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“Hmm?”
“Is it wrong to wonder if seeing Zach is great, but losing Charlie would make things awful?”
I elbowed him gently. “Not at all. Charlie is… he’s your nephew, and he’s something special.”
“But Zach is his dad, and my brother, and…”
I tugged him closer, carding my hand through his hair. “Things will work out.”
The game show’s laughter became a distant hum, overshadowed by the silence in my head as Jax leaned in and kissed my cheek, a feather-light caress that sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine.
“Maybe just one kiss?” he asked.
I turned my head to meet his steady gaze. Time stood still, everything else fading aside from that one connection between us.
With a groan, and lithe as a teenager, he straddled my lap. I felt the first brush of his lips against mine. I chased for another kiss, and we shared a smile that spoke volumes, an acknowledgment that, somehow, we were doing this until the moment Charlie was awake. Jax wriggled, settling deeper into my embrace, and we made out like horny teenagers until Charlie woke up, and by the time we were back in Jax’s bed, having made love in my room, I was exhausted and happy to have him curl into my side.
I woke just after four;Jax not in bed beside me and the crib empty. Padding down the stairs, I followed the sound of Jax’s voice and wandered into the living room to find him walking and bobbing Charlie, and I placed a finger on my lips to show I’d stay quiet. Charlie was sleeping on Jax’s shoulder, so peaceful, and stayed asleep when Jax placed him with care on the second sofa where he’d been earlier.
“I found a good movie,” Jax murmured. “If you’re awake now?”
I clutched his hand and tumbled us both back to the sofa, Jax curling in next to me.
“I’m awake,” I lied.
We fell asleep in each other’s arms.
ChapterTwenty-One
Jax
Something wet drippedon my face and, half asleep, I imagined we had a water leak, which in my mind’s way led to swimming, and then, me being naked with Arlo and swimming. I snuggled into his hold, and then, there was another drip, and I blinked awake. Leo was standing a few feet in front of me, a bottle of water in his hand, just about to flick water at me again, with Reid standing next to him holding a wide-awake Charlie.
“The fu—Leo? Reid?” I managed, and dragged a hand down my face, wincing, my voice thick with sleep.
Leo froze, caught in the act. “Morning, little brother,” he said, and next to him Reid snorted.
I rubbed my eyes, my jaw cracking in a wide yawn. Beside me, Arlo began to stir as well, groaning and muttering something about being too old for this shit.
“What are you staring at us for?” I asked and pointed at Leo, “and why are you flicking water at me?”
Leo smirked, the fucker. “Brotherly love,” he deadpanned. “Reid wanted me to use a Sharpie and draw a mustache.”
“I never said that,” Reid defended, but his lips twitched. I swear having these two made me wonder about the good side of having yet another brother in my life if Zach ever turned up.
“I totally mind read you,” Leo told Reid with all seriousness.
I held up a hand—it was way too early for the Leo/Reid brothers-united-against-me show. “You’re a… you’re both.
“I fed Charlie,” Leo said with a grin. “Who’s the best brother now?”
Reid huffed. “Given I was on diaper duty, that would be me.”
Arlo yawned and stretched—his gaze landing on my brothers—and stiffened. “What’s going on?”
I glanced at Arlo and looked away before turning my attention back to Leo and Reid who were grinning at us, Reid’s phone up to take a photo of me and Arlo on the sofa.
He snapped the shot, a teasing grin on his lips. “We couldn’t resist. You two looked soadorable.” He even added a little kid’s voice to that single word, which meant he was so dead, as soon as I unwrapped myself from Arlo. “This is going in the family chat.”
