Page 140 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

He chuckled. “Agreed.”

He grabbed a handful of her hair, pulled her head back and nibbled from the base of her neck to under her chin.

“Mmm. Less talk and more of that,” she encouraged.

“Agreed,” he repeated in a murmur against her skin.

He not only agreed, he followed through, leaving her well satisfied for the second time that evening.

As soon as her mind cleared and her breathing returned to normal, she began to plan tomorrow night’s dinner.

* * *

“Grumpa thinks you’re a cop,”Keenan announced around a mouthful of shrimp quesadillas. A stray string of cheese clung precariously to his bottom lip.

Liyah shook her head. “Napkin!”

Kee’s face twisted in annoyance, but he scrubbed a napkin over his mouth, anyway.

Nox responded, “Your grandfather’s pretty smart.”

Keenan’s deep brown eyes went wide as did his now-clean mouth. “He was right?Oooooh.” He turned to Liyah. “He’s gonna besooooomad at you, Mom.”

“He’ll get over it,” Liyah informed her youngest, hoping that was true. And if it wasn’t, Magnum would simply have to live being butt hurt. Her father did not have a say in who she dated. Or “boinked,” for that matter. Even if he thought he did.

Even so, her father getting over the fact she was “dating” a cop would only matter if said cop stuck. And right now, it was a bit too early for that, since Nox was still on the bumpy path to healing.

Good thing Liyah had plenty of patience.

She wasn’t in a rush to get in any kind of serious relationship, and she certainly wasn’t worried about the ticking of her internal clock. She glanced at the males that she birthed already. Those two were plenty enough.

And her career and business was right where she wanted it. Successful but manageable.

“Where are you a pig?”

“Keenan!” Liyah scolded. “What did I tell you about calling police officers that? It’s not only disrespectful to your brother’s father but it’s insulting to the man sitting across from you. Would you be okay with him calling you a brat to your face?”

Kee pouted. “But I’m not a brat.”

Liyah’s eyebrows shot to the top of her forehead. “Says who?”

His mouth gaped open. “But Mom…”

“Don’t you dare ‘but, Mom,’ me. I told you that terminology is not permitted in this house. Ever. I guess your visits with Grumpa will need to be limited if you have to repeat everything he says.”

“But Mom!” Panic filling Keenan’s eyes at the thought of not being able to spend weekends with his grandparents.

“You just made it clear that you need to learn some respect and you’re not learning it at his house.” It was an empty threat. She’d never limit her sons’ time with Magnum and Cait, or their kids, but still…

Apparently, she needed to haveanotherconversation with her father and his use of that insult around her boys. She would also threaten him with limited time spent with his grandchildren.

Again, the threat might be empty but hopefully it would be effective.

“Finish your dinner and don’t you ever call any law enforcement officer that again. Not under this roof and not outside of this house, either. Understood?”

Keenan’s mouth tightened. “Yes.”

“Next time I hear you say it, you’ll be grounded, too. Now apologize to Nox.”

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