Page 42 of Protect Home
I feel lucky.
But he has to understand that this is purely for the baby, andwecan’t happen again. “Fine. I appreciate you wanting to be involved so much. But we need to set some ground rules.”
August smiles before reaching into the fridge and cracking open a cold beer. Already making himself at home, I see. It’s not like I can drink them, anyway.
“Hit me,” he says before catching himself. “Not literally, please.”
His ability to be playful after I just went batshit crazy on him is alleviating.
I feel lighter already, so that’s a good sign. “Okay. Rule number one: we respect each other’s space. That means if your door or my door is shut, we stay out. That’s a no-go zone.”
He nods. “No entering closed doors. Got it. What’s next?”
“Rule number two: you do your part to help out. I hate it about myself, but I’m a neat freak and even more so pregnant.”
“Mama, I have a bumpin’ cleaning playlist. You just wait. You’ll have to yank the broom from my cold, dead hands.”
I smile.Has he always been this funny and easygoing?
“And rule number three,” I say, hesitating slightly. “No funny business.”
His brows rise. “Define funny business.”
“No fucking.”
A slow smirk crests his face. “Fuck, I love how blunt you are. Say it again,” he teases.
I cut him a sharp look, making him backpedal slightly. “Okay, okay,” he tells me, holding his hands up in surrender. “We have a deal.”
I reach my hand out to shake his, and just when I think he’ll detach, his thumb ghosts the top of it. It’s the faintest touch, but enough to send goosebumps across my skin.
“Great. Well...” I stutter awkwardly. “Welcome home. The room upstairs to the right is empty for you.” Then I turn to Zion, who’s been eavesdropping this entire time. “Let’s go, you little slut.”
August chuckles, and I move past him, but not before his hand closest to me locks onto my wrist, and his steady voice meets my ear, “Might wanna rethink the towel next time, beautiful. We never covered the fine print.”
I don’t respond, just take off in my now-drenched towel with a rapidly beating heart.
15
AUGUST
“Venom,” I shout, crossing the threshold of the condo. “Come hither.”
A bright blonde head of hair launches up from the couch, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “Must you yell?” Tenley’s raspy voice scolds me.
I’ve never loved the view more. Except, shit. I think she was asleep.
“Were you sleeping? Fuck. I’m sorry.” I rush to her side.
“Don’t worry about it.” She waves me off. “I tried, but it’s nearly impossible these days.”
“Is that normal?”
She shrugs. “I guess so. The weird thing is that I’m exhausted, but it’s like my body won’t let me relax. That’s why I’ve been taking so many baths. They help.”
Yeah, I’ve noticed.It’s been two weeks since I moved in, and it seems like every time I try to give Tenley her space and stay out of her way, temptation meets me at the fucking door.
So, yeah. I’ve noticed she’s been taking a lot of baths. Multiple a day, actually, but who’s counting?
