Page 135 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

The sounds he makes as he comes… I want to remember them forever. I’ve never witnessed anything hotter than the sound of his moans as he tumbles over the edge.

He pulls out of me slowly, watching me as I watch him, both of us catching our breath.

I’m simultaneously the most exhausted and the most energized I’ve ever been.

With a long exhale, Daire lies beside me, pulling me against his body. His lips press against my neck in a gentle kiss.

He doesn’t say anything and neither do I.

We don’t need words.

There isn’t a single one that could encapsulate what exactly that was.

I close my eyes and drift off to sleep to the sound of his steady breathing.

I awake only a few hours later to the sound of Sammy’s cries, and truthfully, I still couldn’t be happier.

31

DAIRE

“Yeah, I understand. Mhm. Thank you.”

I end the call and turn to Rosie. She’s never looked more beautiful than she does right now, sitting on the floor with Sammy, playing peek-a-boo.

I asked her to marry me because I was desperate to know my son. I never considered that she might treat him as her own. But it’s so clear in this moment that I couldn’t have picked a better person to do this life with.

“What was that about?” she asks, setting a dancing cactus toy infront of him.

“It was Nina.” I let out a long breath. “The funeral is this weekend, and we need to go.”

Rosie flinches. “Is it bad that I forgot there would be a funeral?” She bites down on her lip and surveys Sammy. “That makes me feel awful. I’ve been so caught up in settling into this new routine, and… wow, I feel like a selfish asshole. They died, and the thought has barely crossed my mind.”

I run my fingers through my hair. “Me too,” I admit with a flinch. Fuck, I’m an asshole. Adjusting to parenthood isn’t a good excuse, but it’s the only one I’ve got. “It’s been three weeks already. It seems like a long time to wait, but according to Nina, the family needed the time to prepare arrangements and travel.”

“Makes sense.” Rosie wrinkles her nose. “Um… does this mean they’ve been, like, refrigerated all this time?” She flinches as soon as the question is out of her mouth. “I just can’t imagine being frozen for that long.”

“I’m not sure,” I answer, sitting on the floor with her and Sammy.

He’s only beginning to sit unassisted.

Danielle might’ve thrown me for a loop, and I’ve been angry at her for a long time, but now all I can think about is that, while I missed out on his early milestones, she’ll never see the rest. And the realization makes me feel mildly ill.

I hope like hell I can do a good job raising this kid.

Rosie’s hand is warm against my cheek as she turns my face so I’m forced to look at her. “What are you thinking about? You look sad.”

I could lie, but what’s the point in that?

“I was thinking about how I missed out on things like his first smile and first laugh. Rolling over. But Danielle? She’s not getting any more of those firsts. Ever. And despite what she did to me, she is—was—his mom.”

Rosie slips her hand to the back of my neck, pulling my head down so she can rest her forehead against mine.

“You’re a good man, Daire. And an amazing father. I hope you know that.”

I take her free hand and kiss her palm, then I lace my fingers with hers.

Sammy giggles. Every time he does something cute, the smile I wear is instantaneous.

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