by J. M. Walker
“Oh okay.” Gigi shook her head. “I didn’t even know she was here yet. We had to make a stop at The Dove Project. One of the pipes burst. The guys couldn’t get there quick enough, so Piper and I were dealing with it.” She laughed lightly. “That was fun.”
“I bet it was. Tell me something.” I leaned forward. “Why doesn’t Luna want to work there? She’s good at what she does there. She loves helping those women.”
“She does but I don’t think it’s what she wants to do in life.” Gigi ran her fingers through her long dark hair before pulling it over one shoulder.
“What do you mean?” Luna had said the same thing, but I never got any more information out of her.
“I mean just that.” Gigi shrugged. “Luna isn’t like the rest of us. She wants more. She wants to be able to give what she knows to someone else. She wants a…”
“What? What does she want?” I would give it to her. Whatever it was.
“A baby, Zach.” Gigi sighed. “She wants a baby.”
My dick twitched. Every alpha instinct in me, boomed. A baby. She wanted a fucking baby.
Gigi laughed. “I can see by the expression on your face, you had no idea.”
I swallowed hard. Opening my mouth to speak, I snapped it shut when I realized I had no idea what to even say to that. Luna and I had known each other since we were kids. And this thing between us was new, fresh, and way too damn soon to even consider having kids. But if that were the case, why the hell did it just sound so…perfect?
“Listen.” Gigi moved to the empty spot beside me. “Whatever happens, just don’t hurt her. She’s been in love with you since we were kids. I know I know.” Gigi fluttered a hand in front of her. “It’s only a crush but we’re not stupid.” She glanced up at me then. “She loves you, Zach. And I know her father is against this whole thing too. Hell, all of our fathers are. You boys have it easy. You can date and fuck whoever you want.”
“Meadow doesn’t seem to have a problem getting whoever she wants,” I said, finally able to speak after the blow that was laid on me.
“My sister is one of the lucky ones. She just doesn’t care. She’s always been that way.” Gigi laughed. “I’m jealous.”
“That makes two of us. Not that I’ve ever really cared what anyone thought but…” Having to deal with a grumpy overprotective father held me back. Although, I wasn’t sure if Luna could handle everything I wanted to do to her.
“I know her dad is crazy protective.” Gigi patted my hand and stood. “Prove to him that you are good enough for his daughter and he might just leave you both alone. And please be careful and for the love of God, do something about this thing between you two before Ashton does.” She shook her head and walked away.
Looked like everyone knew about Ashton. Probably more so than I did.
After Gigi left me to stew in my own thoughts, I headed into the house to see if any help was needed.
“Ladies,” I greeted.
“Zach.” Jay smiled, reaching her arms out.
I chuckled, wrapping her up in a hug.
“How are you?” she asked, leaning back but keeping her hands on my shoulders. “You good? Your mom said that you’ve been working a lot.”
“I have but I’m doing well. This company won’t run itself,” I joked, absentmindedly hooking an arm around Max’s shoulders as she came up beside me.
“You’ve been working out.” Piper’s mom, Max, patted my stomach. “Or your parents aren’t feeding you enough.”
“Leave him alone. The boys are active. All of them are.” Jay laughed. “You’re just jealous because Dale’s letting himself go.”
“He is not,” Max cried, stepping away from me and placing her hands on her hips. “He’s still hard as—”
“On that note.” I slowly backed away before I could hear any more about how hard Piper’s father was in any capacity.
While Jay and Max continued to playfully argue, I quickly went to the bathroom. When I was done, I was about to head back out into the hall, when I heard voices. Slowly opening the door, I found my mom standing with Stone out in the hallway. I inched the door closed a little more but kept an ear against it. I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping, but I was curious.
“You care to tell me why you’re giving my son a hard time, Stone?”
My back stiffened. My dad told her that she shouldn’t say anything to him.
“I don’t want him with my daughter.”
My stomach twisted. Although I knew he didn’t want me with Luna, it still hurt to hear him say it.
“Yeah. Well, you have no control over that, sweetheart.”
“Actually, I do. Zach’s going to run this business and be too busy for her. Luna will move on.”
“You can’t honestly believe that’s what will happen?” Mom laughed. “You’re smarter than that. Look at what happened to the rest of us. You know how it works. You fall in love, you fight, you make up but no matter what, you will always be together because that’s how this works. That’s how all of this works.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Stone grumbled.
“What issue is it that you have with my son? You know Zach’s turned into a wonderful man even after all the shit he went through as a kid.”
I shoved my hands in my pockets, not enjoying the nightmares of my past being brought to light. Although only my parents knew the full extent of what I went through, everyone had an idea on what happened. I was abused by my stepmother. Nothing really to hide there but my parents wanted it to remain hush-hush until I was ready to tell people.
“Doesn’t matter. He’s not good enough for my daughter. No one is.”
“Stone, I love you like a brother but right now, you’re lucky I don’t kick your ass.”
My heart warmed, knowing my mom had my back.
“You’re retired, Brogan,” Stone pointed out.
“Fine, I’ll just go to the one person, probably the only person, who can put you in your place.”
He hesitated. “You wouldn’t.”
“I would.”
“Brogan, I—”
“Stone.”
I opened the door a little more, peeking out in the hallway.
My mom was staring up at Stone with her hands on her hips. “You tell my husband that we had this conversation and I’ll come out of retirement just for you.” And with that, she spun on her heel and walked away.
“Fuck.” Stone rubbed the back of his thick neck and followed her.
This couldn’t happen.
You’re worthless.
This could never happen.
You don’t deserve happiness.
What I did with Luna shouldn’t have happened at all.
You’re nothing. Absolutely nothing.
My stepmother was right.
Luna should never have fallen in love with me. She was getting too close. This just proved what I had known all along. What had been ingrained in my head since I was a kid.
I deserved to be alone.
***
(Luna)
I wasn’t sure what changed over the last half hour or so, but Zach seemed off. When we sat down at the table that was sitting outside because there were too many of us for indoors, Zach’s jaw was clenched tight. I had come to know over the years that he did that whenever he was stressed or thinking about something. Either way, it meant something, or someone pissed him off.
We sat at a large table in Gigi’s parents’ backyard with his hand on my inner thigh. I had used the excuse that I was cold, so he gave me his jacket to place in my lap. He quickly realized what I was doing, the heat in his eyes becoming more pronounced.
I may not have been experienced but I knew what I wanted, and I wanted him. Hard. Fast. Soft. Gentle. I didn’t care. I wanted Zach to take me to new heights and show me what it was like to truly let go. Even though we had already been together, I had a feeling that I didn’t experience the true him. The real Zach Porter.
With his thumb brushing back and fort
h over my thigh, he let out a slow breath, his stiff body relaxing.
“Everything okay?” I asked him, inching my hand beneath his jacket and linking my fingers in his.
“Yup.” He looked down at me.
“You’re lying.”
“Doesn’t matter if I am or not.” Meaning, he wouldn’t tell me.
“Zach.” I pulled my hand away and shoved him gently. “Tell me.”
“Not now,” he bit out.
I huffed. “But—”
“So, Zach,” my father barked.
He was sitting to the right of us, across the table and a few chairs down. Not directly in front of us and thank goodness for that. I was sure he would be looking under the table, making sure Zach kept his hands to himself.
“How’s the business going?” my father asked.
“Very well,” Zach said, sitting up straighter.
“I heard you’re trying to grow the business,” my dad added.
“Zach’s going to be taking over the business when I retire,” Coby explained, nodding to his son across from him. “He’s also going to expand it. His grandfather would be proud.”
“We’re all proud,” Brogan added.
“How do you want to grow it?” Dad asked, leaning forward. For once he was actually interested in what Zach had to say.
I loved my father, and I knew he was only giving him a hard time because he was showing interest in me. But now, he seemed like he actually wanted to know more about the man who was adopted into our large extended family at a young age. I didn’t know why though. Dad clearly had an ulterior motive.
Zach shifted beside me when he realized everyone was looking at him.
“Tell him, Zach,” I coaxed, squeezing his hand.
His hand gripped my thigh in a firmer hold. “I want to add hotels and all-inclusive resorts to the business.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Good job.”
“You will do really well.”
Praise sounded around the table.
My heart swelled for the man sitting beside me.
“Be proud,” I whispered, squeezing his arm. “I am.”
He relaxed a little more at that.
My dad looked between us, something flashing behind his dark eyes. But the moment I saw it, it was gone. I prayed he could see what I saw in Zach. I didn’t want some fling. I had feelings for him, and he would be stupid not to see it. Hell, everyone could see it.
A motion caught my eye. I glanced down the table, locking eyes with Ashton.
My lips tingled, remembering the kiss. I wondered if Zach had approached him yet.
Ashton narrowed his brows.
Aiden punched him in the shoulder, muttering something to him.
Ashton glared at his brother and I looked away before I could catch him staring at me again. I didn’t know what had gotten into him, but I did know that I didn’t want to find out.
Zach
I WAS PROUD OF my work but hated being the center of attention. It was why I always stayed off to the side. I would rather watch and listen than be the one who did the talking. Unless I was in a boardroom directing the meetings, I preferred to remain silent.
“Hey.” Luna came up beside me later that evening when we were sitting around the campfire. “You okay?”
I nodded, wanting to pull her in my arms and tell her how I felt. But instead I kept my hands to myself and my words remained silent.
She sat beside me, wrapping a blanket over both of us.
I pushed it off of my lap, knowing that her father would think something was happening beneath it.
“Keep your hands to yourself, Porter,” a deep voice growled in my ear. “I may be retired but I have no issues breaking every single one of your fingers.” Stone clapped my shoulder. “We clear?”
“Crystal,” I muttered, pushing his hand off of me.
“Careful. I like your parents, Zach. I’d hate to lose that friendship over something that could have been prevented.”
My jaw clenched. It was so damn tight, a sharp pain shot up the side of my face.
“I’m glad we’ve come to an understanding.” He clapped my shoulder again.
“Daddy,” Luna snapped. “Stop threatening him and go home already.”
“Watch the tone, Luna.”
She huffed.
“Luna,” Stone barked. “Walk with me.”
“I’ll be back,” she whispered and left with her father.
He had every right to be concerned. I was just waiting for the day he found out I had already defiled his daughter. If he only knew the nasty, dirty things I wanted to do to her. He would do more than break my fingers.
Luna came back about ten minutes later. She dropped hard onto the patio couch beside me and pulled the blanket up and over us. “He left.”
“Everything good?” I asked her, taking that as my chance and reaching a hand beneath the blanket. Cupping her inner thigh, I blew out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.
“My dad’s an asshole.” Luna sighed. “But I love him.” She met my gaze. “He won’t bug us for the rest of the night,” she said, waggling her eyebrows.
I laughed, shaking my head.
She grinned. “I like this.”
I kissed her temple. “Me too, Moonbeam.” I brushed my nose over the shell of her ear. “I like this a lot. More than I could ever tell you.”
“Really?” Her breath caught.
“Yeah.” The hairs on my nape tingled. Someone was watching. And I would bet my life savings that it was Ashton drilling daggers into the side of my head. I was too old for games, but a little playing wouldn’t hurt. “Your dad’s no longer here. Isn’t that right?”
She nodded, chewing her bottom lip.
“What would you do if…” I grazed my hand higher up her inner thigh. “Your damn dress is too long,” I grumbled.
She laughed, the sound full-bodied and shaking through her. “Were you going to try something, Zachary?”
I shrugged, leaning back and rubbing my nape. “I guess you’ll never know now.”
“Aww.” She leaned into my side. “Too bad. I guess I shouldn’t tell you that I’m not wearing any panties.”
My back stiffened, my cock leaking at her words. “Wha—”
Suddenly, Piper jumped on the seat beside Luna, startling her.
They laughed.
“So...” She looked between us both. “How’s it going?”
“Good,” I answered, imagining Luna’s bare pussy at the moment. I wondered if she was lying. Maybe she was. She was still naïve when it came to sex. Nah. My girl was a brazen little thing.
Luna stood, bent her knee and sat back down. She leaned forward, moved her hand beneath the blanket, and pushed mine beneath the fabric of her dress.
My fingers slid up her thigh with her guidance until they reached her core. So bare. So soft. Completely uncovered like she had said.
She shot me a look, a sly grin spreading on her face before she turned back around to continue talking to Piper.
“I keep hearing how close you two are getting and I’m happy to see it.” Piper kicked her long legs out in front of her. “It’s about time anyway.”
“How was your trip?” I asked her, getting the subject off of us.
With my hand at Luna’s bare pussy, it was hard to concentrate on Piper’s retelling of her trip, but I had to keep it to cool. I didn’t want to embarrass Luna.
“It was amazing. I met so many people. Tried so many different types of food. Saw every museum I could.” Piper sighed, a smile growing on her face. “It was heaven. I only came home because I was missed.” She glanced at Ashton and Aiden who sat on the other side of the bonfire.
Piper met my gaze, her cheeks reddening. She gave a small shake of her head.
I nodded once. All of us knew they had been a thing but having a relationship with one person was hard enough, let alone with two people. I wasn’t sure how people who lived in polyamorous relationship
s did it but if it worked, all the power to them.
Luna grabbed my hand, pushing it out of her lap. “I have to use the bathroom,” she told me.
I leaned toward her ear. “Don’t even think about getting yourself off. If you do, I will find out. And, Luna?”
“Yes?” she whispered.
“I will make you regret not telling me that you weren’t wearing any panties.” I sat back, the shiver trembling through her making my dick twitch.
Luna stood, smoothing down her dress, then headed back into the house. Once Piper and I were alone, I nodded toward the twins.
“How long?”
“Too long,” she muttered. “You heard the rumors. I’m not stupid. Although, they’re not really rumors anymore. Fact is fact. I slept with them. A few times when it was supposed to be a one-time thing. We were drinking and one thing led to another. Now they want more but I...” She met my gaze that time. “I met someone.”
“While in Europe?”
“Yeah. Paris actually.” Her shoulders slumped. “But he probably wants nothing to do with me ever again. I don’t know. It was…intense. I was just convenient for him while he was on his trip.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask who it was, but I thought better of it.
“She likes you,” Piper said, changing the subject. “She likes you a lot. Always has but I see it more now. I know I haven’t been home in a while, but you have her heart, Zach.”
“I like her too,” I confessed. How could I not? Luna had been the only woman to make me drop to my knees and beg for her to do whatever she wanted to me.
“She’s liked you for years but I’m sure you knew that already.”
“I did.” And I felt the same way. I had always felt the same way, but I also had to protect myself and her from the vileness that threatened to bleed from me.
Luna took that moment to sit back down beside me. “Miss me?”
I did. I did more than she would ever know.
***
(Luna)
“I’m going to take Luna for a drive,” Zach told Gigi as she stepped out of the vehicle.
“Okay.” She waited while the twins, Meadow, and Piper were out of earshot before she opened my door. She leaned in toward me and gave me a hug. “Be safe.”
