“Having a kid doesn’t mean you have to swear off sex,” Carina pointed out. “We still have plenty.”
“Muuum,” Cara groaned playfully. “You’re supposed to warn me about that. Innocent ears, remember. I don’t want to hear about you and your guys’ sexy times.”
“So innocent.” Carina rolled her eyes and grinned. “I’ll just ask your men how innocent you are, shall I?”
Cara’s cheeks turned scarlet, and Monroe chuckled. “C’mere, sweet girl. I’ve got you.” Cara danced around the group and sat between Monroe’s legs.
Her gentle silver fox wrapped her in his arms and nuzzled her nape before pressing a line of kisses up her throat to her ear. She hummed, and I heard him whisper teasingly, “Not so innocent.”
I pined for that kind of connection. It was the same that Hux had with Cara and Monroe, that Carina had with her guys, and Kam, Minns, and Locke had. Even Rune and Cleo had it. I wanted a love like they all had. Mine had turned out to be a dud. But I had time. Hannah would be all grown before I knew it. Then I could figure out how to hook up properly and maybe meet the man of my dreams.
Miller slung his arm around my waist and rested his hand on his husband’s leg. I bit back a groan, then grated out, “Do you two want to sit next to each other? I’m in the way here.”
“Nah, darlin’. You’re perfect right there,” Miller drawled
My heart thumped in my chest at the endearment, and I sank my teeth into my lower lip as I tried and failed to bite back a smile. Miller hummed, and I froze. I was leaning into him without even realizing it. I flushed, my cheeks heating, and I righted myself, sitting up rigidly between them. When Spencerran his hand up my shoulder to my nape, I sucked in a breath. He danced his fingers down my spine to my waist and back up again before squeezing my tense shoulder.
“So you play on the wing?” Rusty asked Miller.
“I do, but I can center too.” He turned to Carina, wiggled his brows, and added, “If Gauthier ever wants to try out a new position, I’m happy to get between him and Hux.”
I choked on a forkful of the slaw at his innuendo. Spencer rubbed his hand up and down my back until I stopped coughing. I almost wanted to keep going just so he wouldn’t stop.
Gauthier rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Stop trying to rile up my wife,” he teased. Carina giggled and interlaced her fingers with Rusty’s. For a group that hadn’t come out, they were the worst-kept secret on the team. Everyone knew Gauthier was married but also dating his roommates. But no one said anything. Until he was ready to come out, they’d just stay an open secret. Gauthier leaned into his wife and kissed her temple. “And you behave.”
The look he gave her begged for her to do anything but behave. His eyes were filled with love, and I quickly turned away, unable to intrude on their private moment any longer. My gaze landed on Hux, who was smirking at his partners. Monroe’s jaw ticked, and Cara narrowed her eyes at Miller. Those two had a possessive streak a mile wide for their man—it was a good thing too. Hux had been the victim of a smear campaign against him, when it was simply a misunderstanding that left him and Minns in an impossible situation. Luckily, they’d resolved it now, and the two were like brothers.
“You need a muzzle, Texas,” Spencer mumbled, then under his breath, he added, “And a good spanking.”
I choked again, another coughing fit wracking my body. But Spencer just kept rubbing my back like it was nothing.
“You can shut me up later.” When Miller dropped his gaze to Spencer’s lap, I just about combusted.
It had been far too long since someone had touched me the way Spencer was. It was completely innocent, except it felt like anything but. I was so damn turned on that I couldn’t see straight. I couldn’t sit still either. My cheeks were flushed, and I couldn’t stop thinking about being in the center of them.
It was so bad.
So deliciously dangerous.
So hot.
So impossible.
I needed to get out of herenow.
I cleared my throat and looked at the nonexistent watch on my wrist. “So… big day tomorrow. I’m going to head off. Can you pass on my thanks to Coach?” Cleo nodded, and I packed up Hannah’s things, then added my plate to the pile of empty ones on the picnic rug. I shifted onto my knees and gingerly picked up Hannah, trying not to wake her.
When I reached for the bag, Miller stopped me. “I’ve got it, darlin’. Spencer and me’ll walk y’all to your car.”
I nodded and pressed my lips into a tight smile. I was trying to run from them, and now they wanted to walk me to the car? Great. Just great.
Spencer wrapped the blanket over Hannah’s shoulders and she nuzzled into me, still a dead weight in my arms. By the time we reached the other side of the mansion, my arms were on fire. Hannah was too big to be carried around like this now, but she hated the stroller. I stopped and adjusted my hold on her before realizing my car keys were in my pocket and I couldn’t get them out.
“Shit,” I mumbled and quickened my pace.
“Keels, you okay?” Spencer asked.
I gave a quick nod and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that my Jeep wasn’t blocked in.