36. Marcie
36
MARCIE
M y phone dinged from the nightstand. I ignored it until it started buzzing incessantly. Dropping my e-reader to check the notification, I opened the screen, and my eyes rounded. Katie’s social media accounts were going bonkers. With her and Jackson in the hospital, I’d been very careful what I posted.
This photo was not something I posted.
Katie stood at the base of a private plane with the sun rising in the background behind her, the same one I flew from Seattle to Nashville in, if I wasn’t mistaken. She’d captioned it, ‘So excited to be heading home to Nashville. I’ve missed you, Music City!’ and the fans were going wild.
Muting all social media until the frenzy settled down, I sent Katie a message.
Marcie
You and Jackson are heading back to Nashville? He mended quickly.
Katie
Nope. Just me and some of the security team.
Some of the team?
Marcie
Okay. Do you need me to do anything?
Katie
Can you come stay at the rental with me and the security team? I want to get some work done.
I so wanted to ask who was with her but bit my tongue. She was the boss, and if she wanted me to know who would be here, then she would tell me. At least I wouldn’t have to explain why I was here to her. I would need to get everyone else on board with not blabbing about what was going on with Declan and Hayden.
I didn’t think Katie would mind, but at the same time, she was my boss. One of the men I was in a… crap… I wanted to call it a relationship, but was it? What if it wasn’t, and we were only playing? My brain whirled, twirling through all the contingencies and what-ifs until it settled on precaution and self-preservation.
Marcie
Does Katie know?
Hayden
Know what, colibrí?
Declan
I’m with Papi. What are you asking?
I huffed. How could they not realize what I was asking?
Marcie
Does she know about us?
Hayden
I’ve not said anything to her.
Declan
I haven’t either.
Marcie
But what about Squirt? How did you…
Hayden
I’m going to call you both. Declan, make sure you have your earbuds in.
“Hello.”
“Good morning, pequena. What are you doing awake so early?”
“I was reading, Papi. And then my phone started blowing up with social media notifications. Why did Daddy need to have his earbuds in?”
“Declan’s on the plane with Katie, but I didn’t want to exclude him from the conversation. He just won’t be able to say much.”
“Daddy’s coming to Nashville?”
“We should land in about an hour or so.”
“Do you need me to arrange for someone to pick you up?”
“No, I have it arranged already. I have a rental waiting.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Declan, the girl likes to help.”
“I’m aware. We’ll discuss that when we’re all together.”
“Good idea. Colibrí, where were you going when you asked about Katie and Squirt?”
“I’m…” I sighed, the exhale coming out harder than I wanted. “I’m not sure if I want my boss to know about us. At least not until it’s something.”
My phone dinged in my ear, and I turned on the speakerphone so I could read the text.
Declan
It’s already something. But I understand where you are, and if you don’t want to broadcast our relationship, that’s okay with me. Hayden and I are also trying to remain as professional as possible while working.
“I agree with Declan, colibrí. If you want to keep things under wraps for a bit, that’s fine, but, to Declan and me, this is already something. We wouldn’t be pursuing you if we were looking for something casual. A committed relationship between me, Declan, and a special person we connect with—a.k.a. you—yes. Random hookups, no. I’m not into sharing my husband, or you, for that matter.”
Declan
You say the sweetest shit, Papi
Sweetness, in case you didn’t get his point, a committed relationship with you is what we want.
“And you don’t mind if we don’t… like announce we’re together?”
“It’s no one’s business who sleeps in my bed or what happens there. If anyone asks, that’s what I’ll tell them. So if you don’t want to say anything, then don’t.”
Declan
We will follow your lead, sweetness.
“Thank you, both.”
The line and Declan’s texts went quiet. Just their presence comforted me. I hoped once we were all together, I’d feel more included in their relationship and we’d be able to forge something that felt more balanced. The way they talked made me anxious to be together so we could hash some of the obstacles out in person.
A couple of hours later, Declan walked into the house in Tennessee, and I finally understood the phrase madder than a wet hen. I was surprised smoke wasn’t coming out of his ears. He stalked toward me, his gaze roaming from my face to my feet and back. The heat in his gaze so hot and tangible, I felt it as if it were a caress.
When he passed by me, I glanced around the open living area, and when it seemed like no one was watching, I followed after him. As soon as we were out of sight and hidden enough, we could hear someone coming. He pinned me to the wall, his hand wrapped around my throat.
“Tell me now if you don’t want this, because I’ve waited long enough to taste you,” he growled, his mouth hovering over mine.
“I can only think of one thing I’ve ever wanted more.”
“What’s that?”
“To be used by you. Both of you. However and whenever you choose. Until I’m begging you to stop because I can’t take anymore.”
He laughed, the sound so dark and smutty that quivers overtook my body. He licked my cupid’s bow, his fingers digging into the muscles of my neck, pulling me toward him, my head dropping back on my shoulders.
“That won’t stop us, sweet girl. You know that, right?”
“I don’t want it to.”
His mouth covered mine, taking it the way I’d always dreamed of being kissed. My body melted into him. The steel bar of his arm wrapped around my waist, the grip on my throat the only thing keeping me upright.
His tongue invaded my mouth, taking it and me, until he’d robbed me of breath. Lips and teeth dropped to my neck, making a feast of the tender flesh. He overwhelmed my senses until all I wanted was to drag him upstairs and let him do as he wished with me, but I didn’t want to overstep.
“Declan…” I gasped.
“Nuh uh, sweet girl, that’s not the name I wanna hear.”
“Daddy…”
“The way you sound curls through me like lightning. It sets my soul on fire.”
His thick, hard thigh wedged between mine, lifting me off the ground as I straddled his leg. The vague pulsing of my core ramped up into full-fledged throbbing that matched the hot, twitching flesh digging into my hip.
He pulled his face away from my neck, staring into my eyes as I panted and whined, his thumb brushing my “Where’s your room?”
I pointed toward the stairs. I thought for sure he’d grab my wrist and drag me up the steps behind him.
But he didn’t.
He freaking picked me up, wrapped my legs around his waist like I weighed no more than a sack of sugar. He carried me down the stairs to the large bedroom in the walkout basement that looked out at the pool and lake.
“Which room?”
I pointed to the door, and before I could blink, I bounced on the bed as the door slammed shut.
“Strip. I gotta call Hayden.”
The heat in his gaze burned away any hesitancy and insecurities. My clothes evaporated, they fell from my body so quickly.
“Damn, someone’s pissed or horny.”
Naked, I knelt in the middle of the bed and said, “I think it’s both, Papi.”
“Lemme see her.”