Chapter 52
SLADE
I carry Ollie to his bed—complete dead weight.
We spent the day building train yards and throwing sticks to Grover in the snow. Sarah pulled Frankie around in the sled, and she squealed each time it ran over a small drift.
It was a day full of the kids’ giggles and Sarah’s beautiful, relaxed smile. It all caused something to shift inside me. It was like joy breaking free that had been hidden inside a dark cave, afraid to peek its head out.
I’ve feared this kind of happiness. Scared to desire love and a family because, at any moment, it could disappear. I couldn’t allow myself to be this close to someone only to find out they’d never really be mine.
But over these past few months, I have discovered something with Sarah that I didn’t know existed.
I’ve fallen in love with her—the drive-me-insane, all-consuming kind.
But that love is built on friendship and trust that slowly morphed into an undeniable need.
I need Sarah. She sets me off guard and breaks through all the protective layers I enclose myself in.
When I claimed her, Ollie, and Frankie, it just tumbled out in a moment of rage, but it’s the truth.
I want nothing more than this every day.
I want all the messy, crazy, hard days with Sarah.
She makes me a better person, and I’ve realized I’m not afraid to love her because, whether she said it or not, I know she loves me back .
For the first time, I’ve been my whole self with someone.
No pretense or barrier. I screwed up, and she still invited me in.
She held me, forgave me, and trusted me enough to know my error in judgment was never meant to hurt her.
It’s how love should be. She believed in me and saw through my mistake.
That means more to me than she’ll ever know.
I peek in on Frankie, her floppy lamb squeezed to her chest. I run my finger over her soft, chubby cheek, wanting this every night—rocking them by the fire and reading stories. Holding them until they fall asleep.
I blink, not believing I might actually have it.
I find Sarah at the kitchen sink with her back to me, drying the pan from dinner. Her tight black leggings hug her butt and waist. Those damn things are about to drive me mad.
I know what I want, and I think I know what Sarah wants, but nothing will happen until she’s good and ready.
I slip my arm around her and tug her against me.
“Oh, hi.”
I hear the smile in her voice as I run my lips down the side of her neck. “What did Kat say?”
Kat called with an update while I was reading to the kids. Sarah messaged her this morning about Miles’s visit and the women coming forward.
She tips her head to the side, giving me better access to her soft skin. “I can’t really think when you’re doing that.” It comes out slowly in a bit of a whine.
I straighten, and she twists in my arms, taking hold of my shirt.
“She said I should consider the case closed. His attorney has already dropped him as a client. Plus, he can’t risk me going public with his threats to force me into appearing as a family. We have a witness, so he’ s screwed.”
“We do?”
She smiles. “Brandon. His constant invasive nosiness did good this time.”
Relief attempts to flood through me, crumbling my only remaining defenses. “So, that’s it?” I have to be sure they aren’t going anywhere without me.
She inhales and lets it out. “She’ll give it a little time and then make it clear he’s not welcome here again.”
“How do you feel?” I watch her, needing to know.
“I’m. . .kind of scared to believe it.” She huffs out a little laugh. “It feels too good to be true.” She glances up at me, a sly smile appearing. Her hands slide over my shoulders and around my neck, her fingers pushing into my hair as she presses up on her toes. “But you know what this means?”
I link my arms around her lower back, bringing her slim body to mine. “What?” I peer down at her as the exhilaration that’s been on hold since this morning reawakens.
“You’re really stuck with us now.” She bites her bottom lip, trying her damndest to hide that sassy grin, the one that turns my belly into a raging ball of fire.
I’ve been waiting for this all day. I release her, sliding my hands into her hair and guiding her head to the side.
I steal her mouth, and it only takes a second for her lips to part.
I sweep my tongue across hers, tasting and savoring her.
She whimpers, her fingers digging into my neck, and I do it again.
She nips at my lip, teasing, and I groan. I feel her smile, and I kiss it away, stealing her breath with it. She melts into me, her heart hammering against mine.
I release her mouth, and her chest moves in and out quickly as she slowly opens her eyes. My teeth graze over her skin as her head falls back toward the ceiling.
“Are you finally gonna make good on that promise?” She’s breathless, and I love it.
“What promise is that?” I’m messing with her. Sarah, lit up with flirty irritation, is sexy as hell .
Her hold on me loosens a little, and those dazed, tantalizing, opposite eyes flick between mine with a superficial glare.
“You, sir, know exactly what I’m talking about, but ya know. . .” Her arms drop from my neck, and she pulls away. “It’s been one hell of a day. I should probably—”
I grab her and scoop her into my arms. She laughs, holding on to me.
“First, you hit on me. Now, you’re demanding I make love to you.”
She holds my face, brushing her lips over mine. “Nothing wrong with a girl knowing what she wants and going after it.”
This woman is going to kill me, and I’ll enjoy every second. “Is that so?”
Her lips move over my jaw to my neck. “Mmm hmm. And you cannot tell me you haven’t been wanting the same.” She kisses my neck. “Exact.” Her teeth nip my skin, and my body flares with desire. “Thing.”
I turn, twisting through the doorway to the hall, needing her room.
“Wait!” Her arm flies out, hitting the wall.
“Sarah.” It comes out more like a growl. I take another step. “I’ve already seen your room.”
“No. Stop. We need protection,” she whispers, holding my face. “I’m not on birth control. If you take me in there, Slade, I’m not going to be able to control myself.”
I grin.
“Put that dimple away. That’s not helping.” She presses her finger over the indent in my cheek.
I lean in, sucking her bottom lip between mine, and she makes a pouting noise. “We’re covered.” I proceed forward.
Her arm flies out again. “Wait. What? How old is it because—”
I kiss her hard, stealing her mouth in a hot, slick kiss. Her body goes limp.
I’m unsure if this panic is nerves or anticipation, but I’m promising her that no matter what, everything will be ok.