I push away from the group and hear Evan mumble behind me, “Swear to Christ, I could put a rock on June’s finger big enough to be seen from Mars, and some dick would still think it’s okay to get up in her space.”

Fuck, December doesn’t even have a ring on her finger to let men who might hit on her know she belongs to someone, and that’s something I’m going to have to change… and fast. As soon as I reach the table, I glare at the guy who is still smiling like an idiot then lean down to kiss December’s cheek. “Hey, baby.” She turns to look at me and her eyes light up. Fuck, she’s beautiful.

“You’re here.” She stands, swaying slightly in the heels she has on, so I reach out to steady her with my hand on her waist. “I was just telling this nice guy—” She points at the guy, who is now looking at me with wide eyes. “—that my boyfriend would be here soon, and then poof! Here you are.”

“Here I am,” I confirm.

“You should know—” She rests her hands against my stomach. “—I’m a little drunk.” She lifts one hand between us and holds her fingers an inch apart.

“I can see that.” I smile, touching my fingers to her cheeks that are tinged with pink from the alcohol she’s drunk.

“You should also know—” She lifts up on her tiptoes so our faces are close. “—I’ve never had drunk sex before.”

Jesus, my hold on her automatically tightens, and I look around the table at the girls, along with Wes, Harlen, Jax, Cobi, Sage, and his brothers. “We’re out of here,” I announce, listening to her giggle as I lift her off her feet, and laughter erupts behind us as I carry her away from the table and out of the bar.

When we reach my SUV, I open the passenger side door and place her inside then run around the hood. “Can we stop by McDonald’s?” she asks, putting on her seat belt as I get in behind the wheel.

I turn to look at her. “Pardon?”

“Can we stop at McDonald’s? I really want a hamburger.”

“Babe, you just told me you’ve never had drunk sex. I’m not taking you to McDonald’s. I’m taking you home and fucking you.”

“Oh.” She licks her lips, dropping her eyes to my mouth. “I like your plan better.” Shaking my head, I capture her behind the neck and pull her forward to kiss her quickly.

“Glad you approve.” I release her and back out of my parking space. The drive home only takes a few minutes, and the moment I pull into the driveway, I shut down the engine and get out, meeting her at her door just as she’s opening it. I lift her from her seat, and her legs wrap around my hips as I carry her inside. When I get the front door closed, I cover her mouth with mine, not bothering with the lights as I walk her through the house to the bedroom before stopping just inside to press her against the wall.

“Where is Sloth?” she asks, and it takes a second for me to remember we now have a dog.

“With Max.”

“Oh,” she says, and then her fingers push through my hair. “Why are you stopping?”

“I’m not.” I smile tearing her dress off over her head. I slide her panties to the side, finding her soaking wet, and thrust two fingers inside her.

“Oh, God.” Her head falls back and she moans my name while her pussy clamps down around my fingers. Wanting inside her more than I want my next breath, I drag my fingers from her slick heat and lick them off before I free myself from my jeans.

“This is going to be fast,” I warn, wrapping one hand around my cock and hooking her knee up over my elbow, and I thrust into her in one smooth stroke. “Fuck there is nothing better than being inside you,” I groan, resting my forehead against hers, waiting for the urge to come to pass before sliding out and back in again. Her nails dig into my shoulders and her heels dig into my ass as I fuck her hard. “Touch your clit, baby.” Her hand slides between us, and I watch her fingers roll her clit, feeling her walls clamp down around me.

“Gareth.”

I pull her away from the wall and carry her to the bed, placing her on the edge. “Lose the bra and panties,” I demand while lifting my shirt over my head and dropping it to the floor. I turn on the light then kick off my boots along with my jeans and place myself back between her legs, holding her open with my hands on her inner thighs. I slide into her, watching myself disappear, and then groan when she cups her breast with one hand. She slowly moves her fingers down her stomach and rubs her clit.

Breathing heavy and lightheaded from the orgasm building, I thrust into her hard and hiss her name as she starts to come, forcing me to follow. With the little strength I have left, I lift her in my arms, putting one knee in the bed then the other, before I fall to my side, settling her against me. When our breaths even out, I trail my fingers down her cheek and ask quietly, “Are you asleep?”

“No,” she whispers then lifts her head and grins down at me. “Drunk sex is awesome.” Laughing, I slide my hand up into her hair and pull her head down so I can kiss her then tuck her face against my neck. “I love you,” she whispers against my skin, and those three words seep into my soul, filling me up in ways I never imagined.

“I love you too.” I tip my head down to kiss her hair then curl her deeper into my side. When her weight settles into me and her quiet snores fill my ears, I carefully get up and adjust her in the bed, dragging the covers over her before I go to the bathroom. Once again, I didn’t use a condom, and although I know I shouldn’t want her to get pregnant before she has my ring on her finger and my last name, I’d secretly be thrilled if it happened, which goes to show just how far gone I am.

I clean myself up then take a rag to the bed and do the same for her before tossing the cloth toward the bathroom and getting back into bed. Once I’m settled, she seeks me out, burrowing into my side, and I curve my arm around her back then reach up to shut out the light and follow her off to sleep.

_______________

“It’s Sunday. I’m not going! I’m hanging at home with Dad and December,” I hear Mitchell shout, and I stop the treadmill and hop off, grabbing a towel to wipe the sweat off my face.

“You can’t keep avoiding me!” Beth shouts back as I step around the corner into the living room, where she and Mitchell are facing off. Max is sitting on the couch, with Sloth at his feet and December is standing at the edge of the hall that leads to our bedroom.

“Beth, maybe—” December starts, and Beth turns on her, holding her hand up and cutting her off.

“You are not in this, bitch.”

“Mom!” Max cries as Mitchell growls, “Don’t talk to December like that.”

“I can talk to her however I want!”

“No, you absolutely can-fucking-not,” I say and she turns, narrowing her eyes on me.

“Mitchell is my son, Gareth. Your girlfriend is not involved in my relationship with him.”

“When you’re in her house, it’s most definitely her business, and when it comes to the boys, she has the right to share how she feels. And—” I lean forward to emphasize my point. “—if I ever hear something like that come out your mouth toward her again, you and I are going to have issues.”