Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
She makes a soft whimpering noise and when some of the hot fudge dribbles down my chest, she leans forward to lick it off.
I groan at the contact, then her lips go lower, hitting puckered skin. There’s sensation, but it’s different than on the rest of my body. She hasn’t asked about the burns that mar my skin or the obvious grafts I never quite grew into.
She pauses and looks up at me. “Sorry. Does it hurt there?”
“Feels good,” I reassure her as I set the dishes on the nightstand. She goes back to pressing kisses, and I thread my fingers through her hair. “Do you want to hear that story?”
She leans back and cups my face, just like I did with her earlier. “Only if you want to share.”
It’s not a story I’ve ever told anyone. I never saw the point in it but with Chloe, things are different. I want her to know every part of my life. I want to her to see everything. Because this woman is unflinching in her affection and steadfast in her love. She hasn’t said it yet, and I haven’t said it either. But I know. I feel it deep in my gut. It’s OK though. I can be patient for a little while longer.
“My mom spent most of my childhood high as a kite. So, it fell to me to look after myself and Cassie. One day when I was about nine, I tipped a pot of boiling stew over. Rinsed it off and thought everything was OK until I realized it wasn’t.”
I was fortunate that a neighbor came in and insisted on taking me to the hospital. But it was the start of a lot of horrible things. Surgeries and grafts and being separated from Cassie.
“Oh, Micah,” she whispers.
“That wasn’t the worst part. They took us away from her and we went into the system.” I shake my head. “Saw so much fucked up shit there. That’s why I can’t let Abby go into it. Not ever.”
“We’ll find a way to keep her safe.” Her eyes are filled with tears.
I squeeze her hip again as we snuggle deeper into the pillows and blankets. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“It still shouldn’t have happened to you.”
“There were good homes,” I reassure her. “Some really great ones. But then there were the ones that were so bad Cassie and I would run away. We’d sleep on the streets. I’ll never forget how cold it gets on a park bench.”
I think of all the teens I meet who are out there, cold and hungry and alone. Most of them have passed that “cute” age where they’re adoptable, and their complex needs from years of trauma means that it takes a very special person to parent them. “When Abby is older, I want to take some of them in. The teenagers.”
She puts her head on my shoulder. “We’ll do that. We’ll adopt as many of them as our house can hold, just like your parents did.”
I stroke her hair. “They were a light in the dark. I used to wonder why my life has always been so hard. I thought maybe I was bad and deserved bad things. But more and more, I think it’s because I’m meant to help.”
She fights a yawn. “You’re a good man.”
“And you’re sleepy.”
“Your fault. You wore me out.”
“Then sleep. Our daughter will be awake and hungry soon.” I press a kiss to her forehead before drifting into a quiet slumber filled with dreams of my little family. If all this suffering was necessary to get to this point, then I’d gladly go through it again. Because I get to be here for little Abby and my beautiful soon-to-be wife. She doesn’t know that part yet. But the first chance I get, I’m slipping a ring on this woman’s finger. She’ll wear my ring and carry my babies and together, we’ll build a life.
“Don’t you do that,” I growl at the mirror. I’ve just gotten out of the shower and a towel is slung low on my hips. Abby was awake most of the night and finally went to sleep about an hour ago. Her sleep schedule is messed up. But we’ll figure out how to fix it. It amazes me how no problem seems insurmountable with Chloe by my side. I’m no longer in this parenting thing alone.
“I’m not doing anything,” Chloe protests as she rubs the lotion into her legs. Her long, smooth legs. The ones that were wrapped around my hips just minutes ago. Damn, we’re both insatiable. At this rate, I’ll have to hire a second manager for the ranch just so I can fuck my woman as often as I want.
I turn and stalk across the room. “You know exactly what you’re doing.”
“Sorry. I’m being selfish. Do you need some lotion?” She widens her eyes in innocence before tugging my towel off. My cock springs free, hard and at the ready. Of course, he is. He always will be around Chloe. All it takes is a look from her and I’m in the mood.