Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
ridge
Staring out over the deck that looks out across our land, my mother’s voice rambles across the line. I’ve got to admit, I’m only half paying attention. My mind is stuck on Shay and where she is. What she’s doing. If she’s thinking of me.
Fuck. I’m such a pussy.
“How is Lyon adjusting to having an Omega in the house?” she asks.
The sound of a baseball game in the background tells me my dads are occupied, otherwise I’d be getting the third degree from them too. Knowing Ma, she timed it like this on purpose for some time with her baby boy.
“Honestly, you should see the way he is with her, Ma. It’s good to see him opening up to another person and smiling more. And it’s easy to see that Shay appreciates the steady presence and care he provides. They’ll be good for each other.”
“And what about you? I know y’all were friends first. Is that awkward now that you’re taking your relationship in a different direction?”
I don’t even have to think about my answer. “She’s the one. Somehow, it’s like we’ve been together for years rather than days. Our friendship formed the steady foundation for the romantic relationship we’re now trying to build.”
She sighs, the sound warming my heart. “You sound so mature. When did my little boy grow up to be such a thoughtful, caring young man?”
“Psshh, I’ve always been thoughtful and caring. What are you talking about?”
Her laugh echoes into the night. “You really have, but in my head, you and Lyon are still the little boys that used to run around the house in your superhero pajamas, with a baseball bat and a ball, leaving a trail of shattered vases and picture frames in your wake. You’d look up at me with those big blue eyes and say you were sorry, that you just wanted Lyon to have some fun, and since he rarely left the house in those days, I just let you both get away with it.
Didn’t matter if we had a perfectly private backyard where you could’ve tossed balls around for hours.
Hmmm. Thinkin’ back on it, I got swindled, didn’t I? ”
I laugh, the memory hitting me square in the chest.
Oh, how far we’ve come.
“I’m not comfortable spillin’ our secrets when Lyon’s not here to defend himself.”
She huffs. “Guess it doesn’t matter now. I’m just glad my boys are happy, and I can’t wait to meet her. She seems like a strong young lady who’ll keep y’all in line.”
“God, Ma. You make it sound like we’re a bunch of heathen bachelors out here.”
“Aren’t you?” She tsks. “Actually, don’t answer that. No mother wants to hear about her sons’ sex lives. But you can tell me if you’ve prepared a nest for her yet.”
I blink, feeling totally at a loss. The nest…something that hasn’t even crossed my mind.
“I’ll take your silence as an indication that you still need your mama despite your maturity. Now, make sure you stock it with pillows, blankets, everything you all may need during the long days of a heat.”
“That sounds like something Lyon would be perfect at. He already knows all of her favorites.”
“Perfect! That boy was always the most observant out of the lot of you.” Male voices get louder in the background, a sudden shout followed by raucous cheers telling me something exciting just happened.
“Apparently, this replay of last night’s game has got your fathers all worked up.
I’ll let you go, but plan on a visit from us soon, okay? ”
“Miss you, Ma. Give dads a hug for me, okay?”
“Of course. Love you, baby boy.”
“Love you too.”
Pocketing my phone, I decide I’m not ready to call it a night. My mind is moving in a million directions, and some whiskey, a fire, and the cool air are exactly what I need in order to get a better grip on my whirling thoughts.
In a matter of moments, a glass is in my hand and the flames are growing against the dark backdrop of night.
It’s perfect. Quiet surrounds me. The small fire in the pit on our deck is the only light for miles.
It’s calm. Peaceful. Beautiful. But it holds nothing on her.
The woman who’s waltzed into our lives… Who am I kidding?
She’s more like the tango, filled with stunning aggression softened by graceful elegance.
Her rigid control may have begun to slip, but her passionate eyes and sharp tongue still leave us twisted up in an altogether different way.
Taking a sip of my whiskey, I think about how everything can be classified as Before Shay and After Shay. Our pasts have simply become background noise. Our focus is shifting to the future, and all we see is her.
When the soft snick of the french door opening hits my ears, I see the object of my affection walking toward me.
It’s late—the guys went to bed hours ago—but I couldn’t fall asleep despite the exhaustion dragging me down.
She stumbles a little but rights herself before I can even stand up.
Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes heavy, and when she drops down into my lap, the heavy scent of alcohol hits me.
This is a first. In all of the years I’ve known her, I’ve never seen her this tipsy.
“Hey, ass man,” she says, slurring slightly.
“Hey, sweetheart. You have a good night?”
She nods, her fingers tracing along the scruff on my jaw. “Mmmhmm. Was out with the girls.”
Setting my whiskey down on the side table, my arms wrap around her and pull her in close.
I’ve missed her this week. While we’ve been working our asses off, she’s been dealing with her own shit.
Now she’s here, in my arms, and I’m trying to fight back the voice in my head that keeps reminding me I haven’t been inside her yet.
At least, not like the others, and I want that ultimate connection with her too.
“You didn’t drive home, did you?”
She shakes her head. “Nope. Luke drove me.”
“Oh boy. You’re gonna hear all about that tomorrow.” I brush a stray hair off her cheek. “You need me to make you something to eat to soak up all that alcohol?”
She giggles, bopping me on the nose with her finger. “You take such good care of me.”
“Thanks. I try.” Grinning, I lean forward and give her a brief kiss. “Now, do you—”
“You’ll make a great dad some day, ass man.”
My eyes dart up from her lips. Her eyebrows are furrowed, deep creases appearing between them, and her lips are pursed unhappily.
“I hope so,” I say hesitantly, trying to gauge what’s on her mind.
It’s not a shock that I don’t have the slightest clue.
Big green eyes meet mine, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if I don’t know how to be a good mom?”
“Sweetheart, what’s brought this on?”
Her sigh is like a knife through my heart. “Ronnie and Ashley want grandbabies.”
Ah. That explains a lot. Except for how and where she met them in the first place. The saloon isn’t exactly their cup of tea.
“Did you see them somewhere?”
She nods, placing a single finger over my lips just like she did that first night. “But shhhh. I can’t talk about Smut Club.”
I suck my lips in between my teeth to avoid laughing, kissing her finger instead. “What’s Smut Club, sweetheart?”
And what the hell does that have to do with Ronnie and Ashley?
She looks me dead in the eye, narrowing hers slightly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. We were at Bible study.”
Her air quotes and adorable wink are a little delayed, but I give her points for trying.
Now, my interest is piqued. Something is going on in town that she doesn’t want us to know about, and whatever it is, they’re using Bible study as a cover. I’ll admit I’m a little worried about what Smut Club might actually be and what that has to do with my packmates’ mothers.
Before I can question her further, she shifts with surprising steadiness until she’s straddling my legs on the rocking bench. Thankfully, my feet are planted on the deck so she doesn’t fall back onto the wood.
She stares down at me for a second, her fingers playing with the hem of my t-shirt. Her scent has sweetened, the spice dulled by a hint of vanilla, and it’s impossible to hide the growing erection in my sweats with her sitting on top of it.
But she’s also not exactly sober, and I don’t want to take advantage.
“Hey, Ridge?”
Her knuckles brush against my abs, and I grit my teeth. “Yes, sweetheart?”
“Why haven’t you fucked me yet? Do you still want me?”
One of the weakened threads of my control snaps. “Of course I do. I—”
“Will you still want me if I’m a bad mother?”
Gripping both sides of her face, I stare into her worried eyes. “Sweetheart, you’ll be a great mom, but regardless, I’ll want you until my dying breath.”
“That’s sweet. Maybe a little morbid, but sweet. And also kinda hot.”
Fighting my grin, I brush my lips against hers. “I think we should get you to bed.”
She shakes her head. “No. I want you to fuck me.”
The grip she’s held on my shirt tightens, lifting it up until I’m forced to pull it over my head. She stares down at my chest, her finger trailing down the groove between my muscles.
“Shay, you’re drunk. We should—”
“I want you just like this, Ridge,” she murmurs against my mouth. “Just like before, but this time I want your cum inside me. Homerun, baby.”
“Fuck me,” I hiss, watching as she shrugs off her jacket and grips the bottom of her tank.
She pulls it over her head, and suddenly I’m staring down at a simple, gray cotton bra, her tits damn near spilling out, and I’ve never seen anything sexier. When her hands reach around to unclip it, I grab her wrists.
Another thread snaps.
“Let me, sweetheart. I’ve been dying to do this for years.”