Page 48 of Southpaw Slots

A thought surges inside me, and as I turn to leave, I say, “Wait! Don’t get up… Just lay back there for a bit, right?”

Her eyes meet mine with a knowing sparkle. “Yeah. Okay. I’ll stay right here. You boys have fun.” Snagging a pillow, she shoves it under her knees and blows me a kiss. Fuck, it hits me right in the damnchest the way she looks like a goddess with my seed doing its work.

Wandering down the hall, Wyatt murmurs, “Good thinkin’.”

It’s a nice day and we aim for the delicious smell of barbecued meats near the pool, Wyatt shuffling a few steps behind me. I don’t want to look him in the eye, and I can’t explain why. Hunger. That’s what the feeling is in my belly right now. He disappears as I take a seat on the patio and some tension built up in my shoulders eases.

Scratching the back of my head, I try to let my thoughts dissipate as much as the heat waves rolling off the surface of the clear blue pool in front of me. Sometimes when I was high as fuck while banging some ladies, I’d do crazy shit. Fucked some girl with my loaded gun. Screwed sisters and made them fuck each other. Got a girl to fuck a bull when we went cow tipping in high school. Just whatever I could do to push some buttons.

And I know why they did it now… I feel like Arianna could ask anything of me, and I would obey, just to see her little happy wiggle and beautiful face light up. It hurts to even think she could ever be discontented. Letting Wyatt come between us, literally, was just something I did to fulfill her desires.

That’s it.

Hungry.

So why am I so fucking nervous when he walks outof the kitchen with a few cold beers in his hand and slaps one into my waiting palm. Flopping into a chair and kicking his legs up on the one next to him, I notice he doesn’t look at me, either. With synchronized hisses, we crack open our cans and sip the rims. Fuck, maybe this is just what I needed. I’m too in my head.

“This is, uh…something,” he says, his eyes focused on the water.

“Yep.” Please don’t talk about it.

Taking another long swig from the can, he licks his lip as I try to stare at my feet. Time for a pedicure.

“I’m sure the flavor seems a bit off, though.”

Narrowing my brow, I snap my eyes to his, and he meets my gaze. “I-I’m sorry, the what?”

Holding up his can, he turns to face me. “Seems skunked or something. Sorry about that. Think I’ll go get some bottles later. This shit is terrible.” He finishes his with a shrug, and I do the same.

“It’s fine.” But instead of just giving up, I tell him, “Yeah, actually. Bottles would be nice. I’m a Guinness man.”

“Do, uh… This is fucking weird.”

Swallowing, I turn so I don’t have to look at him when he says something about his dick in my mouth. The chef fortunately sets our steaks in front of us, and I carve into it, shoving a huge bite in.

“Do youmindif I take Ari for a ride to pick some up?” His knife and fork stand erect in his hands like weapons.

“Oh.” Chewing slowly, I consider things for a moment. Is he asking if he can take my wife out on a date?

I’m not thirsty. Or tired.

“You know what? Never mind. Just-just forget I asked. Sorry.” Biting off a large chunk of meat, he keeps his sights focused over my head.

It dawns on me that I have power. Likerealpower. This guy has nothing.

Sure, he brings me the money and Arianna has something for him, butI’mthe husband. The King of the South, the senator. My bloodline is what matters. My children will matter. I could tell this kid to get lost and have him thrown off my property. Could beat him with my bare hands and no one would give a shit.

“Nah, it’s cool. Go grab some. I think I’ll see if Cass wants to pick me up and show me the casino.” Lowering my brow, I wait for him to look at me. “See how the reconstruction is going.”

His Adam’s apple bobs as if straining against a response. With tight lips, he says, “I’m sorry about that. But you guys fucked up my establishment.”

I sit back and take a deep breath, letting my tongue rake over my teeth. “Yeah, we did. I was fucked up.”

“I was too.” Glancing at him, I give him a questioning look. “Emotionally, I mean.” He takes another bite as I finish off my meal. “Can we not tell Ari about that? That I fucked up her wedding. She wouldn’t like it, I know. She’s the kind of girl to dream about thatstuff for a long time and I ruined it. Of course, you have every right to tell her. I mean, fuck, maverick. You’re holding all the cards here.”

Reaching my arms up and behind my head, I stretch. At least he recognizes it. For some reason, my cock jumps in my pants when he says it, though, and I get a flashback to what we just did in the bedroom. Yeah…I need to meet up with the pack and not sit here analyzing this.

“You guys go. Have a good time, and I’ll be back later tonight. Bring some good stout.” I shove back my chair and dig my phone out of my shorts to call one of the pack, but Wyatt stops me.

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