Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Laney
“Why did that man come here?” Serena asks when I go into her room. She’s watching a movie and sitting on her bed.
I take a seat next to her. “Because he wanted to see Daddy.”
“Is he bad?”
Licking my lips, I contemplate how to answer. Though I don’t want her to be afraid, she’s too young to fully understand.
“He’s not a nice man,” I choose to tell her. “He and Daddy don’t get along.”
“How come?”
Ayden clears his throat before walking in and kneeling beside us. “Because he used to hurt me and my mom. I left so he couldn’t touch me again or ruin my life. Turns out, I should’ve stayed and stood up to him.”
“Why didn’t you?” Serena asks. She’s always been a curious little girl.
“I was scared. He holds a lot of power, and I was just a kid with none. I thought startin’ over somewhere else would keep me safe.”
“But then you didn’t know about me.”
Ayden’s lips tilt up in a small grin. “You’re right. I wish I had known.”
“Would you have stayed?”
“Absolutely!” He meets my eyes because we’ve already had this discussion. “I would’ve married your mama and given you a few siblings.”
I blink and swallow hard.
That we did not discuss.
“Well, it’s not too late!” she exclaims, bouncing on the bed. “I’d be a good big sister now. My friend Maisie has two little brothers, and she helps her mom all the time. She even gives them baths!”
Ayden flashes me a smirk, and I swear my cheeks turn a hundred degrees hotter.
“I like that idea,” Ayden says.
I nearly choke on my tongue trying to spit out the right words. “Um...who’s hungry for supper?”
“Me! Can we have tacos?” Serena asks.
“Sure, sweetie.” I stand, then kiss the top of her head.
As I walk out, I glance over my shoulder and watch Ayden. He says something to make her laugh, and it’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. I’d love to have more babies with him, but we have a long way to go before we have that conversation.
Once I’m in the kitchen, I open the fridge doors and stand as close as I can, letting the cool air hit my flushed skin.
This man has kissed me, twice now, and him mentioning knocking me up is what has me losing my damn mind.
Blowing out some breaths, I steady myself and gather the ingredients needed. After everything’s on the counter, I get the meat on the stove and start cooking.
The steam blows in my face, and when I put on the fan, I feel two steady hands on my hips and jump.
“Jesus, you scared me.”
“Guess you didn’t hear me walkin’ in,” he murmurs against my ear and slides his tongue along the skin underneath. “What’s on that mind of yours?”
Before I can respond, he brushes my hair off to one side of my shoulders and rubs the length of his nose over my exposed neck.
I’m nearly panting by the time I find my words. “Ayden, what are you doin’?”
“Watchin’ you cook.”
With his chest flush against my back, I have no room to move except to stir the meat.
“And to ask if you needed any help,” he adds with a hint of amusement.
His mouth finds the perfect spot on my neck, and he sucks lightly, sliding his tongue around as he holds me in place. My chest rises and falls as I try not to react and fail miserably.
“Better watch what you’re doin’ so you don’t burn yourself,” he warns when the water boils to the top and inches back to give me space. Quickly, I reach over and turn down the burner.
“You’re distractin’ me,” I counter, inhaling harshly as I feel his erection press into my lower back.
“Then you better focus...” His taunting voice echoes as his hand moves between my thighs. My breath hitches as he rubs his palm over my center and creates friction between my jean shorts and his hand.
“Ayden...” I fight to keep my eyes open. “I can’t when you’re doin’ that.”
“Should I stop?” He chuckles before feathering kisses down my neck and adding pressure to my clit. He knows exactly what he’s doing.
“Um...” My head nearly falls back to his shoulder.
“Or should I keep goin’? Your pussy’s so wet, I can feel it through the fabric.”
Oh God, that’s embarrassing.
“Tell me what you want, Laney. I’m not doin’ anything without your permission.”
I bite my lip while trying to stay focused on not overcooking the meat. Ayden’s teasing has me so worked up, my head spins as I undo the button of my shorts and lower the zipper.
“Touch me,” I plead, somehow controlling my breathing so I can speak. The meat’s done, and I need to add in the seasoning, but it will have to wait.
Ayden slips his hand beneath my panties and groans when he slides down my slit. “Fuckin’ hell, baby. You’re drenched.”
“You better hurry before we get interrupted,” I warn.
His bemused chuckle vibrates against my ear. “Think you can keep it down?”
God, I hope so.
Nodding, I spread my legs wider for him.
Ayden coats his fingers before thrusting inside me, the intrusion harsh and delicious, and I nearly collapse on the stovetop. His free hand wraps around my waist, holding me in place as he continues his assault, driving faster and harder into me.
“Holy hell, you’re tight.”
“It feels so good.”
He twists his wrist, and as he sinks in deeper, I gasp at the intrusion. My head falls back as I lean against his chest and cling to him for support.
“Shit, I’m so close,” I whisper, and moments later, my body shakes as I try to hold back a scream. He covers his mouth with mine as I moan through the sensation.
“I don’t know what spot that was, but goddamn, you found it,” I say once my vision clears.
He chuckles lowly before sucking on a sensitive spot between my neck and shoulder.
As he slides out of me, he brushes against my clit, causing me to shiver.
“I didn’t bring any condoms with me, so if you sneak into my bed tonight, just know I fully intend to come inside you. Take that warnin’ and decide if that’s what you want.” Ayden’s deep voice is followed by him licking his fingers and shooting me a wink as he walks away.
Wait. What the hell did he just say?
My brain’s in a fog as I finish dinner and while we eat. Serena talks our ears off, and Ayden uses the opportunity to slide his hand under the table and squeeze my thigh.
Glancing over, I watch as he focuses on Serena and rubs his fingers between my legs. When I trap his hand, he flashes me a dirty little smirk and rubs harder.
I look at Serena when we finish the ice cream sandwiches we had for dessert. “It’s bath night, and by the looks of your messy face, you need one.”
She giggles as she licks ice cream off her arm.
Ayden cleans up while I get her situated in the bathroom. She yawns, and I know she’ll pass out as soon as she’s ready for bed.
“Your taco was delicious,” Ayden says as I walk into the kitchen.
My brows rise. “You had more than one.”
“Oh, I wasn’t talkin’ about the food, though they were tasty, too.”
“Ayden Carson, you better stop flirtin’ with me.” I blush, walking around him to get to the fridge.
He wraps an arm around my waist and yanks my back to his chest, burying his face in my hair. “Are you still pretendin’ you don’t want this?”
“I never said that,” I argue because I definitely do.
“Then why are you fightin’ it, baby?”
I gulp at how that one word of endearment brings me back to when I was a teenager, and it’d make me all tingly inside. I felt special.
Like I was his whole world.
“You leave in a few days,” I remind him as his hand slides up and cups my breast.
“I know. Doesn’t mean I won’t see you again. We’ll take turns visitin’ each other.”
“And how long can we do that before we’re tired of it? What about when Serena goes to school?”
Ayden spins me around to face him, then tilts up my chin.
“I don’t have an answer for that, but I’ll do whatever it takes to see you and Serena as much as I can. Until then, we’ll figure it out.”
Even though I want to beg him to stay, to give us a chance to make it work here and be a family, I nod. He loves his job, and the Hollises are his family, too.
“My mom texted earlier and said she hired a new manager. I’ll be trainin’ her for two weeks, and then Serena and I can come to see you.”
“Yeah? That’s great.” He smiles wide, then dips his mouth to mine, brushing his lips softly against mine. “I should warn her I might not let you leave.”