Chapter Seventeen #2
“The poor is important,” I say, attempting to ignore the effect her words have on me. “We don’t want it to overflow.” I put my hand over hers and guide her. “Good job, baby.” A drop of the mix dribbles on her finger, and I lift it to my mouth.
“Damn,” she breathes as I lick it off.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I rumble. “We don’t have time. Mom will be here in an hour.”
“How am I looking at you? Just for future reference.” She turns to face me, and I grip the counter beside her hips.
“Like you want to be fucked,” I growl.
“Maybe—”
We look toward the door.
“Brother, let us in,” Issy says, and I drop my head.
“Fuck,” I hiss.
“I smell breakfast,” Sally says.
“We need some to soak up the alcohol,” another voice mumbles.
“That’s Roxanne,” Rylee says softly.
“Can we ignore them?” I ask.
“Afraid not,” Allie sings.
“They made me come,” Haven adds. “I know how annoying it is to be interrupted.”
“I’ll get the door,” Rylee offers, and points at my chest. “You put a shirt on.”
“Damn,” Sally whispers.
“I’m telling my brothers,” Allie threatens, as I grab my shirt off the back of the couch.
“You do, and I’ll deny everything. There’s nothing wrong with appreciating a man's physique,” Sally says.
Rylee leaves the kitchen, walks to the door, but waits until my shirt is on.
“Physique,” Roxanne snorts. “Such bullshit.”
“Good morning, ladies,” Rylee says, letting them in.
“Morning.” Sally smiles. “What’s cooking?” She moves to the counter.
“Oh, waffles,” Allie says, leaning over the plate.
“Help yourself,” I say dryly as she takes a bite of one.
“I will,” she grins, her mouth full.
“Are we interrupting?" Issy asks.
“Not at all,” I mumble, and move toward my mate. “We have to get Mom from the airport.” I slide my arm around Rylee.
“Not anymore,” she grins. “We talked, and she’s getting a ride.”
“You two decided.”
“Yep. She didn’t want to be a bother. I’m sending a car.” She drizzles syrup on another waffle.
“This is burning,” Sally says, pointing at the waffle maker. “I got it.” She takes charge of the food.
“Baby,” I whisper, pressing my lips to her ear. “You good?” I know she doesn’t like many people in her space.
“Yes.” She leans into my touch and smiles.
“I can’t wait to meet your mom,” Sally says.
“Is anyone else going to show up?” I ask.
“I don’t think so.” She tilts her head. “But I did send a group text.”
“We haven’t met.” Roxanne sits at the bar. “I’m the other rabbit. Kingston and Maverick, the dragons, are my sons.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say. I’ve heard stories from Shade about her, and I wonder which are true, and which ones are elaborated on.
“You are super cute,” she says, and takes a plate from Sally.
“Uh—”
“Let’s eat,” Rylee says, gripping my hand, and pulls me to the table.
I smile, enjoying her possessiveness. “Sit, Foxy. I’ll get you a plate.” I move her chair out and wait until she settles. “As long as Issy left some for us.” I glare at my sister.
“Hey,” she grumbles. “I would never eat it all.”
“I’ve heard that before.” Walking around the counter, I nudge her shoulder and pile waffles on a plate.
“I talked to Bode,” Issy says, and I cringe.
“Can we not ruin my morning?” I growl.
“I kicked him out of the band,” she says softly, and I look at her. “He was in the wrong. Everyone agreed that he was disrespectful.”
“Sis.”
“Rylee is family now.” She looks at my mate briefly. “He should have known. He was doing it to be a dick, and I can’t have someone around us that doesn’t respect the bond.”
“Will there be backlash?” I ask.
“Not really.” She shrugs. “Some of our fans thought he was cute, but others didn’t like him. It doesn’t matter. We had to do what's right for us. He was still on a trial basis.”
“You annoy me one minute, and the next I want to hug you.” I ruffle her hair. “Thank you.”
She pushes my hand away. “You always annoy me.” We share a smile. “It’s only money. We paid him a little something and are moving on.”
“Issy, was it a lot?” Rylee asks, frowning.
“No. We set aside some money for these kinds of things.” She shrugs and slathers butter over her food.
“I could—”
“No,” she says firmly, pointing her knife at her. “It wasn’t anyone's fault but Bode’s.”
“Will it be awkward?” Haven asks. “Didn’t you travel together?”
“We came here separately.” She walks to the table.
“You’re lucky to find out now what a dick he is,” Allie says, joining Issy.
“I didn’t want him around you anyway,” I mumble, and take Rylee her food.
“Men like that always show their true colors,” Sally says, unloading another waffle.
“You just hope it’s sooner rather than later,” Roxanne snorts.
“Unfortunately, they sometimes slip through the cracks.” Sally wrinkles her nose.
“Are you nervous?” Allie asks, looking at Rylee. “Meeting the mom.”
“Shit, Allie,” I growl.
“What?” She widens her eyes. “I would be.”
“Mom is cool,” Issy offers, smiling at Rylee. “She’ll love you.”
“I’m sure I’ll love her,” Rylee says softly, and meets my gaze. “I want to meet the woman who raised a man like Ezra.”
I don’t pay attention to the sighs around me.
All I can see is my mate. I’m surprised by the feeling in my heart.
I’ve worked hard to be a good son and brother.
Sometimes, without thought to my emotions and needs.
I’ll drop anything to be there for my family.
I didn’t think I needed the validation that I am a good guy, but with every word, look, and touch, Rylee gives me the reassurance I didn’t know I wanted.
“Any mom would be excited at the prospect of the beautiful babies they will make,” Sally says, licking her fingers.
We turn and stare at the rabbit. Instead of being irritated by the moment being disrupted, I chuckle, knowing she’s right. I don’t doubt Mom’s reaction. She will find it hard to keep her cool when they meet.
I’m more afraid of her meeting Sally and ending up in jail.