Acceptance (Club X Book 5) (5 page)

But that’s not how it went, and all these years later, I couldn’t say I was unhappy about that anymore. Sure, there was a lot of ugliness along the way, but we came out of it all as brothers, like my father had hoped.

“Yeah, well, I’ve grown up a lot since you came on the scene. I’m not saying I want another brother, but I’m not saying I don’t. All I’m saying is let’s see what he’s all about.”

“Why is Cash so against this, though?”

I wasn’t sure of the exact answer, but I had a guess. “Cash is a businessman, first and foremost. He thinks in money terms more than we do. He only sees the potential liability some new heir of our father’s could present us. Security means a lot to Cash.”

“I don’t want this to affect Abbi and the kids in any way either, so I’m not that different from him. I just can’t understand not even finding out.”

Standing, I patted Kane on the shoulder as I passed on my way to the kitchen to get more coffee. “You see yourself in this. This guy is where you were all those years ago.”

He thought about what I said before heading toward the door to leave. “So what do you see in this?”

“I’m not sure, but my curiosity is piqued so I’m on board with it. If it turns out like Cash is worried it will, I’ll walk away from this whole thing and not look back. My issue isn’t security. Mine is dealing with bullshit and drama, neither of which I need in my life. If that’s what this Sebastian comes with, he best stay away because I’m past that.”

A slow smile spread across Kane’s face. “Where did that punk ass guy I more often than not wanted to pound the shit out of go, Stef?”

“He grew up, jackass. Tell Abbi we said hi and bring those kids with you next time. I like them.”

Kane smiled in that way I knew was genuine. “Tell Shay I’m sorry I didn’t get to see her this time.”

As the door closed, I couldn’t help but notice the difference between what I said about Abbi and what he said about Shay. Cash was right about family. It was a dicey thing.

*

“Stefan, you home?” Shay called
out as she came into the apartment.

I looked up from the couch where I was lounging out like I should on a Sunday afternoon and held out my hand to grab her as she passed. “Right here, baby. You’re back early.”

She smiled and came over the back of the couch to lie on top of me. After a sexy kiss that made me want to forget about any more talking, she said, “I was actually done much earlier, but I didn’t want to interrupt the March brother pow-wow.”

Sliding my hands down her back to cup her perfect ass, I pulled her against my quickly hardening cock and groaned. “I don’t know why. Cash and Kane would have been fine with you here while we talked.”

“Well, I figured I’d let you guys have your man time,” she teased while she pushed her hips forward, pressing the front of her jeans into my cock.

“I prefer this kind of man time. What do you have planned for today?” I asked as I slid my hand up under her t-shirt to unhook her bra.

“Not sure. Why?”

“Because I’m in the mood for some easy like Sunday afternoon fucking.”

Shay gave me a wink and sat up on my legs to wriggle out of her t-shirt and bra. Throwing them onto the nearby chair, she cupped those gorgeous breasts of hers in her hands and smiled down at me.

“Hmmm, I think I might be able to fit you into my schedule. I have two others this afternoon, but I’ll make room for you.”

I pulled her down on top of me and kissed her hard. “Two others? I don’t share well with others, baby.”

She rubbed against my hard cock and giggled. “I guess I’m going to have to tell them I can’t service them then because my boyfriend is being difficult.”

Hooking my thumbs in the waist of her jeans, I pulled them down her legs and she kicked them off onto the floor. I made quick work of her silk panties, nearly tearing them off her body, so she was naked against me.

“You can tell them I’m very difficult. It’s one of the reasons you love me.”

As my finger slid through her wet slit, she moaned, “Uh huh. Very difficult.”

Her mouth pressed hard against mine as I continued to finger her, and she flicked the tip of her tongue against my tongue in that way that never failed to make me go crazy. Quickly pushing my jeans and boxers down so my cock was free, I grabbed her hips and held her tight as I slid into her hard and fast.

My desire to fuck her took over, and I pumped into her as she rolled her hips against me and kissed me like my mouth held the only thing she ever wanted. Even after all our years together, Shay and I were still the same two people who couldn’t get enough of one another, even on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

She rode me like my cock was hers to use, and I loved it. I loved her, probably more than she knew. Sure, we said I love you all the time, but over the years I’d come to realize that meant more than romance and sex.

Shay was the only woman I could imagine being with for the rest of my life. We never talked about it or mentioned marriage, but I knew it. A piece of paper wouldn’t change how I felt about her. She was the woman for me.

With one last thrust into her tight cunt, she came apart, milking my cock to my own release, and then in the middle of the afternoon we lay there in each other’s arms not caring about anything but each other. It wasn’t what my brothers had, and I didn’t care. They had their happiness, and I was happy for them.

But Shay and I had ours too.

As I lay there lost in thought about how good she felt next to me, she asked, “So how did the meeting go? Are you guys going to see what’s up with this guy who claims he’s one of your father’s kids?”

I shook my head to get rid of my thoughts about us and nodded. “Yeah. Well, Kane and I are. Cash isn’t interested so far.”

Shay kissed me softly on the lips and smiled. “I think it’s a good idea. Who knows? He might be someone you can hang out with. Someone like you who isn’t married like Cash and Kane.”

Chuckling at the idea, I kissed her on the forehead. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I’m too old to be hanging out anymore with twenty-six year olds. Those days are long gone.”

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. “I can’t believe it. The legendary Stefan March has officially become an adult. You better watch out. Who knows what that will bring?”

She was right. If I didn’t watch myself, one day I’d be thinking I should be like Cash and Kane.

Kane

A
fter getting the green light,
at least from Stefan, I headed over to John Kearney’s to see what else he’d found out about Sebastian. The guy worked seven days a week since his wife left him for some insurance salesman from Orlando and practically lived at his hole-in-the-wall office if he wasn’t out in the field investigating, so I had a pretty good shot at finding him sitting behind that old wooden desk of his.

John looked up when he heard the office door open and waved me in. “Kane, what brings you here on a beautiful Sunday afternoon? I don’t think I’ve found out much more since I last talked to you.”

I sat down in front of his desk and looked at him, trying to figure out if he’d even bothered going home the night before. His face hadn’t been touched by a blade in what looked like days, and his brown hair looked like it needed a good washing by the way it hung down in his eyes. Hell, it needed a good trim too.

“Living here now, John?” I asked half-jokingly.

He looked around at the drab tan walls surrounding us and laughed. “No, why?”

“You look like shit, man. When was the last time you left here?”

Running his hand over his chin, he shrugged. “Life of a single guy.”

How different he looked since I met him all those years ago when I first needed someone to check out people at Club X. Back then, he was a married man with a young wife and looked like he was on top of the world. Now all I saw was the empty shell of that guy. He sounded the same, but there was something missing in him these days.

“I guess the life of a single guy doesn’t involve a shower or a razor.”

“Beards make women go wild these days. Haven’t you seen all those young douchebags with them? The chicks dig it. It’s like carte blanche to look like a goddamn scumbag. It’s a good time to be a lazy guy. You should try it.”

I shook my head and cringed at the idea of any woman digging John like this. “Yeah, no. Not my thing.”

“Your loss. You’re married anyway, so what do you care about what attracts the ladies, right?”

“I don’t. What I care about is finding out what more you know about this person who claims he’s a son of Cassian March.”

John nodded and blew the air out of his lungs slowly. “Well, I still haven’t found any legal proof he’s your brother. His birth certificate only lists the mother’s name. And I’ve found no real evidence that your father ever recognized him as a child of his. I can say this, though. I’ve seen him and damnit if he doesn’t look like you and Cassian. Those must have been some serious genes your father was toting around with him. I wonder what happened with Stefan, though.”

I thought about Alexandria and how strong she was and chuckled. “You’ve never met his mother. Something tells me her genes are just as serious.”

Whatever I said must have struck him as funny because he burst out laughing like we’d been telling jokes for the past five minutes. “Interesting family you guys have.”

“So did you find out anything else about this guy?”

John shook his head. “Other than his name, where he lives, and where he works, all I know so far is he doesn’t seem to have any legal claim to being Cassian March’s son. It has only been two days since I started this case, though, so I expect I’ll find out more this week.”

“Okay. Let me know as soon as you find anything out.”

I stood to leave as he promised to call me the minute he got any new information on Sebastian Thorne. Thanking him, I turned to leave and stopped. My curiosity wanted more satisfaction. Looking back at John, I said, “How about giving me the addresses of his place and his work?”

A sly grin slowly spread across his face. “Want to check him out for yourself, huh?”

“Yeah. Can’t hurt to look.”

As he scribbled down the addresses on a sheet of paper, he nodded. “Nope. Just a warning, though. He’s like the mirror image of you. There’s no way he’s not going to recognize you if he sees you, so lay low.”

“You think he hasn’t seen me or my brothers yet? He contacted me, not the other way around.”

John handed me the paper. “That’s true. I guess he probably has taken a gander at you already. Still, I think it would be better if you lay low on Frisco with this guy. Look, but don’t touch.”

“Got it. I’ll keep that all in mind. Thanks, John. Let me know when you find out anything else.”

“Of course. You’ll be hearing from me soon, hopefully.”

*

“Mommy! Liam pooped again and
it’s awful!”

Annalea’s announcement that her brother’s diaper was dirty greeted me as I walked back into the house. From the kitchen, Abbi yelled out, “I’ll be right there, honey.”

I picked up my son from the playpen as Annalea showed me a picture she’d drawn. “Daddy, look what I made at Grandma’s. Guess what it is.”

My eyes teared up as the smell wafting up from Liam’s diaper nearly overwhelmed me, so all I saw was a blurry flower or maybe a rainbow. Taking my best guess, I answered, “That’s a beautiful flower picture, honey. I’ll take a better look as soon as I get your brother changed.”

Abbi met me as I began to climb the stairs. “Kane, I didn’t realize you were home. Everything okay at the restaurant? Did you find out what the problem was with the electricity?”

Remembering the lie I’d told her about where I was going hours earlier, I forced a smile and nodded. “Everything’s okay. Just a problem with one of the breakers. I’ll be right back down. Just need to clean up a mess with this little guy.”

Thankfully, I got away before she could ask me any more questions about the nonexistent problem at CK. As I changed Liam’s diaper, I stared down into his dark blue eyes so similar to mine and told myself my lies weren’t really anything that could hurt anyone. I just wanted to keep the whole business with this potential new brother away from my family until I knew one way or another what kind of person he was.