Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 110694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“How much did you lose on the Patriots game?” Mal asked them.
“Not a fu—” The one I was almost positive was Locke stopped before finishing the word as his eyes landed on Stevie sitting in Linc’s lap, looking up at him. “Not anything. Didn’t bet on them.”
“I’m down three grand. Oz’s ass has already called to taunt me about it,” the other said as he picked up one of the sliders from the table. “Y’all always have the better food.”
Locke held out his hand to Stevie. “Hello, Stevie,” he said formally.
She looked at his hand, then back at Linc, who smirked, then nodded. Slowly, as if not sure she was okay with this, she reached out and placed her much smaller one in his, and he gave it a shake.
“I’m Locke. It’s nice to meet you. Gathe has told us all about you.”
Her eyes lit up at the familiar name, and then she swung her eyes to me. “He knows Gathe, Mommy!”
I nodded, smiling at her enthusiasm.
“And I’m Ransom, Goldilocks,” the other one told her, then stuck a chip into his mouth.
“And that is Branwen,” Luther said. “These are Hale’s and Mal’s boys. Ransom belongs to Hale and Locke to Mal.”
Both of the younger men turned to look at me.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, feeling awkward and on display.
“Than did not exaggerate,” Ransom said. “Shocker.”
Linc cleared his throat and stood up, holding Stevie in his crooked arm as if she weighed nothing. “I’ll go tuck this one in,” he said to the men, then started toward me.
I couldn’t tell if his expression was angry or not. But he didn’t look happy.
“Where’s the puppy?” Luther asked.
Grinning at his concern over Maui, I looked back at him. “We just took him to his bed for the night.”
He looked disappointed, and I wanted to laugh. I wasn’t sure if Maui was Stevie’s or Luther’s anymore.
“Night!” several of them called.
I gave a small wave, then followed Linc inside, not sure what to expect from him and wishing he didn’t tie me up in knots so easily.
Thirty-Seven
Linc
As I closed the door after waving back at Stevie one more time, tucked into her large bed, my chest was tight with the reminder that I’d missed so many of these nights already. Nights I couldn’t get back. Moments that would never be mine to cherish one day when she was grown and living her life.
“She’s easy to put to bed,” I said as I turned to look at Branwen, standing over by her door with her arms crossed. “From what I can remember, Levi was hell to get to sleep. Refusing to stay in bed.”
“We had times when she was more difficult, but it seems we’ve moved past it,” she replied.
The way she stood was pushing her tits up, making her cleavage all the more visible. A champagne-colored lock of hair curled just over the right side, and the tip would be touching her nipple if she were naked. There wasn’t a blemish on her skin. It was as if she’d been airbrushed. All smooth, golden perfection.
Listening to the others talk about her and even with the ones who hadn’t said anything, I knew they’d looked at her for too fucking long. I’d seen their gazes. She was intoxicating with or without that tight velvet cunt that sheathed my cock like a vise.
My fingertips were digging into my palms. I hadn’t realized I was clenching my hands until I felt them. Forcing myself to relax, I took a deep breath. How was it that I wanted to shake her for stealing memories I could have had with our daughter, but also wanted to throw her against the wall and fuck her until I was completely sated at the same time?
There was also an unwelcome and uncomfortable ache in my chest every time those jade pools looked at me with longing. As if she’d give anything to have more of me. She didn’t have to say it. I could read her expressive face easy enough. She was letting us fucking make her want something we would never have. I wasn’t built for that shit—and especially not with a woman I couldn’t trust. She would be a weakness. I would be worrying about the lies she could be keeping from me every day.
“Good night, Branwen,” I said before heading back toward the stairs, needing distance before the sexual ache for her became too much and I followed her into her bedroom.
“Good night, Linc.” Her voice was soft, and there was a touch of sadness to it.
I winced, thankful she couldn’t see my face as I walked away.
I’d treated her with respect today. I hadn’t ignored her, yet I had kept a firm distance with her otherwise. If I could get into this habit and guide her into this type of relationship, we’d survive this year.