Page 54 of The Sweetest Chirp

Her eyes widen, her mouth opening in a little O as she shrieks in surprise, but like the queen she is, she recovers quickly. “It’s rechargeable.”

I shrug. “Then I’ll steal the cord.”

Her eyes challenge mine, but I don’t miss the heat in them. “I have others.”

Just knowing she has more toys makes me hot all over. I want to use every single one on her—and then show her how much better my mouth and cock are. “I’ll hide them.”

“Thatcher Orlov!”

I grin. “God, I miss you.”

A flush creeps up her neck and along her jaw. I want to follow it with my tongue. “I’m right here.”

“Not the way I want you,” I say, my voice desperate.

Her eyes widen a fraction as she inhales sharply. She holds my gaze, but just as she’s about to say God knows what, Arwen wails out for her. The sound is so broken that gone is my need for her mother, and all my attention is on Arwen. We both rush to the bed, where she sits up, tears falling down her little cheeks as she reaches out for Audrina. My heart breaks at the jumble of sounds Arwen makes as she is cuddled into her mother’s chest, and they lie back down. I sit on the edge of the bed, rubbing Arwen’s back as Audrina checks her over. It must have just been a bad dream, or maybe she felt off since it’s a new place.

But none of that matters when she murmurs, “Daddy.”

Who knew two syllables could split me open wide and have my heart on full display.

She looks over at me, and I lie down, grazing her cheeks with my knuckles. With one hand, I sign,I’m here.

Her little lip trembles before she signs,Stay?

I look past her to Audrina to check if it’s okay. I can see her heart in her eyes as she nods, not hesitating even a bit. My heart pounds in my chest as I kick off my shoes and cuddle in closer to Arwen.Yes, I sign, and she sighs deeply, capturing my hand in hers. She uses her other to pull Audrina’s hand to her face, and slowly, her eyes drift shut.

It’s such a sight to see Audrina holding Arwen.

My world holding my purpose in life.

Wow. What a thought. I thought hockey was my purpose, but nothing comes close to my raven-hair beauty who lies beside me.

I feel eyes on me, and when I glance over Arwen, Audrina is watching her hesitantly. She tries not to smile as she says, “Mommy and Daddy will not be sharing a bed every night.”

I pull off my hat, throwing it down beside my shoes before I run my hand through my hair. “Not with Arwen.”

She gasps, her eyes widening as she quietly yelps, “Not gonna happen.”

I scoff, hoping my eyes tell her the exact opposite. “Goodnight,dushen’ka.”

“I’m serious,” she tries, and I only nod.

“So am I. Goodnight.”

I close my eyes, but the smile remains, especially when she huffs like a raging teenager.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

When Maeve’s hairdresser, who was able to get me in the next morning, turns the chair, I’m in awe of the girl looking back at me. I look like I did before I took off. My long hair is in gentle waves down to my shoulders. She added layers so that my hair frames my face in all the right ways.The strawberry tint of my blond hair is breathtaking, and if I’m honest, I missed having my hair this color. One thing is for sure, though, I can’t help but notice that the red in my hair matches the ongoing flush on my face.

“Not with Arwen.”

That man.

How dare he give me more of a reason to think of sex with him? That insanely frustrating, gorgeous, sexy, and mind-blowing man. I have thought about his words, about what he meant, since he walked out of my room this morning with nothing but a kiss to Arwen’s head and a wink to me. All night, I tossed and turned, and all I did was rile myself up to the point that I want to run off and have mommy and daddy time.

Without Arwen.

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