Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“I’ll tell you,” Brenna said with a dejected huff. “Do you want to put him in his crib first?”
Did he? No. The baby’s warm, soft weight grounded him in a way he’d never have expected. Settling him in the crib would mean a loss of that feeling.
Brenna grinned, and it was the first real one since he’d arrived home. “You don’t want to let him go, do you?”
He shrugged. “Guess not. Who knew I’d be a fucking baby guy. Let’s sit on the couch so I don’t wake him.” He grabbed her hand, threading their fingers together.
“I knew,” Brenna said as she stared at their joined hands. “You love family. You’re protective and possessive of your people. Doesn’t surprise me at all that you’d be a baby guy, as you said.”
“You’re gonna kill my street cred.” He settled on the couch, cradling Caleb. The baby’s cheek was smushed against his chest, pooching his lips in the cutest little pout. Fuck, maybe he deserved to lose his street cred.
“No,” Brenna said, shaking her head. “Not only is it sexy to see how you melt for your son, but knowing you’d go to any lengths for the people you love only strengthens your image. You have nothing to worry about.”
Christ, this woman.
She had no idea how protective and possessive he could be. If she were his, he’d fucking own her, and the gleam in her eyes, the way she drifted toward him as she spoke, told him she’d love it.
Too bad he fucked up everything he touched. Maybe it showed growth that he wasn’t willing to risk destroying her as he’d ruined everything else.
He cleared his throat. “So, enough stalling. Tell me what happened today.”
“Ugh.” She blew out a breath and gnawed her lower lip. “Oliver approached me today when I was leaving the park with Caleb. But, Lock, I promise I didn’t let him near your son. I blocked him, and he had no idea what was happening. He didn’t even get upset once.”
She babbled so fast he could barely keep up with her runaway mouth.
“Whoa, babe, relax,” he said, holding up a hand. “Caleb is here, sleeping, perfectly fine. I’m not for one second worried about him. You’re the one who’s distraught. Stop worrying and tell me what happened.”
“Nothing happened. He didn’t touch me or anything.”
Thank fuck for that. Lock couldn’t keep the low rumble inside his chest.
“Seriously. I’m okay. He just yelled a bunch of stuff, like how I messed up his plans and how it’s not over. To be honest, I don’t even remember everything he said. I was so caught off guard and focused on shielding Caleb, not everything registered.”
Rage began to bubble up from deep within. How fucking stupid had they been to overlook the possibility of Oliver confronting Brenna? Of course, he wouldn’t fade away into the background. His ego was too big to believe he’d been beaten even after taking a literal beating.
And Brenna not caring about anything but his son? Fuck, that was the kind of woman he wanted—brave, selfless, and so fucking sexy that he could fuck her every day and never want her any less.
“I, uh, might have threatened him and kneed him in the balls.” She wore a sheepish grin as though embarrassed by her behavior when all he felt was immense pride.
“Fuck, you’re amazing.”
She chuckled. “And you’re insane. I’ve never threatened anyone in my life. I’m usually very boring.”
“Good thing you met us then, huh? Spice up your life.” He winked.
The smile fell off her face. “You know,” she whispered. “I’m starting to think it really was a good thing I met you.”
“C’mere.” He crooked a finger, beckoning her.
Her nose wrinkled, but she scooted closer until her knees bumped his thigh. “What? Is there something on my face?”
Fuck, she was too damn sweet and innocent for the likes of him. How could he not kiss her?
He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger, using his other arm to hold Caleb close as he leaned toward her. He kissed her. Just a soft brush of his lips. Then another. And another.
Brenna let out a breathy sigh.
He teased her lips with his tongue, tracing the upper one and then the lower until they parted, allowing him to slip inside.
He’d never kissed a woman like this before—sweet, slow, without an end goal of getting naked and making each other come. Nothing but savoring the way her tongue danced against his, her lips clung to him, and the tiny whimpers trapped in her throat.
It felt good. It felt right.
And it was easier than trying to explain how she made him feel with words that he was bound to screw up royally.
The kiss ended naturally, but neither drew back. They stayed nose to nose, with him holding her chin.
“What was that for?” she whispered.