Page 78 of Ruthless Beasts

“I just want to make sure you’re happy.”

“I’m happy,” I confirmed. And Iwashappy. So fucking happy that my family was growing and that we all were doing this together. It was never something I wanted until I had it. But seeing her with my best friends did something to my insides, something so fucking comfortable that I wanted to settle into the feeling and never let it go. But happiness didn’t evaporate my fears. It didn’t make me forget my past. It didn’t make me stop questioning everything.

“What you are is annoying,” she huffed as the car pulled up, flanked by both Max and Drew driving their own separate vehicles. “If something is wrong, please tell me. I can tell your mind is turning.”

“It’s just thinking about when I could get you pregnant again, is all.” That wasn’t a lie. This look on her was the hottest thing I’d ever seen. One day it would be our DNA — Mercer’s, Ace’s,Mine — that swelled her stomach, and I couldn’t wait. Couldn’t wait to make it happen, couldn’t wait to have all the children stumbling around our feet and running through Belle’s rose garden. Couldn’t wait for the house to officially feel like a home.

Our home.

“It’s a kink.” she whispered under her breath.

“So be it.” I smiled as I pulled open the door. “And I can’t wait to discover all the little things that get you off. What are your kinks, little Belle?”

Her face reddened, her cheeks the prettiest pink as she scooted into the back seat. I followed her, sitting next to her on the soft leather before shutting the door and tapping the headrest, alerting Ace to drive. “Well?”

She turned her head toward me, her eyes fire. “Apparently having three men fumble over my affection.”

“Hm.” The sound was low in my throat. “You like that, baby?”

She hesitated for a moment before nodding, “I do.”

“I do, too,” I admitted. “Too fucking much.”

A few hours later, Belle was in our bed, and I walked upstairs with my boys, taking in the improvements. She’d initially resisted the thought of moving our quarters up here, but I thought she’d love it if given the chance. Our room was close to the library she was obsessed with, and I’d made some alterations to the space that I hadn’t discussed with her previously.

“This really will make a perfect nursery for our girl.” Mercer was standing, arms crossed, as he looked over the room that was just off the master suite.

Our girl.

I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. We were going to be girl dads and hell, how the fuck would any of us ever get any sleep again? Not with worrying about our little girl and theirsafety. She would never date. I’d not allow it. Especially when I knew what men like us did to disobedient little things, and shewouldbe disobedient. With a mother like hers, it would be hard for her not to be.

Sure, Belle seemed compliant most of the time. But it was the times she showed us her fire that I knew we were fucked. When she finally let loose, and I knew she would, there was no way our hearts would survive without some delicious damage done.

“Are we painting it?” Ace observed the space. “Pink?”

I thought about it. I truly did. I’d love to see this room dripping pink and accented in jewels, made into a little girl’s dream. “I was thinking a cream. That way when she moves rooms, we’ll just have to redesign the furniture and décor.”

“Yeah, but that’s some time away. Surely, we can just repaint it,” Mercer suggested.

“We could,” I agreed. “I want Belle pregnant again this time next year. Repainting just seems like senseless work in that time frame.”

I didn’t know why I was admitting this to them. We’d never really talked about things we liked, desires, plans that didn’t involve the business. But fuck, if we were all doing this together, we might as well go all in. They needed to know that this little girl wasn’t a one and done. We’d have as many as this house could fit if I had my way.

When Elizabeth was pregnant, I liked it. There was something so hot about knowing my child was growing inside of her and I was a part of that experience. Belle’s child wasn’t mine, technically. But that allure was still there. Maybe she was right? Maybe it was my kink, an insatiable fetish that I couldn’t control, but fuck, I wanted it.

The silence that followed my statement was heavy and when I dared to look at my friends, they were looking back at me. “What?”

“Does Belle know this?” Mercer asked.

“I’ve discussed my desires a little,” I confessed.

Ace cleared his throat, “Then cream it is.”

I turned my back toward them and walked through the door. “This is the master.”

They knew that. How the fuck could they not? They were here when I built this property. They could have gotten their own places. Hell, they still could, I supposed. But they claimed all they needed was a room and didn’t care about the rest.

“We’ve seen this before,” Ace pointed out.

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