‘Well, that was a shit-show,’ I said later in the evening when Lexi and I got home. Tyler went to the hospital with Reese, Declan, and Blair, but he insisted the party go on. It was impossible to keep the incident from my family, but we still tried our best to make this day worth it for Travis. We managed to keep the party going for another hour, right until Declan texted that Tyler dislocated his shoulder and there were some complications. He was going to need an intensive recovery program.
There was a real risk he was going to be benched for the upcoming season. That put a big damper on the party, and not even Luke or Sam could put a positive spin on it.
Travis took it all in stride. Predictably, he wasn’t mad that his party was derailed, but he was pissed that we didn’t tell him about Malcolm showing up.
‘Yeah, it was,’ Lexi said.
We had the whole house to ourselves because Paisley was spending the evening with my parents. They were dropping her off tomorrow.
We sat down on the couch, and I pulled Lexi into my lap. She immediately straddled me, her thighs at my sides.
‘I’m sorry for the family drama,’ I said.
‘You don’t have to apologize. I’m happy you all stick together.’
I loved that about her, that she didn’t judge, that she understood how much I valued my family. She also seemed to appreciate it. But I couldn’t help wondering if it would get to be too much for her at some point.
‘What are you thinking about?’ she asked.
‘Doesn’t matter. What’s with that smile?’
“I just remembered you told me you loved me today and that you were wishing the party was over. And now it is over.’
I smirked. “That’s right. I’m going to show you exactly what’s going to happen now, and you’re going to love it.’
‘Oh yeah?’ she asked in a teasing tone.
‘I fucking promise, Lexi. All day long I’ve been looking forward to this, to being alone with you. I like it when the two of us spend time with Paisley, but I also like it when we’re alone. You ground me. You balance me.’ I kissed down her neck. ‘You turn me on.’
She giggled, shimmying in my lap. ‘Oh, I really do turn you on, and super fast. Do I get a prize?’
‘Yeah, you do. You get everything you want, Lexi, all the time. Anything you want, tell me, and I’ll find a way to make it happen, to give you exactly what you deserve.’
‘And that’s what?’ she asked, eyes wide.
‘Everything.’ I looked her straight in the eyes. ‘I want to give you everything I have to give.’
She bit her lower lip before leaning in. I kissed her desperately, moving my hands down her thighs and then her ankles. I was hungry for her the whole day, and all that deep need for her slammed into me all at once. I could barely control myself as I pushed my fingers under her dress, enjoying the way her skin turned to goose bumps beneath my touch, right until I reached her ass. I cupped it, hoisting her up in the air as I rose from the couch. She yelped, holding onto me tightly.
I walked through the house with her like that and straight up the staircase to my bedroom. I paused kissing her to lower her to her feet, and then I knew I couldn’t take it slow. I yanked off her dress before she was even fully standing on her own. Her skin was tanned from all the time she and Paisley were spending outdoors. I took immense pleasure in taking off her bra and panties, tracing my fingers along the portion of her skin the sun hadn’t touched. That was just for me. No one else saw her the way I did.
I could barely stand the touch of my own clothes on my skin. So when she grabbed my T-shirt with hurried, jerking moves, I helped her along, and we got rid of my clothes quickly.
‘Sit on the bed, Lexi,’ I said. ‘Not on the edge, but farther back on the mattress. Sit on it and spread your legs for me.’
I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was so damn gorgeous, all naked and ready for me.
‘You’re fucking perfect,’ I told her. She blushed every time I complimented her, but I was going to say the words again and again so she had no doubt. She was the most beautiful woman in the world to me. She was the only woman in the world for me. I’d never want to even look at anyone else.
She parted her legs invitingly, touching her breasts, toying with her nipples before moving one hand down to her pussy and circling her clit. Wrapping my hand around my cock, I started pumping up and down in time with her movements.
Her gaze turned feral. She wanted me as much as I wanted her, even though I didn’t think that was possible. It was more than hunger. It was a primal need. I doubted there would come a day when I would be completely satisfied, no matter how often I had her.
I stepped closer, taking my time, gripping myself tighter, watching her beautiful body. I kneeled before her in front of the bed, trailing my mouth along her inner thigh, still stroking myself. Her skin was soft and smelled like shower gel. Her scent was still there under the perfume. I couldn’t get enough of it.
With my left hand, I gripped her ankle, moving it upward. ‘You’re amazing,’ I murmured against her skin. “You’re mine.’
‘Yes,’ she whispered.
‘Say it. I want to hear it. Say you’re mine.’
‘I’m yours,’ she whispered. Her voice was shaking.
I was hovering with my mouth high on her upper thigh, but I wasn’t touching her pussy yet. I couldn’t hold myself back any longer, though. I pressed the flat of my tongue against her entrance. Satisfaction rocked through me when she curved her body, bringing her thighs together around my ears. I pressed my hand between them. With a groan, she opened them back up.
‘Oh, I’m so sorry,’ she said.
I looked up at her, cocking a brow. ‘Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen again.’ Her eyes widened a bit. ‘Move farther back on the bed,’ I said with a wink.
‘Okay.’ She moved backward, putting her feet on the bed.
I immediately grabbed her ankles.
‘I’ll make sure these stay here,’ I said before clasping my mouth on her clit, sucking it into my mouth.
Her cries of pleasure filled the room. I’d never get enough of them. Hearing her succumb to me gave me immense satisfaction. I wanted to lure out every drop of pleasure. I wanted her to come like this, spread open for me.
I could feel that she was close. I kept her feet firmly on the bed so she couldn’t close them again. Knowing she couldn’t move unless I allowed it would intensify every sensation for her. She liked it, and so did I.
Being in control of her ecstasy was intoxicating. I was going to make her come so hard that she’d even forget her own name. I teased and sucked her clit between my lips, hearing her voice become more desperate, her breath quicker. She exploded, rocking her hips into me, back and forth, uttering my name as if in a chant. She was intoxicating, and I needed her. I needed her right now.
She didn’t even finish coming by the time I was already pulling her even farther on the bed. I put on a condom before rolling her on top of me. She gasped, eyes wide. She looked between us, grabbing my cock and rubbing the tip against her clit. Pleasure exploded through me. It was so unexpected that it knocked the breath out of my lungs.
‘Lexi,’ I groaned.
She smiled but didn’t say anything, and just kept moving back and forth, grazing the tip of my erection before sliding down my cock. I’d been in control before, but I wanted her to take over now. I nearly lost my mind. Every time I was with her, it felt more intense. She rested my hands on her hips. I guided her movement by gripping her hips, moving her faster and faster.
I took one of her nipples in my mouth while she rode me. This right here was perfection. She was perfection. The way she felt around me. The way she gave herself to me, with pure abandon, was unbelievably sexy. She was still sensitive, but I was determined to make this one as good as the one before. I would never tire of seeing her come apart in my arms.
I felt the change in her body. Slowly, her muscles tightened. She squeezed her eyes shut. Her movements became frantic, and she pulsed deliciously around my cock. She cried out my name, and I exploded inside her, pounding and moving until I chased every drop of pleasure for both of us, and we were spent and sated.
We lay down in a dazed state. I liked this moment, just being lazy with her, without a plan, without hurrying anywhere. She was kissing my chest and playing around my nipple with her fingers.
‘Someone’s happy,’ she teased me.
‘You make me so damn happy, Lexi.’
‘No one’s ever made me feel the way you do,’ she whispered, and her open confession touched deep inside me.
I decided to open up too. ‘It’s the same for me, Lexi. I’ve never felt this way about anyone.’
Her eyes widened.
‘Ever before.’
‘Really?’ Her expression lit up. “Me either.”
‘I’m serious, baby.’
She smiled from ear to ear, rising out of bed and doing a small dance throughout the bedroom. I watched her, laughing wholeheartedly. This woman was something else.
‘This is the best day ever. Well, except for Tyler ending up in the hospital.’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘Do you think he needs cheering up?’
‘I think Tyler’s going to need lots of it. Reese is probably already on it.’
‘I can help. I mean, I don’t know Tyler as well as she does, but sometimes that’s a good thing.’
“Come here, Lexi.” I patted the mattress, and she immediately lowered herself onto it, curling against me. The day had been a total shit-show, but I’d never been so gloriously happy. Feeling her body against mine was exactly what I needed. She was exactly what I needed.
“Still not tired of fondling me, huh?” she asked between giggles.
“Never.”
***
The next morning, I woke up before Lexi and headed downstairs. I went straight to the fridge, taking out the ham, cheese, toast and tomatoes. I made coffee, and put everything on a platter, carrying it up. Lexi was inexplicably happy whenever I brought her breakfast in bed, and I didn’t get the chance to do it very often. I wanted to spoil her.
She stirred when I entered the bedroom, opening her eyes slowly. She was gorgeous, even with glazed eyes and her hair sticking out in every direction. Watching her wake up stirred something inside me. I didn’t want her to leave my bed or my house. I wanted the privilege of waking up next to her every damn morning.
“Hey,” she whispered.
“Morning, gorgeous girl.” I put the platter on the nightstand as she pulled the bedsheet up to her nose and then to her eyebrows.
“Lexi, what are you doing?”
“Nothing.”
I pulled the sheet back down so I could see her face. Her eyes were still heavy with sleep.
“I feel like a bear. Puffy and swollen. Definitely not gorgeous.”
“Trust me, you are.” I tilted toward her, rolling a strand of her hair between my fingers. “I’ll show you exactly how gorgeous and perfect you are to me. Right after you have breakfast.”
I nodded toward the tray on the nightstand. She followed my gaze, and her eyes widened.
“Oh my God. You made me breakfast in bed.”
I chuckled. “You seriously didn’t see me come in with it a few seconds ago?”
“Umm… I saw you, but the details didn’t register.” She smiled sheepishly, pushing herself up in a sitting position before setting the tray in her lap.
“Are we sharing it?” she asked.
“Nah, I’m not hungry.”
She took a bite, closing her eyes.
“Mmm,” she moaned. “This is such a great way to start the day. I love breakfast and coffee.”
“And I’m nowhere on the list?”
She opened one eye playfully. “Yes, you are.”
“Good. I was getting worried there for a second. What do you want to do today?”
“I don’t know. What are you in the mood to do?”
“You.” I wiggled my eyebrows. “I should probably talk to Declan, see if we need to do any damage control about yesterday.”
“Who is going to tell Beatrice?”
I cleared my throat. “One of my brothers.”
Lexi laughed. “Afraid of your own grandmother, huh?”
“Not at all. I choose my battles wisely.”
“Aha. Riiiiight. Okay, I’ll pretend I believe that. What else do you want to do today besides talking to Declan?”
“Anything you want. I love spending time with you. I mean it. I want to make you happy, Lexi.”
“You do just by saying things like that.” She sighed. “Wait until I’ve had coffee to make me swoon, okay?”
“No can do, ma’am. Got to start early.” I grinned, taking off the covers and parting her thighs with one hand. I trailed my fingers up the side of her right thigh, enjoying it immensely when she widened her legs even more, opening up for me. I stopped midway between the knee and the apex, leaning in to kiss that spot.
She exhaled a sharp breath, fisting the pillow next to her. I straightened up, flashing her a cheeky smile.
“Oooh, you want to make me swoon and turn me on.”
“Always. But I know better than to distract you from your food.”
She laughed. “You learn fast. I love that about you.”
Once she finished breakfast, we showered together. After that, I shaved with the door open, listening to the music Lexi was blasting. From time to time, she sang along, especially during the chorus, making me chuckle. I loved hearing her voice throughout the house and having her here with me.
When I came down the stairs, she was sitting in an armchair and tapping on her iPad. She turned down the volume of the music, bouncing one leg to the rhythm.
“What are you doing?” I asked her.
“Sending my parents a few pictures from the party yesterday.”
“Any with the two of us?”
“Uh, no. I just snapped some randomly from the party.”
I wiggled my eyebrows, sitting on the armrest. “Want to send them a selfie? How else will they know you’re dating a sexy hunk?”
The corners of her mouth twitched. “Are you referring to yourself?”
I cupped her jaw, looking her in the eyes. “You’re mine, Lexi. I want them to know it too.”
She licked her lips, nodding. “Oh, but I did send them a pic of you, me, and Paisley before we went to the party. But I can send them another one. A word of advice. Put on a parent-approved smile. No smoldering sexy gaze. It’s not going to earn you points.”
“Duly noted.”
I splayed my fingers on her jaw, touching her lower lip before taking my hand away.
She turned on the iPad’s camera, keeping it toward both of us. I flashed a professional PR smile. Lexi elbowed me.
“I didn’t mean that. A genuine smile.”
“So many instructions,” I teased but changed to a natural smile.
She snapped a few pics, sending them in a group she had with her parents.
Then she lowered the iPad on the armrest, fidgeting in her spot.
Something was off.
“You seem nervous.”
“School is starting in two weeks. We haven’t talked about what happens then. Do you want to look for another nanny? I finish one hour earlier than Paisley, so I could pick her up from school and come here with her or do stuff outdoors.” She swallowed, averting her gaze before quickly adding, “If that’s something you want.”
“I have another proposition.” I trailed my fingers up her arm, looking her straight in the eyes. “Move in with us.”
“Tate, do you mean that?” she whispered.
“Hell yes. I’d love to have you here. Spoil you every evening—properly.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’ve been very thorough until now too.”
“Imagine how much more thorough I can be once you’re here.” I kissed her shoulder, still trailing my fingers up her arms, feeling her tense under my touch.
“I’d love that. I can’t wait. It will be so epic. Paisley and I are both going to be low on energy in the afternoon once school starts, but I think we’ll still enjoy being out and about by the lake until it gets cold. And if I manage to get some freelance job that I can do remotely while she’s finishing homework, even better.”
I straightened up, looking at her. “What are you talking about?”
“Umm… I talked to my parents, and there are still a lot of bills due.”
I cupped her jaw, looking straight at her. “I can help with that.”
“Thanks, but it’s not necessary.”
“What? How is it not necessary? You just said it is.”
“Yes, but I’ll manage.”
“Lexi—”
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable.”
“But you’re mine.”
She chuckled, but I could see her determination falter a fraction.
“I’m still not comfortable.”
“We’ll talk about this another time.” I pressed my thumb on the corner of her mouth, deciding not to press the issue for now. I’d win that battle in time.
She giggled, immediately shifting in her spot and rising on her knees, then she frowned. “Oh crap.”
“What’s wrong?”
She sat back down, tapping her iPad again and bringing up the notes app.
“I knew I’d opened the iPad for a reason. I need to check the list with stuff I still have to buy for Paisley’s birthday. I’m going to show it to her once your parents drop her off. I want everything to be perfect.”
The affection she had for my daughter slayed me.
I glanced at the list, and I had to admit half the things didn’t make sense to me, but then the item Shopping with Nora caught my attention.
“What’s that?” I asked, pointing at Nora’s name.
“Paisley said she’d love to go shopping with her mom. I said she should check with you first.”
“That’s not a problem.”
“Paisley is excited to see her.”
“It’s been a long time.” I frowned, pacing the room. “Does it bother you that she’ll be here?”
“Not at all. Nora is her mom. She’ll always be her mother. That’s a special bond.”
The truth was, Lexi had a much stronger bond with Paisley than Nora did, but she was still her mother. I was relieved that Lexi didn’t mind that Nora would be here. I knew Paisley was excited, though I wasn’t, because every time she came here, it reminded me of our failed marriage. Of my failure.
An old fear resurfaced. What if I couldn’t make things work with Lexi either?
I shook my head, feeling ridiculous. I walked back behind Lexi, bending at the waist to kiss the side of her neck. I loved smelling my shampoo and shower gel on her. Straightening up, I glanced at the list and did a double take. The first time I looked at it, I hadn’t realized how long it was, but Lexi was scrolling now.
“Does the list ever end?” I asked.
“Hey! The tenth birthday party is important.”
‘Do I see the word ‘unicorn’ there?’
She swatted me away. ‘Hey, don’t judge. Besides, you said I had free rein at organizing it.’
‘You do.’ I kissed her neck again, taking the iPad out of her hands.
“What are you doing?” she asked lazily, but she already had goose bumps on her legs. I could practically feel the anticipation coursing through her.
“Carrying on what I started before breakfast.”
She pressed her thighs together, and I knew what that meant. She was wet for me. The thought was driving me crazy.
“Please do,” she whispered, and I took her upstairs the next second.
***
My parents dropped off Paisley in the afternoon, and from the moment my daughter walked in the house, she barely paid me any attention.
She ran immediately to Lexi. “Grandma and Grandpa gave me some ideas for the party.”
“Okay, let’s add them to the list,” Lexi replied. She sat on the couch where I held her last night. This time, she and Paisley were sitting next to each other with their legs stretched out. Seeing them made me so damn fulfilled. It dawned on me for the first time that we were a family, and the thought used to scare me, but not anymore.
“Hi, pumpkin. Did you have fun at Grandma and Grandpa’s?”
“Yes, Daddy. I’ll tell you later. Lexi and I have important stuff to do now.”
I sat down at their feet, watching them. They both looked up at me in surprise.
‘What are you doing?’ Lexi asked cautiously.
‘I want to help with party planning.’
My daughter looked crestfallen, ‘Daddy, I love you, but you always sort of look through me when I talk about the party.’
Jesus! I needed to do better. ‘I’ll focus, I promise.’
Lexi pointed a finger at me. ‘On one condition. You’re not allowed to laugh, not even if you hear the word ‘unicorn.’’
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask what exactly they meant, but I held up my hands in defense, ‘No laughing, I promise.’
I had a million things to deal with, including talking to Declan, but I’d start tomorrow. I wanted to enjoy today with the two most important women in my life.
