Mancave

by Jo Raven

  Sure, fatherhood stresses me sometimes, I won’t deny it—but I wouldn’t give it up for the world.

  “Come on, let’s make you some hot chocolate and talk,” Octavia says, tugging on a lock of Gigi’s blond hair. “I want to hear what you were up to while we were away.”

  “Who me? You make it sound like I’m going to get spanked. Am I? Just asking out of pure curiosity.”

  “And how Merc is really doing, not those vague comments you made on the phone, and what Mom baked for us. Come on, or I’ll drink all the hot chocolate myself. Chop, chop.”

  Gigi sighs, pats Cole’s head and gets up to follow her sister. “This big sister intimidation thing isn’t working with me anymore, you know. I’m old enough to know your tricks.”

  Intimidation by hot chocolate. I need to remember this one. I mean, since I’m sort of a father figure for Gigi. A very young father, considering she’s just turned nineteen, but still. I take this seriously. I’ll have to ask Octavia for more info on that hot chocolate method.

  I grin.

  And as Cole returns to snuggle beside me, Mary on the other side, I know I wouldn’t give it up.

  Ever.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Octavia

  “So spill.” I stir the cocoa powder into the hot milk, and add some vanilla extract, the way Gigi likes it. “You’ve been so secretive lately?”

  “Me?” Gigi leans against the counter, crossing her long legs at the ankle. Dressed in tight jeans and low black boots, a long white sweater on top and her long hair in a messy bun on top of her head she looks… beautiful. My little sis is a stunner. “I’m innocent.”

  “As a lamb.” I pour the steaming liquid into two tall mugs. “How’s your bestie doing?”

  “Sydney? Oh, she’s fine. You know. College classes, boys…”

  “About those. You said she has a harem?”

  “Sort of.” Gigi shrugs and reaches for the mug I pass her. “How many’s a harem anyway?”

  “How many boys is she dating?”

  “Dating. You sound like Mom.” She snickers, sipping at her chocolate. “Ow. It’s hot.”

  “That’s why they call it hot chocolate.” I sink down in a chair, too tired to stand a second longer. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “About the boys she’s dating?” She makes a face. “I don’t know, Tati. Three? I think. But I’m not sure they’re dating.”

  “What are they doing, then?”

  “They’re all good friends. That’s what she says. She’s known them forever, like I knew our neighborhood boys here in St. Louis, before we moved again. I never dated them.”

  “We only moved here two years ago. And are you referring to that Jared boy?”

  “His name’s Jarett, and what’s wrong with him, huh? God, Tati, I swear you sound more and more like Mom.”

  “Maybe it’s because I am a mom.”

  “Whatever.” She waves a hand back and forth. “You acted like that since we were little. You loved playing mom with us.”

  I swallow hard. “That’s because I love you and Merc.”

  Her easy grin fades. “Oh God, I know, Tati. You think I don’t know that? I’m only teasing you.” She puts her mug on the table, sits across from me and reaches for my hand. “Did I make you sad? I’m so sorry. You know I always speak without thinking.”

  I smile at her, annoyed that I can cry at the drop of a hat, just like that. “I know. That you’re teasing, I mean. Well, also thinking before speaking would be ideal.”

  She huffs and lets go of my hand. “That was uncalled for.” She winks at me and drags her mug closer. “Anyway, I’m not hiding anything from you. No idea why you’d think that. Sydney has these boy-friends. Not boyfriends, just male friends, and we go out sometimes all together. That’s what we did Saturday night. It was fun, and it keeps stupid idiots from throwing come-on lines at me.”

  “Many such stupid idiots doing that?”

  She laughs softly, takes a sip of her drink. “Sometimes.”

  “And what about your friend? That boy on our street. Jared, or something.”

  “Jarett? How did you remember him?”

  “You were best BFFs when we first moved here.”

  “That’s years ago, Tati.”

  “Oh. I thought you’d kept in touch. He only lives a few doors down from Mom’s house, right?”

  She turns away. “I don’t keep in touch. But hey. Enough about me. What about you? Tell me the latest news,” she says brightly, turning her gaze back on me. She nods at my hand that’s resting on my belly. “What’s up with that?”

  “I…” Heat rises to my face. “I felt the baby move today.”

  “Oh my God! Can I feel it, too?”

  “Not sure. It’s mostly quiet in there.”

  “Aw, the little bean.” She beams at me. “I’m so excited about becoming aunt, like, for real. No, that came out wrong. I mean, from the beginning. Know what I mean? I love being an aunt to Cole and Mary, but I didn’t get to meet them since before they were born, like Bean here.”

  I snort. “So her name is Bean?”

  “Oh crap, it’s a she?”

  “No, I... We don’t know yet.” I pat my belly. “Bean, huh?”

  “Yeah.” She leans closer. “Hey, Bean. Can you hear me? This is Auntie Gigi.”

  “Auntie Gigi.” Now I’m laughing. Absurd. But real. “Holy shit.”

  “Careful how you speak around the baby,” Gigi admonishes, all seriousness, and it only makes me laugh harder. “Don’t listen to her, Bean. Listen to me. I’ll take care of you.”

  Oh man. And just like that I’m laughing and crying at the same time, because that’s so sweet. “Love you, sis,” I manage between the laughter and tears.

  She comes around the table and hugs me. “Right back at you, sis,” she whispers back.

  “Oh, Gigi.” I cling to her. “I talked to Ross. And he was as awful as always. Why did I ever think he’d change? That I could help him?”

  “You tried,” she says. “Don’t you worry, sis. Men like Ross, they save themselves. They’re selfish. You don’t need to worry about him.”

  I’m starting to think she’s right.

  * * *

  The kids are already tucked in their beds, their lights off, by the time Gigi leaves with promises to talk about Merc another day. I close the door of the kids’ bedroom and tiptoe down the landing to our room.

  Matt is also in bed, I discover when I enter, closing the door behind me.

  He’s on his back, one arm folded under his head, the covers pulled up to his waist, his chest bare and…

  Holy baby Jesus. He’s so sexy.

  What was I going to do? I can’t remember. That chest, inked and muscular, his bulging biceps his strong pecs, they’re driving all coherent thought from my head. His eyes are closed, dark lashes fanning on his cheekbones, his dark hair falling on his forehead. He’s beautiful.

  Is he asleep?

  If I touch him without him knowing, to feel those spectacular muscles under my hands, is that frowned upon? What if I pull down the covers to see if he’s hard, or what his cock looks like when soft? Not sure I’ve ever seen it soft.

  Biting into my lower lip, a maddening throb between my legs, I climb into the bed and crawl toward him, my dress dragging on the covers. I don’t often catch him off guard, and I love how relaxed he looks.

  I lift a hand to his chest, and he laughs softly, scaring the bejesus out of me. His hand snaps around my wrist. “Gotcha.”

  “You’re a bastard, Matt Hansen.” I let out a breathless laugh.

  He tugs me against him, his dark eyes warm. “You were looking at me.”

  “Busted. So whatcha gonna do?”

  “Let you get on with whatever you were about to do.”

  “I wanted to touch you.”

  He smirks. “You wanted to molest my amazing body?”

  “You’re so full of yourself.”

  “You know what, go ahea
d. Be my guest.” He throws his arms to the sides, on the bed. “Go on.”

  I sigh, roll my eyes fondly. “Why do I put up with you?”

  “I honestly don’t know,” he says softly, and pulls on my hands, places them on his hard pecs. That distracts me. I run my fingertips over his warm skin, down to his washboard stomach. I shift on top of him, and he groans. “God, I want you.”

  I sit back, and yeah, through the bedcover, I can feel him. Not soft. Hard.

  Very, very hard.

  “Then have me,” I whisper, overcome with love, and desire, and my need for him. My husband. My man. My everything.

  His hands move over my body, under my dress, between my legs, stroking, spreading me, and I moan, bracing my hands on his chest, bowing forward. Shivers skitter over my skin.

  “Yes,” I breathe when he pulls my panties aside and pushes a finger inside me, slowly fucking me with it. Heat is gathering in my belly. “Please. Want you.”

  “Fuck, Tay…” He strokes me, and his hard-on pushes against my backside. Groaning, I sit back, and yank the covers away. “Oh shit…”

  His finger slips out, and he half-sits up, pushing my dress up, as I guide him inside me, his gaze riveted between my legs. He pushes into me, so thick and hard, and I grab for his hands, to steady myself as I sink down, taking him in.

  “Yeah.” His head falls back, tendons standing out in his neck. “Like that.”

  It’s a familiar dance by now, our bodies moving together, in synch, straining for release, as we try to be quiet, not to wake up the kids. His hand sneaks under my dress, finds my breast and toys with my hard nipple through the fabric of my bra.

  My mouth falls open on a long moan as a strike of pleasure goes through me, my core clenching hard. His hips snap up, and I grind myself on him, the pressure building crazy fast, his cock stroking me deep inside.

  I choke on a cry as I come, the pleasure clawing its way through my body, sharp and exquisite, taking my breath away.

  Before I can get my lungs to work again, he flips me over and thrusts deep into me, lifting my legs around his waist. “So hot,” he whispers. “Every day with you is better, Tay. Every day I want you more. Do you know what this means?”

  “No,” I whimper, impossibly full and hovering on the edge of another release. This angle of his cock, the pressure right there… it’s pushing me to the edge fast.

  “It means,” he thrusts again, deeper, harder, “that I’m yours, for all time.”

  And his words, those words, have me shaking and clawing at him, coming apart underneath him. He grunts and stiffens, too, his hot cum filling me, and rocks into me a few more times, drawing out the pleasure.

  Still gasping for breath, I loop my arms around his neck and pull him down to me. “Good,” I whisper and kiss him, because I don’t have words that can express how I feel.

  Not today, not ever.

  As he rolls to my side and hauls me into his arms, I’m at peace. I’ve tried my best to save Ross and Evan, to help Melissa and Mary, and I’m tired, and sad, and happy, and so grateful Matt loves me and won’t let go.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Matt

  When I drive to Mancave the next morning, to talk to Kaden and get back to work, it is with a feeling of contentment I haven’t felt in a long while. A sense of relief, of pieces falling into place and forming a picture I can make sense of.

  A picture I can work with, a picture of my life with Octavia, my kids, my mom, my brother, full of fucking sunshine.

  I’m practically whistling as I park my truck and hop out, taking a moment to look at our shop. Hansen Brothers, it says in big black letters on the sign on top.

  That’s us. We made it. We went through some hard times, but we’re here, with our families. Happy. It has to count for something, right? Has to mean something.

  That we’ll stick together, no matter what, and make it through.

  I head toward the shop, passing by two cars with their engines exposed, and spot Kaden from afar. He’s talking on the phone, a hand shoved through his hair that glints like silver in the morning light.

  Heh. I’m the black sheep in a family of blonds. Kaden, Gigi, Merc… even Ross with his black soul is blond as a cherub.

  “Hey.” I lift my hand in greeting, not to walk in on him from behind and give him a heart attack, and he turns around, a smile lighting up his face.

  “Matt. Gimme a minute and I’m done here.”

  “Take your time.”

  I walk into our office and move the mouse to wake up the computer. I check our schedule, see what cars are assigned to me, and then get up and go look for my toolkit and heavy-duty gloves. Spotting the first car that needs my aid, an old Chevy, I hum, and find myself smiling.

  It feels good to be back, doing my job, fiddling with engines and machines. It relaxes me, always has, since I was a kid and learned at my dad’s side how to fix cars.

  Dad. I don’t think of him as often as I should, probably. Haven’t even visited his grave, not yet. At first I wasn’t in a good place, didn’t know what I’d say or do when I saw his tombstone.

  The thought of him gone is a thorn in my mind. I did love him. I do miss him. He was a good father. I wish he were here, to play with his grandchildren, teach them what he taught me.

  I hope I can give my kids what he gave me, this sense of a place in the world, of things to learn and do and explore.

  Setting down my tool bag, I’m about to root inside for what I need and get to work, when Kaden comes striding toward me.

  “Matt.”

  I grab him in a bearhug as he reaches me, slap his back. “Kade. How’re things around here?”

  “Never been better. Funny how everything runs like clockwork when you’re not around, that’s—” He groans when I slap his back harder. “I think you broke my ribs.”

  “Serves you right.”

  He pulls back, grinning. “Was everything okay down in Destiny? Is your buddy Evan okay?”

  “He will be. About that… Know how you complained again that we’re not hiring anyone to help out here?”

  Kaden nods. “Evan? He’s looking for a job?”

  “Yeah, and a new start. He’s experienced, and a good guy. What do you say?”

  He narrows his eyes at me. “What, my opinion matters now?”

  “Yeah, it does.” I huff, annoyed at myself for letting him think otherwise. “Always has, Kade. I swear.”

  He nods, shoves his hands into the pockets of his overalls and rocks back on his heels. “If you think Evan is good for this job, then let’s hire him.”

  Awesome. My chest lightens more. I can’t fucking wait to call Evan and tell him the news.

  “And Hailey and the kids?” I slap Kaden on the back again, and he coughs.

  “Christ, you trying to kill me?”

  “You’re going soft on me, Kade.”

  He snorts. “Fuck you, brother. Better be nice to me. I got news.”

  “What news?”

  “Zane is in town. I was just talking to him.”

  “That son of a bitch. Why didn’t he tell me?”

  “He called the shop first. I told him you’d be back today. Well, I knew you were arriving yesterday, but I wanted to give you time with your kids.”

  He gives me a long, unsure look.

  “Thanks. You’re right, I needed that time with the kids. And Zane? Is everything okay with him?”

  “Yeah, yeah he’s fine. Said he’s just passing through.”

  “Through to where?”

  “To here!” a familiar voice calls, and Zane walks in, all badass Mohawk and tattoos, grinning from ear to ear. He grabs me, thumps his fist in my back, and it’s my turn to gasp in pain. “Gotcha. I came to see you, you grumpy old bastard. How’ve you been?”

  “Good.” I pull back before he thumps me again. “What are you doing here? Dakota and the kid with you?”

  “Nah. Left them at home.” He shrugs. “Morning sickness is a bitch.”


  “Bun in the oven?”

  “Yeah.” He beams at me, so proud, and it turns my fucking heart over to see him so happy. Zane’s my younger brother as much as Kaden is, and this kid’s been through a lot. He deserves the best in life. “You, too, from what I hear? When were you gonna tell me, fucker?”

  “Tell you what?”

  “That you’re gonna be a dad again. When’s the baby due?”

  “In four months. Yours?”

  “Still some way to go. Six months to go, I guess. Boy or girl?”

  I rub the back of my neck, smirking. “We don’t know.”

  “Man. Why the hell not? You know what this means, don’t you?”

  “What?”

  “The kid will be born, and you’ll be calling him or her “Baby” and “Bunny” for the next two fucking years.”

  I laugh. “That’s some bullshit.”

  “I swear to God. I’ve seen it happen all the goddamn time. What’s up, Kaden?”

  “We’re good.” My brother’s shaking his head. “Know what? I’ll leave you two to catch up and get back to work. We could go for drinks later, what do you say?”

  “Fine with me,” Zane says, and I nod.

  “So how long are you staying?” I pull him into the office. “And you’re sure everything’s okay at home?”

  “Yeah, no worries. Told you, everyone’s fine back in Madison. We’re expanding.” He chuckles. “We’re repopulating the city. Many babies all around. What about your kids, and Octavia?”

  “Fine.” I think about yesterday, and how the day ended. “Yeah, fine. The garage, too. We’re getting another mechanic to help us out, an old friend of mine.”

  “And Octavia’s family? She has a brother and a sister, right?”

  I fold my arms over my chest, thinking about those two, and Octavia’s long convo with Gigi yesterday. I only caught some odds and ends about a girl, Sydney, and lots of boys… exactly what’s been worrying me when it comes to Gigi.

  And then there’s Merc—pensive, quiet, kind of lost, with the occasional explosive fit of anger, like when he beat Ross up back when we lived in Destiny.