Jump Up - Susi Hawke

Prologue

Nash

To anyone else, it would have been just another random Tuesday afternoon. But to my family? It was time to finally relax. Basically, after a week of having the American president and his relatives here for a private visit with Clay, Nick, and baby Iris—mainly Iris—we were finally free to let the burps fly again and scratch our balls when needed.

Barely ten minutes had passed since we’d seen the taillights of the last Secret Service vehicle leaving the estate. Our whole family kept watch on the porch, politely waving our goodbyes. Once they were gone, Nick burst into tears and ran upstairs, and Clay rushed right after, most likely to comfort him. Poor Nick. I could only imagine how hard living so far from his family must have been.

Ha! Lies. Total lies. As much as I loved my family, if pressed, I would have to admit having my own place was a fantasy for me. I wouldn’t go crazy or anything—my place would be here on the estate, within spitting distance of my brothers—but I dreamed of my own private fortress of solitude, where I could escape whenever the walls started closing in.

I didn't see that happening until I found a mate, thus the fantasy part. It hadn’t been so bad when it was only us brothers here. But since three of my brothers had found their true mates, Dan and I were the sole single ones left. And even a spacious manor like ours felt like it was bursting at the seams from time to time with everyone living here. Especially since my parents had been lured home by the presence of grandchildren.

Watching my brothers and their families made me happy, don’t get me wrong. And also maybe a little—or a lot—jealous as fuck. And then I felt guilty for feeling jealous. It was a vicious cycle.

I scrubbed a hand over my face, slouching into the couch cushion and letting my legs fall wide. Manspreading… yet another thing I hadn’t been able to do with the first family in residence. And if I’d tried, my mom's patented “behave yourself!” glare would've turned me to stone.

For someone with boundary issues and a serious lack of filter, my mom sure had gotten proper as all get out when President and Mrs. Jackson arrived on the scene. Closing my eyes, I took in a deep breath of the delicious scent of freedom. Maybe I should think about a nap.

After Clay and Nick went upstairs, Mom took Iris off to the nursery while Dad and Sacha went fishing, leaving me and Dan here alone. Funny how it worked… the two single guys abandoned to entertain each other. Although I didn’t mind Dan's company. He was too busy reading to care what I was up to anyway. My other brothers were probably napping or—let's be real here—off having wild monkey sex with their mates. Lucky bastards.

No… I wasn’t jealous at all. Surprisingly, though, I was more bummed about my lack of anyone to cuddle and nap with than the lack of a sex partner. One of those was easy enough to find, if I wanted.

Nah, screw that. My right hand was far more convenient than the whole social scene. And even better, I didn't have to buy my right hand a drink or worry about whether I was supposed to call it the morning after.

God, wouldn't it be nice to have a true mate fall in my lap like my brothers did? How great would forgetting about all the so-called dating rules and shit be?

I blinked and stared up at the ceiling. Was mostly wanting my true mate to randomly pop up because I couldn't be arsed to go out and find someone the regular way a sign of laziness?

Maybe.

Or… was I simply a smart man who knew my time would be better spent on work or family versus wining and dining every pretty face? Plus—and this was actually a good reason—was I simply wise enough to know I couldn't bring just anyone around the family business?

Yes. I liked this one. The fates would know the right person—both for me and my family. After all, they would have to peacefully coexist with everyone and be trusted not to blab our secrets. Yep, definitely not lazy. I’m smart enough to think ahead. There was a lot to be said for wisdom.

Closing my eyes again, I adjusted my halfway interested cock. Was going off somewhere private for a quick handjob worth the bother when I was already