Chapter 29
JARED
Everyone had a good time, but the day was catching up to me and I was fighting off sleep.
My hair was a tangled mess, my makeup was streaking, and my legs were like jelly from so much dancing.
Dylan and Rafe were always a good time, making jokes and trying to one-up each other when it came to their dance moves. Kiernan and Charlie too. The big bodyguard had moves, surprising all of us.
Having Alex, Kiernan, and the rest of the security team keep a close eye on us all night was welcome. I was grateful that no one seemed to pay us any particular attention. I couldn’t remember the last time that happened when I was at home.
Alex pulled into the marina, but it wasn’t just the ship that was waiting for us.
I startled when I noticed two people standing on the dock with a load of luggage by their feet. The closer we drew near, the clearer the image became as our headlights caught on their figures.
One was the spitting image of Aiden, only older, with gray hair.
The woman standing next to him was several feet shorter with long dark hair. The fierce expression on her face and in her overall body language was all too familiar to me.
My pulse began to race unheeded.
“Jesus Christ, please tell me that’s not my parents waiting on the dock,” Aiden blurted out.
“Fuck, fuck, fucking fuck.”
“Your parents?” Rafe and Dylan said at the same time.
“I told my mother about Jared and Alex. She wanted to meet them. I told her we’d visit them in London but?—”
“She flew all this way to check you guys out? That’s hilarious! Aiden in the hot seat. Holy shit, I can’t wait to see this.”
Dylan rubbed his hands together.
“Shut it,” Aiden growled as we came to a stop.
Aiden got out first and quickly walked over to his parents.
His parents .
This was the first time I was going to meet my boyfriend’s parents and I looked a wreck.
A few hours ago, it would have been no problem, but now?
I ran my hands through my hair and checked my face before I stepped out of the van.
Alex slipped out first and held the back door for me, offering his hand.
“Are you ready for this?” Alex asked, his expression only slightly less than petrified.
“No way. I feel like I did when I was eighteen and auditioning for movie roles. I’m so nervous I could puke.”
“Don’t puke on Aiden’s mother.”
Oh God, I’d never done anything like this before.
How would they react to me? To me and Alex?
We watched as Aiden leaned down or rather, his mother reached up and pulled him in for a hug and kisses. After greeting her, he turned to his father, and they gave each other a more formal English handshake and a quick hug.
Then he pivoted and waved us over.
Alex gripped my hand painfully tight.
Slowly, we made our way to the dock to greet them.
“Mamma, Papà, this is Jared and Alex, my partners.” Aiden’s voice cracked. “My parents, Juliana and Neville.”
“Jared, you are even more beautiful in person, and such a nice smile. Aiden has been talking about you for months and months,” Juliana greeted me with kisses on both cheeks and a warm hug.
I let myself be swept up in her enthusiasm, despite my shock.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Juliana. We just got back from a club, so I’m a bit of a mess,” I replied as I tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear.
“Nonsense. And Alex, I’ve heard so much about you too. Equally stunning. But I’m sure what’s on the inside is even better. My Aiden would settle for no less.”
She leaned forward and pulled Alex—several feet taller than her and probably a hundred pounds heavier—into her arms for a hug.
His panicked expression had me biting back a laugh.
Aiden’s dad greeted us with quieter words and a firm handshake, but with equally kind eyes.
“So nice to meet both of you. My sincerest apologies for the late hour and the obvious intrusion,” he quipped and pointed to his wife. “But when she says go, I have no choice but to listen. Or forfeit her cooking for a month.”
Juliana playfully whacked her husband in the shoulder. “Basta. Aiden is glad we’re here, isn’t that right, amore?”
“Well—” Aiden started.
“We need to get unpacked, and then you show me the kitchen,” she announced.
“It’s two-thirty in the morning, Mamma. We’ll load up the luggage and show you to your room—you can take my room—and then sleep. No kitchen, no cooking, capisce?” Aiden declared with a sigh and glanced at us with an eye roll.
“But I’m not tired?—”
“Juliana, my love, our son is right. We need to rest and let them do the same,” Neville announced and took his wife’s arm. “Aiden, help me with the luggage?”
Alex and I both leapt into action, grabbing their suitcases as George, Dylan, and Rafe sidled up to us.
Introductions were made all around and then everyone headed onto the ship, walking the plank one by one.
Aiden led them to his bedroom, and Alex and I dropped off their luggage and wished them goodnight.
I stepped into my room—our room—and breathed a sigh of relief.
Meeting the parents, especially improv-style, was more stressful than I thought.
Then I began to ruminate.
What if they didn’t like me or didn’t think I was good enough for their son? Or if they liked Alex and not me? Or…
“Are you going to stand beside the bed all night worrying or are we going to sleep?” Alex whispered as he gave my waist a squeeze.
“Sorry, stage fright,” I replied and shook my head. “What if they don’t like me? Or disapprove of the three of us together? And what do I do? I mean, I don’t have any family, not like you and Aiden. I don’t know if I’ll fit in. It’s a little—actually, a lot—overwhelming.”
Alex pulled me in close and gave me a tender kiss.
I felt better already.
“Just be yourself, luv. And we’re your family now. Our friends tonight, they are too. Aiden’s parents flew halfway round the world to meet us. I think they’re more curious than anything.”
I nodded and let Alex’s hug reassure me.
Then I headed for the bathroom and took a quick shower. I slid into bed while Alex grabbed a glass of water.
Aiden entered the room a few minutes later.
“I’m sorry about all this. I thought my mum was joking.
I really didn’t think she’d show up here,” Aiden paused and unbuttoned his shirt.
“Then again, this is the woman who, when I graduated from law school, stood up in the middle of the ceremony and announced loudly to everyone that I was her baby boy.”
“She’s a bit intense, but in a good way,” Alex chuckled.
“She’s over-the-top in every way.” Aiden shook his head.
Then he padded off to the bathroom. Alex settled in beside me and my body began to relax.
Aiden slipped into bed a few minutes later. “Sleep well, my loves. We’re going to need the rest to prepare for her interrogation.”
My body jolted, and Aiden turned over and kissed me. “I’m teasing. Sort of.”
So much for sleep.
I managed to snag a few hours of slumber. Then I woke up to bright sunshine but an empty bed.
I was not a morning person to begin with, but with no morning cuddles from my boyfriends? The day was not off to a good start.
Then I remembered Aiden’s parents. Fuck.
The nerves in my belly took flight, and I hopped up out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
I heard the water running, and my mood improved.
When I spotted Alex and Aiden, my sulky disposition—and my anxiety—fled completely.
Aiden had his hands on the tile wall, his back to Alex. Alex was giving him a thorough scrub down.
Then Alex turned his head my way and I shivered when I saw the possessive look in his eyes. Would I ever get used to him looking at me like that? He was always so guarded before but now…Now I saw everything: his desire, his love, and it made the fierce hunger inside me spark to life.
He crooked his finger and motioned for me to come closer.
Aiden turned and smiled when he saw me, then his back hit the tile wall as Alex manhandled him and leaned in for a scorching kiss.
Opening the glass door, I stepped inside and slid up behind Alex. I gently kissed his shoulders, tracing the lion tattoo and the scars underneath.
He was so strong, my Alex. Inside and out.
Aiden’s hand gripped my ass, pulling me in tight. God, every intimate moment with my men was better than the last.
Until our heated embrace was interrupted by a phone chiming.
“Leave it,” Aiden demanded.
Alex turned around and kissed me.
The phone rang again.
“Fuck, it’s mine,” Aiden stated as he made to leave. “Don’t go anywhere.”
“Where are we going to go?” Alex replied with a cheeky grin.
Aiden responded by giving Alex a wet slap on the ass on the way out.
Alex and I washed up in between making out until Aiden returned a few minutes later.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“My mother wants to know what time we’re joining them for breakfast. Apparently, she and Lisette cooked up a full English, and they’re waiting on us.”
The sexy mood dissolved and all three of us quickly finished washing and getting dressed.
A half hour later we walked down to the bridge deck. It was cloudier today and cooler, a welcome reprieve from the intense heat of the past few weeks.
Neville and Julianna were sitting by themselves, chatting away, as we neared the table.
“Good morning,” Julianna greeted us warmly. “Did you sleep well, Jared?”
“I did. What about you?”
“Like a rock. I can sleep anywhere, anytime. My husband on the other hand, is always restless. He was up at 6 a.m.”
“It’s the jet lag. I’ll be fine in a day or two,” Neville replied.
“Are you hungry? Jana is bringing up breakfast.”
“I’m starving. All that dancing last night worked up an appetite,” I announced.
Truthfully, my stomach was a ball of nerves again.
Aiden pulled out a chair for me and I sat down. Alex took the seat beside me and held onto my hand.
I took a deep breath and hoped for the best.