When I'm With You

  "I know, logically. I just can't help it."

  "What are you really worried about?"

  She sighs. "I don't know. Maybe that they won't agree with our relationship. Or that it will be awkward."

  "And would it be a problem if someone did have an issue with us being together?" I ask. To me, fuck no, but Ember has always been treated a little differently as the baby of the group. The overprotective father acting like a giant guard more often than not, and I understand where she is coming from because of that. After all, I did use that as a reason for us not to be together in the past.

  "Not even a little, to me, but like I said ... it would be awkward."

  "Good thing for you, awkward is my middle name."

  She laughs, the mood lifting, and I give her another brief kiss before placing her on her feet.

  "I love you, Ember, but so does every single other person who will be there tonight. They won't even think twice because they can see with their own eyes that not only do you have my love, but I have yours. Give them the benefit of the doubt until they prove otherwise, and if they do, then we will deal. Together."

  "Together," she echoes.

  "You're stuck with me, baby. If they give you any lip, then just light the fuse on that little firecracker temper of yours and put them in their place."

  She barks out a laugh, the heaviness of her mood dissipating instantly.

  "I'll go take Bam out. Come get me when you're ready to leave."

  "Okay, Nate."

  The second her body passes by mine when she walks into the room, I let my hand fall back and give her ass a loud smack. She jumps and turns quickly. I wag my finger at her.

  "Not fair, Nate!" she whines, the sound falling on my back as I walk out of the room.

  "Foreplay is a good thing," I call back, laughing to myself as I walk through the house and start tossing Bam his ball in the backyard.

  "Everyone is already here," she softly observes, looking through the windshield of my truck at the vehicles that line my parents' driveway.

  "Well, that's what happens when your beast of a dog decides that he would rather hunt his own dinner than have that bag shit."

  She laughs nervously.

  "Calm down. It's going to be fine."

  Her head moves, but her eyes stay focused on the driveway.

  "How many times do I have to remind you that this isn't the first time they've seen us together?"

  "My show doesn't count. I hardly had time away from Annabelle parading me around to even be at your side."

  I hum, not responding. She has to work this out on her own, and nothing I say will ease her mind.

  "Plus, this is so much different. This is our family, Nate. Someone is bound to say something. I just don't want to cause any issues."

  Again, I just nod and make a noise in my throat.

  "Then again, our parents are the only ones who it could cause issues with and they know about us, so it will probably be fine. I mean we've had the group over to the house and they've seen us together, so it's not as if this is going to be shocking. But all of our parents, I mean ... yeah, they haven't really seen us together. But you know what, you're right. We love each other and that's all that matters. If someone has a problem with it, then screw them."

  Her head finally turns as she slides her hand into mine.

  "Firecracker."

  She smiles brightly, happiness clear on her face, and I know she's ready.

  We walk up the driveway, having parked all the way at the end, hand in hand. I give her one more look before pushing the door open and stepping into my parents' house. She follows behind; I'm not sure if she's using me to hide behind or if I'm just too pumped to be here with her that I'm rushing, but when I stop walking a few feet in to shut the door behind us, she crashes into my back with an oomph.

  I turn and look down at her. She looks up with a glare.

  "Would you rather I just jump on your back so that you don't have to drag me around?" she says sarcastically.

  I drop her hand and bend to hold her face between my palms. "The only time I want you jumping on me is when you're taking my cock in your tight cunt." My voice is low, for her ears only. When her cheeks pink and eyes darken, I drop my mouth to hers for a deep, wet kiss. Her hands grab onto my tee shirt and I feel her try to pull me closer, completely forgetting where we are.

  That is until a tiny little angelic voice screams out.

  "OH! Mommy! Nate has his tongue in Ember's mouth! That's bad. Mommy and Daddy said so. You have to keep your tongue in your mouth and only when you are married can you do that! Oh, boy. You're in trouble! Mommy!"

  I regrettably break away from Ember and give her shocked eyes a wink before looking down at Molly. I've loved this kid since the day I met her, but right now, I'm having a hard time remembering why. I give her a smile before bending down. Not willing to give Ember a chance to freak out again, I grab her hand and pull her to my side. She almost stumbles but keeps her hand in mine while standing next to my crouched form. Molly's eyes move from my face to our joined hands. Her mischievous expression gets a little wonky before she replaces it with a sickeningly sweet smile. Her little angelic act isn't fooling me, though; I know she's up to something.

  "You have spit germs in your mouth now," she scolds. "You could be sick."

  "I'm used to spit germs in my mouth."

  "You had your hand on her booty. That's a no-touch place. Daddy said so."

  "I can touch her booty."

  "You might put a baby in her belly if you keep putting your tongue in her mouth, and Mommy said you have to be married to tongue touch spit germs and put babies in bellies. That's how I got my baby Jack. Daddy told me so."

  "I think we're going to be okay, Molly-Wolly."

  She tilts her head and studies my face. "I don't like that lipstick on you."

  I look up at Ember at that, confused, and see her giggling. She points to her own dark pink lips before I realize what Molly means.

  "My apologies, your highness. I vow to never wear another woman's lipstick other than the one you deem worthy of my complexion."

  Molly giggles.

  "Molly? Why don't you let Nate and Ember come in now?"

  I look up and see Molly's mom, Megan, a few feet away. Behind her, I see my sister, Cohen, and Molly's dad, Lee, losing the fight to keep their laughter in.

  Assholes.

  "It's not that funny," I tell them after Megan had taken Molly away from the group.

  "It's freaking hilarious," Dani wheezes through her laughter. "Oh, Nate, I sure hope you didn't tongue a baby into Ember." She doubles over, and I narrow my eyes at her.

  "Danielle Cage."

  She still doesn't stop.

  "I mean maybe you could keep wearing that pretty lipstick and your 'tongue spit germ baby' can call you mommy too."

  My jaw ticks.

  "Mommy Nate," she snorts.

  Cohen backs up with one look at me, knowing that if he sticks behind his wife, he's going to take a foot to the balls when I pick her bratty ass up. Ember lets my hand go, and I make a mental note to spank her ass later for laughing along with Dani. The second my shoulder goes into her stomach, she lets out one ungodly loud scream, but I just stomp through the entryway and into the kitchen before turning and depositing her on her feet right inside the living room. Her shoulders are turned first, and then I push her nose against the wall.

  "Five minutes. Time-out, brat."

  Turning from my sister, I see Ember standing behind me with her chest still moving in silent laughter.

  "Keep laughing. You've earned my palm later, Emberlyn."

  Her jaw drops at my growled words, and I take way too much satisfaction in seeing the blush that crawls up her chest. The minimal coverage of her sundress is not hiding how much she loves my words.

  "Hey, you guys," Maddi calls, walking from the back porch into the kitchen. "Why is Dani in the corner?"

  "Because she doesn't know how to keep her damn mouth sh
ut," I respond, still looking at Ember as she licks her lips. I have to bite my tongue to keep my cock in line.

  "Rightttt." Maddi laughs. "Well, I was sent to drag you outside before Molly had a chance to tell anyone other than Lyn and Lila that you two were in here making spit germ babies."

  "Oh my God," Ember gasps in embarrassment. I, with no other option, throw my head back and laugh.

  "Let's go," I tell her, taking her hand in mine and walking out the door.

  We stand on the deck, overlooking the backyard, and I give her a reassuring squeeze. Her smile comes instantly, even if she still looks slightly self-conscious from her sister's comment.

  "I love you," I express, offering her that reassurance to us if she needs it.

  With a deep breath, her plump lips spread and she gives me one hell of a blinding smile. "I love you, too."

  "Yeah, yeah ... everyone loves each other. Jerk." Dani brushes past me with a shoulder bump meant to knock me off balance, but she stumbles against my unmoving body.

  We walk down the steps, together, hand in hand.

  Chelcie and Asher give us both a wave when we walk past them. Their boys, Zac and Jax, stop tossing the football around to call out a greeting before returning to their game.

  Dani, now standing next to her husband and in-laws, is still glaring at me. I ignore her and give Cohen a lift of my chin.

  "Hey, Melissa." I address his mom, bending down to kiss her cheek.

  "Hey, honey." She grins at me before looking at Ember, her happiness spreading to her eyes, which squint slightly. She steps away from her husband and I'm forced to let Ember's hand go when Melissa wraps her in a hug.

  Looking over at her husband, I give Greg the same lift of my chin that his son got.

  "Give me a damn hug, boy."

  I shake my head but give him the hug he demanded with a slap of my hand against his back.

  "I'm sure her father already told you, but you make her cry and I'll kill you," he says before pulling away, giving me a stern smile to cover up the fact he just threatened my life. "Good to see you, Nate."

  "Yeah, likewise, Greg." My chest moves with my silent laughter.

  Ember pulls from Melissa, and I see a slight wobble to her chin. Melissa cups her cheek. "You wear love beautifully, honey." Her words are low, and I know she didn't mean for anyone to overhear them, so I just wait for Ember to step away before taking her hand back in mine.

  When we turn, Beck and his wife, Dee, are right behind us. They give their hellos much like Greg and Melissa did. By the time we step away from them and walk to where Liam is standing, I've already had two men threaten to kill me if I hurt Ember. I wouldn't have it any other way. If I somehow hurt her, I would welcome their anger.

  Lyn, Lila, Stella, and Maddi are laughing with Megan and Molly. By the glances they keep sending my way, I'm sure there is still talk about spit babies by that girl.

  "You sure do know how to make an entrance." Lee laughs. "Hey, Em." He gives her a hug.

  "Yeah, seems so."

  I look around and see Cohen's brothers have now joined the Cooper boys with the football; they're too wrapped up in their game, so I skirt my eyes around them to see my and Ember's parents standing by the grill looking at us. Both our moms have big smiles on their faces, and if I'm not mistaken, tears in their eyes.

  "Well, aren't you looking handsome today?"

  I look away from our parents and laugh at Sway.

  "I always look handsome."

  "Just as cocky as your father. Come wrap those big strong arms of yours around Sway and give me a proper hello."

  I bend, giving him the hug he wants. "Hey, Davey," I tell his husband over his shoulder and wait for him to finally let go.

  Finally, he does, but not before I get a kiss on my cheek. Ember is at my side laughing at his antics, and I would gladly let that man kiss me again if it means she's no longer feeling unsure about how we will be received today.

  "I think we should probably go finish the rounds," I whisper in her ear after stepping away from Sway.

  She looks up before following my eyes to our parents and gives me a nod. This time, she takes my hand before leading the way. You couldn't have stopped the grin that came over me at her claim of ownership. My mom passes my nephew, Owen, to my father before walking from their foursome and meeting us halfway. Instead of giving her baby boy a hug, though, she approaches Ember.

  She places her hands on Ember's biceps and says, "Hey, sweetheart. You look beautiful." I clear my throat and raise my brow when she looks up at me. "What? Do you want me to tell you that you look beautiful too, son?"

  "That would be lovely. Yes, you can tell me how beautiful I am."

  She shakes her head and looks back at my girl. "I'm so happy for you two."

  I don't need to look at Ember to know that her happiness does, in fact, make her look beautiful.

  "Thanks, Izzy," she says softly. "You have no idea how much it means to hear you say that."

  I give a mock gasp. "You mean you doubted my own mother thought her baby boy was beautiful?"

  Ember pulls her hand from mine to give me a playful smack against my chest at the same time my mother does, and we all three laugh.

  "Go on," she tells us before turning and calling Owen's name. He jumps from my dad's arms and starts rushing to his grandma. "Don't let those big men intimidate you," she warns before walking away.

  "Let's go, baby."

  We move until we're standing in front of them. My dad reaches out and hooks my shoulder before pulling me to his body. With just a few inches separating our height, his mouth turns to my ear. "Don't make me hurt my own boy by doing something stupid as fuck to his woman. Got it?"

  "Yes, sir," I lament, shoving off him playfully and turning to Ember's dad.

  He has his arms crossed over his chest and his face gives nothing away as to what he is thinking. It doesn't matter that he knows about us. It doesn't even matter that I have his blessing to be with his daughter. Right now, he's playing the part of a father that is, in a sense, letting go of the daughter he has loved and raised for twenty-one years and giving her to the man who will spend the rest of her life being the one to make sure no harm comes to her heart.

  "Maddox." I nod.

  "Nate." He doesn't move.

  "Mind if I have a word?"

  His nostrils flare; the only tell he gives me before nodding. I step back and watch him wrap his arms around Ember before giving both her and Emmy a kiss on their foreheads. Ember looks up at me, worried, but I just smile. Then enjoy the fuck out of the growl that I hear from her dad when I pull her into my arms and give her a deep kiss.

  "Be right back, baby."

  WE WALK TO THE SIDE of my parents' house, out of view and earshot, and I turn to stand tall in front of her frowning father.

  "I love her," I blurt without any lead-up.

  I wait for him to speak, but he doesn't.

  "You gave me your blessing once, but I need you to understand just what you were giving me when you did. I love your daughter with every fiber in my body. Her happiness is the only thing that matters to me. Her smile will never die again if I have anything to do with it. I promised myself that I would prove to her that I was worthy of her love, and even though her opinion is really the only one that matters, I'm asking you again to respect the love we share and let me have her."

  "What exactly are you trying to say, Nate?"

  I take a deep breath. "I don't want to spend another day without her by my side. The same goes for her. I will be her supporter in every aspect of her life personally and professionally. No cheerleader in her corner will yell louder. I will make sure she never doubts the love we share and her choice to give me a chance. I would give my life for her, Maddox. One day soon, I pray to God that I'm lucky enough to have you walking her down the aisle. But most importantly, I want all of that to happen with you not only giving me your blessing to make sure it does but with you being happy that you did."

  "If I
told you I would cut your arm from your body if you caused her a second of pain, what would you say?"

  I stand a little straighter and keep my face as impassive as his. "I would hand you the knife."

  "If I told you that you didn't deserve her?"

  "I would agree. She deserves the world, but she's just getting me, and with me, she's going to get a man who works his ass off to hand the world to her."

  He continues his stare down when I finish speaking, and then he gives me something that not once in my damn life have I been on the receiving end of.

  His smile.

  "I always knew this day would come. Out of my two girls, Ember was the one I always knew would use her head and find a good man. Still, I thought I would hate the bastard. You're a good kid, Nate. You always have been. I can't say I'm happy that you're asking to take my girl from me, but I am happy that she's found a man who will always make sure she comes first daily and goes to sleep knowing that she's got a blessed life. The only thing I've ever wanted for her."

  My shoulders drop some when I let out the breath I had been holding.

  "I'm going to marry her," I declare and raise my hand to stop him when he opens his mouth, smile gone. "Don't tell me I couldn't possibly know that after only having her love for just under two months. I just want you to know that this is where it's heading, and it's heading there real fast."

  "I wasn't going to say that." I raise a brow and he gruffs out a chuckle. "Time is a fickle motherfucker, Nate. I had my own experience with it before I made Emmy mine, so if anyone gets you, it's me. I realized not too long ago that this--you and Ember--has been a long time coming. You had your reasons for pushing her away the first time, and I can respect the hell out of them, but now, you know what you've spent years missing out and you would be an idiot to waste a second more now. That being said, if you think I'm happy about my girl being under your roof without you taking the steps to make her yours completely, you might actually be a dumb shit."

  I shake my head. "No, sir. She's an independent woman, but I hope that I can rectify this situation by the time her house is done. If I have it my way, her storage unit full of belongings will just be making one stop, and that's to my house."

  "I've enjoyed watching you turn into the man standing in front of me, Nate. You have a good head on your shoulders and your heart's in the right place. You want my blessing, all the cards now on the table, well ... you've got it."