Her Marine Next Door - Aliyah Burke Page 0,14

corners. “We’ll learn. There will be all these upcoming nights for us to talk and learn about each other. You know, before we get to the more physical activities for the night. All you need to know right now is I’m head over heels for you. And you can’t call me ‘Mr. Jax.’ My fiancée wouldn’t address me as such. ‘Sexy’, ‘hotness’, ‘my one and only’, ‘god in the bedroom’, those are all acceptable nicknames.” His thumb teased her lower lip, sending electrical impulses through her.

God, she’d be such an ass if she backed out now because of her own insecurities. She struggled not to laugh at his suggestions. Pushing away that desire, she gave him a steadfast look, hoping he understood she wasn’t going to roll over with her legs spread for him every time he stared at her like he wanted to eat her and then some. Maybe that should be any time.

“We need to set some ground rules.” I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this.

She was in so far over her head, it wasn’t even funny.

It was because of the child. There were demons she couldn’t outrun, no matter how hard she tried. This was one of them. If it meant making a deal with the devil, she’d sign on the bottom line.

His gaze flickered from her eyes to her lips and back. The spark was nothing but trouble. “We can discuss those tonight.” He pressed closer. “Before all the lights are turned off and we head to bed.” Another panty-soaking grin. “Then again, I’d love to have all the lights on.”

Her knees wobbled. Hell. That’s where she was. Hell.

He tapped a knuckle to the end of her nose. “Let’s go.”

Parker waited by the door as she grabbed her keys, made sure the garage was shut, then joined him. Together, they went over the short-manicured lawns connecting their properties.

The closer they got, the tenser he became. The fact that she could pick up on it told her she spent entirely too much time watching this man. Ignoring the gnawing of her own past horror and pain, she took a chance. Reaching out, she grasped his hand in hers.

He turned those intense eyes on her. A brief tightening on her fingers from his strong grip.

She followed him in, hands still connected.

“You need to listen to me, Cullen. Behave or we won’t have any place to stay. Do you want to be the reason we get kicked out again?” The shrill voice cut through the house, and Skylar bit back a protective growl.

“Easy.” The single word was low and commanding. The man knew how to read her, for sure, as well. “Gemma?” Parker pitched his voice louder.

“We’re coming.” Nothing but sweetness and light now.

They were in the living room when mother and son came back in.

Skylar’s heart went out again to the boy. Undernourished and frightened, his fingers dug into the bear with everything they had.

Right there—he was the sole reason she was agreeing to this. She could put up with anything thrown at her if it meant he didn’t have to suffer. Children should be allowed to enjoy childhood, not have to worry about where their next meal was coming from or whatever other horrors he had to go through.

“Cullen, this is your father.”

That was it. The extent of Gemma’s introduction. Letting go of Parker’s hand, Skylar stepped back so it was about them, not her. As he took a knee, she caught a satisfied and hateful smirk from Gemma.

Served him right for being in this situation. Maybe if he didn’t sleep around so much, he’d have been better able to meet the person he had a child with.

Deep within her gut, a wave of anger and the need to protect Parker rose, but she refused to make a scene.

We’re just pretending. They may very well end up together. Especially if Cullen is his. They should work it out for the boy’s sake.

Some days she wished to be more like her best friend, Ryliee, who wouldn’t have let it go.

“May I see your bear?” Parker asked in a tone that reminded her of how he’d checked on her injury. When he wasn’t roaring at her, that was.

The moment the little boy handed it over, Skylar had to get out. The grin on Gemma’s face curdled her gut, but she exited quietly and ran home.

She went to the backyard with Alpin and paced, fighting the tears burning her. Squeezing her hand, she swore at the pain radiating across her