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“I’ve been awake for two whole hours, and I had to wait the whole time. Are you ready?”
Most mornings I was up with the breaking of dawn. But Caleb had come into my room last night right as I was drifting to sleep. He’d climbed onto my bed, peeled my sleep shorts down my legs, then devoured me with his mouth all over again. Then I’d stroked him with my hands until he’d come all over my fingers.
I’d wanted to ask him to stay. For us to explore this. But I was afraid neither of us knew what it meant.
“Well, we’d better get a move on, hadn’t we?” I touched Evelyn’s dimpled chin.
“We better. The early bird gets the worm, you know.”
Soft laughter rolled from me. “And you’re an early bird?”
“I’m an Evie-Bird.” She flapped her arms.
“I thought it was Evie-Love?” I teased.
“Because you love me?” Hope glowed around the child like the rays of light streaming in from the window.
My heart expanded. Pushed at my ribs. Threatened to burst.
My fingers kept brushing through her hair, the air both heavy and light. “That’s right, Evelyn. Because I love you. So much.”
And that glowing that surrounded her like a halo turned luminescent.
“I love you because you’re my very most favorite day,” she said, her smile showing off the gaps in her teeth.
My spirit thrashed, and I cupped her cheek. “And you are mine. So, what do you say you and I go make this day amazing?”
Hopping on her knees, she grinned. “I like this idea very much.”
I tapped her nose.
“You go get dressed, and I’m going to, too, then I’ll meet you downstairs so we can get breakfast and pack our lunches.”
“Deal.” She shoved out her hand.
I was caught in her sweetness. Her adorableness. Everything I hadn’t known I’d been missing.
I shook her hand. “It’s a deal, Evie-Love.”
She scrambled off the bed and hightailed it out of my room in the direction of hers, and I tossed off my covers, stretching.
A residual pleasure danced through my body.
Tiny tingles of rapture.
A grin tweaked at the edge of my mouth as my thoughts spiraled back to yesterday. That rigid, stony man going pliable in my hands.
I went into the en suite bathroom and washed my face and brushed my teeth, then I changed into some jeans and a tee and grabbed my hat, heading downstairs and into the kitchen.
Caleb was at the table, lit up like a dark god where he sat beneath the window tapping at something on his laptop.
My fallen angel so gorgeous there beneath the light that kissed the sharp edges of his face.
He looked up when he felt me hovering at the periphery of the room. A scowl was etched into his brow. I couldn’t hold back the laugh that crawled up my throat.
So damned grumpy.
“You’re looking awful cranky over there. And here I thought I blew your mind twice yesterday.” I let it go as a tease.
Caleb all but growled. “I’m not cranky.”
“No?”
“No,” he gritted. “I’m trying to get in touch with the investigator in Seattle. He didn’t return my calls yesterday when I tried to let him know about the letter I received.”
All the teasing drained from my being. I hated that I hadn’t picked up on where his distress was coming from.
I was also thankful that he’d offered the information.
Trusted me to hold it.
“Does it usually take him awhile to get in touch with you?”
Air puffed from his nose as he tapped at his keyboard while he spoke, “He’s completely incompetent. But it doesn’t matter. Finding him is my job.”
He looked up at me.
Intensity fired from the fiery depths of those icy eyes.
Right.
He wanted to be the one.
Fear curled down my spine. Sickness landed like a stone in the pit of my stomach at the thought of him being hurt. Of him finding the same fate as his sister.
Of it happening to Evelyn.
Horror rolled up my throat without permission, and my hand went to the island for support. I couldn’t imagine it, and I knew I’d do the same to protect her as Caleb was contemplating.
“I hate that you’re afraid. Are you sure you don’t want to leave?” Regret passed through his features.
“It’s not me I’m afraid for, Caleb.” It came out choked. Hard and furious and filled with the type of devotion I’d never felt before.
Tearing myself from his gaze, I moved deeper into the kitchen, heading directly for the coffee pot that he’d already brewed. I hiked up on my toes so I could grab a mug, then I froze when I felt the presence enclose from behind.
Severe.
Sharp.
Overpowering.
I gasped when he plastered his hot body against my back, his cock hard at my ass.
He leaned over me, his mouth coming to my ear. “For the record, you more than blew my mind yesterday, Paisley Dae. You demolished it.”
