Page 130 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
“Your mom would be so proud of you, Christopher,” Faith says softly. “And I know she’s smiling down on you today from heaven like she does every day.”
“Thanks, Faith,” he replies gruffly.
“Well, big guy, I guess this will pwobably be the last family picture we get that you will be holding me,” Ruthie says, with a sadness in her voice.
Both Red and I look at each other in bewilderment before turning our gazes on her. “What are you talking about?” I ask, confused.
“Well, once the baby is bown you will pwobably always want to hold her, since she’s your real daughter.”
I hear Faith suck in a sharp breath and I feel my own heart twist with guilt. “Oh, Ruthie, no, that’s not true. Sure Cade will want to hold Mia too, but that doesn’t mean he will hold you any less. And who knows, maybe Mia will always want you to hold her?” The kid gets a smile, clearly she never thought of that.
“Yeah, and she may be the baby but you are my first, and nothing will ever change that, kid. I will gladly haul your skinny, little as…butt around for as long as you will let me. If that means carrying you into the high school I’ll gladly do it,” I tell her seriously, because that’s the fucking truth. The thought of this kid growing up and not thinking I’m as cool as she does right now, well… it brings a panic I don’t like to think about.
She giggles and gives me a big, sloppy kiss on the cheek. “I’ll never want you to stop carrying me for the rest of my life, and I don’t even care if kids will make fun of me for it when I’m in high school.”
Christopher grunts. “No one will make fun of you when they get a look at him.”
Faith chuckles. “That is a true fact.”
“All right everyone, look here now and say cheese,” Katelyn shouts, interrupting us. We all look forward but Ruthie and Red are the only ones who say it.
“Cade, can you at least look like you’re happy?”
“I am happy,” I shoot back.
“Well you don’t look it. People who are happy smile.”
“That is my smile.”
She rolls her eyes and Red says, “Ruthie, tell Cade you love him.”
“I love you, big guy,” she whispers, before dramatically squishing her nose into the side of my cheek.
“Perfect!” Katelyn shouts then walks over and hands Faith back the camera. “You can’t see Ruthie’s face but at least he’s smiling.” I glare at her sassy smile as she takes the kid from me. “Come on, sweetness, let’s go eat cake.”
Before she can make it too far, I catch up to her and plant a quick kiss on Ruthie’s cheek. “I love you too, kid.” She smiles and blows me a kiss as Katelyn continues over to the picnic tables where Faith’s mom is dishing out the cake.
I feel Red come up behind me and wrap her arms around my waist. My cock jerks when she slides her smooth hands under my shirt, and scores her nails delicately across my abs. “Red,” I growl in warning before turning around to see her watching me knowingly.
“Walker…” she mocks back, trying to keep the smile off her face.
I pull her against me so she can feel how hard my cock is. Her eyes heat and she looks at me in a way that makes me wish we were alone right now. It’s another thing I love about this pregnancy shit, she seems to fucking want it 24/7, which works fucking great for me because I can’t get enough of her, I never will.
“Don’t pull that shit in front of people, because you know I will haul your ass behind closed doors and give it to you.”
“I just can’t help myself, Walker, you’re so darn sexy today.”
I grunt. “You say that every day.”
“That’s because every day you are.”
I bend down and pick her up gently so her feet dangle and I feel her slightly rounded tummy against my hard one, which has my dick throbbing painfully.
“You’re the sexy one, Red, and I’m going to fucking show you just how sexy I think you are as soon as everyone leaves.”
“Well I guess it’s a good thing Ruthie is staying the night at my parents’ house tonight, since Christopher will be out late at the grad party, isn’t it?” she whispers sassily, her lips getting closer to mine.
“You got that right, baby, and I’m going to make you scream so goddamn loud you will wake the fucking neighbors.”
She quirks a brow. “Our nearest neighbor is a mile away.”
“Exactly.”
She throws her head back and laughs, which has my own lips twitching with a smile, something that isn’t unusual anymore. When she brings her sparkling emerald eyes back to mine, I lean in to give her a quick kiss, but, like always, I can’t help myself and end up fucking mauling her. She moans into my mouth and gives just as good as she gets.
Since everyone is at my back, and no one can see, I drop my one hand and slip it under her dress to cup her silk-covered ass. I’m just about to lose all control when Evans yells across the yard, “Hey, there are children at this party, the least you can do is go into the barn.”
I release Faith with a groan and place her back on her feet. “Jesus I fucking hate that guy.”
She giggles. “No, you don’t. You love him and he is your best friend.”
“No, I don’t. I hate him,” I argue back.
She shakes her head, knowing I’m full of shit, and the thing is she’s right. No matter how much Evans pushes every one of my buttons he and Jaxson will always be the brothers I never had. They are the two guys who lived through hell with me to help save the only woman who ever mattered to me and I know they would do it again in a heartbeat, just like I would for them. We will always have each other’s backs and protect one another’s family like no one else ever will.
