Page 40 of Shelter for Tanna

“I don’t want to,” Max announced.

“Max?”

Braden interrupted Tanna immediately. “I’ve got it, doll. Max, do you like PEZ?”

“Yes.”

“Then you’re going to have to start earning them. Not just for appropriate interactions, but for helping out around the house. I think that’s only fair.”

“It’snotfair!” Max yelled.

“Yes. It is. We’re paying you with PEZ, and we should get our money’s worth. And asking you to help clean up after you’ve eaten a meal that somebody else has cooked for you and served to you shouldn’t be too much to ask. At work, I do what I’m asked and I get paid in money. At home, you do what you’re asked and you’ll get paid in PEZ. Sound fair?”

“No!”

“Yes. It does. I’ll give you a chance to think about it, okay? You decide. The PEZ are right up there, and when you’ve thought about it and want to get paid, then you let me know. Come on, Daniel. Let’s get started.” With that, Braden and Daniel started cleaning up things in the kitchen.

Ten minutes later, as she flipped through a book in the living room, Max ran up to her, his grin a mile wide. “Look! I got paid! PEZ!”

“Very good! I’m proud of you.” And she was. Her younger son was contributing to the household. All through the years it had just been easier to do things herself than to argue with him. That hadn’t done him any favors. Braden, on the other hand, wasn’t afraid to push him, and it was paying off.

Plus it was seven thirty in the evening and she was sitting on the sofa, looking through a book. When was the last time she’d been able to do that? Tanna couldn’t begin to remember.

They watched a couple of TV shows?Braden had cable and she didn’t?and then it was bedtime for the boys. Tanna was a little concerned they’d be too excited to sleep, but in just a few minutes, they were soundly out for the night.

She and Braden spent an hour in the living room, snuggled together on the sofa, making sure the boys had plenty of time to fall into a deep sleep. They talked about her house, his house, the kids’ schools, his truck, her car, and Jessica and David and how they’d like to spend some time together as couples. At ten o’clock, Braden gave her a good squeeze. “You about ready for bed?”

“Yep. You?”

“Never readier. Let’s go, gorgeous.” When he stood, he reached down and took her hand, helping her up from the sofa. As soon as she was on her feet, he gave her ass a playful slap and she giggled.

Oh, boy. We’re gonna do it!her brain hummed, and she was as excited as she’d ever been in her life. Braden Nichols was about to claim her, and she was ready to be claimed.

* * *

“You about ready for bed?” Braden asked, hoping she’d say yes.

“Yep. You?”

“Never readier. Let’s go, gorgeous.” With a hand to help her up, Braden watched as that deliciously curvy body rose from the sofa, and he felt his heart tremble in his chest.God, don’t let me mess this up, he whispered inside his head. That almost made him chuckle aloud. She couldn’t possibly know how nervous he was, how anxious he was to please her. This woman couldn’t get away from him. He wouldn’t let that happen. Whatever it took to satisfy her, he was ready to deliver. Before he took a step to follow her, he reached out and smacked her naughty butt. That got a giggle out of her, and he had to grin. The night was going to be more fun than he’d imagined.

He let her go first in the bathroom and waited, stripping off in the meantime until he was down to his boxer briefs. One look down told him there was no point in trying to hide his excitement, and maybe he shouldn’t. Maybe she should know what she did to him, realize it right away, know she had that power over him. His body, or at least a prominent part of it, was a giant advertisement for how he felt about hers, and letting her see that had to be a good idea.

She stepped out of the bathroom, took one look at him, and her mouth dropped open. “No. It’s not a flashlight in my pocket. I really am glad to see you!” he said with a laugh.

Her face was blood red, and he loved it. “Uh, okay! So, um, I think I’ll get under the covers and wait for you, if that works for you.”

“Sure. Be right back.” Braden hustled into the bathroom, brushed his teeth, cleaned up a little, and brushed his hair. It was doing its own thing, and he really didn’t care. It would be messed up in a few minutes anyway.

He stepped back into the bedroom to find her under the covers and his bedside lamp on. As soon as he slid under the sheet and lightweight blanket, he reached for her. “Um, light?” she said quietly and pointed.

“Honestly, I like it on, but if it bothers you, we can turn it off. But I do wantsomelight. How ‘bout if I turn on the bathroom light and leave the door open just a crack?”

“I, uh, I don’t know?”

“Tanna.” Braden lay there, gazing into her eyes, and he could see the fear there. “No matter what, you’re beautiful to me. I’m crazy about you. There’s nothing about you I don’t like.”

“Stretch marks and muffin top and?”

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