29. Sebastion #3
Fuck it. I dive in and take her lips with mine.
I suckle the flavor of chocolate protein straight off her tongue, and when her knees tremble, I press my hands to her hips rather than risk her falling.
“It’s okay that your brain is still filtering through a dozen different versions of the same story, and that those versions each paint certain expectations in your mind.
Like barbed wire fences and firing squads for any man who would prefer to leave.
But the fact is, that woman we all defend, she’s just a paycheck to them.
A name. A woman. She’s firm in how she runs this place, but always fair.
She’s generous, and she treats them like human beings with names and unique personalities, which is a massive step up from Uncle Sam punching soldiers through a machine, breaking them down, and putting them back together again to be a clone of the dude beside him.
Sometimes, when the stars align and she’s in a particularly good mood, she’ll even challenge one of them to a game of pool in the rec room.
Or table tennis. Or poker. They’re here because we provide them with good fucking conditions and a family for them to be a part of, but if they want to leave, that’s okay too.
They don’t even realize they know a secret, because smart men know not to tell a motherfucker a secret is a secret. ”
I pull back just far enough to study her beautiful blue eyes. “Are we square now, or do you need me to promise there are no trapdoors or alligator pits nearby?”
She firms her sexy lips and challenges me with her defiant stare. Then she lifts her proud chin and sips a little more of her protein shake.
About fuckin’ time.
“Good.” I grab her hand and stop by the counter where I left my glass, but instead of taking it for a tour it’s already been on, I chug the whole thing in one go, glug-glug-glugging until liquid sloshes in my empty stomach.
Slamming the glass down and wiping my mouth with my forearm, I meet Scarlett’s sassy stare and grin.
“You piss me off when you’re always arguing with me.
” I duck forward violently fast and kiss her until our tongues duel and her fingernails dig painfully into my chest. I suckle on her tongue until she whimpers, then I step back and let her breathe, because if I don’t, she might simply pass out.
“I hope you never stop arguing with me, though.” I rest my forehead on hers and press my palm to her thundering chest. To the rise and fall of her racing lungs.
“The day you stop fighting back is the day I’m gonna be really fucking worried.
Now stop bitching and start walking.” I blow through the door and drag her along.
“I have places to be, Princess. And you’re making me look bad. ”
“Bas!” Koda explodes from the rec room and skids along the pool tiles.
He throws himself into a weird star jump of energy and excitement, his face glowing red with happiness, his eyes way too fuckin’ big for his face, and not even having Scarlett’s hand in mine makes him slow down or freak out.
He sprints our way and crashes into my legs, but when I expect him to latch onto my hand—which is why I chugged my protein and left the glass behind—he lopes to Scarlett’s other side, pushes her hand up and forces her to drink, then he relieves her of the glass, sets it on a small table, and takes her hand like they’ve been doing it all their lives.
“I wasn’t sure if you were gonna come, Bas.
” He directs Scarlett forward, in a rush to get where we’re going.
“Mom was so mad, huh!” He glances back with gritted teeth.
“I made her so mad and got Scarlett in trouble.”
“Oh, n-no,” Scarlett stammers. “It’s okay. I’m—”
“Got me in trouble, you little shit.” I dash forward on lightning-fast feet and scoop him straight into the air.
We’re only fifteen feet from the building that houses a bunch of games, but I turn to the pool and dangle my baby brother high above the water instead. “You nearly got me grounded, shithead.”
“No! Don’t drop me!” He squeals and cackles. “No, Bas!”
I drop him—a little bit—but I catch him around the ankles and dangle him upside down. Then I shake him for good measure. “Why’d you sneak into my room, anyway, huh?” Shake. Shake. “Why’d you climb alllll the way to the lights?” Shake.
His pealing laughter bounces around the yard, so faces poke through doorways.
Koda folds his back and peeks across at Scarlett, his lips curved with an arrogant smirk. “Wanted to see you again. You’re puuuurty.”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake.” Scarlett slaps my arm.
“Put him down and stop making a whole friggin’ scene.
And you.” She stares straight into my baby brother’s eyes and scowls that way she does to me.
“Don’t be that guy. Don’t be the insufferable flirt.
Sebastion thinks he’s suave too. Mostly he just looks silly. ”
“Worked for me in the end.” I pull my brother in and hold him with an arm around his belly, his head dangling near my knees and his legs folded forward to provide me with the perfect kid-butt to smack. “She gets cranky sometimes, Kod. But she secretly likes it when we call her pretty.”
“Cause it’s true.” He twists in my arm and studies her red face. “You gonna play Nintendo too, Scarlett? We got the Switch hooked up to the wall projector, so we can play Mario racing if you want.”
“Oh, well…” Her nails go back to her mouth. “I don’t—”
“We have snowboarding games too. And Crash. We have all sorts of games to choose from, and even though the blue controller is my very favorite and Bas and Mav aren’t allowed to use it, I would let you.
” He smiles up at her and, I swear to God, flutters his lashes.
“I wouldn’t even throw green turtle shells at you if we race. Promise.”
I glance across and meet her charmed eyes. “You would be a heartless monster to say no to that kinda offer.”
She slaps my arm again. “Shut up.” But then she curls into my side and does that thing Serena tried, wrapping her arms around mine and walking hip to hip through the rec room doorway.
I don’t hate it. Not one fuckin’ bit.