Page 33 of Forbidden Desires

Before I can say anything, his arms are around me, warm and steady, grounding me.

“Missed you,” he murmurs into my hair, the words so soft I almost don’t catch them.

Dex is right behind him, his grin a little crooked as always, but his eyes hold that same warmth. “You okay, Suze? You were gone longer than we expected.”

“I… Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry, I lost track of time,” I say quickly, not ready to delve into the real reason just yet. I glance around, trying to change the subject. “What are you guys up to?”

Pete and Dexter exchange a look, something conspiratorial that makes me narrow my eyes.

“Nothing much,” Pete says, the picture of innocence. “But you didn't eat your breakfast, and we’re not about to let you get away with skipping lunch, too.”

Dex nods in agreement, tugging me toward the kitchen. “Come on, sunshine. Sit. We’ll whip something up.”

Before I know it, they’ve got me settled at the table while they move around my small kitchen, working together seamlessly. Sandwiches and a big bowl of fresh fruit appear before me in no time, and they sit down, watching me eat like it’s the most fascinating thing in the world.

After lunch, Pete leans back in his chair, a satisfied smile on his face. “Alright, now that you’ve eaten, it’s time for a nap.”

I blink at him. “A nap?”

Dex chuckles, standing to gather the plates. “Yup. You look like you need one. And don’t worry, we’ve got dinner covered. Just rest up, and we’ll be back later.”

Their insistence is both endearing and ridiculous, but I am incredibly tired. I don’t have the energy to argue. Dr. Rose warned me that my energy levels would be beyond low during the first trimester and urged me to take it as easy as I could, especially as a huge amount of my day is spent around burning hot furnaces. Before I know it, Pete’s guiding me to my room, tucking me into bed like I’m some kind of princess. And I have to admit I quite like being spoiled like this.

“We’ll wake you when we’re back,” he promises, brushing a kiss against my forehead before leaving me to the quiet.

"Back? Where are you going?" I question before he can slip out of my room.

"Baby, as much as I adore you, you're no better at looking after yourself now than you were two years ago. Making breakfast and lunch has just about depleted your grocery stockpile. Dex and I are going shopping for dinner supplies." He places another kiss—this one on my lips—before slipping out of my bedroom.

I listen to them as they murmur in the kitchen, probably working on their shopping list. And drift off before they even leave.

When I wake,the apartment smells incredible—something rich and savory wafting from the kitchen. I pad out to find Pete chopping vegetables and Dexter stirring a pot on the stove, both of them grinning like kids caught raiding a cookie jar.

“You’re awake!” Pete sets the knife down, coming over to pull me into a hug.

"You were supposed to wake me when you got back," I grumble into his chest but settling into his hug.

"You looked too peaceful. It felt like we would commit the worst crime if we woke you up," Pete responds, his words murmured into my hair. "But now that you're up, we can put you to work."

I pull away from his embrace and look up into his clear gaze, and before I know what's happening I'm being kissed like there's no tomorrow.

Dex whistles at us, drawing my attention to him. He winks at me over Pete's shoulder. “Now that that's out of the way, I hope you’re ready to get your hands dirty, sunshine. We’re making the best damn dinner you’ve ever had.”

The next hour passes in a blur of laughter and teasing as they pull me into the chaos of their cooking.

"All right, Suze," Pete says, handing me an onion and knife. "Time for your first lesson in the kitchen; proper onion dicing."

I stare at the onion like it might bite me. So I've been spoiled by two dads who did everything for me. Including teaching me how to order takeout. That said, it couldn't be that hard. "I'm pretty sure I know how to cut an onion."

Pete smirks, leaning against the counter. "Oh, do you now? Show me, Chef Suzie."

Dex snickers from where he's leaning over the stove, stirring a thick sauce. "This should be fun."

I narrow my eyes at both of them, determined to prove them wrong. Carefully, I slice the onion in half, then start cutting it into chunks.

Pete winces dramatically. "Oh, no. This is a crime against all onions everywhere."

"It's fine!" I protest, but Pete is already at my side, his hands wrapping around mine.

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