Page 120 of Dad Next Door

“Do you want to take a shower together?” he asked. “As much as I don’t want to move, I’m fading, and things are getting a bit uncomfortable, if you know what I mean.”

I did know what he meant. Going bare was awesome, but it was messy.

“Yeah, I’m fading too. Although I’m not sure if that’s because of the week that wouldn’t end or from getting the dicking of a lifetime.”

He spluttered with laughter and gently smacked my ass. “Cheeky.”

“Maybe.” I laughed with him. “Okay. Time to get up before we can’t. On three. One. Two. Three.”

Neither of us moved.

Laughing harder, Tristan smacked my ass again and rolled onto his back so he could sit up.

I’d assumed my head would be a mess of thoughts and half-processed emotions now that the sex was over, but it wasn’t.

My mind was quiet, and the only feelings rolling around inside me were satisfaction and love.

A part of me still couldn’t believe I’d just blurted my feelings out like that, but the other part was glad because now I knew for sure that what we had was real.

Tristan wasn’t just my best friend and the man I loved; he was my partner in every way that mattered. He saw me, he accepted me, and he loved me for me.

“Coming?” he asked when I didn’t move to follow him.

“Yeah.” I pushed up on my hands, my body still a bit shaky. “Just enjoying the view.”

He held out his hand, a soft smile on his lips. I took it and let him pull me off the bed.

24

TRISTAN

Strong arms wrapped around my middle as Quinn hugged me from behind.

I leaned back against him and put my tablet on the kitchen counter, the contract I’d been reading forgotten. “Hey.”

“Hey.” He kissed my cheek. “Time to pry yourself away from that paperwork. Our guests will be here any moment.”

“Group hug!” Leo came barreling into the kitchen and threw his arms around my middle, squeezing hard. I let out a little gasp as my breath was forced from my lungs.

Quinn shifted his arms so he could hug both of us.

“Did someone say group hug?” Nick asked, poking his head into the kitchen.

“Nick’s here,” Leo announced proudly.

“Get over here, kid.” Quinn held out one arm to Nick.

With a giggle, Nick darted over and joined in our hug.

“Awww, do we all get a hug?” Zane asked, a smirk on his lips as he leaned against the doorway to the kitchen.

“Oh yeah. Zane’s here.” Leo looked up at me. “And Noah and River and Hayden too.”

The chime of the doorbell interrupted whatever Quinn had started to say to Zane.

“I’ll get it,” River yelled from the entrance.

Leo and Nick stepped back from our hug.

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