CHAPTER 5
HONOR
The man was testing my patience. He touched me at every opportunity; we’d had several hot kisses, but that’s as far as it went.
No action below the mouth other than he’d glide his hands up my neck and cup my face.
I’m not sure if he knew what that did to me.
It made me feel safe, wanted, loved. Gentleness mixed with firmness.
God, the man was dangerous to my self-control.
Sadly, he was staying true to his word, and he was giving me a week. It was both frustrating and admirable. I’d had more use out of my vibrator in the last week than I had in the whole year prior. And if I came with his name on my lips, that was for me to know.
In that week, I’d spent time with Angel and Axle, and got to know them better.
They were lovely and genuinely good people.
My romantic heart ached for them, and all the wasted years they’d endured before they found each other again.
They were thrilled that I’d had a happy childhood, and at how much my parents had doted and spoiled me.
It was a miracle that I hadn’t turned out to be a spoiled brat.
I found one of the many photo albums my mom had made of me, and I showed them a glimpse of my life.
It was both bittersweet and freeing. For all three of us.
If anything, it made us closer, and while they’d never replace my parents, and they had made that clear from that start. There was no denying that we were growing closer, and it made my heart happy.
I know my parents would have had no problem with it.
One of their greatest worries was leaving me all alone.
They’d been much older when they’d adopted me and had known that the likelihood of them being around was slim.
They’d made every year I’d had with them count. And for that I’d be forever grateful.
When Angel had to work, I went with her and visited the garden centre, and to say I was impressed was an understatement. It was gorgeous and busy. So busy.
Angel and Siera were already talking about having to hire additional staff.
The four of them were struggling to cope, and it was only going to get busier with the holidays coming up.
They had big plans. I was happy to help when I could, but I had the boys with me most days unless Spook took them.
Sometimes one of the other brothers would whisk them away, but mostly, the boys preferred to spend time with me; I wasn’t complaining.
I loved it, and it made me realise how much I missed teaching.
I guess when thinking about finally meeting my biological parents, I wasn't thinking of becoming one myself at the same time. I knew I wanted to have kids, and lots of them, but I had not thought it would happen like this. I imagined spending the day with Angel and Axel, not two toddlers. However, it just seemed natural to me to spend time with Mason and Reed. From the start, they’d captured my heart, and that only got stronger the longer I spent with them.
If Spook kept his word, and we take whatever this is to the next level, then they’ll be mine eventually anyway.
It didn't matter that they hadn’t come from my body; that made no difference to me.
They were mine from the moment they’d said I was theirs.
In a way I was grateful their mother gave them up.
Did I understand it? No. Unlike Angel, she wasn’t on the run for her life, she just liked her job more. But was I grateful? Yes, I was.
My days had settled into a rhythm. I woke up every morning in the very comfortable guest room that Spook had shown me to that first day. It was downstairs off the kitchen and completely self-contained.
Starting the first morning, and continuing every morning like clockwork, at six, I heard the clatter of feet in the kitchen and then the smell of coffee being brewed wafted into my room.
I knew I had maybe ten minutes before they came in, so I hurried to the bathroom and did what I had to before burrowing back into bed and waiting. Then there they were, my heart filled with affection as two dark haired little boys peeped around the door frame at me.
As soon as I saw them, I smiled. They were too cute for words in their matching pj’s with motorcycles on them. Mason in dark blue and Reed in red.
Crooking my finger at them, I laughed when they ran to the bed and tried to clamber up.
Leaning over I helped, “Morning babies,” I crooned, pressing kisses to little heads, as they snuggled into the bed with me, one on either side. Spook appeared in the doorway with a tray that held two mugs of coffee and two Sippy cups of milk.
He'd tried the first morning to get them to leave me in peace, but I didn’t want that. In the end he’d rolled his eyes and come back with coffee for me and milk for the boys. The second morning he’d come in with a mug for him too, and he’d joined us in my bed.
In the week since I’d moved into Spook’s home, my mornings started the same way. Except this morning there’s a layer of anticipation bubbling through me.
It was nice. I loved it. It made my heart happy. And even though I cautioned myself to be careful not to get hurt, I knew it was too late. My heart belonged to the Bennet men, All three of them.
Now that our week was up, I planned on making good on getting my man, and building our family. No more hiding.
I hope he is ready for me. Spook settled on the bed next to Reed handing me my coffee. “Here you go baby,” he murmured, eyes on mine.
“Thank you,” I reply, taking a sip, closing my eyes. I hum with happiness. “God, I love coffee.”
Spook chuckles, “Good to know.” He pauses, “Been a week, baby.”
I turn my head to look at him, I’m not sure about the tone of his voice, but all I see is contentment, and something that I can’t read. “It has,” I agree.
“Maverick’s going to take the boys tonight. You and I are going to stay here, and have dinner where we’ll discuss what you want to do. If you think you can live with my rules,” he eyes me as if he expects me to protest.
I think he sometimes forgets who I grew up with.
Overprotective men who saw danger in every shadow was nothing new to me.
It didn’t bother me that he needed to know where I was.
I understood. If it made his life easier so that he didn’t worry, then I had no issue with it.
Not very modern woman of me I know, but, as long as I could still live my life, I had no problem with checking in, if it eased his mind.
“Okay honey,” I agree, and his eyes went soft.
“No arguments?” he asks.
“Not if your rules make sense; if they don’t, then I’ll push back until we come to a compromise we can both live with.”
“Fuck,” he whispers. “Perfect.” He glances at Mason and Reed who are watching us with wide eyes, neither of them are very vocal in the early morning.
They are more than happy sipping their morning milk.
They’d be ready to go hell for leather later, but for now they are happy snuggling in bed with us.
Reaching over Mason, Spook leans towards me and curls his hand around the nape of my neck, tugging me closer to him, and presses his lips to mine in a soft kiss. “Tonight,” he rumbles when he lifts his mouth, his eyes never leaving mine.
It’s a heady feeling, having all his attention. One I hope I never lose.
“Tonight,” I agree with a smile. “This afternoon, I’m taking the boys over to the garden centre to try out the new playground; we’ll have hot chocolate, and then I’ll bring them home. I need to get my vehicle here, honey.”
His eyebrows lift in surprise at my change of subject, and I laugh. “I’ve got an SUV that’s perfect for here. Did you think I drove a flower power van all the time?”
He grins and shrugs, “Wasn’t sure, baby. You ladies all sure do seem to like your hippy stuff.”
“We do, huh,” I grin. He’s not wrong. I may not have grown up with Angel, but I have her style.
It must have passed down in the blood, because my adoptive mom was the least hippy-like person I’d ever seen.
She’d preferred jeans, t-shirts, and trainers.
I do too, but even when I wear them, I dress more boho style.
“I’ve got a perfectly sensible SUV that is big enough for the boys' car seats, and it’s not as bulky for me to drive as your truck. ”
He shakes his head, “You drive a van, baby, how is that not as bulky as a truck.”
“I don’t know.” I shrug, “It just is.”
“Hungry,” Reed interrupts our playful argument. I drain my coffee, and hand my empty mug to Spook before turning to Reed. “Me too. Pancakes?”
“Yeth,” he nods and scurries to the side of the bed. I laugh when Mason joins him. They hurry to the door and turn to wait. “Come,” Mason demands, making grabby hands at me.
“Your sons are very bossy,” I inform Spook, throwing the covers aside as I get out of bed. “I wonder where they get it from.” I smirk at him, loving the way his eyes heat when he runs them over me.
I’m well covered in a pink, silk, long sleeved top and matching pyjama bottoms, but from the way he inhales, then groans you’d have thought I was wearing the skimpiest lingerie.
I snatch my robe up and swing it over my shoulders, belting it at my waist. I walk towards the door turning when I get to the opening, I look back at the gorgeous bare-chested, muscled man with sleep tousled hair and glasses still sitting on my bed. Yum. Hot nerd.
“If you’re good, I’ll let you see what’s under this tonight,” I wink, then laugh when he curses and adjusts his cock, before I follow the boys to the kitchen.
Game on.
I can’t wait for tonight. But first, breakfast, then fun with the youngest Bennets, before they go to their Uncle Maverick’s for the evening. Then hopefully, some adult fun with their dad.
A little shiver of excitement runs through me. Oh, yeah today is going to be a good day.