Page 115 of Nothing to Fear

His arm around her clenched, pinning her to him. Dipping, he kissed her, just for a brief moment; even in that whisper she tasted his possession.

“Soon as you give up your heart to me, I’ll never surrender or abandon it.”

“If you two are done with the gooey gazes, pick a movie.”

“A movie?”

Breckenridges as far as the eye could see. The young ones were on the couches, now there were three in the room and a couple more on the recliners.

“Thought I was supposed to rest,” Darroch said as his brothers passed around popcorn and snacks.

“Do that,” Caber said, dropping onto another chair, smirking. “Pretend we’re not even here.”

Though he stayed quiet, Darroch’s irritation showed in his face.

She laughed and kissed him. “They wouldn’t be your brothers if they didn’t wind you up. I think it’s cute.”

“There may be another Breckenridge injury tonight. Next one won’t be mine.”

“We can cuddle,” she said, raising his arm over her head to wrap it around her.

“Cuddling,” he said with no intonation. “Every guy’s wet dream… when he’s thirteen.”

“Oh, am I in the wrong place?” She raised her interest. “Should I be cuddling with Astor? He won’t mind I’m not wearing a bra, will he?”

His arm clenched tight around her. “Not a fucking chance.”

“Good.” Wriggling, she relished his heat and solidity. A real, tangible man, her man. “I don’t take this for granted.”

He kissed the top of her head and that was enough. Surrounded by his family, the lights were dimmed, and the movie started. Being in the Breckenridge bubble was a blessing. She hardly recognized her life. Fate had a great way of making her point.

THIRTY-SEVEN

MMM, THE SMOOTH texture of his heated skin demanded the salve of her kiss. Without opening her eyes, she angled her chin, rolling her cheek against him to taste his pec, his sternum, his—

“Cherry.”

The rasp of his rough morning voice inspired her leg to slide over his and her kiss to ascend. His throat, his chin—

“Baby, I love your thinking, encourage it—”

“Shh,” she whispered, resting her fingertips on his lips, rubbing her cheek against his stubble. “You feel so good.”

“Uh huh, again, appreciated,” he said and coiled his strong fingers around her delicate wrist to liberate his lips. “Any other day—”

She kissed him, freeing her hand to slide it down his stomach.

“I’ll feel good, baby.”

“Oh, that I know for sure.” As her nails met the waistband of his sweats, he grabbed her hand hard. The sudden startling act opened her eyes to blink down at him. “You might want to check the end of the bed before putting the stick in drive.”

The bed? Twisting to do as he—his brothers. Astor was peeking over the back of a couch, more than a few smirks occupied other faces around the room, even those with closed eyes. But it was Buoy, sweet, little Buoy lying on his stomach on the end of their bed, coloring as always, that made everything okay.

God, she’d almost…

Her guy snatched her wrist, pulling her hand from its place of support, collapsing her body onto his.

He kissed her palm. “Any other day, Sweet Cherry. Though… I could use a shower.”

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