Page 90 of Nothing to Fear

“If I don’t need my mom’s permission to have sex, you sure don’t.”

“Were your other girlfriends close to her?”

“No woman has ever asked my mom’s permission to have sex with me.”

“I’m not asking her permission, it’s more like… guidance.” When he tried to retreat, she pulled herself against him again. “This is a compliment.”

“Struggling to see it that way, babe.”

“I want you to stick around.” She kissed his torso. “I don’t want to lose you. Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Would be if you weren’t also implying I’m a shallow jerk only interested in getting lucky.”

“I don’t think that.” She laughed. He didn’t. She cleared her throat. “Your mom has taught me so much about valuing myself and how purpose can matter. Maybe I want to tell our future son’s future girlfriend how we got our start.”

“Hard to have a son if you won’t have sex with me,” he grumbled then threw both arms around her. “Whatever you want, Cherry.”

“Am I not worth the wait?”

“Whatever you want.” He kissed her again. “Happy wife…”

She smiled. “Thank you, Gentleman. You’ll still protect me?”

“Even more. I haven’t caught your pussy yet.”

When she shoved him, he pulled her onto the bed with him. Gentleman was right. Other guys may not be so understanding. The Breckenridge men really weren’t like any others.

TWENTY-EIGHT

“YOU’VE BEEN AMAZING TODAY.”

“I’m amazing every day,” Darroch said, stacking the latest box on top of another.

“You spoke to both landlords, helped me pack, listened to more than one of my meltdowns.”

“It’s my job, Cherry, as the designated guy in your life.”

And he hadn’t lost his shit or sulked once. Maybe coming from such a large family taught him the art of diplomacy… and patience.

“It’s almost midnight,” she said, glancing down at her phone screen. “You got any juice left?”

“Juice for what?” he asked with an intrigued double brow bob as he swooped down to the floor beside her. “You talk to my mom today?” Wasn’t that just the question. And a hilarious one. How often had that been on his mind? “I heard you on the phone before dinner.”

“When you were taking a shower? Were you eavesdropping?”

“Maybe a little bit. What did she say?”

“You’re eager as a schoolboy,” she said, draping her arms around his neck when he pulled her into his lap. “Yes, okay, I spoke to your mother. I said we were getting frisky last night and I put a stop to it because I was worried about losing your affection.”

“And she told you her boys weren’t like that, she’d been wrong about my father, and reminded you I’m crazy about you.”

“No,” she said, rocking against him. “Actually, she said I did exactly the right thing.” He frowned. “She used the words ‘never prouder,’ I think she’s considering adopting me too.”

“Ah-ha,” he said in a false laugh, his arms closing tight around her. “You had me ‘til then. She knows how desperate I am to knock you up, she’d never pass up a chance of having babies around.”

“Knock me up, huh?”

“You wanted a son…” Slowly, deliberately, he laid her down. “I can make that happen.”

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