Page 139 of Brutal Savage

Tynan glances at me with his own emotions wavering.

“Promise us,” I tell him. “I need you to promise you’ll tell us if someone bothers you again.”

He nods.

“Good,” Tynan says, fixing Brody’s baseball cap. “Now go win that game.”

That’s all the encouragement Brody needs as he finally smiles and returns to his team. And when I see one of the boys giving him a high five, it melts my heart.

“I swear I didn’t know.” Tynan sighs, sounding distraught. “How the hell didn’t I know?”

I grab his forearm, and through the pain seeping from his eyes, he stares at me.

“Parents aren’t perfect,” I remind him. “They don’t always know everything. That would be impossible. But you’re doing everything right. I need you to know that.”

I place a palm against his cheek, and those eyes of his deepen into mine.

“You love him like he’s your own, and he knows that.”

“He is my own. He’s my blood.”

My heart clenches from the way he adores Brody. “He’s lucky to have you.”

“The way you stood up for him, Elara. I’ll never forget it.”

“I love him too.”

“I know you do.” His arm bands around me and he pulls me flush against him, his lips on my temple.

His mouth remains there, across my skin, making me feel things I’ve never felt before—like I’m floating.

“He and I are lucky to have you.” His tone is deep and low, and I feel those words everywhere.

I press my cheek to his chest, holding him tight, waiting for Brody to start playing.

He looks over at us with a small smile right before he runs toward his coach.

It makes me feel better that he accepted that Tynan and I are married so well. The last thing I’d want is for Brody to be upset about it. That wouldn’t help his healing.

Neither would you running away.

I force myself to ignore my thoughts and focus on the moments happening before my eyes.

We cheer and clap throughout the game, and the team ends up victorious.

As soon as we see him rushing to us, Tynan lifts him in the air, throwing him on top of his shoulders.

“That was some game!”

“Yeah, you’re so good!” I peer up at his excited expression.

“How about we grab some dinner?” Tynan starts toward his car.

“And dessert.” I wink at Brody, who nods ecstatically. I know how much this boy loves his dessert.

“Of course we’ll get dessert. Maybe more for me later.” He whispers that last part, sliding his palm across my ass and holding it possessively.

Pulling his wrist away, I whisper-shout, “Behave.”

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