Siren in Bloom

Chapter Six

“Are you sure I have to wear this? I’m not really wild about leather.” Logan Green shifted uncomfortably, his tall body moving in a graceless manner. For once his face wasn’t tight, but instead Leo could see the kid Logan Green really was.

“You’ll get used to them.” Leo himself had spent so much time in leathers he often thought of them as his second skin.

He looked out over the dungeon floor wondering if Wolf would bring Shelley here on their first training night or if he would keep her to the playroom section of The Club. If he knew Wolf, she would be here, and Leo would have to see her in very little clothing.

“So when do I start spanking girls? That one looks like a bad girl. Yeah, she’s probably done something really naughty.” There was a healthy leer in Logan’s voice as he zeroed in on the object of his desire.

Well, at least he didn’t have to deal with the kid’s inhibitions. As far as Leo could tell, Logan didn’t have any. When they’d gotten dressed in The Club’s expansive locker room, Logan had shed his clothes without batting an eye and walked around naked for a while as though he actually preferred to be without the encumbrance. He’d sat his naked ass down on a towel and started asking Leo all kinds of questions.

Leo hadn’t been able to miss the scars on Logan’s body. There were rough scars where someone had used a knife on him and neat, surgical scars left over from the doctor who had saved his life. But they all formed a road map of the trauma that should have Logan twitching in his boots.

“You aren’t even close to spanking girls, Logan. There’s a training process involved. It doesn’t consist of just throwing you out there with a paddle and whip. Tell me something. You seem comfortable here. The idea of these people being tied down doesn’t bring back bad memories?” He’d rather expected Logan would have a bad reaction to the dungeon.

Logan shrugged. “Nah. I’m cool with it. I’ve hung out with enough pervs to be okay with a little kink.”

Yes, Logan seemed perfectly comfortable, but if he wasn’t bothered by anything, then why was he here?

“Are you sure I can’t spank her? Maybe I’ll let her spank me.” Logan watched as a lovely blonde made her way through the crowd. She was full figured and definitely older than the young man.

But he certainly wouldn’t call Janine a cougar. Leo smiled as his ex-wife made her way toward them. She was bigger than she was when he’d married her, three children in six years having taken a bit of a toll on her figure, but she glowed with happiness. She was beautiful. He understood why Logan would want a piece of that.

But the fact that he was still joking about spanking after what he’d been through made Leo deeply suspicious. Logan Green put up a great wall. It was up to Leo to bring it down.

Logan straightened up, his chest puffing out a bit. “Hey, Doc, she’s coming my way.”

“She’s coming my way, but I like the positive attitude. Logan, meet Janine, my ex-wife.”

“Oh, I’m so much more than that, darling.” Janine smiled and held both hands out. Leo gave her what she wanted, drawing her into a hug. He’d married Janine straight out of college, before she went to med school and he began working on his PhD. They had lived in this very club, working their way through school thanks to the largesse of Julian Lodge. “I’m his past. The one who just won’t go away.”

“I don’t want you to go away, dear.” He took her hand in his. He wasn’t looking forward to this conversation, but he needed it. He sent Logan an authoritative glare. “Stay here. Don’t get into trouble.”

He led Janine to the hallway where the stairs began that led up to the playroom.

“Damn, this must be serious. Is Wolf all right? Did the Navy damage him? Does he need help?”

Even years later, Janine still cared about Wolf. His brother made an impression. “I want to know if I was a good husband.”

Her eyes widened. Her hand tightened on his. “Oh, sweetie, what’s going on?”

“Wolf showed up today and I was kind of a dick, and he made me question a few things.” Leo ran a hand across his head, pushing his hair back. “I started to think that maybe I haven’t been the best brother.”

“What did he say?”

“He said something about me being harder on the people close to me than I am on people who don’t mean as much. Like I sacrifice my relationships for my patients because it’s easier to sink myself into them.”

“Smart man. Wolf always claimed he didn’t have a brain in his gorgeous head, but he was so emotionally intelligent.”

Leo’s felt his eyes roll. “He’s not that gorgeous.”

Janine’s lips curved up. “Oh, baby brother is one hot hunk of man, but he’s also right. Do you really want the truth? As your ex-wife and a psychiatrist?”

No. He didn’t want either. He wanted her to tell him that he’d been perfect and it was all her fault that she’d fallen in love with another man. But he knew deep down that was wrong. “Just give it to me, Janine. Come on. Haven’t you waited years for me to ask you for your professional opinion?”

Two shrinks should never marry each other. They never stopped the psychoanalyzing long enough to have a relationship. Yet, when he’d gone into the marriage, he’d gone in with his eyes open. He’d been pretty sure it would fail.

Janine turned her blue eyes up, and that piercing intelligence pinned him. “You’re right. You always have paid more attention to your patients than your personal life. You do it for the same reason you greatly prefer to flirt with unavailable women. You have a deep-seated fear of responsibility.”

“I sure as fuck don’t,” he shot back. He hadn’t been prepared for that. He’d been ready to listen to her talk about his commitment issues, but no one ever claimed he didn’t take responsibility. He preached it.

She shrugged, not at all upset by his hostility. “You do, Leo. Oh, you’re committed to your patients, but that’s a professional thing. It doesn’t involve your heart and soul. It’s an intellectual exercise that brings you pleasure. You enjoy fixing people, and when you’ve fixed them, you move on to the next damaged soul. But here’s what you don’t understand, Leo. Your brand of therapy is very personal for patients. You make them your friends. They come to trust you and love you, and when you’re done, you move on.”

Fuck. Had he really done that? He didn’t take on many patients, but now that he thought about it, he hadn’t talked to Trev in months. He’d been Trev McNamara’s rock for three years, and he’d not once called just to see how the man was.

“Julian misses you.”

Leo stared down at her. “I haven’t left Julian. I’m right where I’ve been for ten years.”

She shook her head. “No, you’re not. I had lunch with him the other day. I asked about you, and we talked. He misses his friend. Before he got married, you spent time with him. Now you’ve waved a wand and declared him fixed and moved on to the next person who needs attention, but Julian misses you. He finally gets the lesson about how to truly care about the people around him and you’ve moved on.”

He hadn’t meant to. It had just been easier to do his job. Julian hadn’t needed him anymore. Except maybe he had and Leo was too self-absorbed to see it. “Why did you leave me?”

Her smile turned sad. “Because you fixed me, too, Leo. You took a woman who had been abused and helped turn me into a fully functional human being capable of great love. But I wanted to be loved, too. I wanted someone to be passionate about me, and that was never going to be you. I’m not sure why you married me. Maybe because it seemed like the only way to gain my trust and set me free, but I had to repay the favor. You think I left you for another man, but he was a convenient excuse. I needed to let you go or you would have just gone on the way you were going. The only true passions in your life would have been intellectual.”

“But you married him.” He could still remember the day she’d told him she was leaving him. He’d said all the right things, but if he was honest deep down, he’d been a bit relieved. Their marriage had been a mistake.

“Yes. A happy accident. It turns out that when I did something good for the man I loved, I found the one who loved me, and Leo, that’s been the joy of my life. I woke up one day and realized that bald lawyer was the best thing that ever happened to me. And you made that possible. I’ll love you until the day I die for that, Leo. But I wish you would wake up and see what you’re doing. You’re running away by standing still.”

He’d called Julian a manipulative bastard, but manipulation was the language of Julian’s love. What if he’d been doing exactly what he’d said he was doing? Trying to make things better for both Leo and Shelley? Guilt assailed him. He’d railed at the man who had given him so much.

And Wolf. Fuck.

Julian had asked him earlier to step back and give his professional opinion of what Shelley needed. What was his professional opinion of himself? If he had a patient with his background and history, what would he think?

He had a deep disconnect that had begun in childhood. Despite the love his mother had managed to give him, the scars of his father’s abandonment ran deep. He’d taken on responsibility for Wolf. He’d been everything to his kid brother, and it had been a relief almost to go into the Navy and only have to worry about himself.

He blamed Wolf. God. Deep down, he blamed his brother for their father walking away.

“You know your relationship with Wolf could dissolve. Do you want that?” Janine asked.

Wolf had been the one he’d sacrificed for. Wolf had been the one who threw it all away by going into the goddamn Navy instead of college.

“I’m still mad at him. Crap, Jan. I didn’t even see it until now. How could I blame him for all that? He didn’t make our dad walk out.”

“Our emotions aren’t logical, Leo. You know that. What did you always tell me?” Janine asked, her eyes deep with sympathy.

He knew what she meant, but now the words sounded hollow though he’d preached them for years—like a pastor who didn’t really believe in God. “That sanity is the ability to give and receive love.”

And he’d done neither.

“Leo.” Janine put her hands on the sides of his face, pulling him back to her. “The fact that you’re asking these questions means you might be ready to deal with them. Is this about that woman? Trev McNamara’s sister?”

Damn, Julian had turned into a gossipy old lady. “She was one of my unavailable flirtations.”

Except that he’d offered to take her away. He’d thought of marrying her and not in the lackadaisical way he’d gone about convincing himself to marry Janine. Passion. Shelley McNamara had been the first time he’d felt a deep and abiding passion for a woman.

“I doubt that,” Janine said. “But no one can make you admit it. Leo, know this, I’ll always be here for you. And I’ll always want the best for you.”

But he could clearly see he’d disappointed her. And she wasn’t the only one.

Shelley stood on the bottom step dressed in a tight miniskirt and a black and crimson bustier. She wore no shoes, and her hair was down, long, shimmering black tresses. But it was the hurt in her eyes as she looked between him and Janine that had his gut churning.

“Janine? Oh my god!” Wolf didn’t seem to notice the ocean of despair that stretched between Leo and Shelley. He had a huge grin plastered on his face, and he reached out, swinging Janine into his oversized embrace.

Janine laughed, her voice filling the dungeon. “Wolf Meyer, you’re more gorgeous than ever, little brother.”

“Hah, I’m getting old and out of shape.” Wolf grinned as he set her down. His hand went back and brought Shelley forward, pride evident in his stance. “Janine, this is my submissive, Shelley. Shelley, this is my sister-in-law, Janine.”

Shelley nodded, her lips curving but without the normal vivaciousness that made Leo’s heart ache. “Nice to meet you.”

“He’s Shelley’s trainer. She’s investigating the lifestyle,” Leo said, the words coming out of his mouth with a stubborn bent. It wasn’t like she’d signed a permanent contract with his brother. They weren’t married or anything. Not even close. As far as Leo knew, there wasn’t even sex written into the contract.

Fuck. Wolf wanted to have sex with her. Jealousy, pounding and nasty, took up root in his gut. But it was all right because Shelley was only training with Wolf.

Except when Wolf’s hand curved around her hip, she leaned into him as though his presence was comforting to her.

“Shelley as in Shelley McNamara?” Janine breathed the words on a hushed, awed sigh.

Shelley nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

Janine smiled, reaching out for Shelley’s hand. “No, dear, but I get the feeling we’re going to have a lot in common. And if the three of you need some therapy after all this, I’ll give you a group rate. Good luck, dears. I’m feeling toppy tonight. I think I’ll give the hubby a few whacks.”

She winked, and he was left alone. With his brother and the only woman he’d ever loved.

Wolf grinned, his oversized paw wrapping around Shelley’s waist. Shelley leaned into him, but her eyes found Leo’s. Silent. Accusing.

“This is going to be a fun night,” Wolf said.

It was definitely going to be a long one.

Shelley pulled at the top of her bustier. Wolf obviously didn’t understand women’s cup sizes. Or he’d totally misjudged the size of her boobs.

“Stop,” he said, using that dark voice on her. “You look beautiful.”

“My boobs are hanging out. I need a bigger top.” She wouldn’t even go into the micro mini he’d put her in. She could practically feel the cheeks of her ass dropping past the nonexistent hemline of the leather Band-Aid he’d dared to call a skirt.

And to further her humiliation, he looked like some kind of Greek god. Tall and powerfully built, Wolf Meyer stood at least two inches above every other man in the room. His torso looked like Michelangelo had come back from the grave and sculpted it in one last burst of divine inspiration. He didn’t have a six-pack. Oh, no, nothing so ordinary for Wolf. His washboard stomach boasted a full-on outrageous eight-pack, and she just wanted to cry over the perfection of the notches at his hips. She could see them because Wolf wore nothing but a pair of low-slung leather pants and his boots.

She looked across the room where Leo stood with someone Wolf had introduced as Logan. Her heart ached at the sight of Leo. Leo was slightly smaller than his brother, but she loved his graceful lines and the way Leo’s long hair hit broad, muscled shoulders.

But she’d heard too much. Leo didn’t want her.

“Hey,” Wolf said, his hand cupping her chin and drawing her face up. She stared into deep, dark-blue eyes. She could really get lost in those eyes. “Are you all right? I don’t know what happened between you and my brother, but if this is too much, then I can take you home. Sweetheart, this should be good for you. If I’m some kind of reminder of him or if I’m keeping you from what you really want, then tell me, and I’ll let you go.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but he put a finger on her lips. “Hush. Let me finish. I don’t want to hurt you or Leo. And I don’t want to hurt me, either. I haven’t had a lot of luck lately, and I would rather avoid the craptastic whammy of getting to know you and liking the hell out of you only for you to tell me you’re not interested because you have a thing for another guy. Especially my brother.”

She got the feeling things weren’t easy between Wolf and his brother. She looked over at Leo, who was deeply involved in what looked to be a teaching moment. It was exactly what Janine had said. She’d walked down a little ahead of Wolf, who had some paperwork to fill out before they entered the dungeon. She’d heard a lot of the talk between the exes. Leo had saved her. Oh, it hadn’t been complete. He would have preferred to have whisked her away, but he’d tried, and now he thought she didn’t need him.

Was she willing to let Wolf go when what she had with Leo had been more in her head than anywhere else?

“I never dated your brother,” she admitted.

“That doesn’t mean you’re not in love with him.”

True. “I don’t want to be. I let him go a long time ago. There’s nothing between us.” The words hurt, but they were the plain truth. Seeing him with his ex, the sweet way he’d held her hand and talked to her, really made everything clear. Leo hadn’t even smiled at her in four months. He was done, and she would be twelve kinds of a fool if she didn’t try with Wolf. “Please, Sir. I want to try this. I can’t promise it will work out. I can only promise that I’ll be open to the experience.”

The smile that crossed his face nearly blinded her. “I will, too, sweetheart. That’s all we can ask. And you don’t need a bigger size.” He looked down, his eyes on her breasts, the heat nearly palpable. “This is perfect. So fucking gorgeous.”

She had the sudden urge to reach up and sink her hands into his barely there hair and pull his head toward her breasts. Where had that come from? Wolf Meyer was doing crazy good things to her ego and her libido.

“Now, let’s get to the fun part of the evening. I want to show you a couple of scenes. You’re going to watch, and then we’ll talk about them and how they made you feel.” He took her hand, threading his fingers through hers. Her small hand was engulfed in his big one. “Come on, sweetheart. Julian is getting ready to whip Finn. I’ve heard he’s hard on him. It should be interesting.”

He started to walk toward the far end of the dungeon, taking her away from Leo. She could breathe again. It was odd how much easier it was to concentrate on Wolf when she wasn’t directly in the same room with Leo. She found herself unaccountably positive for the first time in over a year.

A good portion of the crowd in the dungeon had gathered in front of the raised stage that dominated the far end of the floor. Shelley had seen it, but never in use. Julian had walked her through the dungeon when he’d given her a tour, but it was very different with a crowd of scantily dressed Doms and subs. Wolf made it to the front of the crowd, tugging her along. Though she was jostled back and forth, it seemed to Shelley that everyone got out of Wolf’s way as though his stature and presence ensured his status as the alpha male.

“Here we go, sweetheart.” He brought her in front of him, his big body a bulwark against the rest of the crowd.

“Hello,” a deep voice said from just to her left.

She turned slightly and saw a gorgeous man. Times two.

Twin Doms stood to her left, their lovely chests on display. Dark hair hung just below their ears and four perfectly blue eyes stared at her. Well, at her chest. Still, it made a girl feel like she still had it.

“Hi,” she replied, smiling. She noticed a small female between them dressed in a PVC mini dress that covered her from her shoulders to the middle of her thighs. It was fairly circumspect for a skintight dress, with the singular exception of the fact that there were holes cut out of the garment accommodating her small but nicely rounded breasts. She had a thick collar around her neck with a long chain attached. “Hello, Kitten.”

“We’re in charge of her tonight,” the Ken Doll she decided was Dom Number One said. He held Kitten’s leash in his hands but passed it off to his twin.

Kitten turned her pretty green eyes up. They widened as she looked up and up and up at Wolf. “Wow. You’re a very large man. Kitten would love it if you hurt her.”

“Down, Kitten!” Dom Number Two barked, pulling gently on the chain. Kitten whimpered and fell to her knees. Dom Number Two sighed. “Sorry, she gets very aggressive when she’s in the dungeon. And if she isn’t good, we’ll make her cover her breasts and take her out to the bar where no one will play with her.”

She didn’t look aggressive. She’d fallen to her knees, her legs spread and her head down. She looked deeply submissive. Dom Number One petted her hair.

“It’s all right, Kitten. Calm down.”

“And while Kitten is de-stressing, you can tell us your name, gorgeous,” Dom Number Two said with a little wink.

“Her name is Mine, asshole.” Wolf put an arm around her waist, pulling her back toward his body.

“Nice, brother. I thought you were a boy who liked to share your toys,” Leo said, moving to Wolf’s right.

Damn, she was surrounded by hot guys. Even that Logan fellow had a perfectly cut chest and lovely face. He grimaced a little and shrugged toward Wolf. “Sorry, man. I bragged about the summer and you and me and James.”

Wolf’s arm tightened. “No problem, man. I don’t mind a good ménage, but I’m not about to offer up my sub. A ménage is something between friends, and they’re not my friends.”

Dom Number One smiled, an easy curling of his fabulous lips. “We could be friends.”

Dom Number Two seemed to be the surlier of the two. “Probably not. I’m not very friendly. Kitten, up.”

Kitten popped up and immediately smiled at Leo. “Hello, boss.”

Leo nodded. “Good evening, Kitten. Are Ben and Chase treating you well?”

Kitten’s eyes slid away as she replied. “Yes, Sir. But they won’t hurt Kitten. They say Kitten hasn’t been good enough. This big man looks like he could hurt a sub. Kitten would really like to try fire play, Sir. Would you talk to the large, attractive man about burning Kitten?”

Yeah, Kitten had issues.

“Sorry, man, I tried to tell her she wasn’t cleared for that,” Dom Number One said.

“It’s all right, Ben.” Leo leaned forward. “Kitten, until Miss Janine clears you for play, all Julian will allow is two spankings a night. You know the rules. You don’t want to upset Finn, do you?”

Kitten’s head shook. “No. Kitten loves Finn. But you’re all wrong, you know. Kitten is not crazy. Kitten is just more perverted than the rest of you. One day you’ll see.” She turned her eyes up to Wolf. “And Kitten really would like to play with you, Sir. What’s your name?”

“His name is Mine, Kitten.” The words came out before Shelley could think about them. But they felt right. Kitten apparently got really chatty when she chucked her day clothes. Shelley had never heard Kitten able to put so many words together without stammering.

She could practically feel Wolf’s satisfaction. “Sorry, Kitten. I have a sub. And the name is Wolf. Wolf Meyer. Though I do go by Mine where Shelley is concerned.”

She thought she heard Leo say something about vomiting.

Julian Lodge stepped through the crowd, Finn and Dani at his sides.

“I love it when all my boys get along,” Julian said. He nodded Shelley’s way. “You look lovely, dear.”

Finn winked. He was wearing leathers but no shoes. “That top fits you perfectly.”

“By perfectly, he means it makes your boobs fall out,” Dani said. She was wearing a modified version of fet wear that showed off her lovely belly. And her boobs did, indeed, seem to be falling out.

But now that Leo was close, Shelley felt a bit self-conscious again.

“Oh, little one, if I’ve properly judged Master Wolf here, before long she’ll simply be naked,” Julian said with a little smile. Shelley’s whole body flushed at the thought, but Julian continued. “Master Wolf seems to be a man who likes to share the beauty of his sub with those around him.”

Wolf’s hands cupped her shoulders. “I don’t think she’s ready for that, Julian.”

“Oh, but one day she will be. She’ll find that sharing her own beauty is a wonderful thing.”

Dani grinned. “Yes, sharing is good, Master. And from what I’ve heard, Master Wolf is a very ‘sharing’ kind of person.”

Shelley looked up, and Wolf had flushed slightly, his eyes narrowing on Logan.

“Sorry, man. I thought it was fine to talk about it. I mean, have you seen where we are?” Logan asked.

“Dude, discretion,” Wolf shot back. “Have you told everyone?”

Logan shrugged. “I’m surrounded by crazy threesomes, man. It seems normal to me. When Dani there asked about my life in Bliss, I thought she was asking about the kinky stuff.”

“You’re in a threesome?” Shelley asked, her jaw dropping open. And he hadn’t bothered to mention that?

“No. I’ve never had a permanent threesome,” Wolf replied quickly.

“Just a whole bunch of short-term ones,” Logan supplied helpfully.

“Wolf, you’ve spent too much time in that town,” Leo said, his mouth firming to a flat line.

“I like Bliss,” Wolf admitted. He looked down at Shelley. “And your brother is in a happy threesome. You probably shouldn’t judge.”

“I wasn’t judging, Sir.” But she was thinking.

“And she did put down ménage on her list of sexual fantasies,” Julian added. “It was one of the reasons I decided Master Wolf would be perfect.”

“Julian, hello, perfect sharing twosome right here,” Dom Number One said.

Julian turned to the twin Doms, bowing slightly. “I apologize, Benjamin. I hadn’t heard you and Chase were looking for a permanent submissive. I will immediately begin looking for the perfect woman.”

Dom Number Two, who she’d figured out was named Chase, turned a little green. “Don’t you dare, Julian. Monogamy. The word makes me a little sick.”

“Well, it wouldn’t be monogamy, would it?” Julian pointed out. “The two of you can’t have a separate thought much less claim a woman on your own. I believe the word you’re looking for is polyandry.”

Ben shook his head. “Nope. Don’t like that one either. They both mean the same thing. One pussy for the rest of my life. I intend to live a very long time.”

Chase was quietly petting Kitten who had gotten back to her knees. Chase held her leash in his hands. “My little kitten doesn’t want commitment, does she?”

Kitten shook her head. “No, Sir. Kitten would like to try as many Masters as Kitten can.”

“Good, Kitten.” Chase stared at Julian like the man had threatened to hang him.

Julian waved it all off. “Come along, my loves. Let’s play until we can’t anymore. I suspect our littlest one is going to curb our playtime when he comes along,” Julian announced with a little grin.

“Julian, it’s a girl. The doctor said she’s a girl,” Dani insisted. “We had a sonogram last week, but Julian hasn’t gotten the message yet.”

Now Julian was the one who looked a little green. “No. This child is going to obey me not some sonogram.” He got down and spoke directly to his wife’s belly. “You will be a boy. Girls scare Papa. Grow a penis and quickly.”

He stood and sighed, seemingly satisfied that the fetus would do his bidding. Then he turned and walked up to the stage.

Finn covered his laugh. “You’ll have to excuse the Master. He’s in denial. The thought of having a daughter has, well, scared the crap out of him.”

“I’m a little worried he’ll try to exchange her,” Dani said.

“No, baby,” Finn replied, taking her hand. “He’ll take one look into her perfect little eyes and fall madly in love, and then the world had better watch out because he’s going to be a scary-as-fuck father. I fear for the teenaged idiot who tries to date our daughter.”

“Finn!” Julian’s bark had the whole room silent.

Finn straightened up quickly. “Come on, baby. He’s going to need a little something, if you know what I mean.”

“Really, Wolf?” Leo asked the minute they were gone. “Didn’t I teach you properly?”

Wolf grinned his brother’s way. “Yes, you told me to share my toys when we were kids.”

“Well, I certainly didn’t mean it that way.” Leo crossed his arms over his chest. He finally looked directly at her though there was a blank look on his face. “Is he treating you well?”

Her heart ached. He was so beautiful and so remote. “Yes. He’s been perfect, Sir.”

Sir. Not Leo. It was easier this way. Yes, Julian had been right. This was the right path.

Leo’s face tightened. “Good. Wolf, you have a key?”

Wolf shook his head. “Nah. I’ll find a motel. No problem. In a couple of weeks, I’ll start looking for an apartment. Don’t worry about me.”

Leo wasn’t having it. “You’ll stay at my place, Wolf. Logan already moved his stuff in. I have another bedroom ready for you, unless, of course, you want to share with Logan.”

Shelley stared at Leo just about ready to tell him off, but there was a little smirk on his face.

Wolf shot his brother the bird. “Fuck off, man.”

Leo’s smile grew. “Well, I know you like to share, brother.”

“You’re such a fucker.”

They seemed to be having some sort of brotherly moment. The kind no woman could really understand.

“Come on, Wolf. If Ma finds out you’re not staying with me, she’ll give me hell.”

Wolf turned away, his eyes going back to the stage. “Fine. I’ll stay with you until I find my own place.”

“Good.” Leo nodded her way and turned back to Logan as Julian strapped his partner to the St. Andrew’s Cross.

The crowd hushed, and the show began. Shelley forced her eyes to the stage, forgetting about the fact that she might be able to give up Leo, but it didn’t look like he would be out of her life anytime soon.