Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 81930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Marcus pouted. “I do not drive like a maniac. I’ve clocked hundreds of hours on Super Mario, I am an expert driver.”
“Can I drive you both home? I came here with Cullen.” He wanted to demand that they let him take them home. But he didn’t have that right.
They looked to each other, then to him, and nodded.
“You sure?” Cullen asked, frowning at him.
He understood that look.
“We’re sure, Cullen. Go home to Ivy. She must be freaking out,” Marcus said.
Cullen eyed him up. “You’re okay that I brought him here?”
“I basically had to beg him to bring me,” Eliot explained.
“Yeah. We are,” Marcus replied.
Cullen gave Marcus a quick hug before he left.
“I don’t want to stay in here,” Isla whispered. “It’s freaking me out.”
Eliot nodded. “Come on. You look like you both need a hot chocolate and a nap. Will you… will you let me take care of you? You both look so tired. Have you not been sleeping? Or eating properly?”
They shared a look with each other. It was like they could speak without words.
“It’s been hard to sleep,” Isla said.
He winced. Yeah. He understood that. He felt the same way.
“I’m so sorry. I was so terrified of losing one of you. But after you left, I realized I felt even worse. Like my insides were being carved open with a rusty knife. I realized that by trying to protect myself, I was hurting not only me but the two people I care about most in the world. I want the two of you to be mine. And I want nothing more than for you to call me Daddy. To let me look after you for as long as we all live.”
“You’re sure?” Isla whispered. Hope had filled her eyes.
Marcus had a tight hold on her, but he felt that same hope.
“Yes. I’ve never been more sure in my life. If you can agree to give me another chance, I promise I will never let you down. I will never walk away from you again. You’ll get sick of me I’m going to have my nose so far in your business.”
Marcus and Isla shared a look before turning to him.
“Then yes,” Isla said.
“We both want you,” Marcus added.
Relief flooded him, making him dizzy. Eliot held his arms out for them, and they dove against him. He could feel them shaking in his arms. Or maybe that was him trembling.
He kissed the top of their heads. “You won’t regret this. I promise. I’ll make this all up to you.”
Isla leaned back to look up at him. “What happened wasn’t your fault either, Eliot.”
Marcus nodded against his chest. “Like I said, we all knew what the deal was. It’s just… you’re entirely too lovable you big sexy teddy bear.”
For the first time since they’d left, he could feel himself smiling.
“Come on, let’s get the two of you out of here. What do you want done with all your stuff, little one?” he asked as he led them out.
“I’d say burn it, but that probably sounds drastic.”
“I’d burn most of it,” Marcus added. “Who knows what he’s jizzed on?”
“So gross. I can’t believe he set me up to be robbed because he thought it would drive me toward him.”
“He wanted to be the hero in your story,” Marcus said.
“Yeah, he didn’t know that I already have two. A prince and a dragon.”
Eliot escorted them downstairs to where Isla’s car was. He opened the backdoor. “In you both get.”
“I’ll sit up front with you,” Marcus said.
“No, Littles should sit in the back. You both need boosters.”
Marcus’ eyes widened. “I don’t! I’m a big boy.”
“Not that big.” Eliot couldn’t resist hugging him tight. “You’re my babyboy.”
“I am.” Marcus sagged against him as he kissed the top of his head before he got in the car.
Then he drew Isla close. “And my little one. My sweet baby.”
“Missed you, Daddy.”
Fuck. Those words. They soothed the ragged wound inside him. He could feel how stiff she was, probably wondering if her words would push him away again. So he leaned back to smile down at her.
“You don’t know how good it feels to hear you call me that.” He bopped her nose.
Relief filled her pale face and she smiled.
“Right. Home. Hot chocolate. Nap.” He helped her in, then did up her seatbelt before reaching over to buckle Marcus in.
“You gonna nap with us, Daddy?” Marcus asked.
“There’s nothing I want more.”
Eliot was in his space. He put his suitcase down in the living area of Marcus’ rooms as he looked around.
He was back. He wanted them.
And even though Marcus was excited and happy, he was also nervous as hell.
What if Eliot changed his mind? What if he discovered that he couldn’t do this? What if Marcus was too much?
He knew he could be. Eliot hadn’t been around him when he was working. What if he couldn’t handle him?