CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

I had been in bed for almost an hour (not sleeping), when my door opened and Alex walked in. He wore pajama bottoms and nothing else, but I forced myself to ignore my body (mostly because it was suddenly horny), and closed my eyes. The dip of the bed had me opening them again and I found myself face-to-face with Alex. “What do you want?”

His answer was to run his lips across my neck, and then his mouth was on mine and I was being pulled on top of him as his hand slid into my hair. I turned my head, breaking the kiss, and laid my hand over his mouth. “Green.”

Alex sighed and rolled me so we were facing each other. “I just want you safe.”

“I get it, honey. I do. And I appreciate that… to a point.” I stroked his check. “I don’t really know why I’m mad, honestly. I watch Bailey and Macey and see how crazy they get with Brock and Dallas, and I think I just…”

“Overreacted?”

I slapped his chest. “Can we both admit to a little overreaction?”

He slipped his hand under my cami and stroked my back. “I’m not overreacting.”

“This is not the way to get back into my bed, Hawk.”

“In case you didn’t notice, I am back in your bed.” He moved his hand to cup my breast.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from arching into his touch. “Can we just talk for a second?”

He moved his hand to my back again. “If you’ll give me until the end of your break to be with you every second, then I’ll pull back when you go back to work.”

“How will you get this sorted if you’re with me every second?”

“Fuck me, Payton. Just give me this.”

“Daddy?” Lily called, and Alex was out of the bed and at the door in seconds.

“Hey, baby girl.” He walked out of the room, returning with her in his arms. “You have a bad dream?”

Lily nodded, sniffling into his neck.

I held my arms out. “Want to sleep in here tonight?”

“We’ll all sleep in here,” Alex said.

Lily smiled through her tears and Alex set her on the bed before closing the door. I held the covers up and Lily climbed between them. She wrapped her arms around my waist and snuggled close, Alex sandwiched her in and kissed me, then her. “Love you, baby girl.”

“Wuv you too, Daddy.” She lifted her head and kissed my cheek. “’Night, Mama.”

“Night, baby. I love you.”

“Wuv you, too, Payton.”

I smiled at Alex and slid my arm around his waist. He did the same and we gave Lily a protective little enclosure to keep her safe.

“We’ll talk more tomorrow,” he whispered.

I nodded and he kissed me again.

My last coherent thought was how amazing it was that such a tiny little body could produce so much heat. I ended up throwing the blankets off my legs in an effort not to burn up.

* * *

I woke to an empty bed again and debated on getting up, but the pull of Alex and the fact I got him for the next week kind of won out.

I dressed quickly and made my way upstairs to find him. Lily was at the kitchen island, crayon in hand, concentrating on the coloring book in front of her. My mom was closing up the dishwasher as I walked in.

I kissed Lily’s head and smiled. “Morning, honey.”

“Hi,” she said, and smiled.

“Coffee’s in the pot, honey,” Mom said.

“Thanks.” I grabbed a cup and then leaned next to Lily. “I love your picture.”

“Fank you.”

“Where’s Daddy?”

She didn’t look up as she said, “On the woof.”

“He’s helping Dad and Brock with the lights,” my mom clarified.

Brock and Bailey must have come by earlier. “Where’s Bailey?”

“She went upstairs to take a nap. I think she’s coming down with a cold,” Mom said.

“Ew, no fun,” I said. “I’ll go check on Alex.”

I opened the slider and peeked outside. Alex was up on the ladder, tugging at a string of lights, his eyes narrowed in concentration. I bit my lip, our argument the night before quickly forgotten at the sight of jeans slung low on his hips, and his T-shirt sliding up revealing his flat stomach.

“Hi honey.”

“Hey, babe,” he said, continuing to focus on the job at hand.

“Hawk, I’m going to drop down a string,” my dad called.

When did Dad start calling him ‘Hawk’?