Chapter 44
ISABELLA
Joe's is a kind of family bar-restaurant, and I'd been there on my first visit to Maggie's, when she was just the woman I'd met at the café on my street. When I first went in, I noticed the looks on the customers' faces, and at the time I thought it must be because they weren't used to seeing new faces around, but now that I know the truth about the place, I see things differently. And now that everyone knows who I am for the Black brothers, I'm attracting more attention.
"Hey there! What can I get you?" Mikaila asks once we're all settled at a table.
The boys order food for twenty, Maggie orders eggs, bacon and pancakes. It just seems enormous.
"I'll just have scrambled eggs." I tell her with a smile.
"Are you sure? The pancakes are great and so are the waffles." Knox tells me enthusiastically.
"Yes I'm sure. Scrambled eggs and coffee." I repeat even though pancakes and waffles sound good too. They look like Greek gods and I don't want to be a glutton and gain more weight. Especially when I see the competition I'm up against. Here, the girls all look like models and knowing that they've already seen half these girls naked, I can't help but compare myself to them. I know it's totally stupid, but that's just the way it is, I can't help it.
"Zaza, I was thinking if you want you can come here every Thursday to take the kickboxing class."
"That's very kind of you to offer, but I don't really feel like driving miles to work out." I pause. "And I'm going to be pretty busy these days."
"A new project?" Jax asks me.
"Yes, but not a graphic design project. I had a visio meeting on Friday with an editor and he found my ideas and designs interesting. He's giving me time to work on a children's book. I'm seeing him again in three weeks."
"I knew they'd like it. You have an enormous amount of talent and you'd have to be blind not to see it." Asher says, taking my hand in his.
"If you need inspiration, I know just the place."
"Mom!" Her three sons answer Maggie and I chuckle.
"What?! The orphans would be thrilled to have a young woman tell them stories and she'd know right away if they liked it."
"That's actually a really good idea, Maggie. We could arrange that as soon as I've moved on. What do you think?"
"I'll mention it to the Alpha Mark but they're always short of a volunteer so I think they'll be delighted." She says, patting me on the shoulder.
Mikaila returns a few minutes later with our order. She has to go back and forth twice because there is so much food.
As I eat my eggs, I watch my table-mates devour their plates of waffles, pancakes and bacon, my mouth watering.
Jax looks at me out of the corner of his eye and slips me a plate of pancakes with a wink and I take one. One can't hurt, right? When I take a bite, my eyes close and I moan, it's so good. When I open them again, my three mates look at me, their eyes dark.
Maggie clears her throat before stifling a laugh. "Save some for tonight."
Red flushes my cheeks. Oh my God, I can't believe she said that, I fell so ashamed, she is their fucking mother.
ASHER
The ride back to town is rather pleasant, with everyone singing along to the music on the radio and laughing. Everyone except me, who is concentrating on my e-mails on my phone. One of them catches my eye, as it's from an old female acquaintance of mine. I know she's moved to California to join her mate's pack. I start to read the e-mail when I feel Knox's gaze over my shoulder. When I turn my head in his direction, he looks at me, shaking his head, puckering his head and then moving his lips without a sound. "What the fuck?"
I can only shrug because I don't know what to say to him. Her e-mail is as unexpected in its reception as in its content. I know the rumor of my desire to take back the throne but I didn't expect her to want to meet with me to discuss the terms for her to give me her support. I send a message to one of my collaborators to research the pack. If I have to discuss "terms" it will be with her mate, the Alpha not her.
"Are you okay back there?" Jax asks, his eyes in the rearview mirror.
"Oh yeah... we're just wondering when you were going to start speeding up. We'd like to get home before tomorrow morning." Knox replies.
Jax gives him the finger and Knox laughs his ass off.
"Stop bickering or I'll be forced to punish you when you get home." Isabella scolds them and it's me who stifles a laugh this time.
"I'm the only one who gives punishments around here." Knox says as he approaches her seat, then adds in her ear. "Don't forget I've got you all to myself tonight."
The scent of her arousal gradually fills the cabin of the vehicle.
"Hmmm do you like the idea of me punishing you?" He asks her.
"Stop it, Knox. I'm driving and now I've got a boner." Jax said softly as he placed his hand on his crotch.
Isa's gaze drops to where Jax's hand is and she bites her lower lip.
At first, finding myself in a foursome with my brothers disgusted me, but now all I can think about is her. The way her back arches when she takes pleasure, her mouth opening in a perfect o and the sensual noises she makes when she orgasms. When I saw them this morning, all three of them in bed, I only looked at her, my brothers didn't exist. She eclipsed them with her beauty and sensuality.