Page 61 of Protect Home
I come up empty because Kingston Baylor always has it all together. From his perfectly matched fit, down to the meticulous design he keeps lined on the side of his fade.
Today it’s a moon shape. I think I can work with that.
“You talk a lot of shit for a guy with a moon carved on the side of his head.”
“What you got against moons?” King stands beside me and throws a heavy arm around my shoulder.
Jesus. He’s a tank.
“Gee, I don’t fucking know. Maybe the fact that we’re the Strikers and a moon has nothing to do with lightning. It doesn’t fit.”
“Only you would even think of that,” he mumbles, shaking his head comically.
Speaking of Tenley…where is she?
“She’s right there,” Bodhi interrupts. “Getting a coffee with the girls.”
“You too?” I send him a sharp look. Bodhi’s the more reserved of our group, making his relationship with Navy something really fucking different, but I think that’s what works for them.
I don’t have to search for Tenley too hard, doing my best not to seem too eager to see her. After all, we’re nothing but friends.
A title I’ll hate till my last breath.
She approaches us with a piping hot coffee in hand. “Finally able to drink coffee, I see,” I say, nodding to her paper cup.
She groans like it’s a long-awaited miracle. “Finalllllly. It’s giving me life.”
“I bet that ain’t the only thing that gave you life,” Jethro inserts himself into our conversation. I’ve nevercared for the rookie, and he’s only making his case with me worse.
“I don’t recall hearing her ask for your input, Hale,” I snap.
All heads swing in my direction. I don’t know why my defending her is so shocking. Tenley and I primarily bicker, but even before, I’ve never done anything to humiliate her or speak poorly of her. I’ve just let her fight her own battles. But they haven’t been around thenewversion of us.
The version I prefer.
King smiles wide, Callaway and Bodhi joining him.
“I’m only saying what everyone else wants to,” Jethro mumbles with his hands raised, fumbling to retract his comment.
I move to react, but Tenley stops me. “No, that’s okay, August.” She turns to Jethro, confidence unmatched. “Continue, Jethro. Please. Do tell me what else gave melife. I’d really love to know.”
She’s full of the venom I treasure in her. I can’t wait to watch her throw dirt on Jethro’s wounds.
“I’m…I…” he stammers his words. “I mean, word gets around fast, and I mean…” He points to her swollen belly. “He did get you pregnant.”
Wrong answer, tool bag. Wrong answer.
Tenley smirks and takes a leisurely sip of her coffee. Her belly protrudes against her leggings and sweatshirt, making me so damn proud to see her soak in her effortless confidence. “That may have been the worst reasoning I’ve ever heard,” she teases. “How about I give you something better?” Tenley’s eyes rise, ready for Jethro to agree before she continues.
He should be worried. Hell, even I am.
Jethro nods, and that’s the green light she needs tocontinue. “Since you seem to be so worried about what gives melife, you’ll be happy to know that August satisfied every sexual need I had last night. All night long, for that matter.”
The lobby has now fallen silent, but Tenley doesn’t care.
My girl.
And she’s not done yet. “One thing about us pregnant women,” she states, rubbing her belly with her palms, “is that we’re horny all the time. Thankfully, the same man who put this perfect gift inside of me also happens to be the same man who knows how to please me.”
