The Wandering Caravan (11 page)

“You aren’t being serious?” I asked.

“Dead serious.” He opened my bags and pulled out the black ensemble. “Ooh. I like it.” He felt it in his hands then handed it to me. “But I would like it better if you were wearing it.”

“Not gonna happen. What if someone walks in?”

“They won’t. The blinds are closed. And people knock.” He grabbed my hips and lifted me on the desk. I was wearing a dress so he spread my legs and stepped between them. “I’ve missed you all day.” He kissed my neck then grabbed my breasts. He squeezed them and ran kisses down my throat. The area between my legs burned the longer he touched me. I was immediately hot for him.

His fingers moved under my dress and rubbed my clitoris for a moment before pulling my thong over. “Nice and wet,” he whispered. I reached for his fly and unzipped it. He moaned when he watched me. “You’re so easy.”

“Shut up and fuck me.”

“Dam
n…” He undid his belt quickly.

The door flew open. “Dude, Cortland just told me poker night is off.”

Sean quickly pulled down my dress then glared at Mike while he zipped his fly. “Don’t you knock?”

Mike smiled then waved at me. “Hey, Scarlet.”

“Hi, Mike.” I tried to keep the redness out of my cheeks.

“Now leave,” Sean said firmly.

“You could lock the door, you know.”

“Or you could knock,” Sean snapped.

“And miss the free porn? No, thanks.” Mike laughed at his own joke. He spotted the pizza box on the counter then helped himself to it. “So, what’s up?”

Sean adjusted his clothing and sighed. “Such a fucking cock block.”

“I just want to talk to my sister,” he said innocently. “I haven’t seen her in almost a month.”

“I think you just want the pizza,” I said.

He took a bite and chewed it. “It is pretty damn good. So what’s up?”

“Nothing,” I said. “I was shopping in the city and thought I’d stop by.”

Sean stayed close to me, claiming me like he always did. It didn’t matter who was around. He would pee on me if he could get away with it. “Why is poker night cancelled?”

“Ryan and Janice found a place so they are taking care of all the paperwork.”

“That’s good,” I said. “And I’m glad they are so close by.”

“Now you’ll definitely need a car when you want to visit your brother,” Sean said firmly.

“Not now,” I whispered to him.

“I’m getting my way whether you like it or not.” Sean stared me down. “It’s a matter of safety.”

“Sean, I don’t even know how to drive.”

“I’ll teach you.”

I knew he wasn’t going to let this go.

“Just do this for me. I don’t want you taking a cab. My wife doesn’t take a cab. Period.”

“Do you guys ever stop arguing?” Mike asked.

“Well, you interrupted the other thing we do,”
Sean snapped.

“Just lock the damn door,” Mike said. “Or put a hanger on it.”

Sean sighed. “Don’t you have something better to do?”

“I said I missed my sister,” Mike said.

“Well, she’s busy with me.”

“Want to get dinner tonight after work?” Mike asked.

“The three of us?” Sean asked.

“Fuck no. Just me and Scarlet.”

“No,” Sean said. “She’s mine. Get your own.”

“I have a car. I’ll drive her home,” Mike said.

Sean stared him down. “My wife has more important things to do than listen to you bitch about your life.”

I put my hand
on Sean’s arm. “Don’t be mean.”

Sean kept his mouth shut.

“We’ll go for a bite then he’ll take me home,” I said. “What’s the big deal?”

Mike kept eating the pizza. “No deal at all.”

Sean studied his brother for a moment then turned back to me. “You don’t have to spend time with him because you pity him.”

“I can hear you,” Mike said.

Sean ignored him.

“I don’t pity him,” Scarlet said. “I like Mike. I’ve said that a hundred times. You weren’t there when…the attack happened. He and I are bonded forever because of that.” I always reminded Sean of the incident because it was
a true testament to who Mike was. He was selfless and always had Sean’s back. Sometimes Sean remembered the way Mike tried to sleep with me, and he automatically became overprotective.

“Okay,” he said.  That was the most I was getting out of him.

Sean gave me a long kiss goodbye before he watched me get into the car with Mike. “She better be home in two hours.”

“I’ll bring her home when I feel like it,” Mike said.

Sean glared at him then approached my door. “Call me if you need me.”

“Sean, calm down.”

I knew it was hard for him. He was naturally possessive me, especially after everything that happened. He didn’t like it when I was alone with any men.

“This is your brother we’re talking about,” I said. Ryan and Cortland were the only men Sean trusted implicitly. It would take time for him to accept anyone new.

“Okay,” he said. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“I want to see that lingerie when you get home.”

“Will do.”

He finally turned away and walked into the parking garage to get into his Ferrari.

Mike pulled away from the curb and drove to the restaurant. “Geez, that douchebag needs to lighten up.”

“He’s not a douchebag.” I felt the need to defend my husband. He could be a little excessive sometimes but he always meant well.

We arrived at the restaurant then sat by the window. After getting drunk last week, I wasn’t interested in alcohol. I ordered water and he ordered a scotch.

“How was work?” I asked.

He shrugged. “It’s okay. Sean and I are always so busy. I don’t know how my dad did it by himself for so long.”

“It looked like you were working hard today…”

He smiled. “We don’t normally sit around and drink scotch all day. Or fuck our wives…”

“
Almost
fuck our wives,” I said. “You ruined that for me.”

“Like you don’t get it enough at home.”

“I never get enough of Sean,” I blurted.

His eyes softened. “He’s so fucking lucky.”

“You’ll find someone, Mike.”

“A gold digger, maybe.”

“I know she’ll be amazing,” I said.

“How?” he asked.

“I just do. You’re a great guy and you deserve a great woman.”

“Well, Sean is a douchebag and he landed you.”

I rolled my eyes. “He’s not a douchebag,” I repeated.

“Speaking of fucking…can I ask you something?”

“Yeah.” I wasn’t sure what he wanted to know.

“Are you pregnant?”

I seriously needed to hit the gym. I didn’t realize it was that bad. Sean never said anything. He acted like nothing was different. “No,” I said firmly.

“You’re sure?” he asked.

“Yes. I took a test. It was negative.”

He nodded. “I’m not calling you fat or anything. I just noticed you were a little more…plump.”

“Thanks for being so sensitive about it,” I said with a laugh.

“Hey, I still think you’re gorgeous. I’d take you back to my place if I saw you in a bar.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I teased.

He glared at me. “You’d be lucky to have me.”

“You’re only proving your point,” I said sarcastically. “So, you’ve gone out with anyone lately?”

“I met a few girls online but they were soooo dull. I wanted to shoot myself.”

I nodded. “Maybe you should look for someone at the gym.”

“Do you know how hard it is to hit on a girl at the gym?” he asked incredulously. “While they are running with their headphones in? No thanks. I’ll pass.”

“It was just a suggestion.”

We talked about his dating life and my marriage to Sean. I told him about his mom last week and he burst in laughter.

“My mom is such a bitch, I swear.”

“I’m not her biggest fan right now.”

“At least Sean set her straight. I wouldn’t put with that either,” Mike said.

“She hasn’t apologized…”

“She will,” Mike said firmly. “She’ll do whatever she has to in order to see Sean. He was always her favorite.”

“I think she hates you both equally. You both were terrors.”

“Were?” he asked with a smile.

“Are. Definitely are.”

Dinner with Mike was nice. Since everyone was staying at the house with us, it was nice to talk to someone new in a quiet place. Mike had similar features to Sean and that made me feel comfortable. It was amazing how close they were in age and appearance but they were so different.

When we finished dinner, Mike paid for it then drove me home. I was tired from the long day so I leaned back and listened to the radio. Mike glanced at me a few times but kept his silence. Unlike the rest of my family, Mike and I spent more time not talking than actually talking. We could stay in companionable silence for a long time, and neither one of us felt awkward. Mike was constantly joking, but I knew he was a serious guy underneath. He dropped the façade when he was around me, and I knew he needed that.

“You’ll tell me the moment you know you’re pregnant?” he asked from his side of the car.

“Yeah. Why?”

“I’m really excited to be an uncle. I doubt I’ll have my own kids, so this is the closest thing I’ll ever have.”

“Yes, you will,” I whispered.

“I’m still excited to be an uncle either way.”

I patted his hand. “I’ll tell you.”

When we pulled into the driveway, Sean came out like he was searching out the window the whole time. The fucking weirdo. He opened my door then helped me out.

“Have a good time?” he asked.

“We did,” I said.

Sean grabbed my bags then held my hand. “Thanks for driving her home.”

Mike leaned against his car then waved. “Good night.”

“Night,” I said.

Sean pulled me inside then took my bags upstairs. He never let me do anything.

Everyone was sitting on the couch, so I approached Ryan. “I heard you found a place?” I asked.

“Yep. We’re moving everything tomorrow.”

“I’ll help,” I volunteered.

“No,” he said. “We’re hiring movers. In New York, it’s just easier that way.”

“Well, let me know if you change your mind.”

Sean appeared at the end of the staircase. “Baby, let’s go to bed.” I could tell he needed me by the sound of his voice.

I said goodnight to everyone then followed him upstairs.

“How was it with him?” he asked when we were alone.

I felt my irritation emerge. “You need to get off his ass, Sean.”

He looked at me like I was crazy. “What?”

“You should be happy I have a close relationship with your brother. There’s nothing between us, there will never be anything us.
Isn’t my marriage to you, and his genetic relationship to you enough? You need to stop acting like this. I trust Mike and I love him. I don’t care if it bothers you. You need to grow the fuck up and get over it.” I didn’t realize I was yelling until I was done. “I know you’re protective of me and that’s fine, but you’re borderline crazy.”

He swallowed the lump in his throat. He looked like he was going to say something but he didn’t.

“What?”

“Nothing,” he said quickly.

“Sean, what are you thinking?”

He stared me down. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll knock it off. I just love you, okay? You can’t get mad at me for that.”

“I’ll never get mad at you for that,” I said gently.

“Now put on that lingerie and let me fuck you. I’ve had a damn hard-on all day.”

After Mike’s comment, I wasn’t in the mood to display my body in lingerie. I didn’t feel sexy—at all. In fact, I felt like a whale. “Actually, I’m pretty tired.”

“Then lay on your back. I’ll do all the work.”

I turned off the light so we could barely see each other. Then I took off my clothes so he wouldn’t see me.

“What are you doing, Scar?” We usually had sex with the lights on. I liked to stare at his body and his face. He felt the same way.

“The lights are too bright for my eyes…”

He turned on the lights again. I quickly pulled the covers over my body and tried to look casual. “What?”

“Just turn off the lights.” I tried to play it cool.

He eyed me suspiciously then undressed himself. I stared at his perfectly chiseled body. Normally, it turned me on, but now it just made me feel worse. He was gorgeous and I was…a whale. He grabbed the cover
s and tried to pull it down, but I gripped tightly and wouldn’t let him. “Scar, what’s going on?”