Page 47 of Her Faithful Protector

Ava watches as Huxley prepares the bottle and checks the temperature while I cradle Quinton. The baby is calm now but keeps gazing at the bottle. I’m glad it wasn’t trauma that prompted him to cry just now. A mother always knows.

I give Quinton the bottle while Ava observes me with a smile. He feels so right in my arms, as if I was meant to be with him, and I’m honored by his trust.

“Why don’t you go to bed?” I suggest to Ava, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.

Hesitating for a moment, she locks eyes with Quinton, her gaze filled with tenderness. She whisper-kisses him, “I won’t be far. Be good to Jack, okay?” Then, she turns her head toward the open door of the bedroom, her gaze locked on something, her expression unsettled.

“What is it?” I whisper.

She briefly holds my hand. “Nothing. I’ll wait for you in bed.” Leaning in, she plants a quick kiss on my lips.

I watch her walk away, torn between wanting to ask her if something’s bothering her and letting her sleep.

A hand lands on my shoulder. “Night, Jack,” Huxley says.

“Thanks for today.”

“Anytime, Lieutenant.” With that, he also turns in.

“Well, Quinnie-Bear, it’s just you and me now,” I whisper.

As I lay on the couch, I willingly become Mattress Jack for him. Nestled between my pecs, the baby rests on his belly, tilting his head to meet my gaze. Our communication flows through gurgles and chuckles, which I interpret as his happiness and perhaps a tale of his recent experiences. I pat his back, encouraging him to share more. Slowly, his head falls, his efforts to stay awake futile against the embrace of sleep.

The room falls silent, interrupted only by the peacefulsound of Quinton’s breathing. When I set out on this journey from Hawaii, I never imagined I would find myself here, holding a baby in my arms, feeling their precious life against my own heart. It’s a wonder, a deep connection that can only mean one thing—this paternal instinct has always been in me, waiting for the right moment to awaken.

“I love you too, Quinton. You’re a brave boy,” I murmur as I carefully get off the couch. I faintly shush him as he stirs, planting a light kiss on his crown, my lips tickled by the touch of his hair.

Passing Elmo, who’s asleep next to our bedroom door, I enter and place Quinton in the crib, his tiny body snug and secure.

“Good job,” Ava whispers, her voice still alert despite the late hour. Rolling out of bed, she rushes to Quinton’s side. She watches him, occasionally giving his belly a gentle touch.

I strip to my boxer shorts. She may disagree, but she needs to rest, or she’ll risk passing out. I hold her, whispering, “Come to bed with me.”

She slowly lets go of Quinton, then follows the tug of my hand. Together, we slip under the covers.

“Don’t tell me you’re not sleepy,” I tease as she settles herself on my chest. “Quinton has done better than you.” I don’t think she’s had a wink of sleep since the first time I saw her in Helena—and I don’t mean when she was unconscious.

Minutes pass, maybe ten. Despite her efforts, she’s unable to hide her restlessness.

A growl escapes her parted lips, bouncing off my chest.

“What is it?” I ask.

She hums out her impatience as her fingers glide over my abs.

“That’s nice,” I moan, absorbing the arousing effect of her caress.

She leans forward, her hand reaching for my lips. Her touch intensifies as it lands precisely on my pulsating, uncontrollably rigid cock.

The discovery excites her. A hunger flickers in her eyes as she moves down.

Fuuuck…

She takes me into the warmth of her mouth. I shuffle the sheet off her, eager to maintain eye contact with her. Her lips, slightly swollen from her passionate ministrations, wrap around my shaft in a greedy move. Her sucking exudes urgency, but I can’t help but flinch at the speed.

“Sweetheart, sweetheart, wait.” The sensation threatens to push me over the edge too soon, but the brashness of her move bothers me even more. It doesn’t feel like her. It’s a surprise, but not one that brings a spark of delight.

She looks up at me. “Sorry…you didn’t like it?”

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