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Licking my lips, I contemplate how to answer. Though I don’t want her to be afraid, she’s too young to fully understand.
“He’s not a nice man,” I choose to tell her. “He and Daddy don’t get along.”
“How come?”
Ayden clears his throat before walking in and kneeling beside us. “Because he used to hurt me and my mom. I left so he couldn’t touch me again or ruin my life. Turns out, I should’ve stayed and stood up to him.”
“Why didn’t you?” Serena asks. She’s always been a curious little girl.
“I was scared. He holds a lot of power, and I was just a kid with none. I thought startin’ over somewhere else would keep me safe.”
“But then you didn’t know about me.”
Ayden’s lips tilt up in a small grin. “You’re right. I wish I had known.”
“Would you have stayed?”
“Absolutely!” He meets my eyes because we’ve already had this discussion. “I would’ve married your mama and given you a few siblings.”
I blink and swallow hard.
Thatwe did not discuss.
“Well, it’s not too late!” she exclaims, bouncing on the bed. “I’d be a good big sister now. My friend Maisie has two little brothers, and she helps her mom all the time. She even gives them baths!”
Ayden flashes me a smirk, and I swear my cheeks turn a hundred degrees hotter.
“I like that idea,” Ayden says.
I nearly choke on my tongue trying to spit out the right words. “Um...who’s hungry for supper?”
“Me! Can we have tacos?” Serena asks.
“Sure, sweetie.” I stand, then kiss the top of her head.
As I walk out, I glance over my shoulder and watch Ayden. He says something to make her laugh, and it’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. I’d love to have more babies with him, but we have a long way to go before we have that conversation.
Once I’m in the kitchen, I open the fridge doors and stand as close as I can, letting the cool air hit my flushed skin.
This man has kissed me, twice now, and him mentioning knocking me up is what has me losing my damn mind.
Blowing out some breaths, I steady myself and gather the ingredients needed. After everything’s on the counter, I get the meat on the stove and start cooking.
The steam blows in my face, and when I put on the fan, I feel two steady hands on my hips and jump.
“Jesus, you scared me.”
“Guess you didn’t hear me walkin’ in,” he murmurs against my ear and slides his tongue along the skin underneath. “What’s on that mind of yours?”
Before I can respond, he brushes my hair off to one side of my shoulders and rubs the length of his nose over my exposed neck.
I’m nearly panting by the time I find my words. “Ayden, what are you doin’?”
“Watchin’ you cook.”
With his chest flush against my back, I have no room to move except to stir the meat.
“And to ask if you needed any help,” he adds with a hint of amusement.
