Chapter 17 Makeup Sex. The Perfect Gift
Makeup Sex. The Perfect Gift
HORSE
My little boy is worn out.
He fell asleep in my arms twenty minutes into his movie about the damn lost fish. I didn’t mind—having him curled up on me like that is the closest thing to peace I get most days. What I do mind is that Gwen didn’t join us.
I know she’s upset.
I know she stayed in the kitchen because she didn’t want to look at me.
And it probably makes me every kind of bastard, but I don’t give a damn how mad she is.
I told my son the truth, and I’m going to make sure I deliver on it.
For that reason, I didn’t insist on her coming to sit with us.
She needs time. I’ll give it to her—at least for now.
When we’re alone, she’ll either calm down or come at me swinging. It could go either way with this woman.
Animal was the one who knocked on the door earlier to let me know the boys put a trace on Rebbie’s phone.
It’s a club-owned phone, club-paid plan—anything said on it is legal for me to have and record.
If Rebbie and Dee really are plotting shit behind my back, it’ll come out.
If it were just me involved, I’d settle it the old way and slit their throats—women or not.
I need to protect my son, however, and because all of this touches Caleb—and custody is on the line—every step has to be clean.
No blood. No witnesses. No mistakes.
I lay Caleb down on the couch carefully, easing him off my chest. He doesn’t even stir.
I spread a throw blanket over him and tuck it around his shoulders.
He looks so damn small like this. Too small to carry the weight he’s been carrying.
I take a deep breath and force myself to straighten, rolling the tension out of my shoulders.
When I turn back toward the kitchen, I can still hear Gwen.
I guess I should consider myself lucky she didn’t just walk out the front door.
I walk in and find her at the island, scrubbing the butcher block top with enough force to take a layer off.
At this rate, I’m half expecting to see a damn hole appear.
Buddy is on his back beside her, all four paws in the air, snoring like a grown man. The dog has no shame. None.
“I got Caleb down for a nap,” I say quietly. She doesn’t respond. Just scrubs harder. “If you keep going at the island like that, there’s not going to be anything left of it,” I warn.
She finally stops and looks up at me—and holy hell, she’s pissed. The kind of pissed that makes a sane man turn around and walk out. Too bad for her, I’m not sane.
“It’s better I abuse your island than kill you,” she hisses. “Which is what I really want to do.”
I lift a brow. “Listen, I know you got upset about what I told Caleb—”
“I’m not upset, Wyatt.” Her voice is low, vibrating with something sharp. “I’m livid. That little boy is hurting, and you lied to him.”
“I didn’t lie to my son, Gwen.”
She laughs, but the sound is cold and ugly. “I have to go.” She slaps the sponge and bottle of cleaner down so hard they bounce, then turns to walk out.
There’s no fucking way I’m going to let that happen. I cross the area between us in three strides. I wrap my arm around her and drag her back to me.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I growl.
“I’m going home,” she snaps. “You need to let me go.”
“You weren’t listening to me. You are home. You live here with our dog and our boy. You’re not leaving.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” She jerks, testing my hold.
“Woman—”
“I knew you were too good to be true.”
“Gwen—”
“Don’t you ‘Gwen’ me.” Her eyes burn into mine. “I knew I was being stupid. I knew it. You seemed so great, but of course you’re not. I knew that no man like you would actually have anything to do with someone like me. Then bam! It all clicks.”
My jaw tightens. “What clicks?”
“That you’re certifiably insane! That’s why you’re single and latched onto me. I attract narcissistic idiots like Dr. Dickhead and lying assholes like you!”
The words hit hard—like she aimed straight for the sternum.
“What the fuck, Gwen?” My voice drops, low and dangerous. “What have I ever done to you to make you believe I’m that kind of man?”
For a moment—just one—I swear I see guilt flicker across her face. Then it’s gone—buried under anger and fear.
“I sat here and watched you promise your son he could stay with you—with us. And we’re not even an us!”
“The fuck we aren’t.” I step closer. “And while we’re on the topic, I do love you just as much as I love my son. You both are my world. So, if anyone lied to Caleb, it was you!”
“You don’t—”
“Just shut it, Gwen. I don’t want to hear about how fast this is happening or any of that other bullshit you try to put between us.
I don’t care about any of it. The bottom line is if you think you’re going to get away from me, you’re the crazy one.
I’m starting to think I’ve been going too slow with you. ”
She barks out a laugh—sharp and a little manic—and I grin because I know I’m driving her just as crazy as she drives me. There’s a little solace in that. I back her up against the bar, crowding even more into her space. Then I grab her waist with both hands.
“Keep your voice down,” I warn her, my lips close to her ear. “If you wake Caleb up from his nap, I’ll spank your ass even harder than I’m already planning to.”
She sucks in a breath. “Fuck you.”
“Oh, Gwen,” I growl, my lips brushing against her ear. “If you knew just how much your filthy little mouth is turning me on…” Before she can spit fire back at me, I bend to hook an arm just under her ass, lift, and toss her over my shoulder.
She gasps, fists pounding on my back. “Put me down!”
“Not a chance.”
I head straight for my bedroom, with Buddy trailing behind us. Chaos is all around me everywhere, and for once in my life, I love every second of it.