in hell of missing Raleigh anywhere. At 6’ 4”, the man towered over the other passengers—and his husband, Angel, who barely touched his shoulder. Both men had the most striking blue eyes I’d ever seen, and they seemed to shine in the crowd as they met mine. Angel’s hair was a little shorter, Raleigh’s a little shaggier, but for the most part they looked the same as the last time I’d seen them. As they cleared the crowd and stepped closer, the newest member of the Jenkins family came into view. Raleigh minded the luggage while Angel carried their precious cargo close to his chest.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were excited to see me, Mr. Clark,” Raleigh said, stepping close and wrapping me up in his big arms. He crushed me tight against his broad chest, squeezing the breath from my lungs.
“Don’t get your hopes up, big guy.” I shoved him away playfully and turned to his husband. Or more specifically, the bundle in his arms. “I’m only here for her.”
Genevieve, Evie for short, was sleeping soundly, so I didn’t dare touch her. It was a conscious choice. Not because Angel was giving me a look that could put me six feet under.
“Good to see you, Angel.” I gave him a quick squeeze on the shoulder. He’d never been one for physical contact—unless it was from Raleigh.
He made a show of ducking around me and looking over his should er. “I thought we’d get to meet your boyfriend. Raleigh can’t shut up about him.”
Raleigh grinned and shrugged. “I mean, have you seen him?”
Angel’s glare shifted from me to him.
I took the rolling suitcase from him. “He’s at Liz’s. Our new bartender doesn’t start for a few more days. Don’t give me that look, you’ll meet him tonight.”
“I don’t think we’ll be up for much socializing.” Angel said, ever the anxious one.
Before I could get a word in, Raleigh pulled his husband close. “It’s not socializing if they live together, darling.”
“We don’t live together!” I called, refusing to let him see the lie on my face.
We crossed into the parking structure and I hit the button on my key fob to unlock the doors. Once I’d tossed the luggage into the trunk, Raleigh perched against my vehicle while Angel installed the car seat.
I thought we’d moved on, but Raleigh’s grin told me otherwise. “So when’s the last time James spent any time at his own home? He’s at your place almost every time I call you.”
“Okay, well, it was nice to see you and lovely meeting Evie. When’s your flight home?”
Raleigh laughed, the piercings in his cheeks swallowed by his dimples. “Missed you too, Ryder.”
Thankfully, even he wasn’t about to risk Angel’s wrath if Evie woke up early from her nap, so we drove most of the way home in silence. He took a note out of his daughter’s book and leaned his head against the window to sleep.
Angel, however, stayed wide awake, his eyes on his daughter the whole ride. With every little hiccup or gurgle she made, I started. By the third or fourth, Angel snickered. “She’s fine,” he assured me. “Trust me, the entirety of the Northeast would know if she’s upset. ”
“I missed this phase, remember?”
“How is she?”
I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. “Hannah’s doing great. She loves school. Loves the independence even more. She’s been spending more time at Kian’s place, though. Her roommate turned out to be a bit of a slob.”
Evie gurgled again, and Angel distracted her with a rattle attached to the handle of her seat. “Does she get along with James?”
“A little too well. I think they might gang up on me soon.”
“Count me in on that,” Raleigh mumbled groggily. “They’ll need muscle.”
Oh, if he only knew…
All I could do was laugh and roll my eyes. As infuriating as he could be, I was happy to have my best friend back.
It was nearing noon by the time we arrived at the house and despite the hour, I was expecting the three of them to head straight to bed. Instead, Raleigh fell to his knees with Carlos, who was happy to have the attention. While he rubbed the dog’s muzzle, my eyes fell to the carrier that Angel set on the sofa. He lowered the handle, unclipped the buckle, and lifted the little pink bundle out.
“Ready to hold her?” Angel asked. Tucked into his arms, her tiny head nuzzled into his neck while he supported her under her legs.
I nodded, but kept my arms crossed to hide how much my hands shook. “Should I sit down first?”
“You might want to,” Raleigh said from the floor, where he’d engrossed himself in playing with Carlos. “She’s a heavy little sucker.”
Raleigh’s fingers slipped, and Carlos won.
Shaking my head, I turned back to Angel and held my arms out. “What if I drop her? ”
“You won’t.”
“Besides, she’s a Jenkins!” Raleigh offered. “We’re tough.”
“Says the one who just lost tug of war to the dog.”
Angel saved me from whatever retaliation Raleigh would have exacted by handing over Evie. She stirred, aware that I wasn’t one of her dads. I must’ve been cleared as a threat, though, because she settled quickly. Her big, bright blue eyes blinked open and stared up at me. My heart melted.
“Hi, princess,” I cooed without thinking.
I’d never been one for babies, not that we ever had a lot of them around the bars I always worked. Evie was different. Holding her in my arms and smiling down at her, I imagined this was what it would’ve felt like to hold Hannah.
I held that little girl all day. Through the tantrums, the feedings, and even the constant teasing from Raleigh. Oh, I didn’t miss that gleam in his eye when he thought I wasn’t looking. The two of them were exhausted, practically falling asleep while sitting up. With their arms free, they curled up on the two-seater together. Evie had fallen asleep again when I felt that familiar chill that told me my vampire was home.
Sure enough, I looked up as the front door opened. James had time to notice the sleeping baby in my arms before Carlos struck, so he barely managed to cover his mouth and stifle his yelp.
“Aw,” Raleigh snickered to me, “is your big, bad boyfriend scared of a little puppy dog?”
Angel giggled, arresting James’s attention. “And here I was thinking the big one would be the threat.”
“Oh, please,” I said, accepting the peck on the lips James offered me. “Raleigh couldn’t hurt a fly.”
Raleigh stood, barely taller than James himself. He gave James a very obvious once-over, and I rolled my eyes. Then his should ers slumped. “I’m too tired to keep up the tough guy act right now.”
They shook hands, and based on Raleigh’s grimace, James used a touch of his vampiric strength. “Better rest up so I can give you a fair shot, then. It’s good to meet you, Raleigh. You too, Angel.”
Angel gave a noncommittal grunt, annoyed that his pillow had moved. He stood, curling his hand around Raleigh’s massive bicep. “Can we go to bed now?” Never mind that he could’ve gone to bed hours ago. Maybe it was his way of showing me he was interested in meeting James.
Or Raleigh had made him.
Raleigh wrapped his arm around his husband, pulling him close to his chest and pressing a kiss to his hair. Something in my chest ached, but I shoved it aside. Raleigh glanced back at me. “You okay to keep holding her while we get her playpen set up?”
Of course I said yes. I shifted, relaxing into my seat and settling Evie on my chest. Sensing eyes on me, I looked up. James was watching me with an expectant look. “What?” I asked, crooking a brow at him.
His mouth curled into a grin. “Just when I thought you couldn’t get any more adorable.
“Adorable? Pfft.” Evie stirred, and I lowered my voice. “Hot, sure. Sexy? Definitely. But never adorable.” James nodded sagely along with me, but the sparkle in his eyes said I’d only proved him right. Damn him.
Raleigh re-entered the room, eyes going to James again. Was that suspicion in his glance? I rolled my eyes, shrugging it away. Of course he’d be curious, protective even: James was the only person I’d spent more than a couple of nights with since I’d met Raleigh. I listened to him mutter to Evie as he took her from my arms, and I couldn’t help but smile at the tenderness in the big man’s movements. Raleigh had always been a spectacle on his own. Angel made him even better. And now we had Daddy Raleigh—and this version was my favorite yet. Evie brought out a gentler side to the giant.
“Goodnight, guys,” he said softly.
“Goodnight,” we both echoed quietly.
Before he disappeared down the hallway, Raleigh turned back with a smarmy grin. Uh oh. “By the way,” he said, a sly note in his voice, “we sleep like the dead these days. Use that information however you see fit.” Then his eyes sank pointedly to the hickey on my neck. By the time I snapped out a retort, he was already gone.
I shook out my tired arms and stood up, happy when James pulled me to him. I wasn’t sure when I’d begun to crave his close proximity, but I wasn’t about to question it. Having him pressed against me felt good—that was all I needed to know.
“Hi,” he whispered, giving me a much more passionate kiss now that we were alone.
I hummed when we separated. “Hello to you too.”
Then he stiffened. “We don’t have to talk tonight if you don’t want to.”
A spike of panic threatened its way up from my stomach, confirming my suspicions: he was avoiding this conversation. Things between us were good—really good. I wanted to stay in our little bubble forever, blissfully unchanging.
“We should,” I said. “We’ve put it off long enough. You want a drink?”
James immediately moved to pull away. “I’ll make them.”
“You’ve been slinging cocktails all day,” I protested. “Let me do it.”
“You just think you’re better at it,” he accused. But he smiled and re lented, sitting back on the couch. I’d never seen anyone sit so rigidly before in my life.
Grateful for a moment to myself, I headed to the kitchen and prepared myself for the conversation ahead.