Page 124 of Rival
Putting a finger on my lips, then replacing it with his mouth, he drags his lips over mine until I’m silenced. Then he says, “I won’t. I know you’ve got shit to work out there and I swear I won’t stand in the way. Just…” He trails off and lets his handroam over my little girl. “Just don’t push me out, even if she’s not mine. I still want to have everything with you. Withbothof you.”
Swallowing hard, I nod once.
Maybe he’s resigned to my indecision, but he doesn’t press me further to talk more about it. Instead, he grabs my hand and pulls me from the bathroom and into the bedroom I’ve taken over.
“Let’s lay down. I’d love if you read more to me and if you stay on your side, I’ll keep working on your back until you fall asleep.”
I eye him when he peers over his shoulder, his wink telling me he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“And I promise to keep my hands out of your pants this time, darlin’. Even if your pussy felt amazing squeezed tight around my fingers.”
Chapter Fifty-Three
Griffin
32 weeks and 1 day
Edith and I turn our heads toward the kitchen when we hear a crash, followed by cursing, disrupting us from our reading.
I’ve got her curled between my legs on Jaxon’s couch where she’s able to lean back without having the weight of her stomach crushing her lungs. Dragging my fingers across the bump, I smile to myself, impressed with how quickly this little girl is growing. It’s as if every time I see her, she’s doubled in size.
Well, her stomach, nother, and fuck anyone who makes a comment about it because our Edith is shockingly sensitive about her body right now.
Another slammed cupboard and clanking has Edith turning to glance at me over her shoulder. “Do you think they need help?”
She jumps when Mason shouts unintelligibly at Jaxon, then seconds later storms in, annoyance pouring off him.
“‘Sup buuuuuddy? Whatcha got goin’ on in there?” Laughing when he shoots me a warning glare, he picks up Edith’s feet and drops onto the end of the couch, holding on to them as if it’ll keep him from laying out Jaxon. He doesn’t notice the soft inhale from her, holding her so familiarly. They haven’t fully worked through her hurt yet and this move was done subconsciously.
He’s gritting his teeth as he digs his fingers into her arches, completely missing the way her head falls heavily to my chest at the unexpected foot rub.
I might have learned a few days ago that Edith’s feet are an erogenous zone when I gave one a squeeze to get her attention. Her reaction was instantaneous. Maybe it’s from the pregnancy, but I won’t lie; I hope this little trick sticks around because she reactsfast.I have to bite my cheek so I don’t clue him in, interested to see what happens.
“It doesn’t take a fuckin’ rocket scientist to figure out how to boil some goddamn pasta.” Putting in more effort, he seethes as he works her over. “I made the sauce, even kept the burger to a minimum since red meat isn’t sitting well for everyone. Found a recipe online for pull-apart garlic bread and got that goin’, too.”
Edith’s head lolls from side to side, eyes closed as she sinks down further against me. Leaning forward, I spy on her and catch sight of her teeth digging into her bottom lip, so I slip the hand I had resting on her stomach up a bit higher, just below her breasts.
“It’s a pot of water. You turn the fuckin’ thing on, throw in some salt and wait for it to boil. The box even says how long to cook it for! How hard—”
A low, barely perceptible, breathy moan interrupts him, and he jerks his head toward her,finallynoticing what he’s done. His hands pause on her feet, and I shake my head slowly so she doesn’t notice.
“Don’t stop, man.” I keep my voice low, grazing my fingers over her ribs. He throws himself back into her foot massage with more effort, and quirks a lip up at whatever expression he’s seeing on her face.
I also found that if I circle my arm under her stomach and pull up gently, the relief in pressure is practically orgasmic for her, so I carefully adjust her. Curling my arm under, I lift up a few inches, eliciting another deep moan.
Mason cocks his head, watching what I’m doing, then raises a brow in silent question as he meets my eyes.
“Somethin’ about this feels good, but you gotta be careful not to do it too fast or let go quickly. It relieves pressure from her hips, I think.” I lay my cheek against her head and rub it gently as I hold her stomach, feeling slight bubbles of movement as our girl shifts around, still grazing my fingers over her skin.
A sigh escapes Edith and she murmurs, “I don’t know what it is, but it feels really good.”
Clearing his throat, he checks with me briefly before asking, “Edith. Will you let me—”
“Yes,” she hisses out, knowing exactly what he’s asking. “But I’m still angry with you.”
Chuckling, he nods his head once. “I’ll let you lay into meafter.” Using his hold on her feet, he spreads her legs to hook them over my knees. Shifting my body to support her better, I ignore when his hands bump against mine as he works her pants down her hips and tosses them to the side.
Another sound from the kitchen distracts her, and she glances in that direction. “Do you think he’ll be…” She trails off and tips her head up to an answer for her unfinished question.
