Brick Brick (Knights Corruption MC - Next Generation, #4) - S. Nelson Page 0,132

understand my hint.

“He already got that twice today.” Her eyes drifted down to her hand. “But you’re right.” Her right brow arched upward. “He does deserve another round.”

“Who deserves another round?” Ace asked from the door, winking at me before guiding it open and stepping onto the porch with us. “Hey, congrats, Ry. Kaden just told me.”

“He did? He’s not supposed to tell anyone yet.”

“You didn’t tell her?” He pointed at me, his eyes popping wide like he ruined the surprise.

“I did, but I hadn’t planned on it.” She poked my arm. “This one’s sneaky.” Ry pulled herself to her feet, admiring her ring again. I didn’t blame her one bit. It really was beautiful.

“Talk about sneaky,” I mumbled, and luckily, she didn’t hear me before she disappeared inside, but Ace did, biting his lip in preparation for which would surely be a heated discussion. He realized something was up but wasn’t privy to what I discovered this morning. “We need to have a little chat.” I was on him before he realized I left the swing, clasping his hand and practically dragging him down the steps and over by the huge oak tree in the side yard. No one else was around in case one of us started shouting.

Bets were on me.

“You wanna do it here?” He tried to distract me, backing me against the bark and sliding his hands under my yellow tank top, skimming his fingers over my belly. An eruption of warmth heated my skin, but I couldn’t let him sidetrack me. He was good at doing that when he thought he might be in trouble, which thankfully didn’t happen too often.

“Nice try.” I shoved him back, so he knew I meant business. On a huff, his hands dropped to his sides and his eyes jumped to mine, the sun highlighting the flecks of brown around his green irises and making the color look a pale shade of blue. Lost in his gaze, I mentally chastised myself for being affected by him right now. What I had to say was important; it was simply taking me some time to find my words, his stare smoldering the longer the silence stretched.

“What’s up?” he casually asked, but his shoulders tensed in preparation.

“Guess what I couldn’t find in the nightstand?”

“I took it.” Ace’s left shoulder jumped up, then down. “I told you I don’t like that thing.” His expression hardened when he grabbed his crotch. “This is all you need.”

“What are you talkin’ about?” Then it dawned on me. “You took my vibrator?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“I just told you why?”

“Apparently I don’t use it often because I didn’t even notice it was missing.”

“You won’t be using it anymore.” Sulking wasn’t a normal reaction from Ace, but apparently the presence of B.O.B., better known as battery-operated boyfriend, tore at his ego.

“That wasn’t what I was referring to anyway.” Casting his eyes toward the ground, then back up at me only affirmed what he’d done.

“Where are my pills?”

“I don’t know what you mean?”

“Yes, you do. I went to take one before we left, and I can’t find them. And I know I didn’t misplace them.”

“I want one,” he all but shouted. “Silas is so damn cute. Don’t you want a little one of us running around?”

“We’ve been over this, Jaime,” I said, using his real name to reiterate I wasn’t playing around. “I’m not having any kids right now, especially without a ring.”

His shock solidified what I thought his reaction might be broaching the topic of getting engaged. I was in no rush, and apparently with the sight of his jaw hitting the ground, he wasn’t either.

He and I had discussed it, but he talked more about babies than marriage, and if I was gonna have kids with anyone, it would be with my husband and not my boyfriend. That sentiment might seem old-fashioned in this day and age, but it was how I felt.

“Now that—”

“I’m askin’ Kaden where he bought Riley’s ring as soon as I see him. If you want one, I’ll get you one.” Clearly, I misinterpreted his stunned expression.

“Wait… what?”

“I didn’t think you wanted to get married right now.”

“I don’t. But I certainly don’t want to have kids first.”

“So, what are you sayin’?”

Exasperated didn’t begin to touch on what I felt right now. This was how most of our talks went. Round and round with a bit of confusion mixed in for good measure.

I inched closer until our chests met, linking my arms behind his neck. “I’m saying there’s no