Page 82 of Sweet Thing

So this could go nowhere, but at least we’d satisfied the lust and hopefully dampened the spark. My phone said it was just after six, which meant Mabel was probably hungry.

I did my best to slip out of Adeline’s arms without waking her and pulled my boxer briefs on quickly. I couldn’t help taking a moment to appreciate her lying there, her dark hair fanned out on the pillow, her snoring soft and endearing.

This is it. The last time you’ll see her in this well-fucked, pliable state.

Sighing, I headed into my room where Mabel was already awake. Though I had kept the monitor on the nightstand, last night was the first time she’d slept alone since she’d come to live with me. She had managed to pull herself up to a sitting position and was gripping the bar of the crib like an Alcatraz felon proclaiming her innocence.

“What’s goin’ on, Mabel? You trying to escape?”

I picked her up and inhaled her baby scent. A strange peace came over me. I might not be the best dad in the world, but Mabel didn’t know that—at least not yet. I could figure this out. Adeline would help me.

Except her presence here was temporary. And while everything might feel better when she was around, I still had to take care of business.

I changed Mabel—I was a dab hand at it now—and after washing up, took her downstairs to eat. Formula and applesauce, her favorite combo. While I waited for the formula to heat, I checked my phone to see if my run-in with MacFarlane last night was on anyone’s radar yet.

Bingo.

I had a text from Ryder asking me to call him ASAP. A voice mail from Natalie in PR. On the other hand, the Rebels text thread was unusually quiet, probably because MacFarlane was part of it, and no one wanted to appear to be taking sides without further information. There were also a couple of messages from Jacobs about inviting Mabel over to hang with his daughter and the Rebels toddler set.

Nothing from Theo yet. It wouldn’t be long, and I needed to think about my strategy around him. For the first time, I would have to lie to my friend.

The bottle warmer beeped and I sat at the kitchen table, feeding my daughter while I worked out how best to cover my tracks. It wasn’t as if Theo would ask outright. I wouldn’t have to lie to his face; I would justnottell him.

The classic fallback of liars and cheaters everywhere. Not so different from the old man.

When were you going to tell me you’ve been placing wagers in my name, Dad?

What you didn’t know didn’t hurt you.

Until it did. Until it almost destroyed my career before it started.

Mabel finished her bottle, gave me a gassy grin, and burped to her satisfaction. I puttered about the kitchen, noting the supplies I needed to order to make Mabel’s food from scratch. Cooking was something I’d always enjoyed, a way to settle my brain when I wasn’t playing hockey. Making baby food was probably not a good use of my time, but I liked the idea of my daughter eating something produced by my hands. I could buy her everything else.

I settled her back in her crib and watched for a few minutes as she punched the air and chatted away in that funny language of hers. I made sure she had Bear nearby, then I went back into the bedroom.

Adeline was still dead to the world—I’d worked that gorgeous body good, and just the sight of her constricted my heart. I hated the idea of giving her up, but the longer this went on, the riskier it became. I stepped into the shower, thinking I should head to the Rebels HQ gym and get some work in before facing the music in the front office.

A minute later, the shower door opened behind me and a soft hand touched my back. Looking over my shoulder, I found a naked Adeline. God, she was perfect.

“Did I wake you?” I placed my hands on her hips and pulled her close to the part of me that still ached for her.

“No. Maybe. I checked on Mabel. She looked like a happy, dry-bottomed, well-fed baby.”

“Doesn’t take much to satisfy her.”

She smiled. “Don’t underestimate your contribution here. You’re better at this than you give yourself credit for.”

“Couldn’t do it without you.” I inclined my head, nuzzled my nose against hers, and took her mouth with my own. Christ, the sweetness of her. Her taste, her pliancy, the support I felt with her near—it overwhelmed me with its purity.

“Last night,” she murmured, her lips close to my chest. “Was amazing.” Her eyes were round and tinged with a frankness that scared me.

“It was. You were.”

“We both were.” She ran a hand over my chest, coasted it down to by abs and wrapped it around my willing cock. “I know we didn’t talk about what comes next—and if you want me to leave?—”

“Said while she strokes me just the way I like it.”

“Can’t you stop anytime?”

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