Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 56295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“Yeah, maybe I should have brought our bottles out as well.”
“I’ll grab them if we need them.” I clasp her glass as well as she takes a seat and watch as she curls her legs beneath her ass, placing the blanket across her lap, leaving the top part of her body in just a tank. Lucky fucking me. “Food first, then we’ll talk. One of the subjects is going to make me more uncomfortable than you. Can’t believe Rory is thirteen, boys are fucking sniffing around, and shit if it doesn’t worry me to no end.” I sit down beside her, grab the platter so it’s within reaching distance for the two of us.
“I know. God, I know. We’ve had the talk multiple times, and I know a more serious one is going to have to happen, or she’s going to have a flip phone.” I listen to Leigh as I take a healthy sip of my bourbon, letting the burn slide down my throat.
“Thank fuck. Emmy brought up that Rory is always on her phone, some boy has her attention, and how she thinks it’s stupid. Emmy doesn’t realize she’ll be there soon. That’s gonna keep me up all night when there’re boys sniffing around both girls.” I’m not exaggerating either.
“Shit, can you imagine the boy who tries to tame Emmy? I feel sorry for the fool already. Rory, on the other hand, I see so much of myself in her. I just hope she doesn’t follow in my footsteps. She has dreams and goals. Not that I regret having my babies, but at the age I was, it wasn’t easy.” She is thinking about the past, which is a road I’m not going to go down. What I’m after is the future, one that has me standing beside her from now until fucking forever.
11
NIX
“We’ll get the girls through this phase and come out on the other side,” I say to Rosaleigh, watching as she stretches her legs. I capture her long shapely calves with one hand and pull them on my lap, setting my drink on the end table and placing the platter on her lap. Truth be told, I bought the food for her. I already ate after I worked on the inside and outside of my house, knowing this would be an indulgence much like the wine she’s currently sipping, not being as cautious as she was earlier this week.
“Come hell or high water. Clearly, I thought I was doing an okay job, keeping her busy with school and sports. If Emmy is noticing a change, then it’s time for me to step in.” I move both of my hands beneath her blanket. Leigh hisses out a breath at my cold hands touching her warm skin. “Nix, that’s not very nice. Your hands are like icicles.” She goes to move her legs off where I placed them on my lap, but I hold strong.
“That’s why I need you to warm me up, sweetheart.” I use both hands massaging one calf. Leigh no longer complains about my freezing hands that are now warm from her skin. I keep myself still, not pushing it when what I’d really like to do is work my way up her body to feel her muscles tense beneath the palms of my hands as I knead each delicious inch until she spreads her thighs open for me, unknowing if it’d be my mouth or my hands on her pussy first.
“Don’t stop.” Her eyes close, wine glass resting against her neck.
“I’m not, not now and not fucking ever. I’m telling you right now, Rosaleigh. You, Rory, and Emmy, you’re mine. I’ve been waiting, biding my time to make sure the timing was right, allowing you the time to get back on your feet, to stand on your own. It’s been nearly a year. I’ve watched you struggle, get knocked down only to get back up. You’re doing incredible.” Her eyes open. I position myself so my back is to the armrest of the couch, much like she is now. It also opens her legs further, one dropping to the floor while the other is pressed against the back of the cushions.
“Phoenix Drakos, do you have any idea what you’re asking for? One teenager who’s testing her limits, a preteen who’s full of drama, and me. Gosh, I come with a pile of baggage, so much so that it might very well break my back. Let alone yours if you take us on.” If Leigh is trying to talk me out of making her mine, of making her girls mine, she’s got another thing coming. All I can see from the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep is these three women. Some nights, they follow me in my dreams, giving me something I could only hope and dream for—my family.