Carnal Christmas-epub by Robin L. Rotham Read Free Book Online Page B

the back, then reached over with his free hand to pluck Ariel’s from her lap and held it, too.
    “That’s why this afternoon happened,” he continued where Mandy had left off, “although we hadn’t planned for it to happen the moment we arrived. We were thinking we’d wait until the day after Christmas, let everyone enjoy the holiday in peace before we put Joe to the test, but as usual, events unfolded in their own time.”
    Looking puzzled, Ariel asked, “What happened this afternoon?”
    Hake winced dramatically. “You’ve forgotten it already? I must be losing my roleplaying mojo.”
    “That’s not what I meant.” Her cheeks were rosy but she was smiling. “Trust me, I haven’t forgotten anything about that part of this afternoon.”
    “I’m glad to hear it.” He kissed the back of her hand. “But there was more going on than you were aware of, sweet girl. Mandy wanted to give you that role-play fantasy before we started the dialogue about the baby because there was a very real possibility we wouldn’t have a chance to do it afterward. We both knew the baby might be a barrier to our continuing as a group, and we wanted to do everything we could to cement the bonds between all of us ahead of time.”
    Everything suddenly clicked into place for Brent. “I knew it. You were staking a claim, weren’t you?”
    “I was declaring my love and making a commitment,” Hake corrected. “To all of you. You’re my cousin, Brent, so you were already stuck with me, but I wanted it clear that Joe and Ariel are mine the way Mandy is yours. The three of you have your own relationship, and I’ve kept my dick out of both of them for the last year—and Joe’s dick out of me—to give it time to take root, but this baby created its own deadline and I had to go with it. I think it’s obvious we all belong together, and I won’t let this relationship go down without one hell of a fight. That fight starts with Joe.”
    “Thank God.” Brent sagged in his chair as most of the tension drained out of him. “I don’t think I can keep him from leaving by myself. It’s been brewing for months, maybe even since the beginning, and I’ve felt things trying to come to a head for weeks. This was just the excuse he was waiting for to run away from what we’ve got going. Sometimes it seems like he’s got more muscles than brains.”
    “Which would be fun under any other circumstances,” Mandy said with a half-hearted grin.
    Chuckling, Brent finally put an arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “Yes, it would.”
    Hake pulled a visibly trembling Ariel around the corner of the table to sit on his lap and planted a kiss on her temple. “So Brent, you’re good with this?”
    “Ariel Jane’s got plenty of love to spare, so yes, I’m good with it if she is.”
    “I’m totally good with it,” Ariel told Brent softly, that love shining in her eyes—along with worry. “You won’t let Joe go?”
    “Not if there’s anything I can do to stop him. Though we’re going to need a bigger bed,” he added with a grin.
    Hake shook his head. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There are too many unknowns right now, and we’ve all got some talking to do and decisions to make.”
    “And Joes to hammer some sense into,” Brent said grimly.
    “No time like the present.” Hake nudged Ariel off his lap and then stood. “Why don’t you girls keep each other company in the master bedroom tonight while we work on Joe.”
    Exchanging a tentative smile with Ariel, Mandy said, “We can do that.”
     
     

 

Chapter Eight
     
    The minute he stepped out the side door of the garage, Joe wished he’d put on his coveralls. The snow was flying sideways, so heavily he could hardly make out the sodium-vapor lamp on the machine shed across the road.
    Committed now, he pulled the hood of his jacket down and hunched his shoulders against the wind-driven snow as he trudged down the driveway in the dark. Judging by the intermittent