by Tina Saxon
“I don’t know what the hell that is. Macie just showed me how to feed her and change her.”
“Where is her diaper bag?”
He points in the direction of the bag, and Syd digs through it. She pulls out and holds up a green nipple-looking thing. “Pacifier,” she says, smiling and then turns to go find Addison and Presley. She stops before entering the room and looks back. “Brooks, go take a shower.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replies with a salute.
Within minutes the cries have stopped. Holy shit! Sydney’s fucking awesome right now. Addison walks out of the bedroom, her hair in messy bun and her face flushed with sweat. She blows out a breath and then comes over to sit with me on the couch.
“You want ten of those,” she says, lying back against the cushions. “I don’t know about that, Aiden. I think you have the wrong woman if you want me to have that many babies.” I laugh. I want kids, but I don’t care how many we have. I want at least two, one being Lexi. I just like fucking with Addison. Every time I say I want ten kids, her pupils dilate and she gets flustered. She doesn’t fluster easily so it’s fun to watch.
“They all can’t be that way, right?” I ask.
“God, I hope not.” Me, too.
Brooks comes out looking a lot better and plopping down on the other leather couch opposite us. He closes his eyes and releases an exhausted sigh. “I’ve missed that sound. Silence. Who knew this was going to be so hard?”
“Leave it to a man to think parenting is easy,” Syd snickers, walking out with Presley in her arms. Brooks turns his body to look at Sydney.
“That,” he barks, shooting up off the couch, pointing at Presley. “How did you wrap it so tight?”
I tilt my head and look at Sydney, wondering what he’s talking about. Then I notice that Presley is wrapped in a blanket. I remember seeing her wrapped that way in the hospital and thinking that it looked uncomfortable, but she obviously doesn’t mind because she’s content now. She’s sucks on the green thing a couple times and then stops for a few moments then does it again.
“We call it swaddling,” she tells him.
“I don’t care what you call it. Teach me how to do it like that.”
She waves her hand. “C’mon, I’ll show you.”
He follows her into the room. Half an hour later they emerge again, but Brooks is holding Presley now and his body language has gone from despair to accomplishment. He stands taller and smiles down at Presley.
“I’m going to give you the name of a couple books that you should read. And I’ll give you my number. You can call if you have any questions or need any help.”
Addison jumps up. “I’ll take Presley while you guys talk.”
“Oh, now you want her,” Brooks say, smirking.
“Hey! I might not have been able to calm her down, but I brought her,” she replies, pointing at Sydney. He chuckles, gingerly placing Presley in Addison’s arms.
“And I’ll forever be in your debt.”
“What? She didn’t do anything,” Syd says, hitting Brooks in the arm. He looks down at Sydney and smiles. Fuck, I’ve seen that look before. Don’t do it.
“Are you free for dinner one night?”
I groan. “No,” Addison and I both say at the same time.
Brooks looks at Addison. “I’m really not a bad person. I understand why you didn’t want to date me, but geez,” he says, rolling his eyes.
“It’s not you. She has gonorrhea.” I jerk my head to Addison, pushing off the couch to stand. What the fuck? Addison presses her lips together and then she and Sydney bust out laughing.
“I don’t have gonorrhea, Aiden.” Confused, I turn and look at Syd. She waves her hand around. “Inside joke. Anyway, thanks for the offer, Brooks, but I have a boyfriend.”
“If you happen to become single, let me know,” he says, winking. She looks at me, and I raise an eyebrow. She shakes her head. “What am I missing?” he asks, glancing at her and then at me.
I stand a little taller and cross my arms. “Her boyfriend is one of my best friends.”
He shakes his head slowly. “Got it.” We stare at each other for a couple moments before Addison pulls me to the couch. I know he’s Addison’s biological brother, but if I’m choosing sides, it’ll always be Damon’s.
“Put away your caveman cape. You didn’t even get that mad when he tried to pick me up,” she says softly, sitting on the couch. She puts a pillow under her arm to support Presley. I take a seat next to her, pulling my knee up on the couch and turning my body toward her.
I shrug. “That was funny, and it’s not like I was worried.” I lean my hand across the top of the couch and play with her hair while I stare at Presley. She’s a beautiful baby. Especially when she’s not pissed off at the world.
“Let’s make one tonight,” I whisper. Seeing Addison holding a baby awakens something deep inside me. It hits me in my core, a raw, inherent need. I feel Addison’s eyes on me. I look up and she’s looking at me like I’m crazy.
“What?” I ask.
“I don’t know about you, but I can’t forget the last forty-five minutes that easily.”
I shrug. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“We were in the same apartment, right?” I chuckle and it makes Presley jump. “You wake her up and I will cut you,” she warns, her voice hushed but clipped. Addison gently shakes the baby in her arms until she settles back down. Presley sucks her green nipple thing again.
“What is that thing called again?” I stick my finger inside the nipple area.
“A pacifier.”
“Whoever named that thing was a genius,” I say, watching in awe as she sucks on my finger.
“I’m thinking they were a genius because they created it,” Brooks states, coming into the living room and lying across the other couch. “I plan on buying stock in the company.”
Sydney leans down over the couch in between Addison and me. “I’m out of here. If you need me, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks, Syd,” Addison says.
Sydney says goodbye and leaves. Brooks watches Addison from the couch. He looks exhausted. “I’m sorry for calling you,” he says. “I know all the shit you’ve been through, and I’ve been an asshole not calling you back. I needed time to process things. But when Presley wouldn’t stop crying, I just didn’t know who to call.”
“I’m glad you did. This little girl has nothing to do with the decisions her mother made, so please don’t think I’d ever have any bad feelings toward her.” She looks down at Presley. “How could I? She’s an angel.”
“She is. I just panicked. I knew I was doing something wrong, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. Thank you for calling Sydney.”
“I told you, baby freaking whisperer. Have you heard anything about Jessie?” Addison asks quietly. Guilt riddles Addison and it’ll eat her alive if she lets it. It kills me how much she blames herself for everything that happens.
“Her parents are keeping in contact with me. They are trying to have her sent to a facility in California for treatment.”
“California?” I ask.
“I guess. I didn’t ask questions. They want to be able to see Presley, so they are being extremely nice right now.” He puts his hands behind his head and closes his eyes. He passes out cold in a matter of minutes. I grab the remote and turn the television on, putting on a college football game but making sure to keep the volume down.
We stay until Presley starts getting fussy. Addison tells Brooks that we’ll stay and feed her so he can sleep a little more, but he insists that his hour and a half nap felt refreshing and he’s good now.
I shake his hand, patting him on the back. “Good luck, man.” I don’t envy him. I want kids, but not by myself.
He chuckles. “Thanks. I think I’ll need it.” He looks at Addison. “Thanks so much for coming to my rescue,” he tells Addison as she gives him a hug.
“Anytime,” she murmurs.
Chapter ten
“It’s okay, we’ll find another way,” Harper says, sighing. She’s as pissed as I am, she just knows how to control it better. We just received news the lab contaminated a piece of evidence we gathered last week. A very important piece of evidence: the one drop of blood that could have given us a lead on the case, but it’s worthless now because someone screwed up.
I pull my head up and stare at Harper. “This day sucks.” She nods in agreement. “I started my day with Aiden pushing the wedding topic again.” I roll my eyes. I’ve been so damn busy with work and we’ve only just started to get into a routine with Lexi and school that I haven’t even had time to think about it. I suck at being a fiancée.
“Well…” she starts.
I put my hand up, stopping her. “Don’t,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “I don’t need to hear it from you, too. I know I need to start planning it.”
“Just hire a wedding planner.”
I let her suggestion roll around in my head. Why the hell didn’t I think of this? “That is a great idea. Know any?”
Her lips twist as she thinks. “Hmm. No, but I think when Alyssa got married a few months ago, she used someone. You should ask her if she liked the woman.” I grab a sticky note and jot down Alyssa’s name and stick it on the bottom of my computer screen, pressing my finger across the sticky part so it’ll stay.
“I’ll call her later. Now, we have to figure out how to fix this problem.” I pick up a folder sitting to the side and slam it down in front of me. “It’s going to be a long day,” I say as I open it and start reading the contents.
By five o’clock my head hurts from looking through all the pictures and evidence. The sound of a male clearing his throat gets my attention, and Harper and I look up. Aiden leans against the doorway of my office with his hands in his pockets. He’s wearing a black suit and green tie that makes his eyes look even more vibrant. Hello, gorgeous! He’s a sight for these sore eyes.
My lips slowly form a smile. There’s something about him being in a suit and tie that makes my insides heat up. Memories of using those ties race through my mind. He flashes a knowing smile as he watches me cross my legs. I look away, feeling the heat in my cheeks, and start cleaning up the paperwork on my desk. Aiden chuckles. Harper stands up and stretches.
“I’ve been sitting in that seat too long,” she says. “I guess we’re done for the night?”
“Yes.” I sigh. “We’ll go back to the sight on Monday and see if there is anything we missed.” She nods and heads to the door.
“Nice suit, Aiden. Court?” He scoots over so she has enough room to pass.
“Nah. I just like to see the look in Addison’s eyes when I wear a tie.” He glances at me and winks.
Harper walks off, laughing. “I don’t even want to know,” she yells from down the hall.
“I heard you had a shitty day.” I angle my head to the side and look up at him. “Since you decided not to answer my calls today, I had to call other people,” he elaborates, leaning over and putting his hands on my desk, getting close to my face. “I thought you were trying to avoid me because I brought up our wedding this morning.”
“No,” I sigh. He presses a soft kiss on my lips and stands up straight.
“Let me take you to dinner.”
“I’m really tired, Aiden. I just want to go home.” I close the case file we were working on and clean up my desk.
“That wasn’t a question.” He puts his hand on top of the folder, stopping me. I jerk my head in the direction of his demanding tone. “You need to eat, and I’m going to take you to get something. Sydney and Damon are taking Lexi out tonight.” Bossy much? Our eyes lock and the intensity in his eyes tell me I’m not going to win this battle.
“Let’s go,” I grumble. He stands up tall again and crosses his arms, satisfied with himself.
I’m only going because I’m hungry.
“You’re going because you love me.” Crap. I smirk when I realize I didn’t just say that in my head.
“I do love you, Agent Roberts, but you’re being a demanding ass right now,” I say with a fake smile, walking past him. I hear a low rumbling chuckle behind me. I wait for him to leave my office so I can shut and lock my door. The smell of spice, woods, and masculinity waft in the air as he moves past me. I take in a deep breath, inhaling his smell and shudder. He’s intoxicating and hard to resist. Even when I’ve had a horrible day.
I huff in irritation. My body seems to have a mind of its own. I take quick strides to the elevator but hear his footsteps behind me. I watch our reflection in the closed elevator doors and look down at my jeans and flats, cursing under my breath. I can’t go out looking like this.
“I look like shit.” My hair was in a sleek ponytail this morning, but now pieces are hanging out everywhere from me pulling on my hair all day. I yank off my hair tie and comb through my hair with my fingers before pulling it back. I shrug to myself. It’ll have to do.
“You look beautiful, Addison,” he says, leaning down a little. “I have a surprise for you.”
My shoulders drop and I blow out my cheeks, a little irritated he can’t see that I’m not in the mood for surprises.
He leans down again, this time he’s so close I can feel the warmth of his breath. “I think I need to find a dark corner and fuck you until you’re happy.” I sharply inhale from his hushed, raspy voice. The elevator doors open and thankfully the car is empty. His suggestion catches me off guard so my cheeks are flushed and I’m speechless. He reaches in front of me and hits the first-floor button. As the doors close, I wonder how serious he is. “Is that what you need, Addison?” he murmurs, turning toward me. His eyes darken and lock on to mine. The elevator feels like its walls are closing in. There’s emotion behind his gaze that I can’t read. The intensity forces me to suck in a breath.
My mouth opens to say “maybe,” but the ding from the elevator tears me out of the hold he has on me. He grabs my hand, leading me out of the building. We walk in silence toward my apartment. I can tell from his determined stride that we’re not heading to dinner.
I hear the door slam shut and lock and whip around at the sound. Aiden grabs me, spinning me around and slams me into the wall. My breath catches. He grabs my hands and holds them above my head as he runs his lips along my jawline, nipping and sucking. I try to release one hand so I can feel him. Touch him.
“Don’t move your hands,” he demands and tightens his hold. My eyes flash up to his, surprised by the dominating heat in his voice. His thigh rubs against my center, causing me to moan, and my hips move of their own accord. He removes one of his hands, but still holding both of mine with his other. Using his free hand, he grabs my breast. Hard. He curses under his breath and then slams his mouth against mine. My feelings are at war right now. I’m pissed off because he’s being aggressive, yet my body is yearning for the roughness. My head says back the fuck off, my body says harder. Why is he mad? I’m the one who had the shitty day.
I keep my mouth closed in protest, so he bites my lip. When I gasp, he slips his tongue into my mouth. It’s possessive and demanding. My willpower to fight fades as I give in. My body takes over, surrendering to the desire. I rock against him and heat streaks up my body. He releases my hands but glares at me with a warning, commanding me to keep my hands there. It’s too bad I’m not always compliant.
I run my hands through his hair, fisting it. “Never fucking listen,” he growls, yanking my shirt over my head. When he has my shirt almost all the way off, with my hands up high, he stops. The wicked gleam in his eyes says he’s got me. “You move your hands out of this shirt, I’m going to fucking handcuff you next.” He twists the center of my shirt in his fists, tightening the hold. My hands move closer together, and he holds them against the wall. His other hand yanks down my bra, releasing each swollen breast. He flicks his tongue over my harde
ned nipple and my body shudders. My back arches off the wall, willing him to take it all in. Thank God he listens. He devours them mercilessly. The ache between my legs intensifies as he continues his lavish assault. His hand moves down to undo my jeans. When he has them past my thighs, I wiggle out of them and kick them off to the side, thankful I didn’t wear my skinny jeans today.
He runs a finger along the lace of my panties and at the center. A deep growl from the back of his throat slips out. “You’re so fucking wet,” he rasps. When he moves my panties to the side, he slips two fingers inside me. I buck my hips against his fingers that rapidly move in and out. The heel of his palm presses against my clit, and I scream out. My orgasm rips through me almost instantly.
Before I can form a coherent thought, Aiden pulls me to the couch, spins me around, and pushes me down over the side arm. My ass is facing upward and the cold air blows on my wet, throbbing sex. He unsnaps my bra and takes off my soaked panties. I hear him pulling down his pants. When I look back, he’s already naked. The fire in his eyes is like an inferno now. Raging. His jaw clenches as he looks at me. I flinch in surprise when I feel his finger graze my wetness. His other hand grabs my ass.
“Do you know how fucking bad I want to make this ass red right now?” he growls.
Excuse me? My eyes snap to his, confused. I open my mouth to ask him what the hell he’s talking about, but he sticks a finger inside me again and my eyes close involuntarily as he moves it around in circles. It’s clear he’s running the show. He removes it and grabs my hips, immediately slamming his cock into me, burying himself inside me completely. I cry out and he stills for a moment. When I glance back, his nostrils flair and his chest heaves as he tries to regain his control.
“Don’t ever ignore me again,” he warns. Realization dawns on me, and I understand why he’s so upset. He doesn’t give me time to respond. To apologize. He slams into me again, setting a punishing pace. Instead, I give him what he needs.
“Harder,” I moan out, pushing my ass against his groin, keeping rhythm with him. Our bodies smack together. I grasp the couch, letting go of everything clouding my head right now, and submit to the man inside of me.
