I liked the warm tones of the covers, and the pillows were just the right firmness to make me never want to get out of bed. There was a dresser near the closet and a TV stand with a large flat screen sitting on it. Seeing the remote on the nightstand beside me, I grabbed it.
I wasn’t surprised to see it was on one of the sports channels. It was weird, because two minutes later, the host of whatever show was on started talking about Tennessee’s upcoming game against Jacksonville that Sunday and how Luca Thornton dominated for the defense.
The guy started talking football lingo, and I tuned him out, just watching footage of Luca playing the previous week against Indianapolis, and then a few clips from some of his college games. I winced when he roughly tackled some massive offensive guy during one of his Alabama games. I didn’t know guys on the defense could move so fast.
My knowledge of football was pretty nonexistent, but I did know that a lot of the guys on the defense were on the heavy side. Luca, however, was pure muscle.
“Really?” Lyric grumbled when he came back into the room. He seemed irritated, his jaw clenching and unclenching as he kept his eyes on the TV. “These idiots don’t have anything better to do, so they’re debating which skank my dumb-ass brother is currently dating?”
“I wasn’t really paying attention to what they were saying. Half the time, I don’t understand what they are talking about anyway,” I admitted.
He dropped down beside me on the bed, his arm going across me and pulling me into his body. I cuddled close, pillowing my head on his thick shoulder. “Here’s everything you need to know about my brother, babe. One, he’s always been in love with Violet. Since before she was even born. They had this weird bond that started when Aunt Harper was pregnant with her. Two, he fucked up, and he’s been paying the price ever since. Three, when you hear these morons talk about who he’s dating, they get it wrong every time. He lives solely for Vi, and he isn’t stupid enough to mess up again… I hope.”
The last two words were gritted out as live footage of Luca walking out of the locker room after practice that evening showed some girl jumping into his arms and kissing him.
“Ah fuck,” he muttered. “This isn’t going to be pretty.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and shifted so he was holding me with his other arm. “Five, four, three, two…” He’d didn’t even get to one before his phone chimed with multiple texts all at once, and I looked at the screen.
Mom: Did you know your brother is dating someone?
Dad: Who the fuck is that trash with your brother?
Lucy: What the hell is Luca thinking?
Lyric released a pained sigh but didn’t open the phone to return any of the messages. It was like he was waiting. And a few seconds later, he grunted as one more text appeared on the screen.
Vi: Going to London with Shaw for the weekend. If you see anything you don’t like about me in the trash mags, be sure and screenshot that shit and send it to your dirtbag brother.
“And Self-Destruct Violet has made a comeback,” he muttered unhappily.
I snatched the phone out of his hand and turned it off. “Let’s not worry about them for a few minutes,” I told him as I rolled onto his chest and smiled down at him. “You just survived having a gun pressed to your skull. I think that should be celebrated.”
He groaned, his hands cupping my ass and pressing me into his lower body. “You almost passed out on me half an hour ago, Mila. My cock is weeping for you right now, but there will be no sex until you are feeling better.”
“I am feeling better,” I kissed his jaw, nipping at his neck. “In fact, I feel amazing right now. Our first showdown with my dad went better than I could have hoped.”
Amusement made his eyes light up. “That was better than you hoped?”
“You didn’t get cut, and no bullets entered your delicious body. I call that a win.” I started tugging at the hem of his shirt. “Tomorrow, however, is another story. Let’s make the most of today.”
Chapter 17
Lyric
I knew it was coming. Knew before I even opened my eyes the next morning that I was about to be swarmed, and there was nothing I could do about it.
I was just hoping to prepare Mila a little more before that happened. Instead, she kept me busy all night with my cock in her, and neither one of us thought much about what the morning would bring.
Now, I was looking at my parents and Aunt Emmie through sleep-deprived eyes as they stood on my front steps, expecting to meet the girl who was now one of their own.
“Why is your phone off?” Mom demanded, hands on her hips as she glared up at me. “I’ve been texting and trying to call you all night, young man.”
“I was busy, Mom,” I told her, scrubbing my hands over my stubbled jaw. “Mila wasn’t feeling well last night. I had to take care of her.”
Dad’s knowing eyes took in my hastily pulled on basketball shorts, bare chest, and unkempt hair. “Right,” he said with a smirk. “I bet you took care of her all night long, dude.”
“Jesse,” Mom scolded. “That’s our future daughter-in-law.”
The smirk dropped off Dad’s face in a flash. “Right. Where is she? We got shit to plan, boy. Let us in so your mom and Emmie can get started.”
I held up my hands, blocking the three of them from entering. “First, let’s set some ground rules. Mila is having some major low blood pressure issues. You are not going to overtire her. If I see she’s having problems, the three of you are going back to Malibu until she has the babies.”
“Babies!” Mom and Aunt Emmie screamed, practically bouncing up and down. “So, it really is twins?”
“Yes, Mom.” I continued to stand in their way when they tried to barge in. “And this wedding…it better not be some circus show like you tried to do with Lucy. I remember how miserable she was back then, and I’ll ban you all from coming near Mila if you stress her out. Even if it’s just a little. I will personally drive your asses to the airport and toss you on the plane if you pull any of that shit.”
Mom’s face turned contrite. “I promise on all that I love, I will not stress your Mila out, Ric. This is her wedding, and I only want to make it as perfect for her as she will allow me.”
“Wedding!”
I turned at Mila’s screech and swallowed my groan. Fuck, of course, I’d forgotten to propose. I’d meant to ask her the night before, but she’d kept me otherwise occupied.
Seeing her wide eyes and pale face, I slammed the door in my parents’ faces and dropped to my knees in front of her. “Baby, don’t freak out,” I begged, clasping her hands in both of mine. “I know this is moving fast—”
“What fucking wedding, Lyric?” she demanded, her gray eyes turning wild.
“Ours. If you’ll have me, babe.” Her mouth fell open. “I love you, Mila. I was miserable all damn summer without you. Please, baby. Please don’t ever make me have to live without you again.”
“But… We don’t even know each other.” Her chin started to tremble.
“We know all the important things, and that’s all that matters.” Wrapping my arms around her slender waist, I pressed a kiss to her stomach through the T-shirt she’d pulled on. One of my shirts that fell to her knees, she was so tiny. I liked her wearing my clothes, but she didn’t have a bra on, and my parents were only a door away. “I love you, and even though you haven’t said it yet, I know you love me too.”
“I-I do,” she whispered, a tear spilling over her thick lashes and falling down her cheek. It dripped onto my chest, burning my flesh like acid. I hated when she cried.
She scrubbed her hand over the damp trail the tear had left. “Fuck. I am not a crier,” she muttered. “But it seems I can’t control my emotions lately.”
“It’s the babies!” Mom called through the door. “It doesn’t get any better, trust me.”
“Mom, I’m kind of in the middle of something,” I yelled.
“Right. Sorry. Carry on.” A pause. Then, “Does he even have a ring?”
A laugh escaped Mila. “Well, do you?” she demanded.
“I don’t,” I told her with a grimace. “But only because I wanted us to pick them out together.”
“Like matching rings or something?” she murmured, her brows lifting.
“Whatever you want,” I said with a nod.
“You have to wear a ring too,” she said, stabbing me in the chest with her index finger. “If I have to wear a ring, you do too so that all those thirsty bitches out there know you’re taken.”
“That’s right. Lay down the law, girl!” Mom cheered.
“Mom!”
“Sorry. Sorry.” I heard Dad chuckle, and I shook my head exasperatedly when Mila giggled.
“I think I like your mom,” she whispered.
“She likes me!”
Mila giggled again, and I decided it didn’t matter as long as she kept laughing so sweetly and her tears dried up. Kissing her belly again, I looked up at her beautiful face. “I’ll wear whatever you want me to wear. I’ll even tattoo your name around my finger.”