Lindsey’s Wolves(70)

Ryan tugged them both to the table and sat them in a row so he and Alex flanked their mate. Amongst the laughter and questions and shouting, paper plates were passed around, food distributed, and seats taken.

When almost a dozen mouths were stuffed with food, the noise level lowered a degree.

Richard, Ryan’s father, sat across from them. He looked serious. “So, tell us what happened this afternoon.”

Ryan and Alex recounted the encounter at the apartment in a few words. Richard turned to Lindsey.

“Does anything this Pastor Stone fellow said make sense to you?”

“No. I had no idea my grandmother had made any sort of arrangements for my future, whatever that means.”

“Sounds like it must have had something to do directly with you turning twenty-two. Do you think?”

“Perhaps. I just can’t imagine. Four years ago when I left the church I was just a child still in many ways. I wasn’t paying any attention to the workings of the congregation. I was just biding my time.”

“Have you been back since?”

“Not once. And I never intend to. Pastor Stone was always peculiar, but this is weirder than ever.” Lindsey pushed the rest of the fried rice around on her plate. “Why would they want me if I’m not even willing? Can’t they just save someone else’s soul this week?” She chuckled, though only to try and lighten the mood. Ryan knew she didn’t find the subject remotely humorous.

Ryan’s father watched her closely. Concern was etched on his forehead. He didn’t take any threat to his family lightly, and it wasn’t in his nature to hesitate to add Lindsey and Alejandro to his mental tally of family members. “I’ll do a little more digging tomorrow. There has to be some way to find out what the hell these folks are all about.”

“Lindsey, you must be exhausted,” Ryan’s mother stated. “Why don’t you get some sleep. You’re all safe here. We can consider this situation closer in the morning.”

“Thank you, all of you.” Lindsey looked around at everyone as she mumbled the words, moisture pooling in her eyes before she lowered her gaze to her lap.

Ryan bumped into Alex as they both reached an arm around her, engaged in a collective deep breath.

“Let’s go to bed,” Ryan whispered into Lindsey’s ear.

In moments, the three stood, said their thanks and good-nights, and headed for the west wing of the house.

Ryan led the way and pushed the door to his suite open for the others to enter. Their bags from the back of the truck had somehow made their way to the room and sat lined up on the bed. He smiled at the thoughtfulness of his family. Any one of them would do anything for another.

“This is your room?” Lindsey padded in and kicked off her shoes. “It’s huge.”

“Well, it was Justin’s suite until a few years ago when he and Trevor got their own place. The two had been inseparable since childhood. They shared this group of rooms for many years. Tessa had also been in this wing, but when she got married, she and her husband built a house on the other side of the property. It’s only about a mile away.”

He watched as she and Alex wandered around examining Ryan’s personal space. It was theirs now. He had no secrets from them.

“Did you play football?” Alex asked, picking up a picture of Ryan from middle school.

“For about a minute. Until people started knocking me down. Believe it or not, my mother, for as strong and matriarchal as she may appear, did not take too kindly to having her middle child pummeled on the field.”

They kept up the examination. “You were such a cute little boy.” Lindsey held a picture of him at about age five.

“And I’m not now?” He raised one eyebrow and sauntered her way.

“Nope.” She set the frame down on the dresser, turned to Ryan, and backed toward the king-sized bed. “You’re the sexiest hunk I’ve ever laid eyes on, except for Alejandro, of course.”

Ryan’s cock came to attention. She was batting her eyes at both of them as they stalked toward her.

She gave an exaggerated yawn when her legs hit the mattress. “Well, think I’ll turn in. I’m so tired. Would you show me to my room?” Her head slanted to one side, her eyelids continuing to flutter alluringly.

“You’re standing in it,” Ryan stated as he and Alex reached their destination, each lifting under an arm and depositing her sexy ass in the middle of the tall bed, as though choreographed.

She giggled as they took turns tickling her and alternately peeling away her clothes. Her laughter was the sweetest music, filling the room with life and love.

Stripped, she lay back like a goddess, her hair fanning the pile of pillows, her arms raised above her head at an angle, her legs slightly parted.