Page 156 of Mine to Worship

I thought her first word would be that because he freaked out at everything regarding her. I hope he’ll be calmer with the second one, but I doubt it. His immense love and that fierce protective instinct would never let him. I close the door, and I hear her.

“Mommy’s here.”

She rushes around the corner and springs into my arms. Her locks bounce as I spin her around.

“Were you good?”

“I am always good, Mommy, ask Daddy,” she says, and Kian watches us, love stretching his eyes, mouthing,

“Don’t believe her.”

“So who came in and painted the wall?”

My daughter looks at me, not an inch of guilt, while she holds my gaze and shrugs. Since she discovered I paint, she grabs everything from crayons to brushes even though she knows she is not supposed to. But she has her daddy wrapped around her finger and both of them know it.

“Kira.”

“Daddy said I can!”

“But did he say you could paint the walls, too?”

She pouts. “The wall wanted me to, Mommy, it wanted color.”

Kian suppresses a smile, and I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling.

“Show Mommy what we bought today from the store.”

She runs up the stairs while Kian snaps his head to her and says, “Carefully.”

Kira halts and sends him a raspberry kiss and storms off again.

“That kid,” he says and approaches me. At his nearness, my heart speeds up, I almost forgot what we were talking about.

“You spoil her.”

“I can’t say no. Every time she looks at me with those big eyes, I am done for.” No truer words have been spoken.

“What did she want?” I ask, placing my hands on his chest.

“A color spray.”

“Kian...”

“Don’t worry, I told her she can only use it outside.”

I stare at him, amazed by his either complete naivete or sheer belief in his offspring.

“I missed you,” he says, his eyes burning with hunger. His hands wrap around my waist and he pulls me to him.

“This dress should be banned, but you look so damn sexy in it,” he adds in a husky voice, and my need for him skyrockets. He finds my pulse, and he whispers. “Now all I can think of is calling the babysitter to take her to the park and watch her for twenty-four hours so I can lose myself in fucking you.”

“Do it,” I dare him.

“Three hours.”

I bite down my chuckle. He can’t stay away from Kira for more than a few hours. When we go for a weekend getaway, everyone has to install a camera where he can watch over her, from our friends to the staff.

When Ruanna, our babysitter for emergencies, takes her to the park, the rush of anticipation flows through me. The moment the door clicks shut, he backs me into the wall and his fingers lift my dress.

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