Page 16 of Cowboy Triplets Next Door

“How’s he doing?” Keaton appeared at my side a few seconds later, his voice as carefree as ever. “He already looks better.”

I didn’t look at them. “He’s good. Dr. Drake said he was malnourished, of course, but he didn’t even have worms.”

“Is he already spoiled?” Owen walked forward and knelt in front of Turtle, who absolutely went crazy with happiness when Owen petted him. “There’s a happy boy. I bet you’re sleeping in the bed tonight, aren’t you?”

I huffed. “He doesn’t want to sleep in the dog bed.”

“Can’t say I blame him.” Keaton’s grin was dislodged by Gray’s heavy hand. “What?”

I looked away and shook my head. “If you want to set up a pet visitation schedule, we can do that, but there’s no point in all four of us watching him try to pee.”

“Relax, will you? We’re just checking on things.” Gray moved into my line of sight and frowned down at me. “Are you feeling okay?”

I licked my lips and tried to tell myself that assault charges wouldn’t be good for me. “Is that something you would’ve asked me yesterday?”

His frown deepened. “Yeah, I guess.”

“No.” I met his gaze and tried to stretch to make myself taller. “No, it’s not something you would’ve asked me yesterday. You’re asking because now that you’ve put your dick in me, you think you own me somehow. I’m not a little girl, Gray. I don’t need you hovering around, making sure I’m handling the aftereffects of our time together okay. Guess what? I’m fine! What happened was entirely inconsequential and I’d love it if we didn’t need to rehash this every time we see each other.”

“I would ask if you’re always this volatile, but I’ve known you to be nothing else in the entire time we’ve been here.” He let out a frustrated growl and leveled me with a stare that made my toes curl. “It all makes sense now, why you’re always so angry and uptight. You just really need to get laid.”

I reached up and poked him in the forehead. “And you need to go kick rocks.”

To my complete surprise, he reached out and poked me back. I rubbed my forehead and glared up at him but he just shrugged at me. “What?”

“Don’t poke me!” I saw him open his mouth and slapped my hand over it. “No. No more. Just go home and leave me alone.”

He shocked me again by biting me. When I snatched my hand away, he smirked. At least until I leaned forward and bit his chest. It was like I was possessed. One second I’m mostly behaving and the next, my teeth are sinking into the worn cotton of his shirt and the muscle beneath it. He shouted and pulled my head away, grasping it between his two big palms. “What the fuck was that?!”

I smirked back at him. “You bit me and I bit you back.”

Keaton laughed out loud when Gray pulled up his shirt and revealed an impression of my teeth in his chest. “That’s a first.”

“That’s shocking, considering how infuriating Gray is.” I flipped my short hair over my shoulder and walked over to where Turtle was still sniffing around. Owen looked like he had something to say but when I glared at him, he just held up his hands and stepped away from Turtle.

I stood there in silence as Turtle finally found a good spot and did his business. Just when I thought he was done, he put his nose to the ground and started looking for a place to poop. I wanted to scream.

“We have a meeting tomorrow. Are you going to be there for it?” Owen watched me closely, too closely. “While I figure you’d happily blow us off, there will be muffins.”

I cursed the day I’d revealed my muffin weakness to them. They knew that was how to get me. I’d show up at the gates of hell with a backpack and candlesticks if it meant I got to eat muffins. I was quiet for a moment while I considered my options, but we all knew I was just taking my time to give the answer we all already expected. “I’ll be there.”

Keaton shifted closer. “You should take a hot bath.”

I put my hands on my hips. “Are you trying to tell me that I stink?”

He laughed. “Not at all. You smell delicious. It’ll help with the soreness, though.”

I cleared my throat as my core throbbed. It wasn’t so much an ache as it was a need. I pressed my legs together and cemented my scowl in place. “Don’t flatter your brother. I’m not sore.”

Owen laughed. “This is great. I haven’t seen anyone bust Gray’s balls this much since we left home.”

Turtle finally pooped and came loping back to me with his head held high. I praised him for being a good boy and then picked him up. Without another word to the guys, I walked into my house and closed the door. Our interaction was done.

Turtle drank half a bowl of water and then ran to jump into my bed. He settled on my pillow and I took my place next to him. It was our first night together and I’d never been happier to have to share my pillow.

CHAPTER 15

Billie

---