Page 18 of Shiner's Light

Later on, Shiner ordered pizza and we started watching the movie Cars. Now, after finishing up the second Cars movie, Shiner deems he’s done. I’m guessing there are only so many cartoon and animation movies he can take. I personally thought it was cute and enjoyed watching the movies. But he’s the parent, and I’m not.

“Ahh, come on, Daddy, plewse, just one more,” Milo pleads.

“Sorry, kid, it’s bedtime. Now, let’s go brush your teeth and get you ready for bed,” Shiner states, looking at his son with what I’d say is his dad face. It screams I’m not playing with you.

“Can Olly come tuck me in with you?” Milo asks, surprising me.

“Yeah, kiddo, she can.” Shiner grins and helps Milo off the couch, his gaze coming to mine. “Be back, honey.”

I don’t bother saying anything, I simply give him a nod because I easily admit to myself that I allowed myself to feel safe and cocooned at this moment in time. I don’t want it to be popped open, but it will because it always does. It’s not fair. It’s not, simple as that. I finally get to spend time with my nephew and see the sweet boy he is, and I know that time is ticking. The longer I’m here, the worse it’s going to be. My sister is never going to leave it be. The very fact she didn’t do anything in the time I’d ran to Shiner doesn’t sit well with me. Sasha or even the men who were with her could have easily tried to get me at any time.

I have a feeling she’s planning something and that something is going to be bad . . . very, very bad.

“I’s rewdy. Olly, come on,” Milo shouts.

“Come on, Olive, he’s not going to lay down until we both tuck him in.” Shiner chuckles from the mouth of the hallway leading toward Milo’s room.

Biting my lower lip, I stand and follow after him.

Thirty minutes later, Milo is out like a light, and Shiner is guiding me not into the living room but to his room.

“What are you doing?” I ask when he closes the door.

“The two of us are going to talk, honey, and I want to do it in my bed where we can be comfortable with no distractions,” he says, pulling me over to his bed.

A gasp leaves my lips when he falls back on the bed, taking me with him. Shiner rolls us and adjusts on the bed so we’re facing each other, one arm propping him up slightly while the other rests on my hip.

“Now, did you have a good day?” he asks, surprising me with the question.

“It was the best,” I admit. It’s truth, and as much as I want to deny it, I can’t.

“Good, Milo and you really hit it off.”

“He’s sweet. You did amazing with him.” And he had, Milo was the sweetest little boy.

“Raising him hasn’t been easy, but he’s my boy, and I wouldn’t change a thing about him.”

You can all but see the pride gleaming in his eyes when it comes to Milo, so there’s no lie in those words.

“You know I can’t stay here with you and him,” I whisper, wanting him to know the truth and remember that my sister is crazy. “Sasha isn’t going to allow it.”

“You don’t need to worry about that cunt,” Shiner says, curling his lip. “I won’t let that bitch near either of you.”

“You can’t protect me from her. No one can.” I drop my gaze from his, unable to stand the scrutiny I’m sure he has in his eyes. “No one can.”

“Olive, get that shit out of your head,” he growls. The hand at my hip slides up, and he grips my chin between two of his fingers, “Sasha isn’t going to get anywhere near you again. I intend to make sure of it. Just as the club . . . my brothers, they won’t let anything happen to you again.”

“I want to believe you, but I don’t think . . .”

“Honey, you need to get that shit out of your head.” The way his tone changes is warning enough to silence me. “You’re safe with me.” Leaning in, he presses his lips to mine and releases my chin.

With his lips against my own, I slowly open my mouth. Why? I don’t know, I just do it. Shiner doesn’t miss the opportunity and slides his tongue in, touching mine. It’s brief but amazing. I thought he’d deepen the kiss further, only he pulls away and presses his forehead to mine.

“We still have things to discuss, honey. As much as I wanted that kiss to go further, it’s going to have to go on the back burner for the time being.”

“Great,” I mutter, not sure if he meant that in a good way or bad way. I liked his mouth on mine. The way his tongue slid alongside mine . . . it felt good.

Shiner readjusts and glides a hand up and down my spine. “Now, for us to move forward, and for the record, Olive, we will be moving forward, but you and I need to get something straight first. We talked last night about some things, and we’ve discussed some other things since you came back into my life. But we still have more to discuss. Like what those motherfuckers did to you.”I tense and try to push away from him, but he holds firm. “Don’t, honey, I’m not going to hurt you. I’m also not letting you go either. We gotta talk about this.”

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