Baby Cakes - A Vegas, Baby Novella

“You want to try that again, asshole?” Griffith’s tone was deadly, and I realized I’d botched my request again.

“Just let me talk to Belle, Griff. I need her to help me with Ariel.”

My girl stiffened in my lap and dropped her head back to watch me suspiciously.

“You’ve got two minutes,” Griffith growled. There was fumbling and then the distant sound of a feminine giggle that shifted into a moan. I pulled the phone away from my ear about to hang up before my brain was branded with shit I did not need to hear, but Belle’s clear voice had me stopping just in time.

“Stop that!” I heard the sound of a slap before she finally spoke to me. “What’s up, Maddox?”

“I was hoping you’d help me convince your sister to move in with me tomorrow.” I didn’t bother to beat around the bush.

Ariel squeaked and sat up so quickly, her head bumped my chin.

“Absolutely!” Belle chirped. Well, that had gone easier than I’d expected. She lowered her voice so no one else could hear what she said next, “Just promise me that you love her.”

“Would I be doing this if I didn’t?”

“Fair enough,” Belle responded at full volume once more. “What do you need me to do?”

Maddox shouted something in the background, and Belle sighed in exasperation. “Stop being such a caveman!” she retorted, her voice lacking any real heat.

Ariel started tugging at my hand, trying to make a grab for the phone. I wrapped my arm tightly around her, trapping her limbs in my embrace. She gasped and wiggled, but my hold was unbreakable. I grunted when her ass rubbed my dick until I was rock hard. Fucking hell. She froze when she felt the steel rod nestled between her ass cheeks.

I swallowed hard and tried to ignore the state of my body. “My girl tells me that a double dog dare is only good if it comes from one of her sisters,” I explained.

“Belle!” Ariel snapped. “Don’t you dare!”

Belle laughed hysterically for a full minute before she calmed enough to say, “Hand her the phone.”

I shook my head, even though she couldn’t see me. “She’ll hang up.”

Ariel’s lips pressed together and turned down in an annoyed frown before she stuck her tongue out at me. She knew I had her pegged. “Is that an invitation?” I asked her softly.

“Okay, okay,” Belle piped up. “Put me on speaker before you two go at it.”

I laughed and used my thumb to hit the audio button. “You’re on,” I told her, my grin so big it was a wonder it didn’t break my face.

“Ariel—”

“Payback is a bitch, Belle,” Ariel growled as she started to struggle in my arms again.

“Worth it!” Belle said in a sing-song tone. “I double dog dare you to move in with Maddox tomorrow!”

“Seriously? Whatever happened to sisterly loyalty?” Ariel grunted, her wiggling finally ceasing. I loosened my hold but kept her in the circle of my arms.

“I will always dare you to do what’s best for you,” Belle chirped. “Have fun moving tomorrow.”

“Time’s up,” Griffith said before the phone went silent. I glanced at it, unsurprised to see that he’d hung up. Chuckling, I tossed my phone to the other cushion on the love seat and refocused on my woman. She was glaring at me, her blue eyes spitting fire but something was lurking behind the flames. It took me a little bit to figure out what it was. Relief.

When it hit me, I couldn’t help the huge grin that returned to my face. Ariel had been looking for an excuse to say yes. Something to override her logical arguments, so she could agree without having to actually give in. She wanted to move in with me.

“Fine,” she blustered. “You win.”

I hugged her and kissed her temple. “You bet your sexy little ass I win,” I gloated.

Her eyes narrowed and her lips thinned, but the corners of her mouth wavered as she fought a smile. “You know, I wasn’t just talking to Belle when I said payback’s a bitch.”

I smirked. “Admit it, baby. You want to move in with me.”

She lost the fight, and her face morphed into a beautiful smile. “Maybe.”

“I’ll take it,” I acquiesced before planting a long, deep kiss on her irresistible mouth.

When I finally let us up for air, we were both panting, and Ariel was clinging to me. Her blue pools were dazed and hungry. I groaned and sternly told myself to back the fuck off before I caused her more pain. I needed a distraction.

I put an arm along her back and scooped the other under her legs, then I unfolded my body from the couch. Once I was on my feet, I headed towards the master bathroom. Ariel gasped in awe when we stepped inside, and her reaction made me smile in gratification. It had heated Italian tile, was decorated in creams and golds, and sported the biggest whirlpool bathtub I could fit in the room. There was also a stone shower that was large enough for at least five people but would only ever hold two. I hadn’t known whether I would ever find the right woman, but when I built the house, I wanted to be damn sure it was ready if I did.