Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
This was what he’d been waiting for. For her to give over and see what they could be. One day he’d get an I love you out of her because that was what she meant. But he could be patient as long as she was here and trying. As long as she stayed with him and toughed it out, she would find him the most patient of partners.
And if she needed to go back to Africa, he would go with her. He would give it all up for her if she needed him to. All she had to do was trust him.
He watched as she started to ride him. Her head fell back and he let her set the rhythm. He held her hips, keeping the motion with her. In too short a time, he felt himself tightening up, ready to go off.
He found her clit and started to rub.
She clenched around his cock, her orgasm forcing his own. He dragged her close so he could drink down her cries. He kissed her while the orgasm coursed through him.
She slumped down on his chest. “I can’t believe we didn’t wake the baby.”
He smiled. “We’re getting the parenting thing down, luv.”
And they were getting the couple thing right, too.
* * * *
Steph rolled out of bed, trying to move as quietly as possible. Trying not to make a sound that might wake the people sleeping close to her. Brody slept on the side closest to the door and Nate’s crib was near her. She glanced at the digital clock. She couldn’t put this off a second longer or her chance would be lost.
“You all right?”
She closed her eyes briefly and wished Brody wasn’t such a light sleeper. She hadn’t wanted to lie to him. Not that sneaking out in the middle of the night wouldn’t upset him enough. Somehow, she’d hoped to get away without the blatant lie. “I’m fine. Just need a glass of water. My throat’s dry.”
“I’ll get it for you,” he whispered and started to stretch.
She couldn’t let that happen. She leaned over and planted her lips on his, putting her hands on either side of his handsome face. “It’s okay. I’m going to the bathroom anyway. You go back to sleep. We have a long day tomorrow.”
In the low light she saw his lips curl up in the sexiest, sweetest grin. “I need it. You’re a tireless woman.”
When they’d climbed into bed, she’d known she couldn’t leave without being with him one last time. She’d kissed her way down his chest, trying to memorize every inch of his skin. She’d worshipped him the way he worshipped her. And when he’d rolled her over and pulled her into his arms, she’d known she would never love anyone the way she did this man.
He was the one for her. If only she’d been the one for him.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She didn’t want to leave him. She wanted to climb back into bed and tell him everything that had happened. She wanted to hand it all over to him and let him deal with it. That was what she’d promised him she would do. Not a few hours before, she’d let him hold her and told him she trusted him with this problem. He would take care of it.
And then a bunch of Ukrainian assassins would come after him. Yes, he was trained to handle things like this, but she couldn’t risk his life. Or Nate’s.
She slipped into the bathroom. She’d stashed a pair of jeans and a T-shirt she hurriedly dressed in. Her purse was out on the bar in the kitchen, and that was where she needed to go next.
Calm. She had to stay calm. This was stupid. It was stupid but she couldn’t think of another thing to do.
You could trust him. You could have a little faith.
She eased the bathroom door shut and was confronted with the reason she couldn’t take the chance. Nate was lying in his borrowed crib, his face peaceful as he slept.
Her baby. Her own sweet boy, and he deserved the best she could give him. The best world she could give him didn’t include his young, fragile life ending far too soon.
Steph took a deep breath. She didn’t want to leave them. Her boys.
What would her life have been like if she’d stayed home that night? If she’d decided to study instead of going to that party? Would she have still found these two? Her lover and her baby boy. Would she have found herself in Africa?
Probably not. She would have followed her father’s advice and gone into plastic surgery where she could make bank and live a beautiful life. She wouldn’t have known Brody Carter or any of the people she’d met along the way. Avery’s daughter would be halfway through high school.