26. Tanner
TANNER
“How was Savannah?” I ask carefully, watching Blake’s mouth tip up on one side. I’d been so caught up with Deacon that I missed a lot of the drama that unfolded with Blake and Cal. By the looks of it, everything seemed to work out just fine.
“I have about six or seven years of making it up to him left to do,” Cal says with a teasing lift of his lips.
“I won’t argue with that,” Blake answers, his gaze dragging down Cal’s body as I suddenly find the specks in the countertop incredibly interesting.
“So what brings you by today?” Cal asks, his cheeks filled with pink when I look up again.
“The other night, things…”—I trail off, my own face heating at the memory—“escalated.”
“Escalated how?” Cal prods, leaning a hip against the counter.
“He got me off…with his mouth.”
The words sound ridiculous as I say them out loud, but neither of them laugh as the doorbell rings. Please let the floor open up and swallow me so I don’t die of embarrassment.
There’s a commotion as Arden’s sister, Ellison, bustles into the house with a baby carrier, diaper bag, water bottle, and purse that she sets on the floor. I watch her fondly, the memories of doing that same shuffle with Fallon whenever we had to bring Briggs anywhere still fresh in my mind.
“What are we talking about?” Ellison says as she hands her daughter to Cal and drops onto the stool next to me. Her dark hair is pulled up into a messy bun, her face free of makeup, and she’s wearing an outfit that could be loungewear or pajamas depending on the day.
“Giving blow jobs,” Blake says, sliding a glass of sweet tea in front of her as I gape at him, my face impossibly redder than it was before she walked in.
“I didn’t say—”
“But you were going to ask about giving them,” Blake says pointedly as he lifts an eyebrow at me.
Dammit, how did he know that?
“I love giving blow jobs.” Ellison brushes a loose strand of hair from her face and grins. “As a bonus, there’s a ninety percent chance that if I’ve done something Montana hates, he’ll forgive me.”
“You’re kidding,” I respond without thinking.
“Nope.” She pops the p and Blake snorts. “I’ve tripled the number of animals on the farm and instead of just housing goats for Archer and Bea, we have our own.” It sounds like there’s a story there but I don’t think I want to know.
“Montana hates goats,” Cal stage-whispers before going back to coo at Lyric, the sweet little girl settled in his arms. She looks just like her cousin, Salem, from what I’ve seen in the photos Deacon has shown me.
As if she can smell blood in the water, Ellison smirks. “So what are we talking about? Are you trying to hone your technique? Looking for pointers?”
“I’ve never given one before.”
Her eyes light up like this is the best news she’s ever heard. “Oh, this is so fun! You’re going to love it.”
“But it’s okay if it’s not for you.” Blake glares. “It’s not for everyone. You just need to talk to Deacon.”
“Are you saying you don’t like sucking my cock?” Cal deadpans as my eyes widen.
But Blake just laughs. “On the contrary, I definitely like it but I know plenty of people who have been with women who couldn’t get into the blow job thing.”
“Oh, that’s right, I forgot you were married,” Ellison says as she heads to the pantry, rummaging through the contents before coming back with a box of crackers.
Blake pulls a plate from the cabinet and a block of cheese from the fridge, slicing a few pieces before sliding the whole thing toward Ellison as she retakes her spot next to me.
“How did you forget he was married to Fallon?” Cal asks, making her roll her eyes.
“Pregnancy brain is a real thing. I can’t do simple math anymore. Montana started laughing when I had to get the calculator on my phone out to count the number of outfits I think Lyric will need when we go away in a couple of weeks.”
“How long will you be gone?” I ask, trying to keep my expression neutral because I remember this all too well.
“Three days,” she whines and this time I snicker.
“It’ll get better.” I don’t add eventually because she looks so hopeful. “And you can never have too many changes of clothes when they’re little.”
“Have I mentioned you’re my favorite?” She sniffles, her eyes full of unshed tears. Oh boy.
“Hey, I got you cheese.” Blake gestures toward the almost empty plate, affronted.
“Yes, but you’re required to dote on me—I brought the baby.” She waves in the direction of Lyric. “Tanner doesn’t have to be nice.”
“I’m pretty sure he’s always nice,” Cal offers and now we’re really off track which will make this twice as awkward when I bring up the fact that I don’t know how to do any of the things with Deacon that I want to.
And I want to be good at it because, holy shit, he was good.
Better than good.
Life-altering in fact.
“Bet he wants to do not-nice things with Deacon,” Blake murmurs.
“Oh, blow jobs! I forgot we were talking about those.” Ellison beams, all potential tears gone for the moment. “Hit me with your questions.”
“You know he came here to ask us, right?” Blake teases.
“Yeah, but I’m more fun.”
“I just…” I start, wanting to get this over with as soon as humanly possible. “I’m afraid I won’t be good at it and fumble through it.”
“And?” Ellison prompts. “Everyone fumbles through their first couple of times.”
My mind drifts back to the memory of being in my kitchen and the way Deacon had let me fuck his mouth, gagging as I hit the back of his throat. The thought makes my stomach dip with both excitement and trepidation.
“You don’t have to do everything the first time,” Cal offers, swaying as he pats the baby’s back. “Grip him at the base and keep your mouth shallow until you get used to it.”
“You’re getting his dick wet,” Ellison says around a cracker. “He’s gonna like it.” I gape at her as Cal cracks up while Blake snorts out a laugh and shakes his head. “What? Tell me I’m wrong; I’ll wait.”
Blake holds up his hands in defense. “You’re not wrong.”
Her expression is wicked as she leans toward him. “Who’s better, me or Cal?”
“It’s a trap,” Cal coughs into his fist and I choke on a laugh.
“I will not be answering that,” Blake says diplomatically, “because your husband will kill me no matter which way I answer, and I want my boyfriend to suck my dick later.”
“Smart,” I tell him and Blake nods.
“Thanks, but also Ellison is right. Do what feels good for you as much as you can, listen to cues, and then when you’re more comfortable, you can be more adventurous.”
Blake’s gaze skates to Cal, whose face flames, and like a dog with a bone, Ellison smirks. “Why is your boyfriend redder than a fire truck, Blake? Are y’all adventurous?”
“Do not answer that,” Cal hisses which makes Ellison laugh.
“You don’t have to. You’re guiltier than a wet dog at a barbecue.”
“What does that even mean?” I ask, rubbing the spot between my eyebrows. “That’s not a thing.”
“It means you’re family, Tanner,” Ellison says before narrowing her eyes. “I’ll even forgive you for living in Clementine Creek.”
“It’s the next town over.”
“Yeah, but Blackstone Falls is obviously better. And rivalries die hard.”
“None of us are from here except you,” Cal points out, but she just waves him off.
“Irrelevant. You know where your loyalty lies.”
“Well, this has been fun,” I start, pushing back on my stool, but Ellison’s hand clamps around my forearm.
“Settle down, Tanner. We’re just getting started.”