I’m so pissed that I can’t even look at my mom, and I don’t even want to think about Ben.
“Sweetheart, don’t stress. Nik is a big boy.”
“That’s not making me feel any better.” My eyes close as I fight the nerves rolling through my stomach. “This is a damn nightmare.”
“Do youreallythink Nik has never gotten himself into trouble before? Damn woman, didn’t you do a quick web searchof the men you were considering bonding?” Carver snorts. “I guess it doesn’t matter because you’re stuck with them now.”
“No, since I definitely didn’t want people searching me,” I admit.
“It kills me that they’ve convinced you your books are something to be hidden. I’ll bet that dick was watching way naughtier shit every time he pulled up porn, but he couldn’t stand you writing it?” Carver squeezes my hips. “Do you really think any of us give a shit? Sorry to burst your bubble, but your dirty mind makes my cock hard.”
“You’re trying to distract me,” I mumble as he teases his hands up the edge of my skirt.
“Yup, is it working?” He smirks, brushing his thick fingers over the front of my panties while the other slides back to squeeze my ass.
“You do realize my mom, my ex, and like five cops are ten feet away?” I ask, tilting my head to study his face.
“Ask me if I give a fuck,” he murmurs, dipping his mouth to mine. I melt into his chest as he distracts me in the best way possible.
“You’re pure freaking trouble, Dylan.” I gasp as we pull apart.
“Nah, Melody. I’m just really into you, and I don’t give a fuck who knows it.” His fingers keep teasing my pussy as his hand flexes on my ass.
“I’ve got a call into our lawyer and Nik’s manager so he can get ahead of the PR shitstorm,” Oliver says, shaking out his hands as he approaches.
Carver spins me around and sends me to Oli with a pat on my ass.
“I really dislike your ex,” Oliver says.
“Well, that makes two of us.” I sigh, snuggling against his slender chest.
“Three,” Carver says, slapping my ass.
“Melanie Winters?” A sly smile crosses Oliver’s face. “I should have caught that. You kept it really close. I actually bought one of your books, but I haven’t started it.”
“Shit,” I mumble, wallowing in his armpit. I’d go for his neck if I could reach it, but he’s entirely too tall for that. “I wanted to stay similar enough that I’d recognize if someone was talking to me, like if I ever did a book signing.”
“Makes perfect sense to me,” Carver says, hugging me from behind.
“Poor Nik,” I whisper as my brain circles back to that. “God, I can’t believe my mom called the police. There were times Ben showed up here wasted when we were fighting where I wished she would. Only she didn’t, so it felt like I had to let him in because I wasn’t going to ask him to leave when he was shit face wasted.”
“That’s disgusting,” Oliver says, frowning.
“I would appreciate it if you could keep your deviancy from showing on my front lawn,” my mom hisses, coming up to stand a few feet away. “I’d like to speak to my daughteralone.”
She has a sour look on her face that makes it difficult to want to hear whatever she has to say. She got really deep into religion when my dads left. She’s been anti-pack since then.
Oliver tilts his head down, raising his eyebrows in question.
“Yeah, I should probably speak to her one-on-one.”
“Melody is pregnant as I’m sure you’ve heard,” Oliver says, surprising the hell out of me. He releases me and turns toward my mom. “She’s had a lot of stress the last few months. Don’t add to that, please. Um, I mean that respectfully, and it’s very nice to meet you. Thanks.” Oliver nods at my mom.
Carver pats my hips and grabs Oliver’s shoulder, guiding him off.
Nik is far enough away that I’m not picking much up from him in the bond outside of annoyance.
Miller is frantic energy, but he’s also blocking most of it.