“Okay, Mommy.” Emily giggles when Burns ruffles her hair and winks at her. I don’t think I want to know what the old man is teaching her. Better to let Benny handle that situation.
Emily seems to have bounced back to her cheerful self since returning from her father’s, but Matt is still a little quiet and distant. Jax and him have been laying out the strands of lights and checking to make sure they work. A few times I’ve heard him laugh at something Jax has said, but I’m still worried about him.
I need to tell Amber what happened, but she only just woke up and is having a good time with the women. I just don’t want to ruin it. She’s been less stressed over the whole Henry situation since his last confrontation, and this would only bring it front and center again.
“Dawn mentioned Amber is having a small bachelorette party,” Clint says from the bottom of the ladder I’m on.
“Really? So does that mean you want a bachelor party now?”
“No, but Dawn says I have to get you out of the house for theirs.”
“I can do that,” I say, stapling a strand of lights up.
“I’ll order the stripper,” Jax chimes in and then looks over to Matt, “Don’t tell your mom.”
“Make him pay for your silence,” Eric says as he walks past them with a second ladder.
Matt holds out his hand with a smile and Jax pulls his wallet out.
“No stripper,” Clint grunts pointedly at Jax after Matt pockets the cash.
“Oh, c’mon! Then what the hell are we going to do?”
“Drink and shoot guns on Clint’s property,” Eric says, climbing the ladder he just hoisted up.
“Can I come?” Matt asks and my chest tightens, knowing he wants to hang out with me and my brothers.
“Sure, as long as your mom’s okay with it. Make sure she knows about shooting guns and tell her your grandpa will probably be there, too.”
“I’ll go ask now.” He dashes off looking a lot happier than he did earlier.
“I like that kid,” Eric says as he takes a strand of lights from Jax.
“He’s perked up,” Clint notes.
I slowly come down the ladder. “His dad told him I was leaving, and that the kids were moving in with him. I think he’s confused.”
“I saw the video Burns took,” Eric says, stapling in the lights. “Have you told Amber about it?”
“Not yet, but I will.”
“What video?” Jax asks.
“Burns got Henry on video being an idiot,” Eric reveals.
“What is up with him and the photo frenzy?” Clint asks, going to Eric’s ladder to hold it steady.
“He’s becoming nostalgic in his old age.” Jax shrugs. “But I might hide his Polaroid before the bachelor party.”
“Good plan.”
“Luke!” Matt cries excitedly and runs up to me. “Mom said I can go as long as there aren’t any strippers.”
“Awesome!” I hold out my fist and he pounds it.
“Fork over the cash, buddy, you narc’d on me.” Jax holds out his hand.
“Didn’t.” Matt shakes his head with a smug grin. “I told her there won’t be any girls allowed.”
“Same thing.”
“Is not.”
“I’m with the kid.” Eric chuckles.
“Me too.” I smile.
“Don’t give in,” Clint grunts to Matt.
“You all are jackwagons,” Jax grumbles.
16
- Amber -
No more night shifts. No more coming home when the kids are waking up. No more trying to sleep during the day and no more night shift bonus pay, but I’m not too worried about that. Thanks to Luke, my expenses haven’t been too taxing on my bank account. Hopefully, Sarah will get to the bottom of the insurance claim being rejected and then I can breathe a little easier.
For the first in a long time, I’m excited about how my life is starting to unfold. I’ll be on the same sleep schedule as the kids, I have Luke to warm my bed, and Sarah seems to think the custody case will be dropped. Maybe luck is on my side. It’s about time because I’m tired of getting knocked down. I just want some peace.
Smiling, I tiptoe into my room, wanting nothing more than to crawl into bed and curl up next to Luke. Only there is one tiny problem with that. Emily is sleeping horizontal in my bed with her legs draped over Luke’s stomach.
Quietly, I puff air through my lips and tiptoe past the bed and into the walk-in closet. Luke’s work boots and clothes are now hanging on what use to be the empty half of the closet. A few boxes are tucked in the corner and various hats line the top shelf.
I should probably be concerned with Luke moving his stuff into what was just my room, especially without asking me, the cocky bastard. But strangely, I’m not bothered by it. After the weekend we had together, all my doubts have started to become distant memories.
Tugging off my shoes and scrubs, trying to be quiet, two warm hands wrap around my bare waist and my thoughts turn into pure unadulterated desire.
“Mornin’,” Luke whispers, nuzzling my ear. “How was your last night shift?”
“Busy.” I sigh, leaning back into his chest. “It’s always busy this time a year. People are always cooking their Thanksgiving meal in some crazy way that leads to accidents, or their brawling over some popular Christmas toy.”
“Hmm.”
“You need to stop,” I whisper when Luke starts to kiss down my neck to my shoulder even though I don’t want him too.
“Why?” he murmurs, his hand sliding up to cup my breast my nipples pebble against the fabric of my bra. I wish I had taken it off before he came in.
“We’ve got a sleeping child a few feet away.”
“Right,” Luke says, kissing my temple before he pulls away. There’s a soft click from the closet door shutting before he’s back. “Can you be quiet?”
“I can be quiet.”
Luke’s hand slips beneath the lace of my panties, my own joining him as my other hand wraps around the nape of his neck.
“Shit, that’s hot,” Luke whispers, his breath warm against my skin.
His fingers and mine make their way to the apex of my legs. I can feel myself tremble in anticipation before they glide through my folds. “You’re soaked,” he murmurs as I gasp from the pure pleasure our fingers entice.
Luke releases my breast and wraps his hand around my lower jaw, angling my head so he can claim my mouth and my moan as it claws from my throat.
Following Luke’s fingers deeper into my soaked folds, he pushes one finger then two inside. My core pulsates and tingles with every thrust. Luke is hard, his dick pressing into my bottom in rhythm with our fingers. I can feel the building orgasm tighten around our fingers much quicker than I like. Luke feeling it too finds my clit with his thumb and presses down, while my own fingers slip free while I brace myself.
I’m wound tight and ready to snap as the pressure pools in my core. Luke’s fingers swirl inside me, then push deeper as his thumb continues to press down on my clit. I fuck his hand harder before jerk with the intensity of the orgasm and clamp tight around his fingers in exhausted bliss.