7

Silver bit into her cheek as Dean stepped into the living room, a tumbler of whiskey in his hand. It was just past two. He never drank this early.

The call hadn’t gone well.

Laying on the floor, lifting their daughter up in the air, Landon made airplane sounds as Amia ‘flew’ above him, her little blonde curls bouncing around her head. She let out a high-pitched giggle, then dropped her arms, wiggling her fingers at him until Landon lowered her to his muscular chest. Amia looked so tiny, surrounded by his thick arms, but despite his powerful body, Landon was a giant teddy bear when it came to their daughter.

He noticed Dean and sat up, grabbing the remote he’d dropped on the thick, charcoal carpet. “Before you say another word, you’ve got to see this.”

Dean smiled and took a seat on the couch beside Silver, slipping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her against his side. He wasn’t as big as Landon, and didn’t train as insanely hard, but she could still feel the strength of him when she rested her head on his shoulder. As she glanced up at him, he gave her a reassuring smile that didn’t help much. He was good at those, but she knew him too well. The fine lines around his hazel eyes had deepened and his neatly styled, grey-dusted, dark brown hair looked mussed up, like he’d been raking his fingers through it.

Music came on, Amia’s favorite song by Justin Timberlake, Can’t Stop This Feeling. She bopped around to it every time they were in the car. Keeping it on repeat made going anywhere much easier.

Amia’s lips formed a wide O. She gave Landon a huge smile. Hesitated and glanced over at Silver and Dean. Then she started moving, wiggling to the music, spinning in circles, then rushing over to grab Landon’s hand as the song reached the chorus.

He danced with her and Silver let out a happy sigh, hugging Dean’s arm. This was the family she’d always wanted. One full of love and joy, everything she could have ever wanted for their daughter. Or herself. Moments like this could make all the worries in the world go away, if only for a little bit.

“Okay, now just like last time.” Landon crouched in front of Amia. She mirrored him, her expression serious. “Ready?”

The garbled response almost sounded like ‘Yes’. With a few more syllables, but the excitement in Amia’s eyes said it all.

As the climax of the song hit, they both leaped up.

Crack!

Silver winced as Landon brought a hand to his head.

Amia giggled and Dean leaned forward, holding out his arms as she ran to him. “I think your Daddy’s broken.”

Landon huffed out a laugh and plunked down on the carpet by the couch as Amia settled in Dean’s arms. He leaned his big body against Dean’s thigh and reached out to take Silver’s hand. “I misjudged the height of our ceiling.”

Dean smirked. “You don’t say?”

“She’s only done that twice. And never when you’re both here.” Landon grinned at Amia. “Your performance was perfect, mon petit chou. But mine needs work.”

“Well, now that you’ve gotten her all wound up, it’s naptime.” Dean stood carefully, bracing himself on his good leg, shaking his head when Landon and Silver moved to help him. “My knee’s just a little stiff. I’ve got her.”

“You sure you can carry her up the stairs?” Landon frowned at Silver when she elbowed him in the ribs. “What? She’s getting bigger.”

“I think he’s noticed. And he’d tell us if he couldn’t do it.” She refused to dwell on Dean favoring his bad knee more often lately. He’d promised to consider further treatment if the physical therapy he was doing didn’t improve his mobility. Then pointed out he wouldn’t risk not being able to run around and play with their baby girl as she got older.

But Landon, ever overprotective, still made his way to the stairs, following Dean up while badly attempting not to make it too obvious. When Silver reached the landing behind him, he was backing away from Amia’s bedroom door, hands up.

“Was just gonna offer the TENS. No need for the daggers, babe.”

Hand covering her mouth, Silver stifled a laugh. No one besides Landon had the balls to call Dean ‘babe’. Well, except maybe his mother, but Verity Richter was a force of nature.

Silver called Dean many things when she was mad. Or being a brat.

‘Babe’, however…

She hadn’t felt quite that brave just yet.

“Get some rest, my angel. I’m going to go have a chat with your other daddy.” Dean spoke softly, and the light in Amia’s room dimmed a moment before he stepped out. He gave Landon an unreadable look, his tone dry. “I thought I asked you not to call me that.”

Folding his arms over his chest, Landon leaned against the wall. The edge of his lips curved. “You like it.”

“And you’re not as cute as you think you are, goalie.” Dean let out a heavy sigh, but his eyes were sparkling. “You should be setting a better example.”

Landon’s brow furrowed slightly. “For Amia?”

“For Silver.”

“Hey!” Silver frowned at Dean, who simply arched a brow. “I’ve been on my best behavior. Don’t drag me into this.”

Reaching out, Landon pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her hair. “You’ve been very good. He’s just got this obsession with me submitting to him. And it ain’t happening.”

“It’s not an obsession. I believe you’d enjoy it.” Dean moved behind Landon, brushing his lips along the other man’s neck. “You’d look hot wearing my collar.”

A tingling warmth spread over Silver as Landon’s dick swelled against her hip. The sexual tension between them all was as intense as ever, like a steady flame that flared up with a splash of accelerant. They needed to take this to the bedroom. See if any of the collars Dean kept in his toy bag were big enough for Landon. She’d never indulged in the idea of one of her Doms submitting the same way she did, but the power play between them had to come to a head eventually.

I need to be there when it happens.

Amia wouldn’t nap for long. They didn’t usually play during their limited quiet time—there was always too much to do. Cleaning, discussing the team, bills, doctor’s appointments, training schedules. She had wanted to talk to Dean about something, but right this moment, her brain wasn’t functioning well enough to remember what that was.

Landon let out a low laugh. “You’d look just as hot with mine, Dean. But I don’t think you’d be comfortable with turnaround being fair play.”

Dean inclined his head. “True.” He grazed his teeth over a sensitive spot at the base of Landon’s throat. “Shall we forgo the props?”

“Mmm…” Landon pulled Silver against him, moving toward the door. He groaned as her phone buzzed and she pulled away from him. “Really?”

“It’s Oriana. I have to take this.” She bit her lip as the men separated. She’d refused to talk about the visit to her father’s place when she’d gotten home, needing to enjoy the time she had with them both, and their daughter, before the new season made opportunities like this few and far between. But she also needed to make sure Oriana didn’t have any illusions about their father. “Don’t wait for me.” She rose up on her tiptoes to kiss Landon’s frowning lips as her phone stopped ringing. “I get him all to myself when you’re on the road, big guy.”

Landon’s lips quirked. “You have a point.”

“But you will tell us what’s going on after, pet.” Dean gave her a stern look that had her wishing she could be bratty and get a spanking instead of calling her sister back.

She wouldn’t let their father hurt Oriana again though. She had to get through to her.

Somehow.

“I will. I promise.” She wrapped her arms around his neck as Landon ducked into their bedroom. “Let him take care of your knee. I’m more worried about you than you should be about me.”

“No need. And don’t change the subject. I’ve been honest with you both about my condition and taken steps to improve it.” He cupped her cheek and leaned in close to kiss her. “Go talk to your sister. Tell her I expect her to come visit soon. And then prepare to share everything that is going on with our family.”

The mood had shifted and she groaned as he headed into the room, where Landon was already setting up the TENS unit. Rather than erotic playtime, Landon would tend to Dean’s knee and then they’d probably discuss what was going on with her. She’d hoped at least they could enjoy themselves, but everything was serious now.

She rubbed a hand over her face as she headed downstairs, holding the phone against her ear.

Oriana sounded relaxed when she answered. Which might or might not be good. Silver stepped into the kitchen, considering the whiskey Dean kept on the top shelf of the antique cabinet by the pantry.

“Sorry I didn’t answer right away. We just put Amia down for a nap.”

“It’s okay. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t still stressing about visiting our father.” Oriana went quiet, then cleared her throat. “I shouldn’t have asked you to come.”

Digging her nails into her palm, Silver shook her head. “I had to be there. Had to see… Oriana, he hasn’t changed. You have to know that.”

“I’m not sure about that, Silver. But I don’t trust him any more than you do. Not yet.” Her sister groaned. “I wish things were different, but I won’t pretend they are. He’s still the man who was ready to take the men I love to court over an accident. Who wanted to prove I wasn’t mentally fit to make decisions for myself. His own condition might have messed with his reasoning, but he’s always manipulated us. That didn’t change overnight.”

“Then why even bother with him?”

“Because I’m strong enough to decide what role he plays in my life. He asked for the chance to be a father. To be a grandfather. So long as he doesn’t ask for more, I’m willing to see where this goes. Not for him. For me. If he died and never saw West, I’d always wonder if I should have tried harder. If I should have answered his call. Now I have.” Oriana’s tone softened. “That doesn’t mean you have to do the same, Silver. You owe him nothing. Not even forgiveness. That has to be something you do for you, and only if it will give you closure. If it will only hurt you more, then it’s pointless.”

Silver’s throat tightened. She leaned against the kitchen table. “I’d already decided I wouldn’t forgive him when I didn’t invite him to my wedding.”

“And you had a beautiful wedding. The family you chose was there. Do you regret it?”

“Not for a fucking second.” The tightness eased from Silver’s chest. She meant it. She hadn’t wanted their father there.