His to Take (Wicked Lovers #9)(57)
Author: Shayla Black

A flush zoomed up Bailey’s fair complexion and her stare trailed away. “I-I’m fine.”

“Oh, hell,” Kata muttered with an incredulous stare. “He tried to get you into bed, didn’t he?”

Joaquin wasn’t sure whether to bark at his sister that it was none of her business or ask her how the fuck she knew. Hunter saved him the trouble.

His brother-in-law set his big hands on Kata’s shoulders and spoke calmly. “Ease up, honey. It’s a birthday party. Thorpe will be here any minute. Let’s play nice. You can snap at Joaquin later.”

Like hell. “Thanks, buddy.”

Hunter sent him a jaunty smile. “Don’t mention it. I have great respect for her hormones. You should, too.”

Kata elbowed her husband, then sighed. “Fine. I’m going to put Thorpe’s present down and get some punch. Where’s Tara . . .”

Joaquin’s sister glanced around the room until she found a little redhead next to Logan. They were speaking to Callie. Even from a distance, he could see that the conversation was stilted, and Logan was doing his best to smooth things over.

“Is something wrong between them?” Bailey asked.

“Tara has always thought that Callie wanted her man,” Kata said, “but I told her Callie has always been stuck on Thorpe. I was right. I’ll see what I can do over there. Why don’t you come with me so I can warn you away from my brother?”

Before his sister took more than a couple of steps, Callie broke out in a smile. Tara returned the expression, and the two hugged. Sean hovered behind his bride, looking pleased. The two men shook hands. Logan said something, and everyone laughed. Kata and Bailey joined in, Hunter just behind them.

Joaquin’s sister introduced Bailey to the group. Tara smiled warmly and conversation ensued. Logan dropped a hand on the petite ballerina’s shoulder and asked her a question or two. She nodded and murmured a short answer, looking a bit shy. And so goddamn beautiful she made Joaquin’s cock stand hard. But it was more because he also didn’t like the Edgington brothers hovering around her. Joaquin’s head told him they were married. The rest of him didn’t care because he didn’t want anyone else’s hands on her.

Jack Cole and his redheaded wife breezed in a moment later, the man guiding her with a hand at her back. He turned and dropped his head to whisper something in her ear. She lifted a hand and let it glide across her belly. Her gauzy, flowy blouse almost hid a baby bump. After setting another wrapped gift on the little table, Jack’s hand joined hers over the emerging mound.

Joaquin grimaced. What the hell was the appeal of chaining yourself to a desk to come home to the same woman every night, who’d eventually nag about what you didn’t do to help around the house while raising snotty rug rats who would someday become defiant teenagers? He’d always wondered that. But now?

He glanced at Bailey. Something vicious kicked him in the chest . . . then gripped him lower. What the hell?

“Hey, man.” He watched Logan approach Jack with a slap on the shoulder. “Morgan, how are you feeling?”

Jack shook Logan’s hand as Morgan smiled. “Really good. This pregnancy is much easier than the last.”

“She’s getting the hang of hormone overload,” Jack quipped.

Morgan batted his shoulder, then turned her attention to Logan. “How are those precious little baby girls of yours?”

Logan rubbed the back of his neck. “Sleepless. Tara needs to stop worrying and relax. Mandy and Macy are spending the night with Grandpa Caleb and Carlotta, so . . .”

“So it’s on in the dungeon tonight, huh?” Jack grinned. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“That leaves the field wide open,” Morgan teased.

“We might not be able to engage in impact play now, but orgasm deprivation is not off the table, mon couer.” Jack’s smile wasn’t pleasant.

Logan cleared his throat and coughed into his hand, obviously smothering a laugh. “Who’s holding down the fort tonight? Deke?”

“No.” Jack wrapped his arm around Morgan as his face turned more serious. “They stopped Kimber’s labor, but she’s on strict bedrest for at least the next week. Stone agreed to watch Oracle and alert me if anything goes down. He’s getting some help from Tyler and Xander’s buddy Decker McConnell.”

Joaquin shouldn’t be surprised that a man like Jack wouldn’t leave the private security company he owned with Deke completely untended. In fact, he was relieved. Stone had proven damn useful. Maybe he’d turn something else up.