Accepting His Home Read online

  Cole squeezes in between Ellen and Walsh, who looks like he might pass out. The other guys squeeze into seats or sit around the coffee table. The pipe is repacked and passed around while Troy takes over rolling duties from Walsh because he clearly isn’t capable of such a task at the moment.

  Cole squeezes Walsh’s shoulder, “I’ve seen your work on the shops social media, man. You’re really fucking talented.” He looks around the room, “Everyone is actually.” He nods at Elliot, “Elliot’s been talking about wanting to get some traditional koi fish done.”

  Walsh’s face lights up and then I see him relax as he starts chatting with Elliot about what he would want and their tour schedule. It, amazingly, feels normal as shit to have four ridiculously famous dudes amongst us. It’s wild how you can just recognize people who are supposed to be a part of your life and these guys are part of the family now.

  Amelia pulls Beckett into the kitchen while the rest of us settle into getting to know the newest members of our family and reconnecting with those we don’t get to see all the time, like Ellen. She and Gavin start chatting about their travels by trading a list of places they haven’t gotten to go to yet.

  Beckett, looking smug, and Amelia, looking a little dazed and blissed out, come back into the living room with beers for the SO guys who smile and thank them. They look at Amelia the same way we all do, with appreciation and affection, but no heat. Nope, that’s reserved for Beckett, but in so many ways Amelia is just as much ours as she is his. They better look at Olivia the same way, famous or not.

  It’s a little surreal at first, sharing beers and smoking with four rock stars, but it also feels right. We accept them without judgement, without expectations; the same way I’ve been accepted by this group. It feels like no time passes before Blake hops up and goes out to pull the turkey from the fryer.

  When I hear the door open again, I lift Olivia off me so that I can help Amelia and Beckett in the kitchen. As I’m walking away I hear Olivia and Gavin, I think, start talking about a Nightmare Before Christmas tattoo he’s been thinking about and how he saw her stuff and thought that she’d be the perfect person to make it come to life. He’s not wrong, either. I smile because I love it when my girl is recognized for the talented artist that she is.

  I help Amelia set out all the casserole dishes along with serving spoons. I try to prevent her from lifting any of the dishes, but she just glares at me and huffs, “Pregnant, not incapable.”

  I roll my eyes, “I’m aware, Amelia.” I kiss her cheek and she gives me a warm smile. “You take such good care of all of us, let us help you and take care of you too. We want you and this little one you’re growing to be happy and healthy.”

  Beckett grins at me and I can see the contentment and peace he feels. I know he’s worried about her and the baby. How could he not be? So much can go wrong, but we simply won’t let it. I know that’s ridiculous, but when we’re all together like this it feels like our will is strong enough to guarantee it.

  Amelia’s eyes soften, “I know, Zeke.” She rubs her belly absently, “This baby is so very lucky to be surrounded by so much love.”

  Beckett starts slicing into the turkey as I slide the massive ham onto a serving platter. Amelia went all out on the serving dishes again; the ceramic platter for the ham looks like…a ham and all the casserole dishes are fall colors. The solid color dishes match the plates. Hell, the turkey serving platter even looks like a turkey. It’s fucking adorable and such a mom thing to do.

  Beckett eyes the serving dishes and the cranberry bowl she pulls back out of the fridge. “When did you get these, Baby?”

  She shrugs, “A few days ago. I figure we can put them away and use them next year.” She worries her lip, “Crap, I should have gotten a few more plates as I’m sure our family will continue to expand and expand year after year.”

  Beckett shakes his head and then narrows his eyes at her, “Did you carry them all in by yourself?”

  Amelia’s eyes round, “Maybe.”

  Becket chuckles but there’s an edge to his voice, “You should have just told me. I would have carried them in. You need to take it easy, Amelia.”

  “What he said, some of these are heavy as fuck,” I can’t help but interject.

  Amelia rolls her eyes and mutters, “Great, two cavemen now.” She looks between us, “I’m fine. The baby’s fine. I swear I took multiple trips and didn’t do it all at once.” She cocks her hip and sasses, “My last appointment before the new year is next week, should I expect to see you there too, Zeke?”

  I bark out a laugh and Beckett growls which only makes me laugh harder. He mutters, “Only the man who impregnated you gets to go to the doctor appointments. Impregnated with his birth control dominating super sperm, I might add.”

  Amelia’s eyes widen and I stifle the laughter. Beckett has been oh so proud of himself that he got Amelia pregnant, even when she was taking birth control. While their sex life certainly doesn’t turn me on, I can’t deny it gets a primal part of my mind thinking about making babies with my woman. Fuck, she’d be gorgeous round with my baby. A piece of each of us.

  Surveying the room, I see that I’ve done all I can for now and slip out as Beckett stalks over to Amelia and takes her in his arms. I need to get my girl in my arms. I see her coming out of the bathroom down the hall that connects the living room to the bedrooms in the back of the house. Perfect.

  I stalk toward her and her eyes snap to mine immediately. I watch her pupils dilate and her breathing picks up. I smirk at her and she licks her lips; I track the movement. Fuck. I push her back into the bathroom and lock the door behind me.

  She gasps, “What are you doing, Zeke?”

  I kiss her hard, spin us, press her up against the door and I grind my hard cock against her hip. I grunt, “I’m reminding you that you’re mine, little fairy.”

  Olivia moans into my mouth and I swallow her sounds. I slide her up the door so she can wrap her legs around me and grind my cock against her denim covered pussy. I can feel the heat coming off her core and it almost makes me lose control. I grind myself against her and force myself to rip my lips from hers; we’re both gasping for air.

  I groan and run my nose down her neck, breathing in her honey and cinnamon smell. I nip at her earlobe and her breathing hitches. I smile against her skin and whisper, “You’re so fucking sexy, little fairy.” She whimpers, “There’s nothing I want more than to bury my cock inside you right now.”

  She groans and pulls me to her, burying her fingers in my hair and kissing me hard. Her hips start rocking against me and I have to grit my teeth not to come in my pants.

  I dig my fingers into her hips, “You wanna come like this, Livy?”

  She nods and bites her lip. Her voice is needy, “Please.”

  I grunt and rock against her, pushing against her core harder with my dick. I release one of her hips and snake it up her body to knead her breast and run my thumb over her hard nipple. She hisses as I lick and nip her neck. I can feel her body tightening and her breathing becomes ragged. She’s biting her lip to muffle her sounds and her nails graze my scalp sending a shiver up my spine.

  I grind against her harder and faster. Olivia whispers, “Fuck, so close, Babe.”

  Her hips move franticly, searching for the friction she needs. I press her against the door with more force and nip at her earlobe. My voice is low and gravely, “Come, my naughty little fairy.” I pinch her nipple and she gasps as her body tenses and freezes before her muscles release. I put my hand over her mouth to muffle her as she moans my name loudly. I whisper in her ear, “I love you, Olivia.”

  I kiss her sweetly as she comes down from her orgasm. Watching her come undone because of me is a high I never knew I needed but am totally addicted to. I don’t even care that I’m rock hard and that my dick is begging for release because I was able to get my girl off. It was satisfying as hell.

  Olivia’s lips curl into a wicked smile and she nips at my lower lip. She rotat
es her hips against me and I hiss. She whispers, “Let me take care of you now, Babe.”

  I kiss her softly, “I’m good Livy. Getting you off is all I need. Later, when I get you back in our bed, I’ll fill you up and come deep inside you.” I smirk, “I know how greedy your pussy is for my cum.”

  She bites her lip and looks up at me from underneath her long, thick eyelashes; it makes me growl. “Fuck. Don’t look at me like that or we won’t be having dinner with our family at all.”

  Olivia’s eyes round and she starts blushing. She gasps, “Do you think they heard us? What if they’re looking for us?”

  I grin at her and kiss her softly before pulling her away from the door and setting her down. “Don’t worry about it, little fairy.” I wink at her, “Get cleaned up and I’ll head out. Dinner should be starting any minute.”

  She nods as a slow smile spreads across her face. I kiss her quickly and adjust my hard cock before opening the door and heading down the hallway. I come into the living room and stand next to the couch just as a bowl is coming my way, I don’t hesitate to step into the rotation.

  Olivia is by my side a moment later and I hand the pipe off to her and she grins at me. Her cheeks are still flushed from her orgasm and her eyes are sparkling. It makes my heart clench with how much I love this girl. My girl.

  Beckett enters the living room with Amelia right behind him. He wraps an arm around her and looks out over the room, a huge smile spreads across his face. I get it. It’s fucking nice being surrounded by so much love and family. It makes me wonder what the family I left is up to today. I push the thought away.

  Beckett’s voice booms, “Thank you all for coming to celebrate Thanksgiving with us this year. Like Olivia’s shirt says, I’m here for the turkey and not the colonization. Today is a day to break bread with our family and celebrate the many things we have to be thankful for.” He looks down at Amelia with a grin on his face before he addresses the group again. “Dinner’s ready, everyone. We’ve set it up buffet style to get food, but there’s a seat for everyone at the table.”

  I catch the look of pride on Ellen’s face it makes my chest ache for a moment. Olivia wraps her arms around me and leans into me as if she can read my mind. Fuck, I love this woman.

  Everyone gets up and makes their way through the living room and into the kitchen, forming a loose but orderly line. I hear someone mutter, “Oh fuck.”

  When I turn around, I see that Booker is staring at the centerpiece on the dining room table. His voice is full of awe, “This is the most beautiful centerpiece I’ve ever seen.”

  Amelia and Walsh high five, Amelia laughs. She whispers, “See, told you.”

  Booker eyes Amelia and stalks toward her, Beckett narrows his eyes, but sees no heat in Booker’s approach. He comes off just like Troy and Walsh, the prankster of the group. Amelia’s eyes round as Booker wraps his arms around her and picks her up. She squeaks and Booker’s laugh is deep and hearty.

  Booker sets her down and then looks at her in wonderment, “Did you make that?”

  She fidgets slightly and Beckett chuckles, “Well, Walsh and I did, yeah.”

  Booker grins and shakes his head, “It’s awesome. I’m going to snap a pic and post it on our social media.” He cocks his head to the side and assess Amelia for a second. His voice goes low, “Do we really have a place here, in your family?”

  Amelia’s smile is dazzling and I feel Olivia tighten her hold on my waist. Amelia’s voice is soft but firm. “Of course.”

  All four guys of Suburban Outcasts descend on Amelia and wrap her up in a hug. That they know she is the true matriarch of our group warms my soul and tells me that they are right at home with us.

  I whisper in Olivia’s ear, “I guess we have rock stars for family now.”

  She grins up at me and muses, “I wonder how long it’ll take Troy to add them to the family chat.”

  I hear a squeak from the kitchen and see Steve picking up Andrea and moving her out of the line so he can make her plate for her.

  Ryder laughs from next to him and says, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Make sure you try the cranberry salsa, I tried it earlier and it changed my whole fucking life.”

  Amelia laughs, meets my gaze and winks at me. I whisper in Olivia’s ear, “You want a little bit of everything?” She nods and I grin as I squeeze her ass, “Grab us some fresh beers and some seats?”

  The smile she gives me takes my breath away. She kisses my neck and breathes against my skin, “You make me so happy, Zeke. I just want you to know that I’m thankful that this year we get to spend today with our family with our hearts open and free.”

  I kiss her forehead and try to swallow around the lump in my throat. “Love you, little fairy.”

  She gives my waist a squeeze and then saunters into the kitchen to grab some beers before she makes her way to the dining room table, finding a seat for both of us. Amelia takes a seat next to the head of the table along with Ellen who sits down next to her.

  Cole takes in the scene and then eyes Beckett, “You guys make plates for the ladies first?”

  Beckett grins, “Yup,” he pops the p. “That’s the way to take care of your woman.” A slow grin spreads across Cole’s face in response and he fist bumps Beckett. Yeah, these guys get it.

  Blake’s walking into the dining room and squeezes Beckett’s shoulder on the way, “I got your mom’s plate tonight.”

  Beckett grins at him, “Thanks, man.”

  Once everyone filters through the line, twice for those of us who got a plate for our women; we are all sitting at the table. I’m startled slightly by Olivia’s hand on my thigh. When I look at her, she arches her eyebrow like she’s challenging me to say anything about where her hand is. I give her a warning look, but that only makes a slow mischievous grin spread across her face.

  Beckett is sitting at the head of the table and smiles at all of us. He starts, “We aren’t big on prayer around here, if that’s your thing than that’s cool with us too. One tradition we do subscribe to is going around and saying what we’re thankful for.” Walsh and Troy groan and Beckett rolls his eyes, “Come on guys, you love it. I’m thankful for this family and the success of the shop.” He takes a deep breath and looks at Amelia, his eyes full of love. “Most of all I’m thankful for Amelia coming into my life, that she’s safe, moved into our home and for the little one she’s growing.”

  Ohhs and awws erupt from around the table and Amelia laughs and rolls her eyes, “Oh please, like you guys aren’t just big softies.” She grins at everyone around the table, “I’m thankful for this family and that you all welcomed me with open arms and open hearts. I’m thankful for the Higgins Security guys for keeping me safe and putting my ex where he belongs and for the closure that brings to others. I’m thankful that the guys of Suburban Outcasts are here with us today and that you all fit with us. I’m thankful that Andrea has gotten the opportunity she deserved and is thriving. I love all of you.” Her eyes go soft when she looks at Beckett, “I’m thankful for you, Love, and for this little one.”

  Beckett leans over and kisses Amelia’s temple and Ellen wraps an arm around her and squeezes. Ellen gushes, “You’re the sweetest, Amelia.” She smiles at the rest of us around the table, “I’m thankful for my health, the health and happiness of everyone in this family, that I get to spend today with all of you and soak up some amazing eye candy.” I can’t help it I bark out a laugh and Beckett screws up his face. Ellen shrugs, “I might be over 60, but I’m not dead.”

  Andrea shakes her head and chuckles, “I’m thankful for all of you and my fiancé. I’m thankful for my new job and that we are all here about to eat this delicious smelling food.”

  Steve grins at Andrea and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, “I’m thankful to be included in this family, the success of my business and that Andrea said yes.”

  Blake’s voice rumbles around the room, “I’m thankful that we’ve had a 100% success rate with all of our cases whic
h means that more people are safe. I’m especially thankful to be a part of this family that grounds us and reminds us why we work so hard.”

  Dex gives a smile, but it’s a little sad around the edges, “I’m thankful that my mom beat cancer last spring and that all of you have my back if she ever relapses. My stomach is thankful for this food.”

  Everyone laughs and Ryder speaks up next. “I’m thankful to be here with all of you and that I’ve been introduced to the glory that are craft stores.”

  Amelia gasps, “I knew it!”

  Grayson shakes his head, “I’m thankful for this, right here, around this table: family, food, fun and more of it on the horizon.”

  Walsh pretends to wipe a tear away, “That was beautiful, man.” Booker barks out a laugh; yeah, he’s the troublemaker of the group. “I’m thankful that Amelia was brilliant enough to barter so we could have a gathering with rock stars and hopefully many more.” He winks at Amelia who smiles wide.

  Cole clears his throat, “I’m thankful to be here with a family that knows and values each other and is willing to open their hearts and home to the four of us. It’s been way too long since we had a family to call our own. I’m also thankful that we only have about six months left on this tour. We’ve been planning to slow down after the tour as we write our next album. We didn’t want to go back to Orlando, now I’m thinking we need to look into options in Denver.”

  Booker claps Cole on the back, “That’s a great idea, brother.” I glance at Walsh and I can see he’s trying to hold in a squeal and is barely succeeding. “I’m thankful for the fact that we get to do what we love, even if being on a tour bus can be tough sometimes. I’m thankful to be here and not eating fast food. I’m thankful to meet all of you and to feel like we’ve found a place to belong.” He cuts his eyes at Walsh, “Even if Walsh is about three seconds from a fangirl meltdown.”

  Walsh scoffs and blushes; Troy almost doubles over in laughter. He tries to get himself under control, “I’m thankful for that shit right there. Never going to live this down, ever.” Troy grins around the table, “I’m thankful for friends that are family and our continued happiness, success and growth.”