Teddy Bear Sir (The Sloan Brothers Book 3) Read Online Free
Author: Jo Willow
beside me. She’d noticed the object of my fascination and that was the beginning of the end for Lily and myself.
There was no comparison from that moment on. Lily was elegant, gracious, and everything I believed my wife would have to be, should I ever choose to marry. Actually, she was all of that and more. The things we had in common were staggering in their numbers, but it didn’t matter. I could not take my eyes from Ayla.
In that one act of unconditional submission, my fascination turned to a passionate obsession. I had to know what it felt like to have her trust me like that. To come to me simply because I told her to, without question or hesitation. I wanted her to look at me like she was looking at Chase. I would take her from him if it was the last thing I ever did.
Through the course of the meal, I watched Anton and Melody spar as Deacon struggled to maintain control. Control? What control? The only thing that would have completed the circus, was if one of Deacon’s ex’s had chosen that moment to drop in unannounced. It would have been humorous had I not been a participant. Dorothy sat unaffected, watching the mini drama unfold in her dining room.
It didn’t take long for Melody to hit her stride and for Liza to understand that she was no match for Mel’s wit and sarcasm. Simply put, Liza was off Anton’s radar and her ego couldn’t handle the competition. It was obvious to everyone present that Anton and Melody were indeed a couple, despite their protests and denials.
When Liza had reached her limit, it was then that I had the rude awakening that Lily had as well. I knew that I’d done a less than adequate job of hiding my infatuation for the redhead that had bewitched me, but I’d never intended to hurt Lily’s feelings. I liked her. I enjoyed her company and had relished the idea of getting to know her better. All things being equal, it should have worked out that way. I hadn’t counted on my visceral response to Ayla and her mysterious relationship with Chase.
With our dates departure, things got interesting. Chase, Deacon and Ayla disappeared into Deacon’s den for a conversation that I had a feeling would impact all of us, and Austin and Anton struck an alliance of sorts. For the first time ever, I watched Melody stumble. This, was a development she hadn’t counted on.
Austin owned a bar and Anton was a barfly of sorts. He was familiar with Austin’s establishment and in record time, the decision was made to take the party elsewhere. Melody and I were stuck with few options and agreed to join them. Reluctant to leave Ayla alone with Chase, I had few options. Off we went to The Cheeky Monkey.
It was some time later, when Melody got a call that would change all of our lives for the foreseeable future.
Deacon was on the phone, giving me my first sense of foreboding. Melody pulled me outside and handed me the phone. I watched her anxious face as Deacon explained the situation in more detail than I’d hoped for. Chase was not Ayla’s lover, he was her protector. I don’t remember if that bothered me even more than the thought of stealing her from a suitor. When he explained who Chase was protecting her from, I had my answer. I decided on the spot that I was claiming ownership of the problem and the woman attached to it. My fate was sealed. Although I would never admit that aloud, I could not deny it to myself.
Plans were made and quickly put into effect. Ayla was moving in with me. She put up a half-hearted protest, but in the end, she saw reason. Anton moved in with Deacon and Dorothy, and Austin and Chase, much to Anton’s chagrin, moved in with Melody. Served him right. He’d dodged cupid successfully for months now, time to let someone else walk point. Still, I could see the emotions warring within my brother as he lost control of Melody and the situation.
As the months went by and
There was no comparison from that moment on. Lily was elegant, gracious, and everything I believed my wife would have to be, should I ever choose to marry. Actually, she was all of that and more. The things we had in common were staggering in their numbers, but it didn’t matter. I could not take my eyes from Ayla.
In that one act of unconditional submission, my fascination turned to a passionate obsession. I had to know what it felt like to have her trust me like that. To come to me simply because I told her to, without question or hesitation. I wanted her to look at me like she was looking at Chase. I would take her from him if it was the last thing I ever did.
Through the course of the meal, I watched Anton and Melody spar as Deacon struggled to maintain control. Control? What control? The only thing that would have completed the circus, was if one of Deacon’s ex’s had chosen that moment to drop in unannounced. It would have been humorous had I not been a participant. Dorothy sat unaffected, watching the mini drama unfold in her dining room.
It didn’t take long for Melody to hit her stride and for Liza to understand that she was no match for Mel’s wit and sarcasm. Simply put, Liza was off Anton’s radar and her ego couldn’t handle the competition. It was obvious to everyone present that Anton and Melody were indeed a couple, despite their protests and denials.
When Liza had reached her limit, it was then that I had the rude awakening that Lily had as well. I knew that I’d done a less than adequate job of hiding my infatuation for the redhead that had bewitched me, but I’d never intended to hurt Lily’s feelings. I liked her. I enjoyed her company and had relished the idea of getting to know her better. All things being equal, it should have worked out that way. I hadn’t counted on my visceral response to Ayla and her mysterious relationship with Chase.
With our dates departure, things got interesting. Chase, Deacon and Ayla disappeared into Deacon’s den for a conversation that I had a feeling would impact all of us, and Austin and Anton struck an alliance of sorts. For the first time ever, I watched Melody stumble. This, was a development she hadn’t counted on.
Austin owned a bar and Anton was a barfly of sorts. He was familiar with Austin’s establishment and in record time, the decision was made to take the party elsewhere. Melody and I were stuck with few options and agreed to join them. Reluctant to leave Ayla alone with Chase, I had few options. Off we went to The Cheeky Monkey.
It was some time later, when Melody got a call that would change all of our lives for the foreseeable future.
Deacon was on the phone, giving me my first sense of foreboding. Melody pulled me outside and handed me the phone. I watched her anxious face as Deacon explained the situation in more detail than I’d hoped for. Chase was not Ayla’s lover, he was her protector. I don’t remember if that bothered me even more than the thought of stealing her from a suitor. When he explained who Chase was protecting her from, I had my answer. I decided on the spot that I was claiming ownership of the problem and the woman attached to it. My fate was sealed. Although I would never admit that aloud, I could not deny it to myself.
Plans were made and quickly put into effect. Ayla was moving in with me. She put up a half-hearted protest, but in the end, she saw reason. Anton moved in with Deacon and Dorothy, and Austin and Chase, much to Anton’s chagrin, moved in with Melody. Served him right. He’d dodged cupid successfully for months now, time to let someone else walk point. Still, I could see the emotions warring within my brother as he lost control of Melody and the situation.
As the months went by and
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