Phoebe was surprised that despite all the heavy male bodies in the room she didn’t feel threatened. Maybe it was knowing that Peanut would lose his mind if they touched her or maybe it was just an instinctive knowledge that these men wouldn’t hurt her, but it was interesting. She hadn’t realized how little fear she felt around men these days until she’d walked into the kitchen today.
“It’s fine. Just don’t let it happen again.” Phoebe didn’t bother telling them that from now on she would hide anything she didn’t want them to eat while she was gone. It really wasn’t likely that they’d use their manners; after all, they were bikers who were used to taking what they wanted.
“Yes, ma’am, I promise it won’t. How did you manage to get Jasmine so—so—” Rage didn’t seem to know how to end that question, but Phoebe knew he wanted to know how she’d managed to get her to mind her words so easily. Peanut had asked her the same thing weeks ago and she’d give Rage the same answer she’d given him.
“So well behaved?” Phoebe asked after setting the milk into the fridge and turning to look at him. She moved away from the door of the fridge to put away the rest of the boxes, sorting them into the cabinets near the stove.
“Well, yeah the kid’s a little wild sometimes. I know that’s because Peanut and the rest of her uncles spoiled her,” Rage said sheepishly, looking at least a little bit sorry about that. From what she remembered of Jasmine’s babble he’d recently married the mother of his child. She didn’t know what the story was there and she wasn’t about to ask but it was obvious that he wasn’t used to dealing with parenting.
“She just needed direction and some firm rules. When boundaries are clear she can deal with them. I gave her those boundaries and punished her when she broke them. It’s when the rules can be bent to her will that she thinks she can get away with not following them,” Phoebe said, shrugging as she turned to face Rage while leaning back on the counter behind her.
“Did you hit her?” Viking demanded.
“No,” Phoebe said vehemently.
Her glare was hot as she tried not to punch that shitty asshole in the face for being such a dick. Her hands were clenched at her sides and she was breathing hard as she tried to get her newly rediscovered temper under control. Johnny had almost beaten that out of her, but over the last few weeks it was starting to rear its ugly head. She had noticed it most often when Viking was around or when Peanut started acting like he always knew best.
“Stop harassing her. Peanut’s already told you that shit has to stop.”
“Shut up and mind your own business, Hemp,” Viking growled, his arms thick as he stood with them crossed over his chest, glowering between him and Phoebe.
“Both of you shut up. What the fuck are you all doing in here anyway?” Peanut demanded from the kitchen doorway. He came towards Phoebe, pulling her into his side protectively. She found herself leaning into him even though she didn’t really need the support he was offering her. Her breath caught and she felt tingles break out all along the side of her body where he was pressed against her. It was always that way when he touched her. Desire began racing through her like a flooded river. Her breath caught and she found herself almost panting as cravings she hadn’t felt in years took up residence inside her. She suddenly had a very vivid fantasy of Peanut naked and ready for action. She let out a breath and snuggled into his side.
“We were waiting on you like we said we were going to,” Viking said.
“I meant to wait for me outside, Viking, and you damned well know it.”
“It was hot,” Hemp complained from his seat at the table.
“Too fucking bad, asshat. My Lovely didn’t need you bastards in here freaking her out when she got home. Go wait outside. I need to grab a few things before I’m ready,” Peanut growled, his arm pulling her closer. A trill vibrated inside her at his possessiveness. She shouldn’t feel so damned turned on by his claim. She was married to another man, for goodness sake. Not that she wanted to be. Over the past few days since she’d found out that Peanut was working on getting her the ability to divorce Johnny she was thinking about the possibilities. She found herself thinking more and more about truly being free of Johnny.
“I can’t believe you’re kicking us out of your house. You didn’t used to care if we waited inside,” Viking snapped as the men nodded to her before they began filing out the kitchen door. Hemp winked at her as he headed out and she had a feeling that he was the joker of the group.
“Shit changes. You wait outside if I’m not here from now on. I don’t want Phoebe stressed,” Peanut told him, his arm tightening around her waist as he and Viking glared at each other.
“Yeah, we wouldn’t want Phoebe stressed, now would we?” Viking said, his hands clenched by his sides as he scowled at them from the kitchen doorway.
“Get the fuck outside. We will discuss this when I come out,” Peanut growled.
“What the fuck ever,” Viking said throwing his hands up in the air before leaving the room.
“You okay?” he asked when Viking was gone.
He was still holding her close, but he’d turned so that she was wrapped in his arms. Phoebe liked being cuddled up to his chest like this and she found that
