Page 70 of Declan's Dove

Declan tightens his arms around me, his boisterous laugh drawing everyone’s attention to our little bubble. Carter squeezes into the hug, looking up at both of us, smiling.

“I was hoping we would get to be part of this family,” he says. “Does that mean I’ll get to be a King when I grow up now too?”

“Sure kid,” Declan says.

“So, we’re part of the found family now.” Carter says it in a way like he’s just learned something profound.

“What do you mean, Carter?” I ask, not sure I understand.

“Well, Caleb and Liz said the Kings are like what they call a found family. It’s not about the blood you share, or your last name, it’s about who you care about and who has your back.” He leans in, his eyes a little misty, and whispers, “We need good people who care about us and watch our back, Mama. People who will protect us from …” He trails off, looking up at Declan. When Declan gives a curt nod, Carter adds, “Good people who will protect us from the bad ones. And I think we found those people here.”

My eyes fill with tears as the weight of what my son says pierces my heart.

My poor son.

The burden he’s carried all this time thinking he had to protect me. To keep me safe, when all along it’s been my job and sole worry to protect him and his innocent little heart from everything his father has done. There’s so much to process in what he’s just said, but I don’t get the chance as we look up and find everyone in the room, minus Melanie, is now surrounding us.

All of Declan’s brothers and their families take turns congratulating us and welcoming me and Carter into the family. All of them seemingly excited for us. It’s very overwhelming and somehow comforting just the same.

“All right!” Gabe’s loud voice shouts over all the others. “Ladies, you’re all to stay here, hang out, shoot the shit. I don’t really care. Except for you, Sadie. Don’t burn down my clubhouse and no fighting with the club girls.”

“Spoil sport!” Surprisingly, Avery is the one who says it. She and Sadie are laughing and fist bumping each other.

Since I have no clue what’s going on, I turn to Declan for answers. He leans into my ear and whispers, “Avery got into a fight with one of the club girls a while back. Avery beat her ass pretty good. It was actually fun to watch go down.” My eyes widen in shock.

“I won’t have to fight any of them, will I? I’m not much for violence.” I imagine myself throat punching Melanie and oddly enough, feel a tinge of satisfaction with the idea. “You know what? Nevermind. I’ll be fine.”

Declan eyes me curiously, but I keep my thoughts to myself.

Just in case.

“All right, assholes. Let’s get this shit over with. We’ve got church!” Gabe shouts out over the room, then leaves.

The men shuffle around, making their way down the hall to the room with double doors. I watch each one, taking in the people around me and how they all interact with each other.

Jameson drops his pool cue and leaves the room with Ghost following close behind. Ethan kisses Sky on the head and whispers something to her. She nods, rubbing her belly. Mack kisses Jayde and gives her a stern look, to which she rolls her eyes. Jake kisses Avery, grabbing her ass and lifting her off the ground. When he breaks the kiss, he leans in to her ear and whatever he says has her cheeks flushed. Hawk says something to Sadie, smiling as she flips him off in passing. But it’s Caleb and Liz who have my undivided attention now.

The way he holds her to his chest, her short frame tucked up under his chin. He strokes her hair while whispering to only her. She breathes in deeply, nodding her head and whispering back. There’s just something about those two and the way they love each other.

I want that.

When Caleb steps back, putting space between them, he leans down, cradling Liz’s face and kisses her hard. She melts into his touch and gives herself over to him. It’s such a beautiful display I almost feel like an intruder in their special moment.

After Caleb heads down the hallway, Liz calls out for the kids to go join her in the kitchen to help her make some snacks. Carter looks up at me with his big, bright smile.

“Gotta go, Mama. Miss Liz needs my help.” Declan and I laugh at his excitement as he takes off for the kitchen doors.

Declan leans down, hugging me close. “I’ve got to go, baby. Stay here in the clubhouse. I’ll come get you two as soon as we’re done and we’ll head home.”

“I don’t know if we should go to your place just yet.” I don’t know how to explain what I’m feeling inside. Trepidation. Nervous anticipation. Arousal. My body has a mind of its own as thoughts of being in Declan’s bed while he repeats all those delicious things he did earlier.

Declan’s grin says he knows exactly what I’m thinking about. He kisses the top of my head. “We’ll discuss this further when I get out of church.” He chuckles. “You know, Dove? I’m getting hard at the thought of having you naked and in my bed.”

A gasp leaves me, and Declan uses it as an excuse to capture my lips one more time. “I’ll be back, baby. Be good.” I’m left a standing puddle of goo, while he’s gone off down the hall and left me to the curious women whose eyes are all now on me.

Well, shit.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

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