Total pages in book: 178
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
“Yeah, bud,” was all Twitch said.
“Did you say sorry?”
“No, I didn’t.” He hesitated. “I can’t say sorry for what I did.”
“Sometimes when I make Mummy upset, she needs a hug.” My heart jolted. “Maybe you should hug her.”
Twitch snuffled out a light laugh. “I might try that. Thanks for the advice.”
A.J. sounded pleased with himself. “You’re welcome.”
I couldn’t help but smile as I walked back into the kitchen.
Truth was, after the month I’d had, I could’ve used a hug.
Chapter Seventeen
Lexi
Twitch spent the afternoon with A.J. after picking him up from school, and when I came home from work with a headache and in a foul mood, he cornered me in the hall as I was coming out of my room.
His watchful gaze roamed my face. “You okay?”
What do you care?
Ugh. Knee-jerk reaction. I really needed to stop with that.
I winced, then looked up at him through squinted eyes, speaking quietly. “Yeah. Just need some pain pills and I’ll be good.”
When he marched into the kitchen and opened the cabinets, it took me a moment, but I followed him, and when he filled a glass with water and approached holding the pills in one hand, the glass of water in the other, I stood there, lips puckered in thought. “What are you doing?”
He frowned down at the pills, then looked back up at me without speaking.
I hesitated.
Twitch sighed, taking the glass and resting it on the edge of the kitchen table; the pills followed. He took a long, hard look at me before he uttered, “Stubborn-ass woman,” then left the room to sit with A.J. on the sofa, watching The Lego Movie.
I wasn’t used to this, to Twitch being an active participant in my life. Even when we dated, we had an odd relationship. It was give and take.
I gave while Twitch took, sometimes more than I had to give.
So sue me for being hesitant. I wasn’t used to being looked after by a man who once told me he’d break me.
Sighing lightly, I took the pills with a big gulp of water, then walked into the family room and looked to Molly. “I need a few minutes for these pills to work.”
She nodded. “No problem. I’ll take care of dinner.”
I threw her a look of pure gratitude. “You’re wonderful.” When my eyes settled on the two entangled bodies on the sofa, my heart melted. Twitch lay on his back, his arms twisted up and behind his head, causing his biceps to bulge in a way that was almost sinful. The little boy draped across his legs with sock-covered feet hugged his dad with both arms, as if he were scared he’d be taken from him, and my melting heart ached painfully. When A.J. reached into Twitch’s hoodie pocket and retrieved a couple of chocolate rainbow-colored buttons, throwing them into his mouth, memories of a time long past came flooding back.
Those sweet brown eyes focused on me. “Are you okay, Mummy?”
I smiled at my son. “Fine, honey. Thank you for asking.” I chanced a sneaky look at Twitch that turned out not to be so sneaky because said man was staring right at me, a familiar heat in his gaze.
My last thought before I went back to my room was bleak.
If you hurt him, I will kill you myself.
And if it came to it, I was sure I would.
“Hey, mama bear.”
I stretched under the covers and blinked through the drowsiness. The long shadow lying beside me spoke again. “Your cub’s askin’ for you.”
Confused and blinking through my slumber, I asked a rough, “What time is it?”
“Seven thirty.”
My eyes snapped open. “What?” I sat up in bed and the covers fell to my waist. I stretched languidly, and spoke through a yawn, “Why didn’t anyone wake me?”
Twitch elevated himself, resting his head on his upturned hand. “Because I told everyone to shut the fuck up and let you sleep.”
I let out a long breath. “You didn’t need to do that.”
“I know I didn’t, but I did.” His eyes rested on my collar, drifting downward. “You need to look after yourself, baby.” I suddenly realized I was wearing a tiny tank top without a bra, and when I tried to discreetly cover my chest, his lips lifted at the corners. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.” As he stood, he said, “Only a matter of time before I see it all again.”
A shocked laugh left me. “You’re so full of shit.”
“I’m not.” He sounded slightly insulted.
“Oh, but you are,” I insisted then released an offhand smirk. He didn’t need to know I was burning up at the thought of being with him again. “What makes you think I still want you, Twitch?”
He leaned into me then and I pulled back at the intimacy in that small move. And when he spoke, the words hit me with the force of a thousand orgasms. “Because I’m your motherfucking king, and you are my beautiful queen. So be good, bow down to me—” His voice lowered a notch. “—and let me love you.” He slid off the covers, leaving me feeling bereft and alone. He straightened, and the air of cockiness about him increased a whole level. He slowly moved toward the door. “Come say goodnight to our son so I can bring you back to bed and show you how much I missed you.”