Mother Faker

“Fuckers.”

“What’s wrong, baby?” There’s no stopping the way the endearment rolls off my tongue.

Beckett tosses his phone onto the bed and pulls me to him, dropping his head to the crook of my neck.

“I fucking love when you call me that.” He nips at my sensitive flesh. The man seems to like marking me. And he can’t get enough of my breasts. “I love these.” With a grunt, he squeezes and kneads, already in tune with what turns me on.

It’s impossible to stop the moan that slips out, but I’m not sure I can take much more. After what was inarguably the best sex of my life, Beckett dragged me into the shower and washed me down, then administered a fifth orgasm. Afterward, he washed my hair, wrapped me in a towel, dried me off, and ushered me back to bed, where we’ve been lying for the last hour. The sun has disappeared from the sky. We’re going to be late for dinner if he doesn’t stop touching me. Not that I’m all that concerned. Although, I am starving…

“Beckett.”

“Yes, wife?” he murmurs, sliding his hand lower until he brushes over my stomach.

I suck in with hopes he somehow doesn’t feel the way my stomach juts out. The man seems determined to touch me in other places, though, and doesn’t stop. He reaches between my legs and cups me, groaning about how it’s his new favorite addiction, and I forget all about my insecurities.

“What was the text message that had you upset?” I ask, breathless. If I don’t distract him from his mission, we’ll never leave the room.

Beckett chuckles against my neck. “Feel free to look.”

“You want me to look at your phone?”

Dipping a finger inside me, he groans. “What’s mine is yours.”

“Beckett,” I huff.

Drake would never let me look at his phone—probably should have been a sign—but I’m not going to take advantage of Beckett’s distraction right now.

“Livy, when I say there isn’t a thing I’m hiding from you, I mean it. You probably know more about me than anyone. Including my brothers. There isn’t a thing you could find that I’d be concerned about.”

Giving in, I grab for his phone and can’t hold back my laugh as I read his latest annoyance.

Aiden: What time is dinner again?

Gavin: 7.

Aiden: Cool, so I have time for a snack.

Brooks: It’s 6. You really can’t wait for dinner?

Gavin: Your idea of a snack is a fucking cheeseburger. Don’t eat a cheeseburger right now, Aiden.

Aiden: Fuck you, I’m a growing boy. Not all of us can work in the front office. Some of us have to keep this family business thriving by selling out arenas.

Brooks: LOL

Gavin: Asshole. Speaking of assholes, Beckett, you there?

Aiden: Nah, he’s enjoying time with his wife.

Brooks: Good for you, Beckett. Tell Liv we said hi.

Gavin: Enjoying the honeymoon suite?

Aiden: Wait, you’re in the honeymoon suite? Thought he was staying in the penthouse? Gavin, if you’re in the penthouse, then why the fuck am I sharing a room with Rivers?

Gavin: Brooks is using the other bedroom. Weren’t you planning on getting a snack?

Aiden: Fuck you. How come Brooks gets a room to himself?

Gavin: I like him more.

Brooks: LOL.

Aiden: I’ll remember that when I’m scoring points tomorrow that line YOUR pockets.

Gavin: They line your pockets, too, asshole.

We’re not coming to dinner. Have a good night.

BECKETT HAS LEFT THE CHAT.

AIDEN ADDED BECKETT TO THE CHAT.

Aiden: WTF man?! You get a wife, and now you’re too good for us?

Brooks: He was always too good for you.

Gavin: LOL

Aiden: Fuck you. I’m going to dinner with Rivers.

Laughing, I toss Beckett’s phone onto the mattress and face him. “Your brothers are insane. Are they always like this?” Sure, I’ve known them for years, but around me, they’re far more calm. Their personalities really shine when they’re talking to one another.

Beckett grumps. “Yup.”

“Why aren’t we going to dinner?” My stomach chooses that moment to growl. I was looking forward to that steakhouse.

Beckett palms my ass and squeezes. “Because I’m tired of sharing you. Tonight is about you and me. It’s Friday. We have rules, Mrs. Langfield.”

I smile. “Yes, like no PDA, no kissing, no crossing lines.”

He pulls my lip between his teeth and tugs. “Fuck your rules. Mine are better. You must always be naked in my bed on Friday nights. Dinner consists of just the two of us and is always followed by multiple orgasms.”

I moan as he licks down my neck and heads toward my breasts. “I mean, those aren’t terrible rules…” I say, breathless. “But I’ll need my lawyer to look over the revisions.”

“Fuck Medusa. She’ll cockblock me.”

I bark out a laugh. “Fine, but after you eat, you’re feeding me.”

Beckett smirks. “We Langfields do like our snacks.”

When room service arrives, we enjoy cheeseburgers, fancy champagne, and hours of sitting on the couch, talking. He’s got one hand on my thigh, which he’s strategically placed across his lap, and he’s resting his head against the cushion, watching me.

“Tell me more about growing up with your brothers. You’re the only one who went into baseball, why?”

Beckett sighs. “Don’t get me wrong—I love hockey. But I don’t know.” He looks past me, like he’s gone somewhere far away. “There’s just something about baseball, ya know? The stadium, the smell.”

I scrunch my nose. “I guess if you like hot dogs.”

He squeezes my thigh. “Lang Field does not smell like hotdogs.”

Yes, that really is the name of the stadium where the Boston Revolutionaries play. Despite how wonderful the family is, the Langfields are just a little egotistical.

I shrug. “Whatever you say. Keep going.”

“The crack of the bat when it connects with the ball. The silence when the whole stadium is waiting to see whether it’ll be caught or…” Beckett holds up his hand and pushes across the air, his voice going whispery soft, like he’s mimicking a ball whizzing through the air, “be a grand slam.”

I can’t help the smile that consumes my face. “I like you like this.”

Dropping his hand to my leg again, he shoots me a wink.

“Did you play in college?”

He shakes his head. “I’ve always been more involved with the business end of things. My brothers all played hockey. Gavin didn’t make it professionally, but like me, he loved the business side. But he also studied the game. He could coach if he wanted; he knows more than most of the guys we hire.”

“Interesting.”

“But Brooks? Watching him on his skates?” He shakes his head in quiet awe. “I knew from day one he’d be amazing. And since he and Aiden are so close in age, and Aiden wanted to do whatever Brooks did, it was no surprise when he followed him on skates.”

“God, your mom must have spent every waking moment at one of the boys’ games.” Just thinking about it makes my head spin. I really hope my kids don’t get into sports; I’m not sure I can juggle work and that commitment on top of homework and the Zumba class I should apparently be enrolled in.

Beckett lets out a heavy breath. “Honestly, they didn’t go to many games. She was so busy entertaining clients for my dad or traveling with him.” He shrugs. “But Gavin and I made sure we were there. Between the two of us, the boys always had someone rooting for them.”

The thought makes my chest go tight. “You’re a really good brother.”

He lifts his chin and laughs. “Tell that to Aiden. He’s still blowing up my phone with complaints about me not coming to dinner.”

A little knot of guilt forms in my stomach. Wringing my hands in my lap, I study him. “You can go meet them. You don’t need to sit with me. I know we’re just—” I don’t finish the sentence because I have no freaking idea what we are. Coworkers? Friends? Fake husband and wife? It was a lot easier to categorize this thing before we slept together.

No, that’s not entirely true. Things have been slowly changing since the first time he kissed me. Maybe even before that. But after tonight, I have no freaking idea what we are. I just know I’m already dreading the day it ends.

“We’re not just anything,” Beckett says, his tone fierce. With his eyes locked on me, he stops himself and takes a deep breath in. When he speaks again, his tone is softer. “I’ll see them Tuesday. Jay is coming in from Paris, and we’re going to the game. We’re playing the Metros, so Jamie is coming into town too.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that. This is a big series.”

Beckett works his jaw from side to side. “Yeah, and if Clayton doesn’t work his shit out, I don’t care if he can hit the ball better than the rest of the guys on the team, I’m benching him.”

“You can’t bench him.” I have to hold back a laugh. “You aren’t the coach.”

Brows furrowed, he eyes me. “Watch me.”

I give him an exaggerated roll of my eyes, which leads him to tickle me. The next thing I know, I’m straddling him, and he has a hand pressed to my cheek. “What about you, Livy? Tell me what you were like growing up.”

“Not much to tell.” I shrug. “I was your typical girl, I guess. My brother was my hero, my mother worked herself to the bone, and our father wasn’t in the picture.”

Beckett strokes a thumb over my cheekbone, his expression warm. “That must have been hard.”

“Wasn’t easy,” I admit. “But we made do. My mom always went above and beyond. My brother too. I know he was an ass to you when you showed up at his house, but he’s spent his life protecting me. And he’s taken on that same role with my kids. He never liked Drake.” I let out a bitter laugh. “Shoulda listened to him.”

“But then you wouldn’t have your kids,” Beckett points out.

“True.” I drop my chin, my chest aching just a little with pride and longing at the thought of them. “And as much work as they are, they’re my everything.”

“They’re amazing, Livy. You’ve done a great job with them.”

I’ve always struggled to accept compliments, but when it comes to my babies, it’s easier. “Thank you. I know they’re a lot more than you bargained for⁠—”

Pressing a finger to my lips, he shushes me. “Package deal. And I happen to like the package. It’s like a two for one sale.”

I laugh. “More like eleven for one. You must be dying to get back to your penthouse.”

Beckett grasps my shoulders, his green eyes holding mine, and pulls me down until our lips are a breath away from one another. “I don’t miss it even a little.”

Closing that last bit of space, I kiss him. Long and slow and languid. Every aspect of this night, every word he’s spoken, every one of his actions, is too perfect. Just for tonight, I don’t want to think about what the future holds. I just want to enjoy it.