Page 62 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
“Just don’t ask me to babysit. I’m not good at any of that shit.”
I give him a smile. “Mmmm, then what kind of favors are we talking about, Walker?”
I watch his eyes ignite with fire at my flirtatious question. “Don’t say shit like that, Red, when I have a kid against my chest.”
I bite my lip to stifle my giggle. Getting to my knees on the floor in front of them, I lean down and press a kiss to the inside of his warm palm. “Thank you for staying last night, and thank you for helping me. I hate to think what would have happened with their father if you hadn’t been there.”
He runs his fingers through my hair and cups the side of my face. “There’s a lot I can’t help you with, but kicking someone’s ass I can do no problem.” I smile and lean into his touch. “I guess I should put my shirt back on before the sun comes up and I scare the shit out of her.”
I swallow past the sudden lump in my throat at thinking about his scars. “You’re still beautiful,” I tell him softly.
He scowls at me. “What did I tell you about using me and that word in the same sentence?”
Smiling, I’m about to correct myself when someone clears their throat. I look behind me to see Christopher standing at the edge of the living room. I stand and hurry over to him, my heart breaking all over again at the sight of his face.
“Hi. You’re up early. Are you feeling okay? Do you need more aspirin?”
He shakes his head. “No. Sorry to interrupt, I just couldn’t find Ruth Jean.” I point over at Cade and hope he isn’t upset about her sleeping with him. “I figured,” he replies, not sounding mad or surprised.
“Really? Not me. I was in a panic looking everywhere for her when I checked on you guys a few minutes ago.”
“I knew she would go to him. All she talked about last night was how he kicked dad’s and Spike’s ass. Then she proceeded to tell me about the time you told her he saved your life, and that he is the strongest guy in the world. She told me no one could beat him up and I had to listen to it until I fell asleep.” He grumbles all this but I can tell he isn’t really that annoyed by it.
I chuckle when I hear Cade’s annoyed grunt across the room. The easy moment vanishes quickly when I see Christopher flinch as he stretches. I rub his bare arm gently, my hand smoothing over his welt. “Are you sure you don’t want some more aspirin?”
“No. I’m fine.” He doesn’t look fine but I don’t push since I can tell he is uncomfortable at my affection.
“So, I was thinking a lot last night,” he starts nervously, “I just want to be upfront with you and let you know that if something doesn’t work out, and they don’t let us stay here… I’m taking her and I’m leaving. I won’t go back there after last night and I won’t let them ship us anywhere else.”
“That’s not going to happen, kid. We’ll make sure of it.”
My head snaps to Cade in surprise, and my heart warms at his reassurance. I can see him a little more clearly now with the beginning of sunrise flittering through the windows. I give him a small, appreciative smile before turning back to Christopher. “He’s right. We won’t. I’ll do whatever I have to, I promise.”
He nods but still looks unsure. Then he looks downs at his feet before clearing his throat again. “Is it okay if I take a shower? We will have to go back to the house, at some point, for some of our clothes too.”
I thought about that after we got home last night—that we should have grabbed some before leaving. “Of course. We will figure all that out later today. Come, I’ll show you what will be your very own bathroom. Ruth Jean and I will share the one upstairs.”
I take him down and get him situated with fresh towels, soap and shampoo. I let him know we will go buy whatever usual brand he prefers later today. That’s when he stares at me and says, “This is fine, Faith. I’m just happy I get to use soap that some asshole didn’t shove a razor blade into.”
My heart literally stops at his words and agony strikes my soul. The awful things this poor boy has had to endure, and I’m sure I don’t even know the half of it. With tears clouding my eyes, I wrap my arms around his waist, my head coming to his chin since he’s just a bit taller than me.
He tenses at my affection but I don’t care and I don’t pull back. “Never again, Christopher,” I whisper tearfully against his battered chest. “I promise. Never again.” Then before I really lose it in front of him, I walk out and close the door behind me.
Tears stream down my face as I head back up the stairs. As I walk into the kitchen I see Cade standing at the sink, fully dressed. His eyes narrow in concern at me. “What? What’s wrong?”
It takes me a minute to find my words. “His father put razor blades in his soap,” I choke out through a painful breath. “Razor blades, Cade. On purpose. To hurt him.” I cover my mouth trying to hold back my sob and before I know it I’m in his arms. “How could someone do that to their own child? How could someone do that to any child?”
His big, warm hands run up and down my back as I cry against his chest. “Because the world is filled with fucked-up people, Red. People who don’t deserve to fucking breathe.”
Pulling myself together, I look up at him and he wipes my cheeks with the pads of his thumb. “Yeah, but I still believe there are more good ones.” He doesn’t respond and I know that’s mostly because he doesn’t believe that.
