Falling Together (All That Remains #2) (24 page)

A
teasing grin lifts his lips, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I know that
look. You’re jealous.”

“Shut
up. That’s ridiculous,” I snap. Shit, I’m not helping my case.

“I
remember when you used to get jealous over me.” He sighs dramatically, tucking
his lips in and trying not to smile. He’s enjoying this far too much.

“Shut
up, you aren’t funny.” I want to slap that insufferable grin off his face. Emma
links her arm through Joseph’s again and they circle the floor. I notice Jayla watching
them with a thunderous look on her face. She whispers something to Walker who
races out to Joseph and grabs his hand.

“Dad,
let’s race! I’ll whip you so bad,” he taunts. Jayla nods at me almost
imperceptibly as Joseph ruffles Walker’s hair.

“You’re
on, buddy. No cheating this time. Give an old man a chance.”

“Abby.”
Airen calls my name in a soft scolding voice, drawing my attention back to him.
I don’t think he noticed Jayla’s intercession. “He doesn’t want her, darlin’.”

I
nod, slipping my arms around his waist. “Air?”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t
tell him.” I don’t want anyone to know that she got to me.

“Oh,
sweetheart.” He sweeps a lock of hair behind my ear before kissing me tenderly.
“I’m
so
going to tell him.”

“Airen!”

“Hush.
Look.” He gestures behind me where Eric has Lexi pinned against a wall, kissing
her like he may never get another chance. A smile spreads across my face.

“Yeah,
that was all me,” Airen brags. Honestly, this man can be off the charts
arrogant.

“Bullshit.
I encouraged Lexi to flirt with Eric.”

Laughing,
he catches my hand. “Great minds think alike. I told Eric to open his damn
eyes.”

“Good
for them.” I hope it works out. Lexi is a sweet girl. She has been such a good
friend to me, and I’d love to see her with a guy who makes her happy.

After
another half hour, everyone is ready to go. Emma is still hanging on Joseph,
giggling at his every word, and I’ve had enough. A wide grin spreads across his
face when I approach him. “Did you have fun, Abby?” he asks.

“I
had a blast, but I forgot to say happy birthday,” I reply. His eyes widen when
I slide my hands into his front pockets, and jerk him toward me, grinding
against his pelvis. A low moan rattles in his chest as I lick into his mouth,
catching him by surprise with such a public display. He cups my ass, kneading
it gently, returning my kiss with equal fervor. Inhibitions are low, thanks to
the alcohol, and his hand slips up my blouse, mindless of the people around us,
until Airen clears his throat.

“Ready
to go?” he asks, amused. “Or should we wait for you two to find a dark corner?”

“You
interrupted my birthday present.” Joseph smoothes my hair back from my forehead
and drops a kiss quick on my lips.

“You
can unwrap her at home.” Everyone laughs except Emma, and I smile, savoring the
petulant expression on her face.

“Subtle,
darlin’,” Airen murmurs in my ear, walking me to the door where everyone piles into
the trucks for the ride home.

“It’s
freezing out,” Emma remarks, climbing in with Airen, Joseph, and me.

“Where’s
your coat?” Joseph asks, sobering a bit in the brisk night air.

“I
didn’t bring one.” Joseph shrugs out of his jacket and drapes it around Emma’s
shoulders.

“Thank
you. You’re so sweet.” She tosses a smug satisfied smile in my direction, and I
want to rip her kidney out through her mouth.

Airen
squeezes my hand and leans to whisper in my ear. “Don’t. She’s just making a
fool of herself.” I shake my head, keeping my eyes averted. I’ve had enough of
her hitting on Joseph. He’s mine. The ride home is silent. Airen squeezes my
hand and dances his fingers up my thigh, teasing me, but I’m too busy stewing
in my jealousy and fantasizing about tearing her blond hair out at the roots to
respond.

Joseph

I
just never know what to expect from that man. He caught me completely off guard
tonight with the party and especially that kiss. He’s typically so
uncomfortable expressing his feelings for me. The preparations for the surprise
party must have taken weeks, and I’m touched he went to such trouble for me.

The
kids wander off to get ready for bed as soon as we get home, and Abby plops on
the sofa with a sigh, rubbing her sore feet. I should probably apologize for
mauling her in front of everyone, but she started it. Instead, I grab Airen
around the waist as he walks by, heading for the bedroom. It’s our night
together. He glances up with a wolfish grin.

“At
least let me shower first.” I cover his smart mouth with mine and kiss him with
everything I have, trying to convey my gratitude and love for him. His cheeks
are flushed when I pull back and look him in those onyx eyes.

“Tonight
was wonderful. No one has ever done anything like that for me before.” A self
conscious grin edges out his usual cocky smile, looking out of place on his
lips. “You’re so sweet and thoughtful,” I declare. As expected, he squirms and
tries to retreat at the compliment, but I grip the nape of his neck, holding
him in place. I can compliment his looks all day and he won’t even blink,
unlike Abby, but talk about anything deeper, and he runs like a scalded dog. “No
you don’t, Dark Eyes. I’ve resisted the urge to gush over you all night because
I didn’t want to embarrass you. Now that it’s just the three of us, you have to
man up and take it.”

He
laughs in spite of himself. I love the feel of the dark stubble under my fingertips
when I grip his chin, forcing our eyes to meet. God, I could lose myself
forever in those eyes. Black as night and fathoms deep. “You make me so happy,
Airen Holder. I couldn’t possibly love you more than I do at this second. Thank
you for tonight.”

Airen’s
gaze remains locked on mine, his face softening. “I love you,” he whispers,
trailing his fingers down my jaw. “I’m sorry it took so long for me to say it.”

“You
show it,” I murmur, tugging him in for a kiss, vaguely aware of Abby watching
us from the sofa with her lower lip caught between her teeth. “Abby’s trying
not to cry.”

“No,
I’m not,” she grumps, glaring at our knowing smiles.

“Of
course you aren’t,” Airen quips, still smiling fondly at her while she flees to
the solitude of the extra bedroom.

She’s
curled up in bed with a book when Airen and I barge through the door. “I know
she doesn’t think she’s going to sleep without kissing us goodnight,” I
announce, grinning at Airen, who promptly dives on the bed, nearly bouncing her
out of it. The book falls to the bed as his arms snake around her middle from
behind, slipping under her shirt.

“Ah!
Airen! Your hands are freezing.”

“You
know you like it.” He massages her breasts and kisses the back of her neck.

“It’s
your night with Joseph. I haven’t even had a shower. Joseph, control your man.
Get him off me.” She laughs, peeling his hands from her chest.

Airen
releases her and whispers something in her ear that makes her eyes widen.
“Don’t,” she hisses.

“What
are you two talking about?” I sit beside them on the bed.

“Nothing
that can’t wait until tomorrow morning,” he replies, giving Abby a wide grin
while she scowls at him. Okay. You can bet I’ll be asking him what the hell
that was about.

Airen
kisses her and slaps her on the ass before hopping off the bed. “Come on,
dimples, let’s go to bed.” He heads off to the shower. Abby lays her book aside
and turns off the lamp on her nightstand. She kisses my jaw before sliding her
lips to mine for a soft passionate kiss.

“I
love you,” she murmurs, tightening her arms around me.

“I
love you, ladybug. Is something bothering you?” She has something on her mind.
“Why don’t you stay with us tonight? You know Airen won’t mind.”

“No,
I’m fine, just tired. Today was a long day, but I had so much fun.”

“Me
too. You know where we are if you get lonely. I’ll let you get some sleep.”

Snuggling
under the covers, she replies, “Yeah, try to keep the grunting level down.”

“No
promises.”

The
sight of Airen stepping into the shower effectively erases my plan to question
him about Abby’s behavior. Naked Airen is always an amazing sight. Naked Airen
with water flowing through that black as midnight hair and over that beautiful
hard body is heart stopping. I just stand and stare at him for a long minute
before rolling my tongue back up and tucking it into my mouth. It takes me half
a second to strip down and step in behind him.

“I’m
quite capable of washing myself,” he quips, when I lather my hands and run them
over his back.

“I
can do a more thorough job.” My soapy hands explore his muscled back. He’s
still thinner than he used to be, but what he’s gained back is pure muscle. A
low throaty growl echoes off the shower walls when I nip at the sensitive skin
behind his ear. When my hands travel farther south, spreading the soap over his
firm round cheeks, he turns his head and thrusts his tongue into my mouth. The
fierce battle of lips and tongues rages on while water pours over our heads.

He
grunts when my hand slips between his legs to massage his balls. I slide my
hand slowly back up between his cheeks, increasing the pressure and gliding
firmly over his hole.

“Don’t.”
He jerks and turns to face me. His face hardens and the shutters drop into
place.

“I’m
sorry.” I rest my hands on his hips and kiss him softly. After a few seconds of
hesitation, his tongue strokes across mine. I wish I knew why that area is off
limits for him. He has some hang up about it, but I don’t know if it’s fear,
shame, or if it’s just too submissive of an act for him to relax and enjoy it.
This isn’t like my experience with Troy, where the scars were visible. “I
missed a spot,” I murmur, taking his hard length in my hand.

“Oh
no.” His grin is wicked as he smacks my hand away. “Tonight’s about you,
birthday boy.”

* * * *

The
squeak of the dresser drawer wakes me early the next morning.

“Sorry,”
Abby whispers, standing in front of the dresser in only a towel. “I need some clothes.”
Airen is awake, lounging next to me, and he leaps up to whip off her towel, pulling
her into bed with us.

“No
you don’t, you’re staying in bed with us all day so we can take turns fucking
you until you can’t walk.” Tossing the covers over her bare body, he wraps his
arms around her and we cuddle her between us.

“No
arguments here. Long night?” she asks when I yawn and stretch my sore legs.

“You
have no idea.”

“I
have some idea.” The walls are notoriously thin.

“Jealous?”
I tease, tickling her thigh.

Her
eyes dart to Airen and her face clouds before she gives him a threatening look.
It’s clearly a warning, but Airen only chuckles, not the least bit intimidated.

“Did
I miss something?” I ask.

“Abby?”
Airen raises his eyebrows, giving her a chance to answer.

“Airen…I
swear to God…I’ll…” Abby stutters. She sits up and tries to climb out of the
bed, but I pull her back down taking her chin in my hand.

“No
way, girl. Tell me what the hell is going on.”

“It’s
nothing.” She tugs out of my grasp. “Airen’s just being an ass. Now let me get
dressed.”

“Didn’t
you notice Abby’s eyes last night, Joseph? They were greener than yours.” He
smirks at me while Abby tries to set him on fire with her gaze.

She
huffs, attempting another escape, but I’m not letting her run away. Once I’m settled
on top of her, pinning her to the bed, she sighs, resigned. “What the hell is
he talking about, Abby?” Shrugging, she averts her gaze.

“Remember
when you were skating with Emma and draping your jacket around her shoulders
like a perfect gentleman? Well…” He crosses his legs and leans forward, resting
his elbows on his knees, looking like a teenage girl with a particularly juicy
piece of gossip. Which, of course, is exactly what he’s going for. “Abby may
have had an urge to run at her, claws extended, while screaming ‘get away from
my Joseph’ and jerking her hair out at the roots.”

I
can’t prevent the smile spreading across my face. Abby was jealous? Over me?
She’s always been possessive when it comes to Airen, but I’m astounded she
feels so strongly for me. “Abigail.” I give her a gentle kiss, letting my lips
linger over hers affectionately while I ask, “Were you jealous?” Mortified, she
groans and pulls the blanket over her head. Airen flashes me an amused look
that clearly says “I told you so.”

“No,
no, no. Come on, talk to me.” I tug the blanket down, revealing her adorable
blushing cheeks.

“You
could wipe that grin off your face. Both of you.” She sulks and stares at her
hands.