Climbing Out (9 page)

“Not sure,” I said and sent a glare to Billy, who ignored it.

“Give the kid a break. He's only doing what he's been told.”

“Exactly.”

“Honey, don't be too hard on Grady. Isn't it obvious he just wants to keep you safe? I think it's sweet, actually.”

“I guess,” I grumbled. In retrospect, I knew I shouldn't be upset by it, but it had kinda put a downer on my good mood.
Grady had better make it up to me tonight.

The front door opened, and Zara, in a long skirt and black tee walked—okay, waddled was more like it—in. She spotted us, clapped and ran-slash-swayed over. It was a funny sight to see.

“Hoo-wee, I can't wait. Spill! Spill now, woman.”

“Can't I get a coffee first?” I smiled.

“Sure.” Zara grinned, and then called over her shoulder, “Billy, can you get us two lattes and a hot chocolate, please?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Sure, Wildcat,” Billy said with a deeper voice than I expected.

“Now you can talk.”

“I don't want to go gettin' your hopes up or anything; this thing with Grady—”

“Oh, wow, you're on first name basis? It's serious!” Zara gushed, interrupting me.

Another eye roll from me. “But...you know things could change. I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with.” Both of them snorted. “So it could all go to shit, and I worry if I act like a woman and rave about how last night was the best night in a long time for me...yeah, I just worry.”

“Hun,” Zara started and placed her hand over mine. “Live in the moment. We can both see the shine in your eyes—a shine that has been lost for a long time—coming back, and it only happened after what occurred with you and Griz last night.”

“And if anyone can put up with Satan herself, it would be hot-man Griz,” Julian added.

“He's right, Deanna. Griz has had his eye on you for-freakin' ever, and I don't know how, but he finally got over the age difference and took what he's wanted since you walked into his life.”

“I think he held that pause button of his, because it also had a lot to do with his psycho ex. May she rest in peace,” Julian said and crossed his chest in a silent prayer.

“But,” Zara said, “he knows you are nothing like her. Nothing.”

I looked over Zara's shoulder to Billy. He silently placed the drinks on the table. With a thank you from all of us, he gave a chin lift and left to go back to his seat across the room.

“Now, that's all sorted; spill the beans, woman.” Julian grinned.

Lifting the warm cup to my lips, I took a sip to hide my smile. They were right; I had to live in the moment, and if Griz hadn't run already from the way I was, then I guess I was lucky and I'd run with what we had—whatever that was.

Placing the cup back down on the table, I cleared my throat. “Okay, last night I went to bed after finding out Grady had not only moved himself in, but Swan as well.” I turned a glare on Zara. “And by the way, thanks for the heads up—
not
.”

“Oh, pfft. I think I know what the outcome was, so I'm glad I did it.”

“Anyway, I went to bed in a state of shock as Grady was putting Swan down to sleep. I expected him to sleep with her in her room or the other spare one, and then my thoughts started running wild—”

“Like how such a hot piece of male was only metres away and you wanted to jump his bones? Well, one for certain.” Julian cackled and then sobered. “Wait, should we be talking about this in front of...” He gestured with his head to Zara.

“What do you mean? Of course I can hear this,” Zara snapped.

“Not you, the babies. Should we get some ear-muffs and place them on your belly to block all this out?”

Zara and I looked at each other and cracked up laughing.

“Whatever, mofos. Fine, corrupt the young; see if I care.”

“I love that you do care, Julian, but I promise they won't remember anything being said here.” Zara smiled warmly at him.

I took a breath and continued, “As I was saying, I was making myself horny, so I pulled out Vinny, but just when I was about to get into it, my door opened, and in walked Grady.”

Zara covered her mouth, though I'd already seen the huge smile she was trying to hide behind her hand. While Julian gestured with his hands for me to keep going, his eyes shone with glee.

“I asked him why he was there and he said he was tired. I said there were other places to sleep, and he told me to be quiet, because he was exhausted. He got into bed and I thought
fuck it
, and continued on with what I was doing.”

“Oh, no, you didn't.” Julian laughed.

“Wow,” Zara said, her eyes as big as saucers.

I grinned widely and said, “I did. He freaked, jumped out of bed and was over on the other side of the room in seconds.”

They both laughed with me.

“Then what?” Zara asked, leaning forward as much as she could with her round belly.

“I kept going and asked him to join me. He said no, but I could tell he wanted to by the large tent he had going on in his boxers.” I smiled at the thought. “After a while, he ended up shovin' his boxers down and said 'two can play at that game',
and then
he started to tug his chain.”

“Holy crap, that is so hot,” Julian moaned, and Zara nodded in agreement.

“In the end, he couldn't resist any longer and came over to give me the best head-job I've ever had. I swear, I would have seen angels singing above my head if my eyes were open.”

“Yippee!” Zara clapped and wiggled in her seat.

“Aaaand?” Julian asked.

I giggled like an actual girly woman as I teased, “I wanted to finish him...but...”

“But what?” Julian screamed. Zara shushed him.

“He'd already finished. Apparently, just going down on me had him so worked up, he'd pounded his spunk onto my bed.”

“Shit. Oh...damn. I need a fan or I need to come.” Julian sighed and leaned back in his chair.

“That is soooo cool.” Zara beamed, and I beamed right back at her.

It
was
totally cool, and I couldn't wait to do it again, even if he had teased me that morning and left me wanting him more than anything all day long. I mean, of course he would pay for it; he
had
to pay for it. I'd been so soaking wet all day, that I shoulda brought an extra pair of underwear.

Great, now it was even worse just thinkin' about what the night might entail.

Griz

––––––––

M
y body hummed with anticipation; I needed to get home to my woman, take her in my arms and then plant my cock inside her.

Especially after the day I had. Going from Maxwell's house, Talon called reinforcements in after we found where Ryan Little lived, and travelled our way to his place in Delecombe. It was only seconds after we pulled up to his two-storey home when another ten brothers pulled their own Harleys up and surrounded the jackass's house.

The little, bald, fat prick was smug enough to let us in. He had about eight men who sat, stood or leaned around the living room as we talked about what we wanted. The choice we gave him was either he stopped dealing in our territory, or he'd end up a dead man. He laughed and said he'd consider it. Then the dick turned to me and informed me that since my woman was dead, the money she'd clocked up using
his
drugs now fell on me.

That was when all hell broke loose. The fight was bound to happen; it was just sooner than we thought. Talon stood by my side as I beat the shit outta Ryan and told him he'd never see his money. The other brothers each fought their own battle against Ryan’s men.

Once things calmed down, we left the house with a promise it'd be worse if we found out he was still around and dealing.

We all went back to the compound to clean up and have a sit down. It was decided to keep a close eye on the fucker; we needed to know what his next move would be, if he was game enough to even make one. But I was sure he'd be shittin' himself right now and packing himself up to leave town. If he didn't, the fucker was just asking for a bullet.

After the meeting ended, I rode my Harley to Wildcat's place, where I'd left my vehicle and daughter that morning. Talon had ridden next to me, keen to get home to his wife and kids, but once we arrived, she was nowhere in sight. Instead, Mattie had the tribe of kids in the living room playing and watching TV. I could see Swan had taken a liking to Maya, as they were playing with some weird looking dolls.

“Where is she?” Talon asked Mattie.

“Zara and Julian are with Deanna having a pow-wow.”

Talon laughed. “Shit, brother, you're fucked,” he said to me.

I rolled my eyes and shrugged. I didn't care what Deanna told the other two, as long as she was happy when I saw her next.

The front door swung open, and Zara stood there with a frown upon her face. My heart picked up, and worry took over my body.

I took a step toward her and barked, “What's wrong?”

She looked at me quickly, and then back at Talon. “Did I just hear you swear in front of the kids?” she scolded.

Worry slipped from my body and I chuckled.

Fuck. I had been so wound up, my chest hurt. I rubbed at it.

“Dad's gonna get it,” Cody chimed in behind us from the couch.

“Shut it, Cody,” Talon said.

“Talon Marcus, don't you tell Cody to shut it; tell me instead—did you just swear in front of the kids?”

He rolled his eyes and sighed, looking like he was praying for patience. “Kitten,” he growled with a tone of warning.

“Don't
Kitten
me, and don't do it again, Talon, or you will get a tongue lashing in front of the kids,
again
.” She moved forward and Julian stepped in behind her; he closed the door and turned, and then looked at me blushing.

What. The. Fuck?

“It won’t be me gettin' the tongue lashing tonight,” Talon said with a lift of his eyebrow.

“Jesus, Dad! I'm here, ya know, and I know what you mean. Gross!”

Talon hit Cody in the back of the head and stalked to Zara. He pulled her into his arms, whispered something in her ear and she melted into him.

“Just don't swear again,” she said. “Also, you can’t talk like that in front of them.” She bit her bottom lip worriedly.

“How can I help it when my woman is so fu—freakin' hot?”

“Don't think you can charm your way out of this.” She turned in his arms and her eyes fell on Cody. “Cody Marcus.”

“Uh-oh,” Cody uttered.

“If I hear you use that J-word once again, I will wash your mouth out with soap. You hear me, boy?”

“You sound like Grandma when you say that.”

Shit.

Zara hated being referenced with her mum. Though she loved her mother, even Zara thought she was bat-shit crazy at times.

Zara gasped. “Cody Anthony Marcus! You take that back.”

“Now
you're
gonna get it,” Talon sang, and then laughed when Zara elbowed him in the stomach.

Cody stood up with wide eyes. Damn, he was a tall kid for a thirteen-year-old. “Sorry! I didn't mean it. Sorry, Mum.”

Zara's hand went to her mouth, her eyes welled with tears and she sobbed.

Hell, that kid knew how to work it. It was the first time he'd called her mum, and he'd just saved his arse from gettin' into deeper shit by doing it. I was sure Zara knew it, and I could see Talon knew it from the proud smile on his face, but both of 'em didn't care at all.

Mattie and Julian had somehow disappeared and I didn't even want to think about what they were doing. It was my turn to head out as well to let Talon and his family have this moment, while I went home to my woman and had my own moment.

I picked up Swan from the floor, kissed a usually-loud Maya on the forehead as she silently watched her new brother and parents with warm eyes, and then walked to the door.

“I'm out,” I said to the room.

They all turned to me; I thought I’d escape without an incident, but Zara ran over to me, pulled me and Swan into her arms and cried, “Oh, Griz, thank you, thank you for bringing my best friend back to me.” Shit, with the amount of tears leaking outta her, my shoulder was getting wet.

“Uh, sure.” I looked over her head to Talon. He shrugged and said, “Pregnancy makes her crazy.”

Zara spun around. “Oh, shush it.” She looked over at Cody and must have remembered what he’d just said before I’d announced I was leaving. She sniffled and ran over to the poor kid, bringing him in close and hugging the shit outta him.

“Dad,” Cody whined, though anyone could tell he was happy.

“Good luck with that,” I said with a chuckle, not only to Cody, but to Talon as well, and then left.

I lifted Swan into my car and onto her seat, and after strapping her in, I smiled down at her. “Did you have a good day, baby?”

She looked up at me and smiled. I could see her brain tickin' something over in her mind and then in the next second, she blew me away. “H-home.”

“Yes, sweetheart, we're going home to Deanna.” I kissed her head, closed the door and took a breath to get myself under control. I needed to get home to my woman.