Caleb Morgan [Seven Brothers for McBride 7] by Anitra Lynn McLeod

you want a blow-by-blow on the event? Okay, first, we started opening him up with—”
    “Never mind!” Easton put his hands over his ears.
    “And that’s how you learn to mind your own business.” Caleb took his napkin off the table and placed it in his lap.
    McBride laughed and went to the other end. He took his seat at the head of the table. Wisely, no one else asked any more questions about where they’d been all night or what they’d been doing. The butler began bringing out the food, and all conversation ceased as everyone ate. McBride found himself looking down the length of the table at Caleb. He was wearing only a pair of shorts, so since McBride could only see his upper half, he could pretend he was at the table naked. Too bad he wasn’t close enough to play footsie. Perhaps the time had come to have new traditions as far as seating arrangements went. Then again, that seemed like a recipe to have very little food consumed as the mates were more interested in each other.
    Caleb met his gaze. He smirked and then darted his gaze upward.
    McBride lifted his brows. He was thinking they’d had enough of bedroom activities for now, but maybe not. If they were very lucky, they would never have enough of each other. For some reason, the idea of being a very old man and still randy for his mate made McBride grin. Caleb matched his smile almost as if he’d had the same thought. And then McBride’s image of them as elder men turned sad. They were the last. There wouldn’t be any children. Those who walked the Earth right now would be the final men who would do so.
    Caleb frowned, but he was too far away to ask McBride what was wrong. In a way that was good, because now wasn’t the time to put a downer on the group. It would be nice if they could get through one meal without some kind of emotional upset.
    “How’s your ear?” Devon was to McBride’s right. After he took another bite of his eggs, he reached out and touched the ragged end of his earlobe. Even all the way across the room, McBride could hear Caleb growl. Clearly, Caleb didn’t like the idea of anyone else touching his secret scar.
    “It’s fine. Thank you.”
    “It finally stopped bleeding.”
    “It just needed a little time.” McBride darted a telling glance to Caleb, but no one seemed to notice. Not that they needed to see them looking and grinning at one another. Everyone knew what they’d been out doing all night. Even the sweetest and most naïve man would be able to figure out what they’d been up to. Hell, a blind man might not be able to see their joy, but he certainly could feel it.
    “I want to make an announcement.” Caleb stood.
    McBride shook his head. This was not the time to tell them about their plans for the slammers. They needed to get everyone together after a meal and a hard day’s work so they were relaxed and receptive. Tonight would be far better than this morning.
    “I know I should probably wait until tonight so I can have a drink in hand, but I can’t wait.”
    Everyone stared at him, mouths agape, probably because it was the most Caleb had said in one chunk ever.
    “My mate took a huge risk in confessing everything he felt in front of everyone. I want to do the same and tell all of you that McBride and I are official.”
    It wasn’t what McBride was expecting at all. He was so shocked he sat at the table in stunned silence. And now he knew exactly what it had been like for Caleb the other night. Becoming the center of attention so suddenly was jarring. After recovering, McBride nodded and lifted his water glass.
    “Finally!” Ferris said, lifting his hands. “You two have been like animals circling one another.”
    “Why am I the only one who didn’t see this?” Alden asked his mate.
    “You don’t know them as well?” Gannon offered, obviously unsure or perhaps unwilling to point out that Alden’s deafness spared him from the way McBride and Caleb talked to one another. There was a lot they said