Page 97 of In Spades

“Not this time,” I said, swinging her around to my hip.

Zoey’s bottom lip stuck out in a grumpy pout as we stepped through the front door of Kristin’s place.

She crossed her arms with a little humph. It was friggin’ adorable.

I leaned in and whispered, “Don’t worry. I brought something better.”

She squealed. “What is it?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Kristin and Hunter worked on dinner in the kitchen. Kristin stood with her back turned to me as she stirred bubbling red sauce on the stovetop. The whole place smelled like garlic and basil, and my stomach growled in approval. Kristin was a great cook, but the food wasn’t the only reason I loved coming over for dinner.

I tried to slip Kristin a little cash here and there. It was no secret that things were tight for her, and another mouth to feed was only adding to the burden. But, like always, she refused all help.

So instead of helping with the grocery budget, I had started bringing a little something with me. Hence, the chocolate cake I had picked up on the way into Havelock.

With Zoey on my hip, I stood just inside the door and took a moment to ogle my woman as she finished cooking.

Kristin had her dark hair pulled up in a ponytail. A flowy, off-the-shoulder gray sweater exposed her tanned shoulders. With autumn setting in, she had switched from her daily shorts and tank tops to long sleeves and leggings.

I, for one, was thankful. Because that ass…

The newness of our relationship — and Kristin’s precarious home life — demanded that I be patient. But I would have been lying if I said I wasn’t ready to claim every inch of her body. The caveman in me wanted to rip those leggings off of her and use them to tie her down to my bed. I wanted to fuck her until she saw stars.

The civilized part of me dropped a kiss on top of Zoey’s head and set her back down on the floor. She ran down the hall, probably to tell Logan and Ky that I’d arrived.

I indulged in a few X-rated thoughts about Kristin before moving behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist.

Kristin hummed happily. She pushed her ass back into my crotch, gently teasing my dick through the layers of spandex and denim. The back of her head dropped against my chest, and she closed her eyes as she tipped her chin up. “Hi.”

I kissed her forehead. “I missed you.”

She smiled and continued stirring the sauce.

I’d only been gone for a few days. I had to fulfill business commitments with a paramilitary contractor in Reston, Virginia—a suburb of Washington D.C. It only required a face-to-face once a year.

Usually, I didn’t mind heading out of state. I enjoyed the drive, and the projects were fun. This time was different.

I was distracted in every briefing. Meetings that ran long agitated me more than usual. I hated having to leave my phone in a holding box outside the secure meeting rooms. All I could think about was checking in with Kris and the kids.

The first time I met Logan and Kylie, I noticed that they both had phones. When it felt right, I gave them my number so they could reach out if they ever needed anything. They had plenty of safe adults they could call. Hell, Steve and Chase were cops and Mel was an E.R. nurse. But it was important for them to know that they could call me, too.

I wasn’t naïve enough to think that I outranked people they had known and trusted for years. Part of me just hoped that one day, I’d be the one they would reach out to.

“Gross,” Hunter said, feigning disgust. He’d noticed me and Kristin loving on each other and ran down the hall pretending to wretch and dry heave.

I snickered while kissing down the side of her neck. “Who knew a hug is all it took to get a little alone time with you?”

Kristin laughed melodically. She turned the stovetop off and spun around, arms snaking around my neck.

Stumbling backward, I grabbed her ass with both hands and hauled her up against me. My cock pressed against her stomach, and I groaned. With one hand still on her ass cheek, I used the other to grab her ponytail, yanking down until her lips sought mine.

I twisted her ponytail around my hand and held her head in place. With her firmly in my grasp, I planted a searing kiss on her mouth. My tongue swept along the seam of her lips, demanding more from her.

I swallowed down her little moans like the greedy motherfucker I was. More. I want more.

Long, languid strokes of her tongue against mine had me two seconds away from stripping her down right then and there and?—

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