He took a long drink. “We’re here for you.”
“I like Cora. She’s such a wonderful person. Ryan speaks highly of her.”
James glanced toward Ryan. He was dancing around the garden with Stacey and Teri. Leo and Paul were not looking too happy about that.
When a song came on about a woman no longer accepting a man cheating on her, the women stood in a circle, jumping, and miming along to the words. James leaned on his mower and watched Cora. Her eyes were glowing with life, and he recalled the story she’d told him about witnessing the death of a businesswoman. It had affected her in such a fundamental way. If she’d not witnessed it, and she hadn’t changed, he doubted they’d have ever been in the same garden, singing to trashy pop songs.
Leo and Paul snagged Stacey around the waist. Cora’s friend laughed at the action, but there was nothing there for her. His men were going to get hurt if they thought they could tame that wild cat. She taught history at the school and was a damn good teacher, but she wasn’t going to settle with one man, let alone two.
Since Cora and Stacey had visited the club James had done some digging on them. Neither woman had a bad reputation, but they were known for being together without men. Teri got along with both of them well.
Cora danced toward him, pointing her finger in his direction. He usually hated being the focus or the main attention, and some of the club turned to watch them. James stepped away from the lawnmower as Cora moved right up to his body. She wasn’t singing. She mimed as she wrapped her arm around his neck, bowing back. He dropped her a little. She didn’t once break the flow of the song.
He brought her back up, and Cora turned in his arms, dancing down his body, going back up, touching him with her hand.
She circled him, and James followed her, catching her hand, and tugging her back. He never danced, and yet Cora had pulled him into the song, warning him about leaving.
Pulling her toward him, they were a breath away, and the song ended. James slammed his lips down on hers, claiming the kiss he’d been dying to do for so long.
The brothers erupted, whistling, and whooping at the kiss.
“I don’t dance,” he said, pulling away.
“I do, and if you want to get with me, baby, you better learn to kiss me back.” She stroked his cheek, and pulled away. “There’s going to be a lot of firsts between us.” Cora gave him a wink, then walked away.
“You’re fucked,” Pixie said.
“Jealous?” James asked.
“Fuck, yeah, I’m jealous. You’ve got an amazing woman right there, and I let her slip through my fingers.”
James couldn’t argue with his brother there. After they cleared away the mess they fired up the barbeque, grilling up some burgers and steaks. There wasn’t enough, so Cora and Ryan left to get some more from the store. They were back in twenty minutes, and in the short time of being around the club, Ryan looked happier.
Nodding him over toward him, James handed him a burger. “How are you feeling now?”
“I’m doing good. I missed this. I didn’t think I was ever going to get this again.”
“The brothers never left you, Ryan. We’re not like that. We just got busy. I promise, it’s not going to be like that anymore.”
“I believe you.” Ryan looked over to the women. James followed his gaze to find Cora and Stacey having handstand competitions. Cora’s shirt had rolled up her body, but she was wearing a sports bra. They were all dressed in gardening clothes.
“Get your mind out of the gutter,” James said, tapping the back of his head lightly.
“She’s hot.”
“And she’s older.”
“Cougar.”
James snorted. Cora was all his, and when he shared her, it was only going to be for a chance to blow her mind, no other reason. He wasn’t going to spring sharing her with another member yet. She was adventurous, and he wanted to put his stamp on her.
Every time he thought about Cora, he couldn’t stop thinking of her as his.
Mine.
Pixie had shown too much jealousy, so he wasn’t going to share her with his brother. One day he’d broach the subject with her, but not yet. He didn’t want to risk losing what they had with each other.
James loved sharing, getting the opportunity to watch his woman come apart by the touch of another man. It wasn’t for everyone, but it was for him.
“I won, Stace, in your face,” Cora said, hugging her friend close.
“I demand a rematch.”
While they were waiting for the next wave of food, Cora challenged Stacey, Lucy, Teri, and Kitty Cat to see who could stay up the longest.
“Come on, James, show her how it’s done,” Pixie said.