Page 94 of War

Jaw dropping, I scoff. “Excuse you?”

“Tyler, tell her. Your mom taught you to skate. You taught me, and we taught Josie, just like we’ll teach Scarlett when she’s old enough.”

Tyler’s grin is so big it’s blinding. He has the most beautiful smile. Especially when he’s the one who’s surprised like this. Bray tries to play it cool, but for a moment, he stepped out from behind that façade and showed just how much he loves Tyler by including himself in this family.

He’s making traditions.We’re making traditions. There’s no stopping my smile. “So you trying to tell me you guys need to teach me?”

“Definitely,” Brayden and Tyler say in unison.

“Fine,” I grumble in fake annoyance. “But you better not let me fall.”

Tyler’s lips curl as he holds out that damn pinky finger. “I’d never let you fall, wifey.Pinky promise.”

Rather than head out into the cold, dark night to skate after dinner, Tyler herds us all down to the gym in the basement for another surprise.

“No one’s peeking, right?”

Brayden’s got his hands over Josie’s eyes, and Tyler’s covering mine. “Unless I can somehow see through your massive fingers, I think it’s safe to say we can’t see.”

Tyler’s lips brush against the shell of my ear. “We both know you love my fingers, wifey.”

There goes that shiver again.

“Come on, come on. I want to see,” Josie cajoles. A moment later, her high-pitched squeals echo off the walls.

“Ah, crap,” Brayden grumbles. “Sorry. She was bouncing too much, and I didn’t want to hurt her.”

“A ballet barre,” Josie screeches as Tyler pulls his hand away from my face. She darts over to the wall of mirrors and the beautiful barre that was not here last week when Brayden showed me the room. There’s also a beautiful section of brand-new flooring.

Holding my breath, I whip around and survey my husband. “When did you do this?”

With a casual shrug, Tyler slips his hands into the pockets of his joggers. “Wanted you and Josie to have a place to practice. Ya know, so you don’t have to go into the city so much.”

I purse my lips to hold back my laughter. “You built a ballet studio because you’re jealous.”

Tyler cocks a brow. “Do I look like the jealous type?”

“You tattooed my name on your finger. You threw a temper tantrum when I wore your friend’s jersey, then knocked him on his butt. Hmm, am I missing anything?”

“I built a ballet studio so no other man can see you in a leotard,” he mutters as he walks past me. Then, schooling his expression, he drops down to Josie’s height. “What do you think? Did I do okay?”

She throws her arms around his neck. “You did the best.”

He did. And I’m starting to realize he always does.

THIRTY-SIX

AVA

“You look beautiful.Doesn’t she look beautiful?” Josie picks up my blush brush and swipes at her own cheek as we sit side by side in my room while I do my makeup.

Tyler sidles over while he straightens his bow tie. He’s devastatingly handsome in a black tuxedo. Just the sight of him has warmth gathering low in my belly and my cheeks heating. This last week has been quiet. His game schedule has been intense, and I’ve been busy working on this event. In the evenings, the kids keep me busy. After Tyler gets home and we put the kids to bed, where I expected there to be loads of ravaging going on, there’s been none. He’s been gentler since I opened up about my sister’s illness. He’s using kid gloves with me. I both hate it and love it at the same time.

On the one hand, I appreciate the space and respect he’s given me after I sobbed over not being loved. I couldn’t stand it if he’d felt obligated to say he loved me because I was practically begging for it.On the other hand, god, the sight of my husband in a tuxedo is dangerous. About as dangerous as he is when he sings Scarlett to sleep or when he braids Josie’s hair. The many facets of Tyler Warren are making it impossible not to fall hard. And if I’m being honest, I’m horny.

It’s nearly impossible to lie beside my husband knowing he is capable of bringing me to orgasm so easily andnot jump his bones.

I have a plan, though. I’m ready to move past this pause we’ve taken, and I’m desperate for him to finally fuck me.

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