13. Bones
BONES
“So instead of coming with us, you took a random woman to a cabin?” Isla asks, frowning.
Natalia is fast asleep in my arms after her bath, her cute little face pressed against my chest while I’m getting interrogated by Skull’s old lady. “Yeah, pretty much. It’s not that deep, sweetheart.”
“Not that deep? I’ve never seen you with any women other than the club girls,” she replies, her eyes narrowing to slits. “Why did you take her to some sex cabin?”
I burst out laughing, almost waking up our daughter. “We didn’t have sex.”
Oral doesn’t count, right?
Her eyes widen with realization. “You like her. This is huge, Bones.” She looks down at Natalia, probably wondering how it would work if I did find an old lady, because I’ve been wondering the same thing.
Whoever I’m with will essentially be another mother to Natalia if she wants to take on that role.
I know it’s complicated, but I don’t think having extra people to love a child is a bad thing.
But my old lady will have to accept that I have a daughter I share with my twin, and we will be moving into two separate houses that connect.
We will be one big family.
“How did you meet her?” she presses when I don’t say anything further. I wouldn’t give away so much with any of the other women, but Isla is the love of my brother’s life, and I always have time and respect for her.
“Xanthe recommended I speak with her. She’s a psychologist,” I explain, feeling amusement as I watch the emotions play over her face. “I wanted to check her out first, to make sure she was trustworthy. And the more I looked into her, the more she interested me.”
“When do we get to meet her?”
“I don’t know. I have a date with her tomorrow night.
” And what a long week it’s been. We’ve been texting during the day and chatting on the phone at night before bed for the past few nights.
I’ve never done anything like this before.
I’ve never hung on to a woman’s words so much or been so interested in what she has to say.
I’ve never mentally made notes on ideas for where to take her or presents she’ll like because of something she casually mentioned.
“Let me lock her down first.” I smirk, and Isla smiles.
“I’m happy for you, Bones. You have so much to offer a woman.”
Lore steps into the kitchen, eavesdropping. He has his daughter, Dove, on his shoulders. “Like what? Four inches?”
Isla’s brown eyes cut to mine, humor dancing in them because she knows how big my dick is, both because my twin and I are identical in every way, and because she’d been up close and personal with my cock that one time, too, and I have nothing to be ashamed of.
Lore catches the look between us and laughs. “Oh, yeah, that’s right. I forgot about that.”
“Hi, Uncle Bones!” Dove smiles widely.
“Hello, little princess.” I smile back.
“We’re getting snacks to go to the park! Do you want to come with us? You can push me on the swing,” she asks, looking down at Natalia. “And Natty can come too. Please!”
“Okay, how about I meet you there when she gets up?” I suggest, unable to say no to her. She’s so cute, and she has these big eyes that are hard to refuse.
“Aren’t you meant to go to work?” Lore asks, lip twitching.
“Yeah, but I can go in later. Skull’s still there right now.”
“Yay! Park!” Dove yells, waking Natalia, who slowly opens her big blue eyes. “Oh, Natty is awake! We can all go now!”
“All right, I’ll change her and pack her bag. Are you coming?” I ask Isla, who is watching me with a gentle expression.
“No, you guys go. I’m going to surprise Skull at work.” She grins.
We all get ready and then head to the park. Ora and War join us with their son, Zade.
I still haven’t told Doc about Natalia. I wanted to ease her into everything, but I know if I wait too long, she’s not going to be happy. Maybe tomorrow night, I can casually drop that I have a daughter and slowly explain the dynamic.
She’ll be understanding, right?
Fuck. Maybe I should make her come a few times before I tell her, and show her the pros of being with me first.
Because whether she likes it or not, Doc is mine.
She opens the door wearing skinny jeans, knee-high leather boots, and a tight black top that shows off her bare shoulders. “You look beautiful,” I growl, leaning down to kiss her. She smells so good, like berries and vanilla, and it makes my mouth water.
“Thank you. You look handsome yourself,” she replies, blatantly checking me out.
Although I’ve watched her on the cameras and driven by her house a few times, it feels like so long since I’ve seen her, especially when I have Pyro getting to see her almost every day at the shelter.
He should not be fucking spending more time with her than me.
I wonder if they need another volunteer?
She grabs a dark brown jacket, and I help her put it on, then I take her outside to my motorcycle.
“You ready?”
“Yeah, I’ve been waiting for this all week.” She grins, and my gaze drops to her pouty red lips.
“Me too.”
After putting on her helmet, which I bought for her today, I get on my bike, and she hops on behind me. I show her where to put her feet, and then her arms come around me, her breasts pressed up against my back, and nothing has felt more perfect.
This is where Meredith is meant to be.
“Lean with me when I turn, and tap my shoulder if you want me to stop,” I tell her, and she nods.
Her fingers bite into my stomach for the first few minutes, but then she relaxes. My hand grips the back of her calf, my thumb stroking her.
I’ve never felt more possessive of a woman in my life, and I’m not sure how to handle it without scaring her the fuck away.
I’m hiding things from her.
I know I am.
And no, it’s not right. I’d be pissed if she were keeping important information from me.
But I can’t risk losing her before I’ve even gotten her.