My Libertine (Trio Book 2) (9 page)

We walk outside to the party that seems to be going on and see they have a damned pool, that's a new development.

“When the hell did you guys get this?” I ask referring to the beautiful deck enclosed enormous above ground pool. “I didn't even bring a suit. You could have said something.” Linn waves her hand at me.

“You can borrow one of mine or swim in your damn clothes if you want.” I see that Rick and Check are already in the pool. Fuckers, I'm instantly envious, it’s so hot out here.

“We got time before food?” I ask. She says yes and I go inside to grab her extra suit she told me was on her bed. When I step out of her room wearing the fricken thing she calls a swimsuit Row is standing there wearing a pair of shorts. He looks me over rather openly, it gives me shivers that go straight to my clit. Damn thing needs to behave, had enough of her this morning.

“That supposed to be a swimsuit?” he asks raising a brow.

“I guess. Where did you get yours?” I ask. When we came here he was wearing jeans and a tee shirt, said he was used to the heat and didn't even own a pair of shorts. His untanned legs show it. I'm glad to see that his bottom half isn't as tanned as his top. Gives him a slight defect if you will.

“Linn said she bought extra pairs for when people come over. You might as well be wearing band-aids over your tits.” I see his eyes on my now hard nipples. He licks his lips and that is all it takes and my borrowed bikini bottoms are drenched. Guess they aren't going back to Linn. I hear him make a noise I can't quite place. Somewhere between a growl and moan from the back of his throat. We stand there quietly. I dare a glance down and see he is hard through his swim trunks. Oh goddamn. He is wearing a pair of black shorts so damn low on his hips I can see that beautiful V cut he has leading to the one place my eyes seem to be drawn to. His dick twitches in his shorts and like it is some fricken poisonous snake, I jump back like it will bite if I get to close.

“He’s harmless, and rather likes you.” Row says it sounds playful still but also has a rough tone to it, making me wetter. If that is even possible. I try and squeeze my legs together to get some relief. His eyes zero in on the action. He steps forward, lifting his hand skimming it across my stomach sending more of those damned shivers right through me. I suck in a breath at the contact looking up into his eyes. They are dilated, a dark blue now.

“Hey, guys food is almost done,” Linn yells out from the back door. Making us jump back from one another.

“Be right there,” I yell back. I look at Row once again and know the moment has passed. He rubs his hands down his face seeming to try and change his sate of mind. “Um, I will be right out. Go ahead without me.” He just nods, looking like he wants to say something, but decides against it and walks away. I quickly turn around and shut the door, quickly looking all over her room for a cover-up of some kind, finding a hot pink oversized tank top that comes down just covering my ass. I guess this will have to do. I brace myself and go outside. Walking over to Linn and Lee.

“So who's the guy?” Lee asks me. I’ve been getting more comfortable around him I just wish I didn't see him naked every time I talked to him. I never let Linn know how much I was hooked on the guy. I was young and impressionable. In my defense, he was my first.

“He is my roommate,” I say quietly, waiting for the blow up that is about to come.

“What?” he questions loudly. I shush him because everyone has looked our way for a second. I roll my eyes.

“I met him a while back and kept in contact. He just showed up a week ago and needed a place to stay. So I let him stay. I hardly ever see him. He is always out screwing every ting with tits.” The last bit sounds bad.

“Someone a little jealous?” Linn asks. “You screw him yet?” she asks getting a smack on her arm from Lee. “What? She is cock blocked for the next eighteen years, she’s got to get it while she can.” This one gets her a smack from me.

“Thanks a lot you little bitch, I can't wait till you have a baby attached to your tit,” I say.

“Shit, I already do.” She gestures to Lee.

“Oh god Linn I don't need to be seeing that image in my head. Who did you give my baby to?” I ask looking around to find Karter in the arms of Rick with Check making faces at him. Still no giggling yet. The books all said they will come soon. He smiles but doesn't laugh yet.

I leave my crazy ass friend and start walking toward the two men holding my child when I see Row walking over to them too. He doesn't see me yet so I slow my walk.

“Hey, I'm Row.” He introduces himself to Rick and Check. They reciprocate.

“Cute kid ain't he?” Row asks. Getting head nods in return.

“You with Shane?” Rick asks. Row doesn't say anything for a minute then finally answers.

“She’s a hell of a woman, great mom, too. I would be so lucky, but no I'm just her roommate for now.” For now what dos that mean?

“You’re that bull rider she met a few months back aren't you?” Check asks.

“Yep. The circuit starts up here in about a month then I'm off again. I'm on a break of sorts right now.” He is leaving in a month. I always knew he was leaving but without a time stamp, I didn't really think about it.

“Hey, you sexy thang,” Rick says looking over at me. I'm still looking at Row and see the glare he gives Rick when he calls me the name.

“Hi there Rick. He puke on you yet?” I laugh and continue my walk over to them. Every time Rick holds Karter he gets hurled on. Twice in one night even.

“No.” He turns Karter around and talks to him. “We got a deal don't we kid?” not two seconds after Karter spits up all over Rick’s shirt. Deal indeed. Fits of laughter erupt all over then out of nowhere Karter lets out his first giggle. My heart melts at the sound.

For the rest of the party, Row avoids me. That is until we get into the pool. I take off the pink cover up and jump in, getting a cold shock to my body from the water. Karter is asleep in Linn’s room in the playpen she keeps here for him. The baby monitor is set outside next to the pool so if he does wake up we will hear, so far not a peep has been made. All of us are in the massive pool. This thing is huge, I would hate to be the one to clean it when it comes time to take it down.

“So now that big brother isn't here, what is really going with you and sexy cowboy? He hasn't taken his eyes off of you all day.” Linn asks swimming up to me. She is right about him not taking his eyes off of me. Whenever I look his way he seems to be turning his head away as if trying not to get caught staring. We have a game of pool volleyball going, and well with my and Linn’s athletic skills we are really just in the back talking while the guys play. It really is a sexy sight. Four men in only swim trunks and water dripping all over their bodies. It really doesn't help that each one of these men could be a model. How did we get so lucky?

“Honestly, nothing. He is really is out every night, we have only spent a handful of hours with each other. Watching TV mostly. I hardly know anything about the guy. He is great with Karter, though.” After the last part is said I add “not that I need a father for him or anything.”

“Heads up!” one of the guys yells right before I get pegged in the head with the ball. Fuck! Why weren’t we using a beach ball again? The volleyball hits me hard in the temple, and while it is still a softball it still hurts like a bitch.

Out of the chaos of everyone asking me if I'm okay I hear Row curse and suddenly he is by my side acting like I just took a bullet to the head. “Fuck I'm sorry Dove, shit.” Without even asking me he lifts me up and carts me out of the pool. I'm a little dazed so I don't protest until we are out and he is sitting me on a chair trying to assess my injury.

“Jesus Row I'm fine, it was a volleyball not a damned rock.” Felt like one, though.

“You sure? Shit, I was spiking it too. I'm so fucking sorry.”

“You okay Shane?” Linn yells from the pool. I shoot her a thumbs up and they go back to the game.

“I'm going to go inside, get a drink,” I say getting off of the chair and leaving Row behind.

The kitchen is all new with the latest appliances, which is ridiculous since neither one of them know how to cook. I swear between the two of them they probably use the microwave more than the stove.

I remember coming over here for thanksgiving dinner and having to cook everything myself. The house still had the smell of burnt potatoes when we sat down to eat.

Reaching for a cup I grab my favorite one with ‘I love Seattle’ on it. Really don't know why it is my favorite, just is. Filling it up with water I turn to see Row standing there in the kitchen looking at me, much the same way he was outside Linn’s door earlier.

“You sure you are okay?”

“Yes, please stop asking. I'm fine. Promise.” I smile and take a sip of my water. He nods and continues to stare. That is when I look down and realize why. I'm still wet from the pool, not dripping any more, but my black bikini is clinging even tighter to my body. Oh, and there are my nipples, perking up at the mention of Row looking at me. He doesn't come any closer but looks like he wants to.

“Row…” I start but he shushes me.

“Please don't say anything Shana. I'm hold’n on here by a thread.” The last word in that sentence is so raspy I barely hear it. I keep my eyes focused on his face not daring a glance downward to where I know he is hard. I can just feel the tension in the air, so thick you could cut it with a knife. “Why does it have to be you?” I hear him mumble to himself, probably not for my ears to hear. He shakes his head and turns away from me. “I'm going to go and get changed. You ready to go when the little man wakes up?” he asks not turning back to look my way.

“Yes, I am. I will go get changed too. Thank you for coming here today Row.” He grunts in response and walks out of the kitchen, leaving me there.

I finish my cup of water and set it in the sink then go to Linn’s room to change finding my little guy laying there staring up at me. “Hey, baby boy. Did you have a good nap?” I ask him shutting the door behind me. I go about stripping off my wet swimsuit and putting my clothes back on. “I don't know what to do Karter,” I confess to my baby boy. “On one hand, I'm crazy about the guy and on the other, I want to run away screaming. What do you think I should do?” I ask him. I get bubbles in response, him blowing bubbles that is. “He would make a great dad, wouldn't he? Even if he is a slut.” I laugh at that part. “Such a handsome slut.” I get more cooing in response and pick him up. “It is just me and you though isn't it? And that is okay because I love you more than anything.” I kiss my boy on the forehead and leave to go say goodbye to my friends. Our family.

On the way home from Linn’s the truck is silent. Neither one of us wanting to bring up what happened, whatever it was. When we pull up into the parking lot outside the apartment he doesn't get out. I give him a questioning look.

“Got somewhere to be.” He grunts out not even looking my way. Really the guy owes me nothing.

“Alright see you tomorrow then,” I say quietly. Getting out and then grabbing Karter from the back seat. “Bye,” I say so softly I don't even hear myself.

I feed Karter and put him to bed. Going out to sit on the couch and watch some TV. Flipping it onto Netflix, don't judge me I'm a single mother Netflix is by best friend, the first thing I see is the continue watching section. That damned zombie show is there. Against my better judgment, I hit select and continue where Row and I left off. Three episodes in and a lot of blanket clutching, I hear someone at the door. Then Row walks in, looking stunned to see me sitting on the couch watching this particular show.