Page 121 of Break

Wrapping my arms around her shoulders, she turns on her side to tuck her head on my chest, curling into me. Looking up at the ceiling she was just staring at, I enjoy this moment with her. My fingers work their way through her tangles, smoothing the strands across her back as I separate each one.

I snicker when I hear her breathing even out. She’s fallen back asleep. Continuing to play with her hair, I consider where we are now compared to three months ago.

Ethan was existing, moving from one day to the next, only doing what was expected of him. He was essentially mute, keeping to himself and grunting away intruders. The grunts haven’t ceased, but he’s learning to use his words.

Max was angry.Sofucking angry. At his dad, at his mom, and at the whole fucking world. He’d managed to rein in his temper for show, but it was always there, boiling underneath his skin. There’s a kindred bond between Mina and Max. They’ve both experienced something similar that Ethan and I could never understand, not fully. But that bond is what connects the two of them in a much different way.

I was in limbo, moving from one place to the next, never sticking around long enough to see if it’d stick. Granted, not all of it was my fault. Fucking up my knee put a damper on my original plans, but where would that have left me?

If I made a pro team, and that’s abigif, I would have gone from team to team, traveling regularly to games and events, never settling. Never establishingmylife. Mina is my home, my peace, and my happy place.

Mina…Christ. Her marriage to Danny was a real fucking test of endurance and survival skills. Abused in all ways possible, just trying to make it through each day. She was just a shell of herself, never allowed to blossom into the incredible woman I’ve got in my arms now. Sliced down every moment she tried to grow and reach the sun, told she was only there to support everyone else growing around her.

But now she’s fucking shining. It has been an adjustment for her, being out from under Danny’s thumb. After the funeral, she was inundated with a pile of paperwork, then had to deal with the house and selling off their assets. Our girl is sitting comfortably, but I know she’d give every penny back if she could.

We’ve all talked with her about what she’d like to do for her future, but the one thing she keeps coming back to is growing trees. We haven’t told her yet, but there was a small, five-acre field about half a mile from the house we wanted to show her. It’d be perfect.

I drop my chin to my chest and grin down at her when I feel those nimble fingers walk up my chest.

“About time you woke up. We’re allstarving, waiting for you to haul your ass out of bed.”

I holler out a laugh when her hand shoots up to pinch my ear, tugging hard. Flipping her, I hover over her, enjoying her bright eyes dancing playfully. Every time she looks at me, I fucking fall just that much further in love with her. I’ve gotten so bad lately that sometimes she’ll ask a question and I’ll completely miss it because I’ve become so mesmerized by them.

“How long until dinner’s ready?” she asks, feigning indifference, but we both know she wants to know if we’ve got time.

Leaning down, I run my nose up the side of her neck, then nip the side of her jaw. “We’ve got a minute. You need more sleep?”

“Hmm,” she hums, sliding her arms out from between us and stretches them over her head. The movement forces her back to arch, thrusting her chest toward me.

I challenge any man tonotlet his eyes fall down to get a look between those mouthwatering peaks. I’d also like to place bets on the fact that she’s changed up her lotion routine and is actually adding in extra vanilla and sugar for me. Her skin literally has me drooling. I crave her nipples rolling in my mouth and her tongue on my…

“Vincent?”

Shit.

Looking up at her sheepishly, I give her my best ‘my bad’ smile of apology. “If you asked me a question, then my answer will always be yes.”

Mina snorts and shoves at my shoulders. “What if I asked you to go clean up Walt’s poop?”

“Yes.” I fucking would too, if it meant she didn’t have to.

Pushing me onto my back, she straddles my waist and taps her chin in thought. “What if I asked you to kiss Max right on the lips?”

Chuckling, I smooth my hands up her thighs. “Yes.”

My chuckle turns into a full-blown laugh when her mouth drops open in shock. “Really?”

Pushing up quickly, I hover my mouth over hers. “Why, sweetpea? You wanna see me and Max make out?”

She gives me a firm, “No.”

“Why not?” My lips brush along hers, but I don’t press closer, wanting to know her answer.

Sliding her arms around my neck, she tilts her head in thought. “For starters, neither of you are attracted to each other like that, not that I’d mind if you were, but you’re not. Also, I’m fairly certain that Max would knock you on your butt.”

“Probably. Now I’m tempted to find out, just to fuck with him.”

Groaning in exasperation, she kisses me to shut me up. I give in for only a moment before pulling back. “Wait, what did you ask me earlier? I was distracted by these beauties.” I run my finger over the swells of her breasts, pausing to dip my finger in between them.

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