Page 111 of Defensive Zone

Chapter 20

There was nothing like waking up with Gabi in his arms, slowly making love to her as they woke. It was languid and hot and he wanted to do it every day if she’d let him.

Of course, that was after they both made a quick trip to the bathroom, because who didn’t have to pee as soon as they woke up? And she’d demanded brushed teeth because morning breath was gross. Not that he cared.

But after that, they climbed back into bed and wokeup together.

“Good morning, Max,” she said, her fingers trailing up his chest.

“Good morning, Gabi,” he echoed, sucking in a breath when her fingers backtracked and started moving south. He would never get enough of her.

Never.

She looked up at him through lowered lashes. “Think we have time?”

His laugh quickly turned to a groan as she wrapped her hand around his cock and gave him a squeeze.

“Fuck yeah, we do,” he gritted out. Then he pulled her on top of him and properly said good morning.

She finally left his room as the sun fully rose. They were cutting it close if they didn’t want the kids asking questions, but he was relieved that it was no longer a secret from Ava. He hated keeping stuff from her, and it’d been worse since it had been about her best friend.

The cards needed to stay on the table.

He dozed for a while longer, but the sound of Connor and Amelia giggling and talking in the hallway woke him up. He rolled to his back in bed and stared at the ceiling. He should probably get up, shower, and go for a run before his team practice at noon, but he wanted to hang out with the kids instead. And with Gabi. And Ava, of course.

He quickly showered and walked downstairs and into the kitchen.

Well, into a wall of saran wrap.

“What the…” he trailed off when he spotted Ava laughing with the kids. The curse words he almost spouted vanished. She’d have his ass if they slipped out in front of the kids.

“Oh my god, we got him,” Amelia giggled.

“Did you just prank me?” he asked, sounding shocked. Then he grinned. He couldn’t hold it back.

“Yep,” Connor said.

He ducked under the saran wrap that was taped to each side of the wall. “That’s pretty high up. Did you climb on a chair to do that?” he asked.

“No. Auntie Gabi and Mommy helped,” Connor said.

“Hey, you shouldn’t give us up that easily,” Ava teased. “They know you love pranks, so they wanted to do one on you.” She shrugged. “At least it’s not one of those confetti guns or powder explosion things.”

“I love it,” Max said, scooping the two giggling toddlers into his arms and nuzzling them with kisses.

“So scratchy, Uncle Max,” Amelia said, trying to break free.

“I use only the finest beard balm,” he boasted.

“They don’t know what that is, Max,” Ava said, rolling her eyes.

“You know what happens when you prank the prankster,” he said. Then he plopped them down on the couch, dropped to his knees, and tickled them.

Their laughter filled the air with gasps and shrieks as he found their tickle spots.

“You are very brave,” Ava said.

He looked at his sister. “Why?”

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