Nate held a hand up. “Me, too. I vote for dead cow or chicken or whatever.”
Zane pointed at the baby in his arms. “Zander’s drooling. You know that means a yes.”
Charlie gurgled from his perch on his bouncy seat, his legs kicking, making the whole chair bounce.
“I take it that’s a yes from Charlie, too,” Callie said with a little smile. She was helplessly outnumbered now. Well, if it was only Stef and Jen, she might not have to get too dressed up. It would be good to get out of the house for a while. And maybe she could talk to Jen about working out. Or maybe not. When had going to see her friends become a chore? She had to find a way to come out of this.
“We’re going to have fun.” Nate cupped her cheek, leaning over to brush his lips against hers. She shivered when he lightly bit at her bottom lip, dragging it briefly between his own, sucking just for a minute. She felt a sweet stir of arousal. Nate winked down at her. “Come on, darlin’. I don’t want to miss this meal.”
She took a long breath and forced the arousal down. That wasn’t going to happen. But she was going to try to have some fun.
Nate picked up both diaper bags and grabbed the cooler. She found herself being handed up to the front seat of the Bronco in no time at all. Nate held the door open for her while Zane locked the babies’ car seats into place.
“There you go, baby.” Nate put a hand on her back and helped ease her up. He was still treating her like an invalid. Except that his hand slipped and she felt him skim the curve of her ass. She might have taken it as a mistake, but his palm lingered, squeezing just a little. When she looked up at him, he had the slightest smile on his face, his eyes slightly hooded. “Go on now, baby. Get in the car.”
But she didn’t want to get in the car. She wanted to jump her husband. She wanted to wrap herself around him and ride him until she screamed. It had been so damn long.
Charlie gave a little giggling cry, and she remembered where she was. She was a mom with two babies. She wasn’t some crazy sex kitten anymore.
She got into her seat and buckled up for the short trip to Stef’s.
Ten minutes later she was greeted by her oldest friend and one of her newest. Stef and Jen Talbot were waiting outside along with Stef’s father, Sebastian, and his beloved stepmother, Stella. Stella started moving toward the Bronco with deep purpose as they rolled to a stop, her arms already outstretched. Stella had on her red boots, jeans, and a fringed shirt, her blonde hair in its normal helmet. She smiled as she approached.
“Give me one of those babies!” She beamed as she opened the door and affectionately pushed past Zane. She had Charlie’s car seat unlocked with expert skill. Jen gave Callie a hug and then picked up Zander.
“This one is mine.” Jen cooed down at the kicking baby. Charlie was lifted and taken away, his fat little hands reaching up for Jen. The babies were used to affection from everyone in Bliss.
It didn’t take more than a minute before the babies and all their accoutrements were whisked away into the big house.
Callie was left standing in the driveway with the men, feeling a little self-conscious. She started to follow her babies, but Zane reached out and grabbed her hand.
“Not so fast,” he said, pulling her close.
“But I’m hungry,” she said, gazing up at him. Zane was six and a half feet of pure-grade alpha male.
“So am I.” He practically growled the words at her, the deep timbre of his voice going straight to her pussy. She got the feeling he wasn’t talking about food.
“It’s fully stocked, my friend,” Stef said, handing Nate a familiar set of keys. Those were the keys to the guesthouse. To Stef’s private pleasure palace. Before he’d married Jen, it had been the place where Master Stef had kept his submissives. The playroom was known all around Bliss as a place for lovers.
Stef’s father frowned, his voice going a little lower. “Stefan, do they know about, well, about the collection you keep out there?”
Sebastian’s face had gone a nice shade of pink, but Stef merely smiled. “Yes, father, they know about the butt plugs, though I doubt after a year or so of marriage to two men that Callie requires one anymore.”
Sebastian cleared his throat and smoothed down his dress shirt. “Well, good. Didn’t want it to come as a shock.”
Nate winked down at her, stifling a laugh. “Come on, baby. Stef’s got everything ready. We have wine and some food.”
What was going on? This didn’t sound like a dinner party. This sounded like an ambush. “I can’t have wine or the babies will get wine.”
Nate shook his head. “Nope. We’re good, darlin’. I already talked to Caleb. You can have a glass and then we’ll pump and toss the milk after a couple of hours and then our babies will be rehab-free. I took out the emergency supply so the boys won’t need you until morning.”
Panic threatened to swamp her. It warred with overwhelming desire at the thought of being alone with her husbands, but then she realized her jeans still had an elastic waistband and panic won. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She needed a decent excuse. She would put them off and then she would diet like mad for a couple of weeks and work out and get pretty again. Yes. That was what she would do. They wouldn’t have to look at her this way. She would get back to her pre-baby weight, and then they could have a wild night. “I’m really tired. And the babies need me.”
Stef sent Nate a long look. She didn’t like that look. “I told you. You need to fix this, Nathan.”
Zane leaned over and made the decision for her. He scooped her up, hauling her against his massive chest, making her feel light and delicate in his arms. It had been so long since he’d carried her around. She only just realized how much she’d missed it. “We’ll take care of her, Stef. You should go and take care of your own wife. She looked a little baby crazy. I would watch out for that.”
Stef frowned. “Well, it’s difficult when everyone else keeps pumping out the kids. Rachel, Max, and Rye. Now you and Callie. Hell, Trev McNamara came to town, and suddenly his wife is pregnant. It’s in the damn water. I expect to hear that Caleb and Alexei have managed to knock up Holly any day now. I heard they’re trying.”
Callie let her arms drift around Zane’s neck. She cuddled close. She even loved the way he smelled. Masculine and clean. He smelled like soap with a little hint of musk. He was so sexy. And she smelled like baby vomit. She pulled away. “Come on, guys. This isn’t going to work for me. I can’t leave the boys.”
Zane frowned down at her. “You can. We need you, too. Callie, baby, we’ve done everything we can. The boys are safe. We’re close to them. But you know damn well we need you. This has been going your way for months. Tonight it’s mine and Nate’s time.”
“My way? Are you kidding me?” They thought she wanted things this way? She hadn’t slept in forever. She missed her husbands. She didn’t want it to be this way.
“Night, Stef. See you in the morning.” Zane didn’t respond, simply began walking toward the guesthouse, her weight no match to his strength.
“Zane, this isn’t my idea of paradise. I haven’t slept since the babies were born. This isn’t a picnic.” And it sure wouldn’t be anyone’s version of paradise if they saw how droopy her boobs were getting. It was one thing when a baby was hanging off it, but it was probably a turnoff without the whole feeding their children thing going.
“Not a picnic, baby. This is going to be a party,” Zane said with a sexy grin. “And you’re on the menu.”
Nate jogged ahead of them, an overnight bag in his hand. When had he packed that?
“Nate, did you pack my clothes?”
Nate turned the key in the lock and opened the door with the ease of a man used to getting his way. “No, my love. I did not pack your clothes. You don’t need clothes tonight.”