Happily Ever All-Star: A Secret Baby Romance - Sosie Frost Page 0,321

the middle?”

I grabbed a towel and chair and tackled the mess on the ceiling. “Nah. We’ve been reading it all month.”

“But…I thought he and your mom just moved to Ironfield?”

“Yeah, they did. But I Skype with Bast every night—started doing that in college when I couldn’t make it home to help tuck him in.”

Her sponge dropped. “You must be the best big brother ever.”

Not really.

“I never did enough for them until now,” I said. “My first paycheck…it was all for them. The signing bonus got them the house and cars and everything, but it doesn’t come close to repaying my mom for everything she did.”

Elle didn’t look at me, her voice soft. “Where’s your dad?”

“Haven’t seen him for years. Left us on our own.”

“Have you tried to find him?”

“He doesn’t deserve a family. Fuck him. I got along fine without him.”

She nodded. “What about Sebastian? Does he miss his father?”

“No. He never knew him, and that’s fine. I’m there for him. I’ll watch over him, teach him what it means to be a real man.” The thought, the betrayal, wasn’t good first date conversation. I sighed. “I just want to make sure he’s happy. I’ll do everything I can to protect him.”

She slowed her scrubbing. “He’s really lucky to have you.”

“Well, he’s a good kid.”

She smirked. “Does he take after you?”

Probably too much. “He’s better than me.”

“I can’t believe you’re this sweet.”

I grinned. “So sweet I’m sticky.”

Elle flicked her towel at me. “You take nothing seriously in this world except family.”

“I know, right? I’m so charmingly full of contradictions.”

She whipped the towel again. I caught it with a vicious tug and pulled her close.

“I wanted to take you out to eat tonight…give you a romantic dinner you’d never forget.” I ran my hands over her curves, hidden under the bulk of my borrowed clothes. She still got me hard, even more than if she wore a teddy sewn together with lace, silk, and pure imagination. “Will you give me another chance?”

“This was date number one.” She poked my chest. “And don’t try to change my mind.”

“Do you want to get rid of me that quickly?”

“No. What better way to get to know my husband than right here?”

“Why here?”

“This is like playing house. After tonight, now I know what it’d be like if we were really married.”

I’d nibble that quirky little smile from her lips. “We are married, Red.”

“And now we’ve had our first meal at home.”

“I can show you what our first night in bed would be like too.”

She shook her head. “Don’t blow it now.”

“Will you blow anything?”

“I’ll bite if you keep it up.”

I growled. “Oh, it’s up, Red. You have no idea.”

She giggled. I hoisted her onto the counter, and her legs moved apart, letting me press against her. Like I belonged there.

Maybe I did.

Just had to prove it to her.

My hands fell to her waist. I held her close, but not nearly close enough. Her lips parted, and she teased me instead of offering a kiss. Her hair fell over her shoulders, the red streaks bright against the black of my jersey. I leaned in, kissing the dark hollow of her neck.

“Christ, Red,” I said. “If you only knew the dirty things I’d do to you.”

“I’m sure it involves a Kama Sutra manual, some lube, and a great deal of gentleness.”

Naughty girl. “Been there, done that. Guess what I really want.”

“Will I be surprised or horrified?”

“Pleased.”

“You realize in some states, there’s laws prohibiting the things we did in Vegas.”

“I’m not talking about fucking you.” My fingers teased to her thighs. “Though I plan to do that. A lot.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I want to know what you’re like with your clothes on.”

“That might be the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“Oh, I can be very…” I pressed a kiss against the satin skin of her neck. “Very.” I nipped. “Sweet.”

She shivered, and her soft little hum of delight was just the beginning of a sexy purr.

Her legs spread wide, letting me close. The loaner boxers played in my favor. A hint of perfect, caramel skin peeked from the fly. I teased my hands over her bare legs, savoring the heat of her body and the curve of her hip. She knew where I aimed, but she didn’t push me away. Not yet.

Hopefully not ever again.

My fingers dipped against her, sneaking through the unbuttoned seam.

God, she was slick. Hot. She shuddered, but the pleasure was as much mine as hers.

“You’re trying so hard…” Elle’s lips parted, and