Chapter 45
KAT
“Ant-ie Kat, look,” Callum pulls on my skirt, holding up a picture.
It’s brightly coloured squiggles from the crayons I gave him at Christmas.
“Wow, little man, that’s amazing,” I say, dropping down onto one knee to take a closer look.
He scowls at me, looking so like Gabriel and Caleb that it takes my breath away.
“Not ickle.”
He pats his chest. “Big bruv-er.”
I grin, pulling him in for a hug. “That you are. And big brothers are so important.”
He rests a hand on my chest. “You, big sister to Daddy.”
“That’s right. I’m your daddy’s big sister. And uncle Caleb’s and Aunty Harper’s.”
I stand up, picking him up as I go, giving him an enormous squeeze. He squirms, the paper flapping in his hand.
“Big-bruver,” he says, patting his chest again proudly.
“I know you are. The best big brother. Daddy was telling me how much you’ve been helping him and Mummy.”
I kiss his cheek as I transfer him to my hip. He’s getting so big.
Callum grins. He’s growing up fast, and now with the twins, Gabriel and Leah have their hands full.
My brother appears, carrying one of the twins, freshly changed. The tiny bundle looks even smaller against his enormous frame.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gabriel look as content as he does surrounded by his family.
Callum squirms in my arms, and I put him down. He takes my hand and pulls me forward.
“Hey Callum, are you showing Aunty Kat your picture?”
Callum nods, holding it out once more.
“Is this for me?” I say, when he pushes it into my free hand.
I drop down and place another kiss on his cheek when he nods.
“Thank you. I’ll hang this one up in my office so I can see it every day.”
His grin widens, and he wraps his little arms around my neck. I pull him close, my eyes shutting.
Gabriel grins.
“Kat Frazer, crawling around on the floor in her designer suit. The press would have a field day.”
I open my eyes and scowl at Gabe, who chuckles.
“The press can…”
I stop myself from saying any more, as Leah walks in and coughs.
“Stop tormenting Kat,” she says, walking up with my other niece in her arms.
She looks amazing, given that she has three children under two and only gave birth less than a week ago.
“How do you do it?” I say, standing up and giving her a side hug so I don’t disturb the tiny sleeping bundle in her arms.
She looks over at Gabe, the love shining in her eyes.
“I have a lot of help.”
The transformation is unbelievable. My baby brother has gone from an introverted workaholic to a loving husband and father of three in two and a half years.
“Lottie has also been invaluable. She’s here every night after school, helping with bath time.”
Leah’s eyes meet mine. She’s been amazing, allowing Lottie somewhere safe to escape as she tries to make sense of the nightmare she uncovered. I incline my head in acknowledgement.
“And who’s this?” I ask Leah.
“This is Ava. She was born ten minutes earlier than Isla.”
Leah places the sleeping bundle in my arms, her little face scrunching up as her mum releases her, but she remains asleep.
“Hey, Ava,” I say, running my finger down her tiny cheek.
Her mouth purses into an almost smile.
Leah bends down and scoops up Callum, who leans over to stare at his baby sister, total adoration in his eyes.
“Baby.”
He sighs.
Gabriel walks up.
“And this is Isla. She’s the loudest of the two. Lets us know she’s here.”
“A female version of Cal, then,” I say.
Gabriel chuckles.
The doorbell goes, and I raise a brow in question. I didn’t know they were expecting anyone. Gabriel hadn’t said anything when I called.
“That’ll be Jaxson,” he says, answering my unasked question.
My heart skips a beat at the mention of his name.
Typical Leah misses nothing.
I give her a weak smile.
“Jax,” Callum squeals, throwing himself at the man who’s entered the room.
Jax scoops him up and spins him around.
“Hey, scamp, how are you?”
Callum buries his head in Jax’s neck. “Goog,” he says.
Jax looks up, his eyes meeting mine before going to the baby in my arms. His gaze warms.
“Aunty cuddles?” he says.
“I brought some gifts,” I say.
His eyes dart to the twenty bags filled with clothes and toys.
“Kat can’t help herself,” Gabriel says, laughing. “She was as bad when Callum was born. I think she bought out half the toy and clothing stores.”
Jax rolls his lips to stop himself laughing, but his eyes are sparkling. My stomach does a somersault.
I shrug, as I work to control my breathing, aware that my brother and sister-in-law are privy to our interaction.
Jax breaks eye contact as Callum squirms in his arms, asking to be put down. Jax complies and runs off, returning with the large car I bought him as a big-brother present.
“Did Aunty Kat get you this?” Jax asks, dropping onto one knee.
Callum nods and grins, holding it out to him.
“Well, it will go perfectly with this.”
Jax leans behind him and grabs the bag he was carrying when he entered. He digs around and pulls out a large wrapped box.
Callum lets out another squeal, and his sister grumbles her complaint in my arms. I rock her gently until she resettles.
Callum tears open the wrapping, revealing another matching car to the one I bought.
“Great minds,” Gabriel chuckles.
His eyes flash between Jax and me.
“More like we both know what little boys like,” I say, dismissing his claim.
“Thank you, both of you. You’ve spoiled all of them,” Leah says.
Ava opens her eyes and lets out a squeak, her mouth moving sideways against my top as she tries to forage for food.
“Looks like someone is hungry,” Leah says, scooping Ava out of my arms before she can leave a damp patch on my blouse. “If you’ll excuse me, it’s a juggling act of feeding one before the other wakes up and demands her share.”
“I better go,” I say. “Leave you in peace.”
“You don’t have to,” Leah says, a look of guilt passing over her face, as if her words have chased me away.
I give her arm a gentle squeeze.
“I’ll pop around on Saturday. Maybe I can take Callum to the P.A.R.K.” I spell out. “Give you guys a break.”
Leah inclines her head, her eyes welling up. She sniffs.
“Sorry, my hormones are all over the place. That would be wonderful.”
I smile and give her arm one final squeeze. “I’ll see you then.”
I lean in and kiss Leah on the cheek before running a finger down Isla’s arm, then turn to Gabriel, looking at the second tiny bundle.
“Fatherhood suits you, baby brother,” I say.
“I know,” he says with a grin. “Thank you for all the presents.”
“Isn’t that what aunts are for? Spoiling their nieces and nephews?”
Gabriel walks me to the door.
“Bye, Jax,” I say, his proximity playing havoc with my equilibrium.
“Bye, Kat,” he says, looking up from the toy cars Callum has him playing with.
I turn to find Gabriel watching me closely.
I smile.
“Right, that’s me out of here.”
“You work too hard,” Gabriel says, opening the door to his and Leah’s apartment.
I shrug. “Pot calling kettle, and all that.”
“That was the old me, I’ve—”
“Let me guess, seen the light?”
He chuckles and wraps his free arm around me, pulling me into his side. “Take care, sis.”
“You too.”
Heading down to the carpark in the elevator, I close my eyes and do breathing exercises to calm my racing heart.
Seeing Jax face-to-face was much easier when I thought I hated him, that he was a two-timing snake.
Now… the man sets my lady parts on fire, and has my heart racing, and stomach jumping at a mere glance.
The Maldives was clearly a bad idea. New Year was even worse.
It’s woken up my libido, and it appears there’s no putting it back in its box.
My body is starting to crave Jax’s, like it does water after a fierce workout.
Jaxson Lockwood has left me insatiable, not only for his body, but I find myself missing our conversations, his company.
Kat Frazer, you’re having a pre-midlife crisis. Time to get a grip!
I squirm as I drop into the seat of my McLaren. The vibration of the engine as I fire her up, exciting my already sensitive clit. I groan and close my eyes briefly before putting her in reverse and getting as far away from Jaxson Lockwood as possible.
By the time I make it back to the hotel, I take the elevator straight to my floor, bypassing reception and any staff members who may want my attention. Closing the door to the suite, I lean my head back against it.
Heading to my bedroom, I strip off my suit, hanging it up before stepping into the steaming shower.
My sensitive nipples pucker against the spray of water.
I bite my lips as my fingers find them, tweaking and pulling as Jaxson did, the last time we were together.
I groan in frustration before sliding a hand between my thighs.
My pussy is already swollen and wet, pulsing with a need to be filled.
I drop my head against the cool tiles, two fingers sliding into my entrance, while my thumb strums my throbbing clit, faster and faster.
I close my eyes and picture Jax. His smooth, taut skin, his impressive cock.
It’s not long before my muscles are clenching around my fingers and I’m groaning into the shower spray.
I turn around and lean against the cold shower wall, cooling my body as I try to cool my libido.
I wash in record time, not wanting to give in to my desires any further.
I bite my lip as I drag my fluffy bathrobe across sensitive skin.
I head for the kitchen, but pause as there’s a knock at the suite door.
I move to the peephole.
“You’re kidding me.”
I throw open the door before I remember I’m in my robe.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask, wishing now I’d ignored the knock.
Zach looks at me, his eyes imploring.
“The manager at the apartment building told me you’d move here. Look, I need to see you. You’ve refused my calls, left my emails unanswered.”
“And that wasn’t pointed enough?”
I stand in the doorway, blocking his entrance.
He looks around me.
“Can I come in?”
I fold my arms over my chest.