Ruin
Page 20
Cupping his cheeks, I grinned at him. “Fuckin’ love you too, Taro Takahashi, and I was gonna stay here forever whether you liked it or not. My life has only gotten better with you in it.”
To my surprise, his eyes glistened, which touched my heart where it skipped a beat. He sucked in a shuddering breath and nodded. “All right then.”
Grinning, I told him, “Maybe next time you tell me you love me, you can do it when we aren’t about to have visitors so I can fuck you.”
A smile grew on his lips. “All right,” he whispered.
I watched as I traced my thumb over his bottom lip. “Still, I love that you told me.”
“Okay,” he said softly.
“Now kiss me to seal that confession in.” His grin widened as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders and planted one on me. I gripped his arse and brought him in as close as we could be without melting into each other. Though at times I wished I could.
When we heard a car rolling down the drive, we broke apart, but I snuck back in for a final kiss just as we heard, “Holy shit, this place is the bomb.”
“Rayne,” Mum snapped.
“Rayne,” Dad clipped, only lighter than normal.
Pulling the door all the way open, I took Taro’s hand, and we stepped out on the front landing. I squeezed Taro’s hand. “Just remember you invited them here.” Though the invite had been through me since he hadn’t met Mum as yet because he couldn’t make it home when I went there a few months ago.
Taro chuckled. “I will.”
Another car rolled down the drive. One I recognised. “You invited Nary and Vicious?” I called down to Mum, who blushed.
“Well, you see, your sister wanted to see where her brother was living and meet his man for the first time.”
Rayne skipped up the steps and wrapped her arms around my waist. I dropped Taro’s hand to curl mine around her shoulder. “Hey, sis.”
“Hey, fool.” She grinned up at me, then moved her gaze to Taro while Dad and Mum got their luggage out and waited for Nary.
“This is Taro. Taro, meet my pain sister, Rayne.”
Rayne tipped her chin up. “Hey.”
“Hi, Rayne, it’s good to meet you.”
“Are you sure you’re into my brother? ’Cause I can take you off his hands and live here myself.”
Taro sputtered out a laugh while I shoved my sister. “Traitor.”
She shrugged, giggling. “What? This place rocks. I’m gonna spend all my school holidays here.”
I shot Taro a look. “See what you’ve done inviting them?”
He tried to contain his laughter, but it slipped out anyway. “I do.”
“Hello,” Mum said, stopping in front of us. “I’m Malinda, Josh’s mother.”
“I’m Nary, his sister. Saxon said you’ve met him. Same as Dad. But this is Ayra.” Nary rubbed at her daughter’s back as she held her on her hip.
Taro smiled warmly. “I have met the men. But it’s good to meet the rest of Josh’s family.”
Mum elbowed me in the ribs. “You picked well. He’s very good-looking.”
“He can hear you, so don’t go giving him a big head.”
“Thank you,” Taro said when Mum glanced at him. “Mimi said she’s running behind but will be here soon.” Ryo was also running late since he stayed over at Link’s the previous night. Those two were fucking like rabbits, but every time I pestered Ryo about how things were, he told me it wasn’t anything serious. I called bullshit.
“Great.” Nary smiled. “No doubt Mimi will bring Cowboy. Those two are attached at the hip lately.”
“She is,” Taro said. He was happy his sister had found someone who doted on her.
“Can we get inside? I could use a drink from drivin’ here and listenin’ to Rayne’s playlist,” Dad said as he shook Taro’s hand. Vicious stepped up and took Taro’s hand in greeting as well.
Rayne rolled her eyes. “You’ve just got no taste, Dad.”
Dad snorted. “Married your mum, didn’t I?” Rayne shut her mouth quickly.
“Of course, my house is yours.” We made it through the front door to where Katon stood. Katon bowed, and the women giggled, not used to being served or someone who’d bow to them. “This is Katon. If you need anything, please let him know.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Katon said, straightening. “If you leave your bags, I’ll take them to your rooms, and after some refreshments, I’ll come to collect you to show you around.”
“You rock, old dude,” Rayne said. Katon blushed and smiled at her.
“We’ll grab a drink in the library,” Taro said. He nodded to Katon and patted his shoulder before leading the group to the library.
I stepped up to Dad. “How’s Talon?” I hadn’t seen him since I went home in a rush that last time after I found out our prez had been shot and was hanging on to his life in hospital. The fucker who shot him died, of course, but it’d scared everyone to the core. Hawks wouldn’t be the same without Talon in it.
“He’s good. Back at work like nothin’ happened.”
“Thank fuck.” Even though I’d felt relief when the doctors told everyone he’d pull through, it was as if more lifted off my chest hearing how well he was doing. It could also have a lot to do with how close I’d grown up with the family, with Coyote being his son.
Dad’s hand landed on my shoulder. “How’s things?”
I smiled at the ground. “Good.” Taro’s words bounced around in my head. I love you. You make me happy, you idiot, and I want you here forever. “Real good.”
“Glad to see it, son.”
“How many rooms does this house have?” Rayne asked when we reached the library.
“Forty,” Taro supplied. “But it’s only because most of my family and staff live on these grounds.”
“That’s cool. Though, if I had a bae, I’m not sure I’d want my family around interrupting things.”
“Rayne, there’ll never be anythin’ to interrupt at your house because you’re never havin’ a boyfriend, and you’re stayin’ home forever,” Dad announced.
Mum glared at him.
Dad quickly amended. “Well, not forever, just until you’re thirty. Then you’re goin’ to live with your sister.”
Nary snorted. “Don’t bring me into anything.”
“We are not havin’ another woman in the house. Two are enough,” Vicious said.
Nary turned to him slowly. “What do you mean by that?”
Vicious saw his mistake. “Nothin’, angel. You two are perfect, but your sister cheats when we play on the Switch.”
“I do not!” Rayne yelled.
“Rayne, inside voice,” Mum scolded.
I walked up behind Taro and wrapped my arms around his chest, tugging him back into me. “Regret it yet?” I asked into his ear.
His hands gripped my arms, and he turned his head. I met his lips in a quick kiss. Taro smiled bright and said, “Not at all. This is perfect.”
It was, and I couldn’t wait to see what our future held. For the moment, all I knew was that no matter where our time together went, I’d have Taro at my side. I seriously hadn’t been lying before.
The guy was never getting rid of me.
Also by Lila Rose
Hawks MC: Ballarat Charter
Holding Out (Free)
Standalone related to the Hawks MC: Outplayed
Climbing Out
Finding Out (novella)
Black Out
No Way Out
Coming Out (m/m novella)
Standalone related to the Hawks MC: Out to Find Freedom
* * *
Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter
The Secret’s Out
Hiding Out
Down and Out
Living Without
Walkout (novella)
Hear Me Out (m/m)
Break Out (novella)
Fallout
* * *
Hawks MC: next generation
Coyote
Ruin (m/m)
* * *
Standalones related to the Hawks MC:
Out of the Blue
Out Gamed (novella)
Romantic Comedies
Making Changes
Making Sense
Fumbled Love
* * *
Polished P & P series (m/m romance)
Wreck Me Forever
Never a Saint
Working Out West
Trinity Love Series
Left to Chance (m/m/f novel)
Love of Liberty (m/m/f novella)
Titles under L. Rose
* * *
The Hidden Kingdom Trilogy
(paranormal reverse harem romance)
A Torn Paige
A Lost Paige
A Final Paige
* * *
Standalones
In The Dark (paranormal)
Havoc’s Mate (paranormal novella)
Senseless Attraction (Y/A)
Connect with Lila Rose
Webpage: www.lilarosebooks.com
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2du0taO
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lilarose78/
Goodreads:
www.goodreads.com/author/show/7236200.Lila_Rose