Page 38 of Cannon
I rub my hand over my freshly shaven jaw, glancing at Kingston and Cannon who have joined us, one on either side of me. “Give us a smile, Peaches. You’re killing us here.”
For several awkward seconds, she presses her lips together. I can see the wheels turning in that super smart brain of hers. The question she needs to answer for herself is would it be worth her while to keep us at a distance tonight simply because she’s still miffed at us, or would it be better to have us at her side to guide her through it. I know what I’d choose if I were her. But I’m not. And this girl always has us guessing.
It’s clear she’s made a decision when her eyes flick from one of us to the other, fearlessly meeting our gazes. She wets her cherry-red lips before she says in a rush, “I don’t want to argue. And I don’t want to put my initiation in jeopardy. I’m going to finish this. So, I’m asking you not to stand in my way.”
Kingston’s brow twitches upward at the bite in her voice. He eyes her carefully. “You don’t think as your sponsors that we have your best interests at heart?”
Shit.I know he does—we all do. But Kingston would like to roll her up in bubble wrap if he could. Ever since the two of them stayed home together that one day, his interactions with her have been different. Like he has a new awareness of all things Elliot.
I think Cannon would be okay with her making an attempt at The Games this weekend, but he’d want to do something crazy like go with her so she doesn’t get hurt again. Not only is thatnotdone… but she’d never stand for it anyway. It’d make that target on her back a mile wide.
And me, like Dane told her earlier while I was watching on the video camera feed, I’d like for her to take her shot. She can do it. She’s fierce. Ballsy. And if something happens during the course of the evening, we’ll fuckin’ handle it like we always do. I reach up, tugging on the back of my neck. “K, I think she knows we’re thinking of her well-being. None of us wants to see her fail. But—” I stop, blowing out an exasperated breath at the way his brows are furrowing. My chest constricts. Sometimes Kingston’s big dick energy makes me forget what I’m thinking. Like I can’t concentrate the way I normally can.
He crosses his muscular arms over his chest, managing to look intimidating even in a shirt and tie. The interesting thing about his stance is that he’s not making eye contact with any of us. He’s listening, sure. But he’s processing internally instead of speaking out, which Kingston only does with the shit that really matters. It gives me even more insight into just how deep his feelings run for Elliot.
“You need to trust me to know what I’m capable of doing. I know my mind and my body. I’m ready. It was a minor concussion. The doctor told us that most people recuperate within seven to ten days. Tomorrow night will be day seven.” Elliot pauses, her chest rising and falling fast as she implores us with her eyes. “I feel good. Promise. Otherwise, when you demanded I get all dressed up for some event tonight—an event that’s a party… but not?—I’d have told you to take a fuckinghikebecause I don’t do shit I don’t want to do.”
Cannon clears his throat roughly and looks away, but I catch the glimmer of amusement in his eyes. Her sass is coming back at full throttle. This week, we’d gotten used to quiet, subdued Elliot. Well, that girl isgone,replaced with the badass one who walked into our lives a few weeks ago. And she’s back with a vengeance. Cannon’s eyes lock with Elliot’s, and he nods once. He’s in.
Elliot steers her focus to me, but I immediately hold my hands up. “Peaches, I’m good with whatever you want. You’re smart enough to know when to stop if your health or well-being is at risk.”
Kingston’s jaw is rigid, but the muscle at the back twitches like mad, like it has a mind of its own and he can’t control it. Of course, he’s feeling defensive. He’s the only hold out, the only one standing between Elliot and what she wants. Unfortunately for her, his opinion within the brotherhood is the one that matters most. Studying Elliot, though… she’s determined. A woman who knows what she wants. She’s a goddamn force of nature. Hell, I can see her going toe-to-toe with him over this if she has to.
And I can’t say I’d mind watching the fucking fireworks.
Elliot lets out an impatient sigh and moves into position right in front of him. She grabs onto his hips, gently tugging as she forces him to acknowledge her. “I think you’re scared because I was honest with you, and now you view me as your responsibility… but not because you're the head of this house. Don’t make this about what I shared with you. That was private.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. My brain goes to places I’d rather it didn’t. It was in my head last week that Kingston was twisting his sister with Elliot for some reason, and the reality of the conclusions I’m drawing are scarier than I want to accept right at this moment.
A hard breath escapes from between Kingston’s lips as he stares at Elliot under hooded eyes. “I don’t want to see you get hurt again,” he rasps. She nods, her fingers digging into his sides. She teeters forward in her heels, raising onto her tiptoes and straining to get closer. “I know. I won’t. You’ll see. I’ll be fine.”
I’m relieved when he finally reaches out for her, skimming his hands up her arms and finally bringing them up to lightly cup her face. He studies her carefully for a moment before he nods. “Okay. I’d say I’ll allow it, but I have a feeling that’d just bring out your claws again.”
Her lips twist. “You’d be right. How about we see how I do this weekend, and if I have a hard time, you can give me shit after. I won’t even complain, because it’ll be my fault.”
Like he’s considering her proposition, he tilts his head to the side and squints at her. After a quick nod, he acquiesces. “Okay. Deal.”
A wide grin spreads across Elliot’s face.
If I said I wasn’t mesmerized by it, I’d be lying. After a quick look at my brothers, I’d say they feel much the same. Kingston grips her by the chin and lightly skims the pad of his thumb over Elliot’s plump red bottom lip. “You look gorgeous tonight.” He leans in close and whispers, “I am so fucking messing up this lipstick later.” He eases back a bit, a cocky smile on his face. “But for right now… I want to see you suck my thumb between these lips. Will you do that for me?”
Elliot blinks up at him, clearly surprised by the request.
Cannon and I pivot toward them, and standing close, I murmur, “In case you’re wondering, this sexy beast is imagining what it’d be like to have your red lips wrapped around his cock.” I chuckle. “Open your mouth, Peaches. Give him an idea.”
Cannon bites his knuckle, watching from over my shoulder as her lips part, and she allows Kingston to push his thumb into her mouth. Elliot swirls her tongue around it, then sucks gently. And Kingston? He slowly pushes it in and out, eyes locked on her lips.
It’s hot as fuck. Like so hot I’m ready to combust just from watching, and I’m getting hard fast. Someone is going to have to put an end to this or we’re never getting out of here. I step close to both of them, heaving out, “Okay, you two, as much as we’re enjoying the show, we’ve gotta go.”
Cannon’s breaths have become ragged behind me, and I know he’s as turned on as I am.
Kingston finally withdraws his thumb, but not before Elliot nips at it with a wink.
I close my eyes and shake my head, doing my damnedest to control myself. I laugh under my breath and take Elliot’s hand, raising it in the air and twirling her around. “I was telling the truth earlier. You look fucking amazing.” I give her another appreciative look and can’t stop my teeth from raking over my lip as I let her go.
Not to be outdone, Cannon steps in and before any of us know what he’s about to do, Elliot’s feet leave the floor. He lifts her until their eyes are level. For several moments after, he simply stares at her with longing. Then, his hand lands squarely on her ass, and he squeezes it before he sets her on her feet again.
“Hey, are we ready or what?” Stuart’s obnoxious voice is loud and unmistakable from the front door.
