“You’re back,” Tamara throws her arms around my neck, peppering my face with kisses. “I was so worried about you.”

“I’m fine, princess.” My hands find her ass, squeezing. God, I fucking missed every inch of her body. “It just took a little longer than I expected. I missed you,” I say into her hair, burying my face and inhaling the sweet smell of her perfume.

Tamara’s dad clears his throat a few feet away. “There’s a time and a place for that and it’s not here or now.”

“Oh, stop it, old man,” Max tells him, giving him a light smack on the shoulder. “They’re young and in love. We were once like that too.”

“I don’t remember us being that way. I remember you giving me tons of attitude. I remember that well,” he says to her, pulling her in for a hug but she instantly fights back.

“Anthony Gallo, don’t test my patience and get all handsy with me now,” Max warns him.

“No time like the present.” He smiles as she wiggles out of his grasp.

When his gaze comes back to us, Tamara untangles herself from my body, putting a sliver of distance between us. “Did everything really go okay? You don’t with the club? Did Morris set you free?”

I shake my head. “We’ll talk about it later.”

She grinds her teeth, my little spitfire never able to hold back her emotions.

“It’s all good. Promise, princess.”

“You think everything is good and safe, but I know better, and I know Tiny and Morris. They’re always up to some bullshit.”

I bark out a laugh, loving that she’s willing to stand up to the guys. I hated it at first, knowing how they felt about it, but now I find it comical because somehow the guys respect her which is foreign in their world. “That’s the life.”

“How long are you here this time?”

“I don’t have anything going on for a while, but you have school. You going back tomorrow?”

She nods. “I hate the distance between us. Why don’t you come back to school with me?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think the people who run the dorm would like me sleeping there.”

Tamara waves her hand. “They’ll deal. There’s guys there all the time.”

I raise an eyebrow, not liking the sound of that shit. “You want to repeat that.”

She twists her lips, gazing upward. “Not in my room or my friends, but it happens. You can come stay with me.”

I place my palms on her upper arms, slowly running my hands up and down her skin. “I’ll come visit from time to time, but my place is here. I have a lot to do to get my,” I pause, needing to rephrase what I was starting to say, “I have a lot to do to our life in order so when you graduate, we’re ready to roll.”

She leans forward, pressing her breasts against me. “I like it when you say our.”

“Our baby girl is growing up,” Max says, and I had forgotten they were still there and watching.

“Yeah,” Anthony mutters. “And I don’t like it one bit.”

Tamara glances their way. “I’ve been grown, but somehow you two failed to see that.”

“You two need to leave those kids alone,” Grandma Gallo tells Tamara’s parents. “They haven’t seen each other in weeks. Give them some privacy and get your butts in the kitchen. I need some sturdy arms to get the food out of the oven.”

Anthony and Max grumble but peel out of the hallway and head toward the kitchen. Mrs. Gallo gives me a wink and a smile, making my insides warm. I love her. If I could’ve picked a grandparent, I couldn’t have picked a more perfect human being. I’m so freaking lucky that Crow was an asshole, sending Tamara straight into my path.

My hands are instantly back on her ass. “You stayin’ at my place tonight?”

Tamara nods. “We have some lost time to make up for and I expect more than one orgasm too.”

“Have I ever let you down?” I smirk.

Tamara laughs, placing her hands on my chest as she lifts herself up on her tiptoes so we’re almost eye to eye. “Not yet,” she whispers. “We have a little time to kill before dinner.”

“Princess,” I say, loving that she’s always up for some fun, but there’s a time and place it isn’t here and now. “Your grandma is pulling food out of the oven.”

“I can be fast,” she says with the most sinful grin.

I can’t stop the stupid smirk spreading across my mouth. God, I love her. “But I don’t want to be,” I whisper into her ear. “I have plans for you and there’s nothing fast about them.”

She shivers, digging her fingernails into my t-shirt near my chest. “Eat fast.”

“Those are words I never thought I’d hear you say.”

She peers up at me, raising an eyebrow. “You know what I mean, mister.”

“Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God,” Lily keeps repeating, walking by us with a look of terror on her face.

I tick my head in the direction Lily disappeared. “What’s with her?”

Tamara giggle. “She saw her high school crush’s dick.”

“She’s seen one before, right?” I ask, confused.

Tamara only laughs harder, sliding her hands down my front to my waist. “She’s seen some, but not a ton and this is Jett. She’s had it for him so bad in high school and he popped into Inked recently, asking Lily to pierce him.”

“So, she’s freaked out about his cock?”

Tamara shakes her head before placing the side of her face on my chest. “She’s freaked out because Jett wants more than friendship and Lily’s convinced she must be reading the entire situation wrong. I don’t know why she doesn’t see herself the way everyone else does. She’s stunning and smart. Any man would be lucky to have such a good person in their life.”

“You’re pretty spot on with reading people. Does he want more?”

Tamara tips her head back and smiles up at me. “He wants everything.”

Lily walks back into the foyer, still talking to herself.

“Lil, babe, take a breath,” I tell her, hating to see her panicked.

She stops walking, turns to face us, and sucks in a deep breath. As soon as she exhales, she says, “It’s not working.”

“Do it a few more times, babe,” I tell her. “He’s just a man.”

She covers her face with her hands and shakes her head. “What if I’m not what he thinks? He likes girls who are wild and fast…two things I am not.”

I hold my girl a little tighter, watching Lily have a meltdown and do my best to alleviate some of her anxiety. “How long has he known you, Lily?” I ask.

“My entire life.”

“Then he knows exactly who you are and that’s exactly what he wants.”

“I touched his penis though.”

“That’s kind of the point,” I say with a small laugh, getting an ass pinch from Tamara.

Lily moves closer to us, looking around as she does. “But what if,” she peers around again and drops her voice, “what if I’m horrible at it.”

“At what?” Tamara asks, always yanking her cousin’s chain and sometimes loving to torture her too.

“What if I’m bad at sex?” she whispers.

“Babe, no such thing. When a guy likes you, like really really likes you, you could botch pretty much everything and he’s still going to think it’s the best shit ever. Am I right?” Tamara looks up at me, wanting affirmation.

“Yep. Completely,” I say, knowing Lily needs to hear these words to get out of her head.

“Really?” she asks, looking almost hopeful and relieved.

“You won’t be bad, Lil. Jett knows who you are and how you are. That’s what he wants. He wants a taste of the best and not some used pro whose cooter’s had more action than…”

“Stop.” Lily holds up her hand. “I get it, but I don’t know if I believe you.”

“He’s not looking for an easy lay, babe. He’s looking for quality. Just don’t rush things. Go at your own pace and if you aren’t feeling it, don’t do it.”

She fidgets, picking at her finger nails. “I may never get this chance again.”

“You want to let your hair down and get wild? You want to be another notch in his belt? I won’t think any less of you and neither will Tam, but make sure that’s what you want before you do it. If he breaks your heart, I’ll make sure to break something of his.”

Lily blinks up at me without a smile. “You can’t do that.”

“I’ll do whatever I have to protect my family, Lily, and you’re my family now. He fucks with you, and he’ll answer to me.”

“Oh dear,” she whispers. “Thanks, Mammoth, but I think I can handle this one all on my own.”

“Get out of that pretty little head of yours. You’re one of the best, Lily, and don’t let Jett or any other man out there ever make you doubt that.”

Lily finally smiles. “Thanks, Mammoth. You’re too sweet. You’re so lucky to have him, Tam.”

“Nah, babe. I’m the lucky one,” I tell her still shocked I landed a hot piece of ass with the biggest damn heart and best damn family on the planet.

“I love you,” Tamara says, staring up at me with her killer smile.

“I love you too.”

“I want what you two have,” Lily says softly.

“Gotta put yourself out there. Take the leap, Lily. I think Jett’s looking to catch you.”

“And if I fall?” Lily asks.

“Then at least you know you took a chance. No regrets,” Tamara tells her.

“No regrets,” Lily repeats with a quick nod before wandering off.

Tamara buries her head into my chest again. “She’s going to be a basket case for at least the next month.”

I tip my face down, resting my lips against her hair. “We’ll be there for her in case shit goes south. That’s what family does, right?”

“Exactly,” she says, backing out of my embrace. “Now, weren’t we about to head upstairs?”

 I grab her hand and stop her. “No way, princess. You’re going to have to learn a little restraint.”

“Restraints?” she winks. “I like the sound of that.”

“Your wish is my command.”

“Come on,” Tamara says, pulling me toward the dining room. “You better wolf this food down and save some room because the real feast starts after we leave.”

I chuckle, following her into the dining room and thanking my dumbass luck for being here, having her, and finding a place to call home.

Thank you once again for reading Wildfire. The Gallo family fun continues in Blaze, Lily's story!