Page 79 of Sinful Mates

Aaliyah snuggled up to him for a hug. “Why didn’t I know this about you?”

Alaric’s larger body swallowed hers. “There are many things you don’t know.”

CHAPTER27

Zethan

“All right, you two love birds,”I warned, unpacking the glass pane from its wrapping.

If they kept sidling up for hugs and kisses, we would never finish, and Aaliyah and I would be late for our Underworld date. Time with our mate got tighter and shorter with Mia thrown into our family, and we had to make the most of it.

Personally, I loved having a kid in my life. She filled the void that Dylan left, and I loved being a father more than anything. If it were up to me, I’d steal every damn minute with Mia. Playtime, mealtime, getting ready for bed, and being the one to wake her every morning. Weekend trips to the playground, getting ice cream, taking her to the pool in summer. But… I had to share those tasks with the other mates. What better way for Aaliyah’s men to bond than taking a role with her daughter?

The sudden change in routine with Mia in the picture put two of them out. Castor slowly came around, starting to enjoy mentoring Mia in her homework and their nightly reading schedule. Alaric swooped in with his protective role and had the strict discipline dad act down pat, getting Mia into a routine. Homework, then TV, dinner, family time, shower, reading, and bedtime. Any stricter and Mia would be in the military. But he was still coming around to getting used to the whole stepfather title when he was familiar with the conventional family format of girlfriend, marriage, children… ironic when he was bonded to a woman with four mates. A whole other topic to dissect.

For my dry comment, Alaric gave me the bird, refusing to part from his mate. “Gramps taught us everything from carpentry, tiling, plumbing, to electrical work. You need anything built, I'm your man.”

I lifted a pane to the window frame, checking they were the right size. “Alaric built the cubbyhouse at Slade’s place and the play equipment at the club.”

We didn’t tell her the secret project we worked on. Her Christmas present. Club business took a backseat with the authorities sniffing around, so we kept them out of our hair, working on other projects, shifting their eyes from the secret club’s location and protecting the trafficked women. Our mate would be so thrilled when we gave it to her. I couldn’t fucking wait to see her face when she opened it.

“My handyman.” She nuzzled into Alaric’s chest and his hawk crowed.

I joined for a group hug, nipping Aaliyah’s neck, reminding her to stop distracting Alaric. “Get to work, Hellhound Bitch. We have a date tonight.”

She pouted at me. “I thought this was a hot date.”

Fuck me. I crouched to claim her lips and remind her what I planned tonight, and if she wanted to maximize it, she better get her ass moving.

Her fists beat on my hard chest. “No fair. I can’t labor under these circumstances. Too many hot men in the workplace.”

“We can always come back tomorrow.” Alaric nestled into her back, grinding into her ass, and my hellhound snarled.

“I like that idea.” Aaliyah rubbed into his groin and flames of arousal tore down the bond. “What do you say, Hellhound Dick?”

I groaned. “No more talk of dick.” I moved in close, wedging her between us, sliding my fingers into her hair, fisting it, angling her head so she looked at me. “Move your ass before I fuck it.” A harmless threat when my dick was too big for her back door. I wasn’t going to hurt her, even if she begged me to.

She liked that idea by the tripling of the flames on our connection. “I don’t think much work is getting done today.”

I fisted her hair harder. “Yes, it is, Hellhound Bitch. We need to get the shelter back in operation or it might raise questions for the Christmas toy donation.”

“Party pooper.” She pouted again and I kissed her, nipping her bottom lip in warning.

“Stop tempting us away from work.” I needed her to cool down before I tugged her dress up and we really made a sexy sandwich with her, Alaric backdooring her tight ass.

“Asshole,” Alaric muttered and shook his head once.

I flicked him the bird back.

Aaliyah’s lips curved into a seductive smile. “Coffee?”

“Yes, baby,” I croaked, my dick wanting to cock punch me for denying him.

We got to work fitting the double-paned glass. If smashed, the laminate prevented it from shattering everywhere and cutting up feet. I held the pane in place while Alaric jammed the glazing rubber between the pane and sill, sealing the glass into the frame.

A few minutes later, Aaliyah delivered us all a mug of coffee.

“Thanks, baby.” I stroked her face quickly, took a sip, and moved back to finish the window.

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