Chapter 6 Terror Twins Activated #2
Instead of answering, she slowly turned her head toward her brother. I’d heard of twins having their own language, but what I was witnessing was something else all together. It was utterly fascinating. The two of them were locked in a silent conversation.
“It freaks me out when they do that.”
My elbow slipped, jolting me forward. “Jesus, Sloane. You snuck up on me.”
“Now you know how it feels.” She sat on the arm of the chair, pointing to the kids. “How long have they been like that?”
“A few seconds.” I lowered my voice. “Reagan asked what they should call me.”
“Oh boy. What did you say?”
“I panicked and turned it around on her. Asked what she wanted to call me.”
“Ah, their creepy twin-thing makes sense now.”
“It does?”
“Yup. Reagan won’t do anything without Rogan. She knows he only acted out before because he’s afraid to care. She’ll wait for him to give in.”
“How long will that take?”
“Fine,” Rogan grumped.
“Not long,” Sloane snickered.
“We want to call you Daddy,” Reagan announced.
Daddy.
My heart stopped, then restarted, galloping faster than was considered healthy.
Holy shit. I was somebody’s Daddy––not just one somebody, double it.
Until that exact moment, it hadn’t felt real.
I found myself at a crossroads with my biggest fear front and center, staring me in the face.
Would I be a good father? Guess we were about to find out.
Sloane
I couldn’t have been more proud of my girl if she’d won gold at the Olympics.
She didn’t know the impact her words would have on the man sitting to my left, but I did.
From the soft gasp he took to the faint tremor of his hand, he was genuinely shook, in a good way, of course.
Duncan swallowed once, then twice, likely trying to find his voice.
Reagan had that effect on people, especially when she was beaming from ear to ear, the way she was doing then.
“I’d like that very much,” he choked out.
Dang it all to heck. My eyes were gonna leak again.
“Can I ask you somefing?”
“Anything.”
“Do you like puppies?”
“Reagan Leigh!”
She had the audacity to look offended. “What?”
“We hab to know.” My son argued his sister’s case.
I glared at Duncan, who was hiding a grin behind his hand.
They’d run roughshod over him if he didn’t learn how to be stern when the situation called for it.
Yes, they were adorable, and smart, and the best freaking kids on the planet, but when they wanted something badly enough, they could be manipulative monsters. And what they wanted most was a puppy.
“Don’t encourage them.”
“Sorry.” He coughed, then answered his daughter. “I’ve never had a puppy.”
“Us eider,” she pouted.
Their birthday was coming up. Little did they know, their furry wishes and four-legged dreams would be coming true.
Mine too, actually. Mom was allergic to dander, therefore the only animal allowed in my house growing up was the occasional goldfish.
In my opinion, caring for a pet would help teach the twins about responsibility and compassion.
It was a life lesson that would hopefully follow them into adulthood, making them better human beings.
Finn found a litter of puppies a few towns over that would be ready for adoption in a few weeks.
He showed me pictures and that was it. Then, like a responsible pet owner, I researched the breed.
They were protective, good with kids, and didn’t require a lot of grooming.
All check marks in my book. What had me second-guessing the whole idea was their size.
Those precious wrinkly babies were going to be massive, as in a hundred fifty plus pounds of drool and muscle.
It was too late to back out. I was in love.
The rest of the afternoon flowed smoothly compared to the chaos of our morning. Rogan even dropped his bratty act for a bit, asking Duncan a question or two about his job. He answered each one, only hesitating when Reagan brought up his family.
“I think that’s enough for today.”
“It’s okay, Sunshine.” He laced his fingers through mine, squeezing once as he explained. “I don’t remember my mom or dad. They died when I was really young.”
Death wasn’t a subject either of the kids was familiar with.
They’d never had to deal with losing someone they loved.
From the look on their faces, their seven-year-old minds were appropriately processing the information, while also struggling with how to proceed.
Reagan, with her empathetic heart, took the lead.
“Dat’s sad.”
“It was a long time ago, sweetheart.”
When Ro opened his mouth to speak, admittedly, I cringed inside. It was a crapshoot as to whether my sweet boy was still around or if he was aiming to earn his third strike of the day. I counted my blessings when it was the former.
“My friend, Scott, didn’t hab a mom or dad either. He lived with his granny. Did you live with your granny too?”
Duncan squeezed my hand a second time, then let go, sliding off the armchair to the floor. He maneuvered sideways, tucking his long legs underneath each other, crisscross applesauce style.
“Do you guys want to hear a story?”
Both nodded vigorously. When he motioned for them to join him, Reagan acted immediately, mimicking his position, while her brother moved at a more wary pace.
Duncan spoke with a soft voice, choosing his words carefully.
He skimmed over the majority of his years in foster care until he reached the man who taught him what it meant to love unconditionally and ultimately shaped his future.
The twins were entranced as he told them about his time with Rogan James.
Earlier, we’d explained why Duncan had to use a different name when we met, they just didn’t understand the significance of the one he chose to go by.
“He was my dad in every way that counted.”
Ro cocked his head to the side, his young mind working overtime to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. “So my name is still special?”
Duncan’s penetrating gaze slid to mine as he answered honestly, “Very special.”
“Told you so, Reagan.”
My son wouldn’t stop with the taunt. He never did.
I pulled my feet up into the chair because I knew what was coming.
As if a force greater than self-preservation was driving his actions, he stuck his tongue out at his sister.
Reagan lunged. Rogan rolled left, dodging her attack by less than an inch.
Seconds later, all heck broke loose. Squeals of laughter bounced off the walls as they chased each other through the house.
The terror twins had been activated. It wouldn’t take long before they wore each other out.
Getting to my feet, I started toward the kitchen, calling out on my way. “Do you want something to drink?”
Duncan came up behind me. “Shouldn’t we stop them?”
Pulling out two waters from the fridge, I handed him one. “Nope.”
He’d figure out the difference between play fighting and real fighting eventually.
I did. Our kids didn’t come with an instruction manual.
Trust me, I searched frantically for one online after they were born.
For the most part, they were sweet and easygoing, but every once in a while, their Irish tempers would flare.
That’s when you had to duck and cover or risk being hit by flying projectiles.
“Have you thought about whether you want to stay here?”
“I’d like to try.”
The decision to remain in our house wasn’t me being stubborn or wildly independent, it was a hundred-percent about the comfort of my children.
Ro and Reagan had been uprooted three times in the last couple of months.
Us living at Waverly’s was only supposed to be a temporary fix until I found a permanent place for us to settle.
Unfortunately, between Finn’s stalker, his engagement to Waverly, and everything happening with Mom and Dad, searching for a home hadn’t quite made it to the top of my list. My priorities had to change.
“Understandable.” Duncan cracked open the bottle, taking a long pull of the cold liquid. “Would you let me sleep on your couch then?”
“Do you really think that’s necessary?”
Slipping an arm around my waist, he drew me close, so close his breath warmed my face.
The position should’ve felt awkward, considering he towered over my five-foot-six frame, yet awkward played no role in the way my body reacted.
With every inhale, my pebbled nipples grazed the silky cups of my bra.
The sensation intensified the ache between my thighs.
Memories flashed through my mind like snapshots from a camera.
His hands roaming my body. Making love long into the night.
“Sloane?”
“Hmm?”
“What are you thinking about?”
Busted.
“Nothing,” I lied.
“Then why is your skin red here”––his fingertip caressed my cheek, tracing a line down my neck to the V of my sweater, between my breasts––“and here?”
Curse my Irish genes. I’d never been able to hide my emotions, not when my pale complexion made reading them easy. His featherlight touch wasn’t helping the situation down below either. I was a heartbeat away from spontaneously combusting or having an orgasm, I wasn’t sure which.
“It’s hot.”
Why did that sound breathy?
I moved back. He stepped forward. Crap on a cracker, I was in deep trouble.
“Hmm. Liar.”
Our dance continued until I was flush with the wall. Trapped, gloriously trapped. My breaths sped up to match the pounding of my heart. We were touching, yet he was too far away. I wanted his skin on mine. His lips. His tongue. His…
“Are you wet, Sunshine?”
Freaking drenched. But I didn’t say that. I couldn’t say anything over the ringing in my ears. I’d forgotten how much his dirty talk turned me on. Duncan wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me tight as if he knew his support was the only thing keeping me upright. He’d be right.
“Are you aching to feel my fingers stretch your tight pussy? What about my cock?” He rocked his hips forward, pressing the evidence of his arousal into my stomach. A groan slipped free from my mouth. “That right there. I can’t wait to hear you make that sound again when I’m buried deep inside you.”
Without warning, his mouth was on mine, his tongue swiping my bottom lip, demanding entrance.
Immediately, I complied, becoming lost in the torrent of emotions which flooded my system when he deepened the kiss.
Only this wasn’t just a kiss. It was a claiming.
And I’d never wanted anything more. My fingers speared through his light brown hair, while his hands roamed lower, cupping my backside. We were consumed by each other.
Until…
“Mommy,” Reagan yelled.
“Shit.” Duncan reared back. “To be continued.”
“This is a lot to process. Like a lot, a lot. How are you not freaking out?”
I’d just finished giving Shannon the gory details of my past. Soon after she arrived, Duncan went home to pack a bag, making me promise to keep the doors locked until he returned.
His overprotectiveness knew no bounds. It was one of the things I loved about him.
Yes, I said it. I loved him. I never stopped.
My sister and I were relaxing in the living room while the kids played a game of Twister in the hallway. I felt horrible. She’d come all the way from Texas to meet us and I’ve been too wrapped up in my own drama to be able to spend any quality time with her.
“Give me a minute. I’m sure I will once the shock wears off.”
“What about our dad and your mom? Do you know what you’re going to do about them?”
“I’m done with my mom. She’s gone too far.” Shannon nodded her agreement. “As far as Dad goes, I’m conflicted.”
“How so?”
“He’s dying.”
“Please. Do you know how long someone can live on dialysis? Years, Sloane.”
“I know.”
“Then stop making excuses for his behavior.”
Dang it. I’ve been doing exactly that for years.
I blamed the tumultuous relationship between Finn and Dad on their desire to outdo each other in the business world, when in reality, it started way before then.
Finn was expected to be the best. Anything less ended in punishment.
It wasn’t the same for me. Dad doted on me because he didn’t see women as competition. He never would.
“You’re right.” I stood, picking up one of my favorite photos from the bookcase.
It was Finn and me on the day I graduated from university.
He’d flown in from New York for the occasion, yet my father couldn’t make the two hour drive.
At least Mom called the day before to say she’d missed her flight, though thinking back, I wonder if she even had one to begin with.
Up until recently, my brother was the only constant in my life.
“I’ve spent my whole life trying to prove my worth to a man who won’t ever see it and a woman who doesn’t know her own. They’re both toxic.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
“Whatever it takes to protect my kids.”