Page 69 of An Unexpected Claim

Despite the darkness around me, the late hour didn’t register until I walked into a quiet, still house. I made a beeline for Peyton’s room and when I saw her asleep in her bed, I released my first easy breath since I’d left her earlier.

I backed out of the room, shutting the door behind me. But before it closed, I paused, then pushed it open again. The moonlight was streaming through the window, making her pale skin glow and her inky black hair shine. She was so fucking gorgeous. And she was mine. I knew I would do whatever it took to keep her.

After another minute, I forced myself to leave her and went to ready myself for bed. Sleep eluded me for a couple of hours until I ultimately gave in and slipped out of bed. I padded down the hall and silently entered Peyton’s room.

She barely even twitched when I scooped her into my arms and carried her back to my bed. I set her in the spot I’d vacated and pulled the quilt up over her. Then I rounded the bed and climbed in beside her.

That was when I noticed my cell phone blinking with a message on the nightstand. I picked it up and swiped it to open the message. It was from Ephraim.

Ephraim: Done. Almost there.

Me: Leave everything in the garage.

Ephraim: Will do.

Moving all of Peyton’s belongings here had been a dangerous decision and I had no way to predict her reaction, so I decided it would be best to keep it out of sight until I’d talked her around to the idea. At least this way, I didn’t have to worry about it later when she eventually capitulated.

I curled myself around her and contentment stole over me, allowing sleep to finally overtake me.

Peyton was still sleeping like a rock when I woke up the next morning. Peyton had mentioned being a night owl, but she went to bed earlier these days because the pregnancy sapped her strength. Even so, she still slept late in the mornings, whereas I’d always been an early riser. So it was barely seven in the morning when I glanced at the clock.

During the night, Peyton had flipped around and snuggled into me so that she was now wrapped around me as if I were her own personal body pillow. Not that I had any complaints about it. Other than the fact that she had one of her legs thrown across my hips. I was a big man, everywhere, so it didn’t take much for my morning erection to be pressed into her thigh. Her full breasts were crushed against my chest, and her head was buried in my neck. Each soft, warm breath that blew across my skin sent more and more blood straight to my shaft.

I debated teasing her sweet spots into becoming hot and bothered enough that she’d be begging for my cock once she realized what was happening. All the sexual tension between us was boiling to the surface. I was on my last nerve and my lust was bound to overpower my brain soon. One right move from her and I’d be buried inside her before either of us knew what was happening.

I nearly gave in to my urges, but when I lifted Peyton’s face for a kiss, I spotted the deep purple bruises under her eyes. She clearly hadn’t been sleeping well and waking her up just to keep my balls from turning blue would be a real asshole move. Instead, I gently rolled her over and extricated myself from her embrace.

I had hoped to talk to her today, to hash some things out and deal with the fallout from Sam’s blunder. However, Tanner messaged me while I was in the shower, telling me he had news and I’d probably want to come in for it.

Me: Emergency?

Tanner: Not urgent, but not something we want to sit on for long.

Me: Be there in an hour.

Tanner: I’ll be in the SCIF room.

I dressed and went into the kitchen to make Peyton breakfast, hoping she’d be awake before I left. However, even after pushing it to an hour and a half, I forced myself to leave her a note and go meet with Tanner. I’d brought home a burner cell from KBO and set it next to the paper.

Please keep your sexy ass in the house or hit speed dial 4 on the phone and Sabrina or Amanda will shadow you on a run. I’ll be home to make dinner and we’ll talk. —Nate

At the last second, I added,

Thank you for staying where you were put yesterday.

I stared at the note and shook my head with a self-deprecating chuckle. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the man I was becoming around Peyton, but that was something to ponder another day.

I checked on her one last time before heading back to KBO.

Chapter Thirty

Peyton

Nathan’s spicy, woodsy scent was all around me and I inhaled deeply, wondering if I smelled it long enough if I could imprint it in my lungs. My eyes slowly opened, and I felt disoriented for a minute, not recognizing my surroundings. A quick scan revealed that I was in the master bedroom.What the hell am I doing in Nathan’s bed?

I turned to demand an answer, but the rest of the bed was empty and though the pillow had a dent from his head, the spot had long since cooled.

A little growl escaped my lips, and I renewed my determination to confront the overprotective, controlling, lying jackass.

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