Sanctuary (Family Justice Book 3) (66 page)

And the women? The women … shit. They defied description. Not a shrinking wallflower among them, Heather quickly learned that being the woman of an alpha Dom was not for the faint-hearted. Strong, fierce, and loyal to the bone, every female she met on this eye-opening adventure was someone she’d want as a friend. They weren’t doormats and displayed some strong opinions. Why in the world did she ever think that only a weak woman allowing herself to be manipulated was what men like these needed?

Lacey Cameron was gyrating and whirling at Heather’s side while the men ripped through “Summer of ‘69.” She loved losing herself as they danced. This group of people made her feel safe. Brody made her feel safe. Safe enough to express something as basic and fun as getting crazy on the dance floor.

“Heather, darlin’,” Stephanie drawled as she twirled up to them. “You keep dancing like that and a fist fight’s going to break out, shugah.”

Lacey nodded her agreement. Shouting over the music, she executed a perfect shimmy and gave Heather a sweet smirk. “Brody’s awfully cute up there. I don’t remember him singing with the guys before.”

She smiled. Yeah. He was more than cute.

“Have you noticed that gaggle of girls who came in with Dev’s firehouse buddies? The ones over there hanging by the side of the stage?” Heather’s eyes followed to where Lacey pointed. “Well, they’re practically wiping the sweat off his chest with their panties.”

“What?” Heather stopped dancing and stared. Three twenty-somethings were right where Lacey said. Posing and preening next to where Brody and Calder’s mic stands were.
You have to be fucking kidding.

Stephanie was laughing. “Oh my word, Heather. You are delightful. Here you are, dancing up a storm while half the men in the room are sizing you up for conquest. But you’re so wrapped up in Brody that you didn’t notice his groupie squad any more than you picked up on the death rays that man is sending out to anyone looking at you.”

The song ended and they went in for a group hug. Heading back to the table where everyone stashed their purses and drinks, she was startled when Tori, Angie, and Meghan immediately launched into her with comments and questions.

“Does he always look at you like that?”

“I think he’s gonna put Finn’s lights out if the dude talks to you again.”

“Did you know the dog trainer could sing? I didn’t know.”

“How did the outfit reveal go?”

The last question came from Tori. When they all stopped and stared at her waiting for an answer, Heather realized that every single one of them was more than a little curious.

What could she say and still face all of them later? Did they know, or suspect, that an outfit like this was raw meat to a ravenous alpha? Looking around, she figured,
Yep, they all knew.

Frankly, she was lucky to get out of the hotel in one piece. The little black dress took a whole new turn with what she was wearing. Short, tight, and outrageous with strategic mesh cutouts that left no doubt about her lingerie, she chose this one because it was young, not too slutty, and was easy to cover up with a coat.

When she’d come out of the small bedroom, she was so nervous that she dropped the bracelet she was putting on. Twice. Thinking back, it wasn’t very bright of her to bend over to pick the jewelry up off the floor. Especially not with Brody watching her from the sofa. The angle of his view must have been X-rated.

Before she straightened and got the bracelet on her wrist, he was on top of her. And he was growling in a way she’d never heard before. “Are you out of your mind?”

She’d jumped with fright and went to turn around, but he’d grabbed her from behind first.

“I hope for your sake you just forgot to wear panties. Because if this is on purpose, you and I are gonna talk.”

The second he’d restrained her, all of Heather’s senses went on high alert. He wasn’t mad—that wasn’t the vibe she got. He’d sounded astonished. And territorial. She’d worried that the outfit was a foolish error.

Lamely trying to pry his grip from her middle, she’d attempted to explain. “Um, well, this dress doesn’t, uh … allow for undergarments.”

“And you thought that would be okay with me?”

Something in his voice cut through the squawking narrative in her head. And then it hit her. He was turned on, and she was about to find out how much.

He’d muttered a bunch of shit about good girls being bad, and before she knew what was happening, she was over his knee with the dress pushed up to her waist. If anyone tried to convince her that getting your bare ass spanked was more fun than some internet puppies with a balloon, she’d have thought them crazy. Until it happened to her.

The spanking led to a ferocious fucking while he stood next to the bed and put her legs on his shoulders. When it was over, she couldn’t stand up. Far from horrified by what happened, she’d come several times and even apologized for being bad.

Well, shit. If being bad always ended that way, she was going to have a hard time finding a reason to be good. Watching him push his cock into those damn cotton briefs while it glistened with their fluids wrecked her for good. She was still helplessly staring as he pulled the zipper on his jeans up and fastened the belt buckle. She’d never forget the gleam of satisfaction in his eyes as she lay sprawled on the edge of the bed, dress around her waist, their shared release leaking from her body.

That was when she found out alphas could be gentlemen too. Well, sorta. Taking a washcloth from the bathroom, he matter-of-factly cleaned her up, pulled her off the bed, and then yanked the sexy cutout dress back into place.

As they left the hotel, he kept a firm grip on the hand she slid through his arm and also absolutely refused to let her wear the light duster coat which would offer at least some modesty. Walking through the lobby, she felt her sex throb with awareness as several people turned and watched them. Did it show that he’d just taught her quite the lesson?

Sliding into the backseat of the car hired to take them to the church, she’d been extra careful not to expose herself. When he’d followed her in and got settled, Brody turned and said, “Wear whatever you want, sweetheart. But know this. I do not share, and if you go out looking like sex in high heels, you’ll do so with my scent on your skin.” He smirked. “After I come in your pussy.”

Oh, yeah. She was going to share that—like never.

“So?” Tori urged.

She didn’t answer right away, so the feisty little woman just went ahead and stirred the pot. With a flourishing wave, she pointed at Angie, Stephanie, Lacey, and Meghan. “Three bucks says he pinked her ass.”

Lacey laughed. “Jeez, Victoria. How ‘bout you make the bet about something we didn’t already know.”

Meghan elbowed her playfully. “C’mon. Tell us. You can say anything, you know. Hell, we’ve all been there. Even Barbie and her perfectly perfect ponytail have to admit it’s true.”

“Word,” Lacey drawled. “And while you’re at it, we’re dying to know. Are you going to be joining Brody when he comes back to the compound?”

“Oh, my god. You guys are good. Maybe too good.” She laughed. “I’ll have to get back to you about the whole Arizona thing and to answer your spanking inquiry? Sitting is optional right now and that’s all I’m giving up.” To her incredible surprise, they rushed her and hug her till she begged for air.

Stephanie said, “Oh my. I think we better pay attention. Heather, darlin’, looks like you’re up.”

What did that mean?

Parker was at the mic. “Got a real special treat in store. You’ve heard a lot about Family Justice over the last couple of days.” He was idly strumming as an instrument and microphone shuffle took place. “The newest Justice member to get a seat at the table is here, and he’d like to sing a bunch of sappy words to a real special lady.” He looked around and waited while people took their places, then turned back to the mic. “Okay, kids. Here he is, our official dog guru and resident book nerd, the one, the only, the ridiculously good-looking Mad Dog Brody Jensen.”

Mad dog?

The ladies were squealing with delight as her scruffy blond Adonis shoved his hands into his pockets and stepped up to the microphone. The enthusiastic whistles and applause were deafening.

Throwing Parker a sneer, he said, “Wouldn’t hurt your dumb ass to read a book or two.” Parker just laughed. “Anyway, Ernest Hemingway wrote,
The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places
. I’ve found that to be particularly true.”

Heather stopped breathing.

With a cute shrug, he looked at her and said, “I hope you’ll always be there … still holding on.”

Meghan said, “Awww.” Tori hugged her, and Lacey put a hand on her shoulder.

“I’m putting this on a playlist,” Angie muttered with a weepy sniff when Brody gave his own special treatment to “Hold on Forever.” “Rob Thomas just got a shit-ton of likes and fans.”

When the song was over, she was numb and hot tears fell from her eyes. Her mind was made up. Tonight, she was going to tell him that she was falling in love with him. Heather still didn’t know what the future held, but for this moment in time, that was how she felt.

Then Alex brought the house down when he serenaded Meghan with all the men as backup, singing “Just the Way You Are.” Heather loved the song, and admitted the choice was perfect. Alex changed the lyrics, though, and instead of singing about a laugh she hated, he said ‘her ass.’ The way the room erupted with applause, you’d think he’d just won an award.

The
American Idol
-worthy dance moves and harmonies the men brought to the song were mighty impressive. And Brody? That man clearly knew his way around some choreography.

Things kicked into turbo after that. They took turns until every song imaginable from “Wouldn’t It be Nice” by the Beach Boys to “Making Memories of Us.” That last one she swore Alex did even better than Keith Urban did. And then they turned the stage over to the ladies, and it was time to find out if she possessed the balls she hoped she did.

Just like the guys, everyone crammed on stage. Tori. Lacey. Angie. Mrs. Marquez. Stephanie. Meghan’s mom. Parker’s mom. And her, of course. Meghan stayed in the audience; only instead of having the girls around her, she was at the mercy of Alex and his motley crew.

They went through a bunch of melodies. It was incredibly easy to sing with everyone. Tori was a natural vamp. Lacey had the sweetest voice that old firehall ever heard. Angie? Holy cow. That girl knew how to own a song. It wasn’t until Ashleigh Marquez, Maggie O’Brien, and Wendy Sullivan took center stage that the tissues needed to be passed around.

Halfway through an absolutely spectacular rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s classic “Landslide,” Heather realized that the song about growing up and getting older held some sort of special emotional meaning to Alex’s family.

What was the best move after tugging the heartstrings? Why laughter, of course. Riotous, out loud, bold, shrieking laughter because that was what they brought when this crazy, wonderful, diverse, and completely rad squad of extraordinary women put a smile on every face with a saucy rendition of “You’re the One That I Want.”

It was doubtful there was anyone present who hadn’t seen
Grease
as a movie or a play and who didn’t know every song. For Heather and probably quite a few others, the production was de riguer in high school theater. Hells bells, singing along was practically a requirement!

Mostly, the lead went to the moms of the bride and groom. Maggie O’Brien and her Irish shimmy and Ashleigh O’Brien dancing in those swoon-worthy boots she liked so much were astonishing. They all danced and sang their hearts out. A burst of laughter exploded when they sang of meditation in a cutely sexy way. Meghan probably loved that part.

Wrung out after a few more numbers, Heather was barely prepared when it was her turn. Wishing she wore something,
anything,
a little less revealing, she held on to the microphone stand for dear life, said a prayer for courage, and gave “The First Cut is the Deepest” all she had. Thank god for Stephanie and Tori’s perfect harmony. As the last notes faded, she prayed Brody got the message she was hoping to convey.

The crowd in front of the stage riser parted and she saw her alpha cowboy making his way to her with an expression on his face that was easy to read. Luckily, the temporary stage was kind of low so when he put his hand out and she took it, he easily pulled her off without revealing her lack of underwear. Wrapped in his arms, she hung down his front, her feet never touching the floor as he kissed the living daylights out of her. The room erupted with audible ‘Awws’ and a smattering of applause. Without stopping, he walked them straight to the back and then out of the building where he dragged her into an alleyway.

“I’m so proud of you,” he murmured between kisses. “You should have told me.” And then he rocked her world. “I’ve never been in love before, so you’re going to have to tell me if I’m not doing it right.”

Heather hugged him so fiercely it was a wonder he could breathe. “That makes two of us,” she whispered close to his ear.