Page 64 of Until Forever

I glance over to Latoya, who’s watching us with a smirk, then back to him. “I’m sure we can make that happen.”

JJ throws his arms around my neck, and I nearly lose my balance.

“Thank you.” He turns to his mother, running back to her for one more hug.

This time she stops what she’s doing to return his embrace, kissing him on the forehead and wishing him goodnight. JJ leaves the kitchen with more pep in his step while Latoya and I observe him proudly.

After several minutes he returns, dressed in his pajamas. “Ready for bed now,” he announces.

Latoya looks at him. “Brushed your teeth?”

“Yesssss,” he drags out. “I’m not a baby anymore, you don’t have to always tell me.”

She smiles and leans against the sink with a hand on her hip. I blink, breaking the concentration I had on watching her ass through that skirt as she worked.

“Excuse me, little man.” She chuckles.

My knees crack as I stand and follow behind him, sitting on the edge of his bed after he’s gotten under the covers. When we first agreed that I’d be moving in, this part of the night was a fight for Latoya and me. To make things fair for the two of us, we now take turns tucking him in.

Tonight is my turn.

JJ smiles and pulls his Black Panther blanket up to his chest. Then he reaches for the teddy bear he keeps on the bed and snuggles it next to him. It’s worn out and discolored, but from what Latoya tells me, he won’t let her wash it. I shake my head, imagining all the germs the damn thing holds.

“All set now?” I ask and tuck the corners of his comforter around his body.

“Yes.”

“Awesome.”

I lean forward to plant a kiss on his forehead, but he holds me in place when he hugs me. After a moment, he releases me, and I stand, giving him one final glance before heading for the door.

“Goodnight, bud.” I reach for the light switch.

“Goodnight, Dad.”

I’ll never get tired of hearing him call me that. A few months ago, this—the life we have now—was the furthest thing from my mind. I knew I wanted her back. The moment I got the call about my dad, the thing that I thought about most was finding a way to see her. A kid wasn’t on my mind, and now that I’ve met him, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

This is it.

This is what she and I have always talked about. Yeah, it looks a lot different than the way we planned, with one very long detour and years of growing on my part.

But we’re here. And I love every minute of it.

I stand in the doorway, watching as sleep takes over his body and his breaths even out. Then I find my woman, the need to be near her wrecking through me, nearly consuming me.

Latoya is sitting on the couch, remote in hand while flipping through the channels. Her face is twisted up, and she toys with a strand of hair at the back of her neck. I pluck the remote from her fingertips, flinging it somewhere in the room.

“Hey!” she yelps.

But I ignore her outrage and instead wrap my fingers around her wrists and yank her to me. With our hands pinned between us, I crash my mouth onto hers, savoring the taste of her.

She moans softly, her body already responding to me like it always does. “What was that for?”

“I love you. I love you so fucking much,” I admit with a heavy breath. “That kid in there…that proves to me that I’ve loved you long before either of us really knew what love was.”

Her gaze moves across my face, and soon her breathing matches mine. Hard and out of control. I stop her before she can speak with my lips on hers again, but this time she leads.

This time losing herself, her sexuality blooming its beautiful head. Soft moans and the grinding of her hips builds as the tension grows.

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