Page 166 of Mr. Infuriating

“I’ll back you up, whatever you decide.”

Chapter Sixty-Nine

Gretchen

“Sweetheart,” Gabe whispered in my ear. “It’s six a.m.”

I’d relented and slept in his room after he promised to set an alarm. Now, warm and cozy nestled against him, I didn’t want to leave.

“Fifteen more minutes,” I mumbled and snuggled closer.

He chuckled as his arm came around me. “I did wear you out last night.”

“Pffft,Iworeyouout.”

“I don’t know… you didn’t have to cover my mouth.”

“That’s because you buried your face in my neck when you came.”

“Your neck smells good.”

“Well, you know I like it when you cover my mouth, so…”

I had learned to embrace my kinky side with Gabe. I loved that he wanted to know what turned me on. I’d never had a partner who took so much pleasure in getting me off.

Would I ever find that again?

Probably not. I doubted I’d ever find another man like Gabe Mitchell.

With that sad realization, I kissed his chest and rolled out of bed.

~~

I woke again to hot, little boy morning breath as Jake whispered inches from my face, “Mama, I hungry.”

I lay there for a few seconds to mentally engage in mom mode before opening my eyes.

“Good morning, baby. Let me go to the bathroom, then I’ll make you breakfast.”

When I came out of the bathroom, my little man was nowhere to be found, so I wandered toward the kitchen, praying he hadn’t tried to help himself to the cereal in the pantry.

Instead, I found him in his booster seat next to Britt, happily munching away on a plain pancake. Meanwhile Gabe looked mouthwatering as he stood, spatula in hand, shirtless at the stove in his blue and green plaid pajama pants.

“Good morning!” I called as I walked in.

Gabe gave me a wink and a smile as he flipped a pancake.

“Hey, how’d you sleep?”

I shot him a look and replied, “Great, thanks.”

Brittany was all smiles as she popped a forkful of hotcakes dripping with butter and syrup into her mouth. I hoped she slept as soundly as he’d assured me she did.

Jake wore a goofy grin as he loudly proclaimed, “Bandit make pancakes!” before taking another bite.

There he went with the Bandit/dad reference again.

But as I looked around the kitchen, I had to admit, the scene had a familial feel to it.

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