Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
“And I have something to show you.” He turned the lights off and the ceiling lit up with stars.
She gasped in wonder.
“You like it, baby?”
She drew the pacifier out. “It’s perfect, Daddy. Will you stay until I go to sleep, though?”
“Of course and just so you know, I have a monitor here. So if I’m not here when you wake up, all you need to do is yell for me and I’ll come.”
The tight knot in her stomach eased and she settled in to watch the stars.
The Fox slid out of the nursery.
Damn, it felt good having her in there, tucked up safe and sleeping.
“You really got her off to sleep?” Brody asked.
The Fox saw him finishing off the last of the snacks. The boy really liked to eat.
“I did. Could you come help me with something?”
“Sure.”
“Take the plates up and put them in the dishwasher. I’ll meet you in the kitchen. I have something to show you.”
About ten minutes later, the Fox appeared in the kitchen and grabbed his hand. He led him down a corridor then reached up to press something. A set of stairs descended. They climbed up through a hatch until they were outside. They had to be on top of the den. Hidden behind some trees was a wooden ladder.
“Come on, up here.”
Brody followed the Fox up the ladder to a platform built into one of the huge trees.
“Wow, a treehouse? This is amazing!”
While Brody had been cleaning up, the Fox had hauled up the outdoor bean bag chairs he’d bought. Along with fairy lights and blankets.
“I thought I’d turn it into a snuggle area for our girl. Do you think she’ll like it?” No one could get to her here without a helicopter, and even then, they wouldn’t be able to get close enough to grab her. Plus, he had monitoring systems in place for when anyone flew over.
“She’ll love it.”
For the next half an hour, they set up the area. When the Fox stepped back, he nodded in satisfaction. “We’ll bring her up tonight.”
Brody smiled. “It’s a good idea. It will help her feel better being out here.”
“And what do you need to make you feel better about all of this, Pup?” he asked.
Brody shot him a surprised look. Had he not expected him to ask that?
“I don’t need anything.”
Wrong answer.
“Come here.”
When his boy grew close enough, he wrapped a hand around his neck, holding him there.
“Pup, what do you need?” His tone was stern. He wasn’t going to let him get out of answering.
“I need Autumn to be happy.”
“You. What do you need?” The Fox placed his hand on Brody’s chest.
Brody licked his lips. “I don’t know.”
“You do. You just don’t want to say it. But you matter, Brody. What you need matters. To me. To Autumn.”
“I guess just to feel like I belong. And to work.”
“I’ll figure that out.”
“And you and Autumn. That’s what I need.”
“We need you too.” He drew him close, kissing him deeply.
When Brody stepped back, he gave him a shy smile. He was so gorgeous.
“I’ll pick the trash up.” He reached down to grab the bags everything had come in, before leaping back with a cry.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” The Fox glanced around, searching for a threat.
“Spider! Spider!”
Oh. He didn’t like spiders, did he?
Suddenly, Brody was in his arms, climbing him like Autumn liked to do sometimes.
“Bag. I need a paper bag!” Brody’s breath was coming in short pants. Shit. He was about to close to having a panic attack.
“You don’t need a paper bag.” The Fox went to set him down on a bean bag chair, but he clung to him.
“The spider will get me!”
The Fox raised his eyebrows at the high-pitch to his voice. He sounded like he was regressing younger than usual.
“The spider won’t get you,” he reassured him.
“Papa, keep me safe.”
The Fox tightened his hold on him as a wave of protectiveness filled him. “Always. I will keep you safe.”
The Fox sat, holding Brody on his lap, straddling him. He rubbed his back. “Just breathe, baby. Breathe. What can you hear?”
“Y-you.”
“That’s right. What do you feel?”
“Y-you.”
“What do you smell?”
“Y-you. I smell you.”
“So basically, I am the center of your universe. As it should be.”
The other man let out a small snort. His breathing was coming easier.
“That’s it. In. Hold. Out. Good boy. No, don’t move yet. You’re fine where you are.”
“I’m too heavy.”
Smack! He gave him a sharp slap on the side of his thigh.
“Stop that. Do as you’re told. Stay still.”
Brody slumped against him, holding onto him. He kept rubbing his back until his breathing was more even. Then his boy drew back, his gaze down.
“Sorry. That was embarrassing. Spiders give me panic attacks.”
The Fox tilted back his head and took his lips in a fierce kiss before drawing back. “Do not apologize for that.”