“Iz.” Hound bends in the middle, pressing a kiss to his daughter’s temple. “How was your week?”
“Good. Although I think I’ve gained ten pounds eating candy.”
Her fingers flex against mine, drawing Hound’s scrutiny, but instead of him decking me in the face, he simply nods in my direction before crossing the room to where Gigi is wiping Amelia’s face.
He didn’t growl or yank me up by the collar, which is awesome, but I also feel like it’s the closest thing to approval I’ll ever get from the man.
Kincaid walks into the clubhouse, a happy but tired look on his face. It lights up when he looks across the room to find Gigi and Amelia.
“I’m waiting for the day he looks at our kids that way,” Griffin whispers on the other sofa, his face tucked into Ivy’s neck.
Ivy and Gigi, although twins, couldn’t be any more different. Griffin, Shadow’s son and Cannon’s brother spent a little time in jail after some stuff that went down with his platoon while he was in the Marine Corps. I don’t know the details, but I know he didn’t go to prison.
Griffin is the only child of the original Cerberus guys that went into the Corps and then joined the club in an official capacity. He looks just as tired as all the other guys, but he’s also ridiculously in love. I don’t think he’d want it any other way. None of the couples surrounding us look like they’d rather be any place else.
Except Apollo when he comes back into the room sans his gear. His eyes dart in our direction before he turns around with a huff and heads to the kitchen. Jinx follows him with a devious smile, drawing the attention of Legend and Thumper, two other Cerberus members who scurry after them like a plan is being put in place. So long as it doesn’t have anything to do with Izzy, I don’t care what they do.
“Probably planning another orgy,” Sophia says with a laugh. “They’ve been gone for a week so we may be asked to leave soon.”
The Cerberus clubhouse has been expanded since the first time I showed up here as a teen, and I know Kincaid has even more plans to add new rooms for team members as the club grows, but we’re technically in their space. Other than Cannon and Rivet, who is a member, all other paired-up couples live elsewhere.
“We should go,” Colton says as he smacks Sophia’s hip lightly to get her to stand up.
“Us too,” Izzy says.
“Nope.” Gigi steps up to us, her arms wrapped around Hound’s waist. “Mom and Dad are keeping Amelia tonight. I want you two to join us for dinner, but I need an hour.”
“Two hours,” Hound corrects.
Gigi smiles. “I need two hours before you guys come over.”
“Come over?” Izzy’s brow draws together. “I live there.”
“I’d love to join you for dinner,” I say. “We’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
Izzy frowns as she watches her dad walk out of the clubhouse.
“I need to get my own place. So rude.”
Sophia leans over to hug her friend. “You really want to be over there while they go at it?”
“Gross.” Izzy swats at her laughing friend. “But getting kicked out sucks.”
“At least they warned you this time. Remember last time when you—”
Izzy makes a gagging noise that causes several people to chuckle. “Shut up. I’m scarred for life.”
“Enjoy your dinner guys,” Colton says as he guides Sophia out of the clubhouse.
“She doesn’t cook,” Izzy whispers when other conversations start up around us.
“I’m sorry?” I look at her in confusion.
“Just a warning if you were thinking you were getting a home-cooked meal. There’s a better chance of mac and cheese and chicken nuggets. Gigi doesn’t cook.”
“She was pulling a casserole out of the oven last night when I left,” I remind her.
“Emmalyn made that for us. She’s great at reheating, but put a mixing bowl in front of her and the kitchen turns into a science experiment.”
“Do you know how to cook?” I ask.
“A little.” She grimaces. “I grew up with a chef, so I never really learned.”
“A chef?”
“My mom’s family has money. My stepdad is wealthy as well. They said their time was better spent on other things than worrying about household chores.”
“Were you raised by nannies?” I have no right to argue what her plans are as far as childcare, but I’m curious to know what she plans once the baby gets here.
“They raised me. I didn’t have a bad childhood, just one filled with overprotective parents that lied to me for years about who my real dad was. I guess I’m lucky they didn’t consider me a household chore.”
She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes until she lifts my hand and places it right back on her belly.
We settle in again, chatting with those around us as two hours tick by. Apollo, Jinx, and the other guys never come back through from the kitchen.
Chapter 13
Isabella
“That was an eye opening experience,” Drew says as we take the stairs that are off the front porch of the clubhouse.
“I swear pheromones are pumped into the ventilation system,” I agree.
I would tell him I’m not immune to them either, but I’m sure he’s well aware with the way I’ve been squirming the last half an hour.
“I’ve seen a lot of stuff.” He chuckles. “But that was—”
“Hot?” I ask.
“Very.” He clears his throat, his hand at my back but his eyes straight ahead.
“I don’t even think they realize how they’re acting when they’ve been away from each other so long. I’m glad Dominic wasn’t around.”
“So they’re like all three together?”
“Yep. A triad I think is what they refer to it as. Jasmine loves them both and is intimate with them both. Max and Tug love her and they love each other.”
“It’s like threesomes all the time.” There’s a hint of awe in his voice.
I swat at his chest. “Feel like you’re missing out.”
“No. I’ve had more than—” His jaw snaps shut, cheeks flaming. “I don’t think it’s the same thing.”
“Same thing? As in different from the threesomes you’ve clearly had.”
“I was a little wild in college.”
“It didn’t stop with college,” I remind him, pointing to my belly. “That night we had was pretty wild.”
“True. We could’ve had an audience and not even known it.”
My feet stumble a little on the gravel, but of course he’s there to keep me safe. The warmth of his chest makes my breathing hitch.
“Those guys didn’t seem to mind even though they didn’t go as far as we did that night.”
“They’re used to being watched.”
“Like as a triad they participate in the orgies Sophia mentioned.”
I stop and turn around to face him. “Are you interested in participating? You seem really focused on what they were doing.”
“And you weren’t?” He huffs. “You squirmed the entire time they were making out.”