Page 44 of Triple Protection

I sniff and sit, and he kisses my temple before taking the chair next to mine. On my right is Alex. I insisted on Brian sitting at the head of the table, as the oldest male. I haven't gotten to talk to him much, but I already love his friendly manner. I briefly wonder what it would like to have a dad like him, but push that thought away.

After we say grace and start passing around the plates so we can serve ourselves, Isabella pipes up.

"So I hear you're in a relationship with my son." The table falls into an uncomfortable silence. I swallow stiffly, my mouth suddenly dry. Her gaze is boring into mine, unwavering, a challenge. Pinpricks of panic start in my palms, but I open and close my fists before answering.

"Yes, ma'am, I am." I'm practiced in staring back at Alex, not wilting under his glare, but his mother is on a completely different level and I feel a sweat break out on my lower back.

"It will take somebody special to catch my Alex's eye." Isabella says, narrowing her eyes at me. She says it as if we're not already together. But I look at Alex and can't help but agree. We're not really together. We're fucking. I know I have feelings for him, but I'm not sure we could even agree that we'reina relationship. I don't know what to say. I don't know where we stand. I don'tknow what he wants his mother to know, but as I look at him, he simply eats.

"Oh, of course. He's an amazing guy." I swallow. We're not talking about me, we're talking about how special the kind of woman Alex deserves would be. I add, "She'd have to be gorgeous and smart. She'd probably speak three languages, but like, also be able to kick his butt when he needs it. Maybe she'd know karate?" I laugh. "And she'd be crazy smart, like a scientist or something, and have her own career..."

"Did you just describe Lara Croft?" Ellie teases. The entire table chuckles. Except for Alex and Isabella.

"Yes! I think I did! Yes, Alex needs a butt-kicking, well-endowed, wicked smart Angelina Jolie." I laugh.

Alex's face sours while Isabella watches the interaction between the two of us carefully. "No." he scolds, his voice raised and hard. "Yes, she'd be beautiful, and smart, and would keep me humble. But she doesn't need to speak three languages or know karate." His serious tone wis such a contrast to the playful teasing that it catches me off guard. He holds his hands in fists in his lap. Shit. I've said something stupid and I don't even know what it is.

"She's beautiful, smart, and has the biggest heart I've ever seen." He says, continuing. I'm barely listening because I'm wracking my brain for what in the world I said wrong. "She's giving to a fault, and puts everyone else before herself. And she certainly isn't afraid to push back and put me in my place."

My cheeks flame. Part of me is jealous that he is talking about another woman, right in front of me, in the present tense. Has he been texting with another woman I don't know? God, is he seeing someone else? We've never talked about exclusivity or expectations. I can't blame him if he is. I certainly am seeing his two best friends. Who am I to stop him from seeing someone else? My stomach churns painfully, and I stare at my plate,embarrassed. I don't want to be having this conversation in front of his mother. In front of everyone else. I want to run away and hide and process what I'm feeling.

He rests a hand on my thigh, causing me to gasp and look up at him. His face has softened, but only in a way you would notice if you knew him like I do. "She's so humble, she doesn't even realize I'm talking about her." I stare at him, jaw slack. It's the first time he's admitted to having feelings for me. I know we both enjoy the sex, and I love him in my own unrequited way. But his confession rocks me and I don't know what to do or say.

Brick chuckles from the seat next to me before grabbing the back of my neck and whispering in my ear. "That's about as much of an 'I love you' as you're going to get from him, so take it."

I gulp, suddenly overwhelmed with emotions and embarrassment.

"Mother," he turns to her, squeezing my thigh. "This is my woman. And I plan to keep her as long as she'll have me." He says before turning back to his dinner and eating casually as if he hadn't just dropped a bomb on our relationship and this dinner.

Isabella gives a noise of approval before she turns back to her dinner. Hannah and the other girls smile warmly at me, moved by Alex's confession and my surprise. I half leap out of my chair and throw my arms around Alex. I had assumed my love would always be unrequited, but I was content to have Alex in any way I could, even if it wasn't completely. To hear he has feelings for me? That I amhis woman. It equal parts melts my insides and gives lift to my heart.

"Oh," he says, surprised, as he wraps his arms around me. I bury my face into the crook of his neck, overwhelmed with emotion, and breathe him in. He runs his hand up and down my back soothingly. "I love you." I whisper to him. He lets out a low sound in response, almost a purr, before kissing my temple.

I pull back and wipe the corners of my eyes with my hands.

I look to Brick and Liam, who both had knowing, shit-eating-grins on their faces.

"You both knew?!" I squeal. They chuckle in response but avoid eye contact. I pull off a bit of my roll before chucking a piece at both of them, hitting Liam in the face and Brick in the chest.

The table resumes easy conversation after that when Isabella asks Liam and Brick about their lives since they last saw each other. I love that these three men, and their extended families, have all become family. Isabella treats Liam and Brick as family. Hannah, Brian and Liam's sisters all treat Isabella, Brick and Alex like family. Maybe distant family, but seeing how they all interact, maybe not.

I lean over to Alex and whisper in his ear. "Good boys get rewarded tonight." I whisper, dragging out thegood boy. Alex grabs the back of my neck roughly, using his thumb under my jaw to tilt my face up to him. "That's my line," he whispers, his voice low and threatening - his bedroom dom voice. I squeeze my thighs together as I resist the urge to moan. When he releases me, I take a long drag of my water, trying to cool off the raging inferno inside of me. As I drink, I strategically place my arms in front of my nipples so no one else can see what a goddamn hot and horny mess I am. The grins on Brick and Liam's faces, though, tell me they know.

As we finish eating, I go to stand and collect the plates.

"Nuh huh," Liam says as he takes one of the plates from my hand, "you cooked, we clean." Brian nods silently, as well, as he takes the second plate from my hand.

I sit back down, while all the boys go to the kitchen to clean up and pack away leftovers. Just the girls remain, but I can't find it in myself to be nervous. Alex loves me, and I think he wouldhave, with or without his mother's approval. I'm glowing. I top off all of our wine glasses before smiling at Isabella.

"I assume you know about his past?" she asks me, eyes narrowed. Hannah, Ellie and Vikki sit silently, watching. I have a feeling they're ready to stage an intervention if Isabella's interrogation gets too intense. I appreciate them for it.

"About his ex? Yes."

"And you can guarantee me that won't happen again?"

I want to be offended, but I can't. If it were my son that had been hurt, I would be doing much more than threatening his newest girlfriend.

"I can. I don't need his money, I don't want to impact his career, and I have no interest in breaking his heart. He's one of the most amazing men I've ever met." She seems pleased with this answer, but I go on. "I'm sure you saw that his confession tonight came as a surprise to me, but I've been in love with your son for quite a while now. I didn't know if he could ever feel for me the way I feel for him, but I was willing to take him however he'd have me, even if I would always love him more. I didn't need him to return my love, only for him to let me love him the best I can."