Page 103 of Going Home

"Hailey," Lucas hisses. "They've been nothing but good to us."

"They've used us for childcare, Lucas. That's not nothing."

"We like the kids," he counters. "Besides, we have beds, clean clothes, three meals a day, and no Harold punching us when he gets drunk. Watching the kids is basically nothing."

Leaning back, Lex mirrors Hailey's pose, her arms crossed over her chest. "No more watching the kids unless we pay you."

"No, don't pay me," Lucas says, his hands on the table. "I don't need it. I'll watch them for free."

"I don't want to watch them for free anymore." Hailey's eyes never leave Lex's, and they appear to be having some type of staring contest slash showdown.

Colt glances to Lucas who stares with fear and confusion at the standoff, and he's glad he's not the only one unsure about what exactly is taking place here.

"Twenty bucks an hour," Lex offers.

Her face scrunches up in response. "What's your angle here, lady?"

"No angle. Like I said, I hope you can learn that you don't have to be jaded one day. Trust me, it makes you miserable and your life far more difficult than it has to be. But you've been through more than most, and we'll roll with it. You don't want to watch the kids for free? Done. We'll find other arrangements or pay you. Deal?"

"Deal."

"Now, look at your menu and decide what you want to eat."

The air still feels tense, but Hailey gives a small nod of respect to Lex before taking a fried pickle and chewing on it thoughtfully. Lex smirks and takes a shrimp from the plate. Lucas looks scared, and Colt just stares in awe.

Maybe Lex was as difficult as Hailey is when she was a teenager because she can counter or deflect everything Hailey spits at them. Or maybe it's her maternal side coming through. Either way, Colt suspects Lex will break through Hailey's walls one day. It may take years, but his wife is nothing if not persistent. And she refuses to give up on people she cares about. Colt's proof of that.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Griffin's Beach

Felicity

Handstiedaboveherhead, Felicity uses them to hold herself steady against the wall as she lies sideways on the bed. Ky holds her legs up in a V as he stands and pounds into her, his grunts like music to her ears.

The blindfold over her eyes and hands tied above her head forces her to focus on the senses she can rely on. She decided after the funeral that she needs to work on trusting her husband more, and this was one of the first activities she found on the internet that looked worth their time. Blindfolding during sex to trust her partner to please her without having full control over the situation.

Ky jumped at the idea, and they agreed to blindfold her at least three times a week as she struggles with the lack of control. They moved to the clubhouse to push her a little bit further tonight because it's not their home. It's his clubhouse. As much as she loves the sensations, she feels a little reserved even as he does everything to make it as pleasurable as possible.

"Baby," Ky says between grunts, "I can't hold out much longer."

"It's okay," she says, her body pressing against his as he pounds into her.

Normally, she'd tell him to come for her, but she can't. Saying that puts her in control again, but she knows Ky can't fight off his release. She's only managed to come while blindfolded during sex recently at their house. She knows he doesn't take it personally, and he'll get her off. The blindfold comes off, and even if she can't use her hands to touch him, usually the sight helps push her along.

"Fuck!" he cries out and stills with the exception of small spasms as he fills her. "Jesus."

"Good?" she asks and smiles. Even if she didn't get off, she loves hearing him.

She's suddenly shifted to lay correctly on the bed, and the mattress moves as Ky jumps next to her. They moved the bed against the wall to give her something to hold onto while he took her like he has, and she holds back her giggle as he excitedly joins her on the bed like a teenager.

"Don't you dare lower your hands," he growls in her ear.

The blindfold doesn't come off, and she gasps when he takes a nipple into his mouth before rubbing between her legs with his rough fingers. "Oh!"

"I fucking love when you let me take control," he says, kissing up her chest to her neck before sucking right behind her ear. "Trust me, baby. Trust me to make you feel good."

"I trust you," she pants.

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