“She’s broke.” I dropped into one of the chairs at the realization. The press of the butt plug had me squirming, so I stood again.
“It’s not like you’ve got money to give her,” he countered, clearly bitter.
“That’s right, I don’t.” I replied, rattled. “It was good seeing you, but I’ve got work to do.” I went into the back room again, closed the door and slid to the floor. The plug bumped deep into my ass again and I shifted, straightening my legs out and leaning slightly to the side.
I smiled, the plug reminding me of King and what we’d just done to me. My bottom was a little sore, the plug big enough to remember that he’d been there. That he loved me. Wilder, too.
Whatever my mother was up to, I’d get through it. With them. I wasn’t alone anymore.
* * *
“It’s too bad we’re all taken. Karl sounds like a real catch!” Cricket said.
We stared at her across the table at the bar.
“Not!”
My sisters laughed. I rolled my eyes. Cricket had come into the library just before closing and invited me to join them for a drink. Penny and Kady were content with water, but wanted to get together. I’d texted Wilder and we agreed I’d drive myself to the Barlow ranch and he would meet me there. Then I’d sent a quick text with Red on the plug and he’d told me okay about removing it and that he was pleased I’d told him.
Now, sitting with my three sisters, I thought of Wilder. Of King. I loved both of them and the secret, dirty sex life we had. Eyeing Kady, Penny and Cricket, I had to guess theirs were just as dirty.
“He’s here for money, then?” Penny asked, taking a sip of her water with lemon.
I shrugged, staring at my white wine. I didn’t drink much and since I was driving, I was nursing this glass. “He’s always gone along with whatever my mother had planned. She’s skilled at making money off people and he’s learned it from her.”
“And you’ve somehow avoided this bad character trait,” Kady pointed out.
I didn’t tell them about the child support because I had no idea what arrangements Aiden Steele had made with their mothers. Cricket had said she’d been abandoned by hers when she was just a baby and grew up in foster care so I had to assume our father had made none with her. She’d also just finished college, working and taking classes for almost six years, so he hadn’t left her a bank account for that either. As for Penny and Kady, they made no mention of any money. It led me to believe that perhaps I was the only daughter he’d known of. While he wouldn’t have won Father Of The Year, I liked to think he’d have supported them in some fashion if he’d known of their existence.
“And yet instead of Karl and my mother, I’m the one with all the money now,” I responded. “I got exactly what my she wanted. Aiden Steele’s ranch.”
“And sisters!” Kady said, reaching out and patting my hand. “We should do a slumber party. Make up for all the years we’ve been apart.”
Penny and Cricket stared at her, eyes wide.
“What?” she asked, grabbing a small pretzel from the bowl in the middle of the high-top table.
“You really think our men are going to let us spend a night away from them?” Penny asked.
Kady pursed her lips. “Good point. Based on the way Cord and Riley went after me when we first met, I’m surprised Sarah’s even here. Or conscious.”
All three swiveled their heads my way.
“I have to work.” That was my only response, which was pretty lame since I didn’t need to work any longer. But Kady worked at the school and so did Cricket at the hospital, because it fulfilled them, no longer because they had to do it to make money. I didn’t want to touch the Steele money. I’d leave it in the bank for my children, for their college.
I flushed, remembering King coming to my work earlier and having his way with me. I clenched my bottom, feeling sore and very empty. Kady was right. I wanted my men and I probably should be catatonic with all the orgasms they gave me. I was insatiable. I’d been in a sex drought for so long, now I wanted it all the time. Good thing my men did, too.
“Speaking of…” I said, sliding from my chair, “I’m going to head out. I’ve got men at home waiting to make me unconscious.”
12
KING
* * *
“Kingston Barlow. Took you long enough to get home.”
My hands were on the buttons of my shirt, headed to take a shower when the woman’s voice stopped me dead in my tracks. “Shit,” I swore, when I saw who was sprawled seductively across my bed.