Page 16 of Graves & Griggs
I nod as I take my seat once more, wrapping my arm around the back of Skyla’s chair as she and Blake dive into talking about growing up in Chicago, where Blake’s originally from, versus London. The kids are all shouting and laughing. Things feel good in this moment. At least, I think I’m supposed to feel that way. I can’t help this gnawing sensation in the pit of my stomach that we’ve welcomed a shitstorm by opening the door to them all. Though, if what Vincent says is true, and the Graves brothers’ reputations bear no falsities… I’m not sure we would have made it had we turned them down.
A pair of hands come to rest on my shoulders, massaging them and startling me.
My eyes land on the culprit. Wesley of course.
“You okay, Ro?”
I nod as he chuckles, lowering his mouth to my ear.
“You need to relax. Everything will be okay. They seem to be in a bind, and there are more of us than them. We don’t need to worry?—”
“It’s my job to worry,” I hiss back at him, causing Blake and Skyla’s conversation to cease.
I give them an apologetic look before turning to look up at Wesley, who’s continuing to knead my shoulders. He stares down at me with one eyebrow lifted in challenge.
“Sorry,” I mutter before shaking my head.
Once again, he leans down to whisper to me, his lips dragging against my ear as he does.
“You’re only allowed to speak to me like that in the bedroom. Anywhere else, unacceptable.”
I turn to see no irritation or frustration on his face. Instead, he’s giving me a goading smile like he wants me to argue or fight back just so he can prove me wrong.
“Later,” I say lowly, causing a smile to curve Wesley’s lips as Skyla moves to stand. We both look towards her as she starts off towards the garage.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“The kids want more juice, and we ran out in the house.”
“I’ll get it,” I say and stand, following after her.
“It’s fine, Ronan,” she calls over her shoulder as she continues.
She steps through the threshold into the garage as I quickly follow behind her, looping my arms around her and pulling her back to me.
“You need to slow down. That’s what we’re all here for—things like this.”
She smiles, shaking her head as she looks up at me. “You’re not my servants, and I’m perfectly capable of grabbing some juice.”
I spin her around to face me, slipping one hand behind her neck as my gaze drills into hers. “It’s not about what you’re capable of, baby. We all know you’re capable of so much. You’re incredible. It’s about letting us take care of our wife, the mother of our children, the love of each of our lives.”
She smiles at me softly before lifting her hand and cupping mycheek. Her fingertips brush against the side of my eyes, where my age is absolutely starting to show. I’m over ten years older than her, and while that’s by no means old, I feel the stresses of our life catching up to me. I know that I’ll go gray in no time. Skyla and Wes both say they can’t wait for me to be a silver daddy. I, however, have reservations about such things.
“You’re worried,” she states.
“Of course. There are strangers in our home, in our winter cabin. They’re at our table, with our kids. Everything feels extremely out of control thanks to Griggs.”
Skyla’s eyes narrow at me as her hold on my face stiffens. “You’re seriously blaming this on Vincent? He was given a choice: life with a favor or death. He chose life; he chose me. He chose… How can you say that?”
I know she’s right, but goddamnit, I need someone to blame. I need something to fix. I can’t be this useless. I’m the fixer—I put things back together; I find solutions. Right now, I can’t do shit, and it’s driving me fucking crazy.
“I’m sorry. I know—I know it’s not his fault. I just…” I trail off, shaking my head when I feel Skyla pull my face to hers.
I go easily, like I always do. With Skyla, there’s never any choice: being near her, it’s like breathing for the first time in what feels like forever. It’s relief and peace and undiluted bliss.
Her lips brush mine, and slowly, the tension in my shoulders eases, at least for a moment. Her tongue swirls against my own, and I pull back, resting my forehead against hers.
“What are you looking to start here, baby?”
