Page 48 of Tarnished Hands

“They’re your family, and we work together. Keir messaged that he wanted to meet with me. Plus, you were snoring, and I didn’t want to wake you.”

“I don’t snore.” She scoffs. “What did they say?”

“They may have threatened my life.” I smile, and her eyes go wide.

“I’ll talk to them.”

“It’s fine. They love you and are protecting you. I don’t plan to ever hurt you. So we’re okay.”

“You can’t guarantee that.”

“If I do, I’ll always try to make it right. How does that sound?”

“Sounds good. Are you okay with going to the dinner?”

“Yes, they’re your family.”

“And Tony? He’ll be fine by himself while you’re gone?”

“Tony has nurses… and Aqua.”

“Yeah, I saw that when I went looking for you. I quickly shut the door and climbed back in bed.” She laughs. “Can he even have sex?” she whispers.

I shrug. “I guess time will tell. But you know who can have sex?”

Piper gives me her best eye roll. “I’m not falling for that.” She huffs.

“But it’s fallen for you. Its favorite place is inside you. It’s like home to it.”

“That’s so weird. You’re talking about your penis in the third person. You get that, right?”

“Yeah, and that penis wants to go home. Please, baby, let me take it home.” I lean toward her, and she bites her pastry and shakes her head.

“We both have work to do,” she says.

“So, no quickie before you leave?” I motion to my cock.

“I mean, who am I to deny such a beautiful thing?” She smirks before she throws back the covers and climbs onto my lap, completely naked. I thought she said she walked out to the living room. “I got naked again because I want a quickie.” She winks and leans in to kiss me.

This girl.

Fuck! This girl is everything.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

PIPER

I’m nervous, and I don’t exactly know why. Ezra reaches for my hand and entwines our fingers as we walk toward the front door. I’m used to going to these dinners—they are a regular occurrence—but it’s usually only family and significant others. I’ve never brought a man home, let alone introduced one to everybody. Even though most of them know Ezra, it still feels weird.

“They already know me,” he reminds me, even though I was just thinking the same thing.

“You haven’t met them all.”

“Okay, so who am I missing?”

“The wives,” I tell him as Sailor opens the door. She beams at us and pulls me in for a hug. I never knock, but tonight, I thought it was the right thing to do. She lets me go and turns to Ezra.

“So glad you could make it.” Stepping back, she pulls the door open wider and waves us in. “Ezra, good to see you again.”

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