Sanctuary (Family Justice Book 3) (45 page)

He warmed the flesh with slow, circling strokes on each beautiful globe. She moaned her consent, and he went for it. Starting off slow, he smacked each side, going back and forth until she was wriggling.

“How old is too old for you, young lady?”

“I like older men,” she offered on another sultry sigh. “They don’t mess around.”

The spanking got intense; he wanted to finish her off right then and there, but another country was heard from when Dylan started yelling from his crib.

“Naptime over?”

“Shit,” she grumbled as she awkwardly struggled to stand. When she was upright, he pulled her panties into place, his eyes never leaving hers. Then the sweats.

“Did you just use a swear word?” he teased. “Wow. So, then, my sexy Ponytail. Spank and stop makes you horny, does it?”

Wrinkling her cute little nose, she stuck out her tongue at him and stomped away. “Next time, we better have a girl,” he heard her mutter. “This two against one crap is ruining all my fun.”

His loud bellowing laughter echoed through the log cabin home as she went to fetch their precious son. A baby girl would be nice but so would another son. He didn’t care as long as Lacey stayed healthy.

They didn’t have any trouble getting pregnant with Dylan, so he was a bit surprised that a couple of months passed with no success since they’d decided to try again. He hoped it happened soon. Seriously. Taking care of his pregnant wife was an unimaginable pleasure the first time around. Cam was definitely looking forward to expanding their family.

At seven o’clock on the dot, Family Justice gathered at the Cameron household for a farewell movie night before Meghan and Angie headed off to Boston.

Alex was quiet and so was his fiancée. Parker wasn’t exactly thrilled about putting his lover on a plane and then spending a week cooling his heels before he could join her either. He understood why Alex was being such a dick. The prospect of being apart from Angelina was a bite in the ass. And he didn’t care for the feeling. Unless, of course, it was his wicked Desert Angel doing the biting.

The spacious home theater room that Draegyn built for Cam and Lacey as a wedding present was just as warm and welcoming as the rest of the unique cabin. Only something new was right smack dab in the center of the large open space at the back of the room. Unless he was mistaken, the shocking addition to the entertainment space was an honest-to-god stripper pole.

Angie started to giggle and whispered, “Is that what I think it is?”

God almighty. He certainly hoped so. Looking at the happily married couple through new eyes, he smirked at Cam but gave sweet Lacey a wide smile. “Something you want to tell us?” he asked. “You considering a new career choice, Cam?”

“Fuck you, Sully.” Cam chortled.

Tori and Drae were next with some droll, pithy commentary. “Uh, seriously Cameron.” Tori sounded like she was barely holding it together as laughter threatened to break wide. “There’s a Justice ass kicking coming your way if you’re thinking about pimping this sweet innocent out.” Lacey giggled when Tori put an arm through hers.

Calder and Stephanie, who always managed to be in some form or fashion of an embrace, laughed as they walked by. “Now, shugah,” Stephanie cooed in that audacious Southern gal twang she did so well. “Be nice, honey. I took a pole dancing class last year at the Y. Great exercise.”

Calder’s hilarious leer and the way his lip curled got groans from Alex and Drae. Parker absolutely fucking loved how weirded out both men were by Victoria’s mom shacking up with Alex’s uncle.

“Too much information, Mom,” Tori groaned. Drae was looking everywhere except at the pole or his wife’s mom. Seeing the legendary ladies’ man grasp the reality of his mother-in-law and someone he’d known well and partied with over many years doing the horizontal hokey-pokey was hilariously fucking awesome..

Meghan, of course, was the one who stepped in and took control. She was a lot like Alex. Somehow, the redhead always managed to make everyone okay with whatever was going on. He didn’t doubt that she could make a hurricane seem like just a bit of wind and rain.

“Ah hahaha.” She chuckled quite merrily. “Actually, our resident beauty queen is correct.”

All eyes turned to Stephanie, who took the opportunity to pirouette and pose like the pageant pro she was. God. Parker loved hanging out with this crew. What an amazing cast of characters.

Meghan marched right up to the pole, grasping it with one hand and gave it a firm yank. “The pole is fantastic as exercise.” The men, of course, all snickered in unison while the women feigned outrage. “Don’t laugh,” Meghan declared excitedly, “but you’ll never guess who all uses these things for training.”

Alex muttered, “Wait for it,” and rolled his eyes. Must be something he’d heard before judging by his comical reaction.

The Irish beauty crazy enough to marry his fucked-up friend’s ass smacked him playfully. “Hush, you.” Turning back to their assembled group, she told them with great passion that many sports trainers were using the pole to teach centering and aid in building core strength.

Cam stepped up and smiled appreciatively at Meghan before giving her a tender hug. He looked over at his wife and said, “Go ahead, honey. Show ‘em how it’s done.”

A beaming Lacey walked confidently as she directed everyone to back up and give her room. With a hilariously ineffective frown that Parker supposed she intended to come off as badass, she demanded, “Leave your dirty thoughts at the door, please.”

Angie’s hand slipped into his and squeezed. She loved these women. Lacey, Tori, and Meghan eagerly welcomed her with open hearts and arms. And Stephanie too, although they’d just recently met. His sweet angel got quite misty talking about how awesome they all were and the honor she felt at being so lovingly included in Family Justice.

With amazing skill and grace, not to mention impressive strength, Lacey went through a series of moves that made Parker’s muscles ache from just watching. The control she exercised over how she moved was mind-boggling. He could pound the fuck out of a heavy bag in the gym and regarded running as a physical requirement critical to his life, but holy mother of god, he could never do one-tenth of the shit she did.

When she hopped down and put her shoes back on, Cam stood by beaming like a well-satisfied man. “Any questions?” she asked.

With a round of headshakes and a chorus of, “Nope,” the entire group broke into applause. Lacey laughed and took a bow.

“New requirement for the house,” Angie mumbled next to him. Parker looked down at her and found nothing but amusement in her expression. They were building a running commentary as they mapped out their dream house. The one he was going to build them halfway between his office in Sedona and the Villa Marquez.

He leered at her for good measure and whispered, “You want to add this, uh, equipment to the playroom?” He saw her eyes flare and schooled himself to remain calm. “Or does it go in the workout studio?” With all the shit they were trying to cram into a house, they were going to end up with a five thousand square foot mini-mansion, but every time he thought of scaling back, he gave in immediately. Whatever she wanted, she could have, and he didn’t care how outrageous, quirky, or extravagant. His Angel was worth every cent.

Being with Angie was still new enough that they quite literally couldn’t get enough of each other. Hell. They’d pulled over and done it on the way here so sometimes it was good to be around other people because they’d have to behave. Alex interrupted just in time.

“Thank you all for being here tonight.” He watched as his best friend extended his beefy hand to the woman he loved. Parker couldn’t help it; he got choked up. They’d all come so perilously close to losing Alex—the experience affecting everyone in this room in different ways.

Meghan moved to his side and took his hand with a big smile on her face. No one doubted that she was one hundred and ten percent in love with and fully committed to him.

He felt Angie quiver. The adoration she felt for her older brother was something Parker witnessed her whole life. Finding her family’s hero so loved, happy, and fulfilled ensured that the entire Valleja-Marquez clan would hold Meghan in the highest regard for all time. In every way that counted, she single-handedly loved Alex enough to bring him back. As he said all the time, she was his redemption. Parker was honored to witness their love.

Alex continued. “This is the last time we’ll all be together before Boston,” In a moment of rare disappointment, he added, “I really wish Brody was here for this.”

Meghan grabbed onto her finace’s arm and squeezed. Calder said, “Hear, hear.” Cam nodded enthusiastically, and Drae snickered. And the women? Everyone except Angie was wearing this stupid girly swoonish expression that rubbed Parker the wrong way. Mental note to self … keep Angel away from the Dog Dude. He and Drae exchanged looks, and if he was correct, they were both thinking the same thing. That a certain scruffy blond biker was going to get his ass kicked if he looked sideways at their women. After all, Alex was carrying around a serious case of the green-eyed monster for the guy. He supposed it was all rather funny on some level.

“Anyway, with my pain-in-the-ass little sister,” Alex snarled with a glance in Angie’s direction, “stealing my bride away early, we have to say our good-byes as a group.”

Tori flew at Alex and wrapped him in a bear hug. She whispered something into his ear that made Alex nod and return her fierce hug. Tori kissed him on the cheek and went to Meghan next. It looked like she tried to say something, but no words came out. Red bobbed her head up and down, sniffed, and then hugged Tori.

Stephanie was next. Taking Tori’s hand, she smiled at Alex like he was the king of the universe. “You were my friend first, Alex Marquez. And then you were our savior.” She kissed her daughter’s cheek. “And even though you didn’t save my precious child from that lecherous swine,” she chuckled with a nod in Drae’s direction, “I owe you big time. WE owe you.”

“Stephanie,” Alex choked out, clearly moved by her words.

“You’re one of the good guys, Major, and deserving of the magnificent love you two share.” Stephanie looked at Meghan and winked. “And since we’ll now be … what? Aunt and niece?” she asked and laughed when everyone’s head bobbed. “I just want you to know that I’ll always take your side.” The older beauty sent a dazzling smile at Calder. “Alex didn’t fall far from the Marquez-Dane tree. Know what I mean?”

“Hey,” Calder griped. “That’s not nice.”

“Oh, hell yeah, it is,” Meghan quipped. “Thanks, Stephanie.” She snickered. “We’ll talk, okay?”

Calder and Alex groaned at the same time.

Then it was Lacey’s turn. “Remember that day I smacked Cameron so hard he almost hit the floor?”

The room erupted with gasps and chuckles. Parker wasn’t around when it happened and dammit, he would’ve liked to see Cam get walloped by the young pony-tailed woman.

Grinning at Alex, she drawled, “Well, there’s more of where that came from, buster, if you ever treat my girl badly. Got it?”

He chuckled and saluted her. “Yes, ma’am. Got the message loud and clear.”

Meghan quite simply beamed at all of them. “Look,” she said. “We know that you know … well, you know!” All of them joined her quiet laughter. Alex was wearing a shit-eating grin that made Parker smile. It was great to see him so fucking happy. “Anyway, we love all of you for playing along, and I promise … we promise … that after our honeymoon … and when the coast is clear,” she drawled in a comically tight voice. “We’ll tell you all ‘bout it.”

Calder sidled closer to the happy couple. “Now, hold on,” he began. “As your spiritual counselor, I have to advise against sharing such a sacred moment with this heathenish crowd.”

Alex and Meghan both roared with laughing approval at Calder’s remark. “I’m glad you brought that up, Unc.” Alex chortled. “Reminds me to tell y’all one more time that everyone is to be on their best fucking behavior in Boston. Got it?”

His unsparing glare was pure Big Daddy. Looking pointedly at Drae, Alex chided, “No farting in church. Understood?”

Draegyn smiled innocently. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Major.” Tori punched his arm. “But clarify the mission parameters, if you would. Does farting include all body function sounds or is belching exempt?” Tori groaned and looked on apologetically.

“And Cam,” Alex drawled. “None of that religion shit with Uncle Ed. I’m serious, dude. If you get him started, it’ll be all God and the church, the whole time. This is supposed to be a celebration. Not an inquisition.”

Cameron smirked but agreed with a head nod and a thumbs-up.

“Uncle Calder. You know the drill. Keep your sister away from the champagne and don’t you dare give my dad any crap. They’re still married. She loves him. Get over it!”

Calder flipped his nephew the finger and chuckled. “She coulda’ married someone like a Steve Jobs. Or Robert Plant. Not that old Spanish fuddy-duddy who sired you.”

Parker grinned. This topic was well debated over the years by everyone—his own parents included—and became the subject of some very good-natured ribbing.

Apparently, Alex just couldn’t resist firing one straight back at his uncle. “Oh, and Unc. A certain smart-mouthed employee of mine would like me to ask you when plan on making things legal.”