Page 82 of Deceive Me
Deacon smiled. She saw it as he leaned closer, felt it when his mouth met hers. The kiss was chaste, sweet, but the look he gave her as he eased back promised that later, when Sydney was asleep and they were alone, he’d give her a better, longer, more adult version. Desire warmed her belly at the thought.
“Daddy!”
They both blinked out of their daze. Deacon raised an eyebrow at his daughter.
“I want a kiss too.”
He kissed her cheek.
“Not you. Elliot!”
“Of course, Little Bit.” He tipped his daughter toward Elliot for a kiss as well. Elliot reveled in the baby-shampoo scent Sydney always carried, the sweet innocence of her kiss on Elliot’s cheek, the way her fragile arms wrapped around Elliot’s neck, and prayed like she’d never prayed before, for one thing: courage.
She’d faced her demons and won. Now it was time to face life.
Deacon held out his hand. “Let’s take my girls home.”
Elliot put her hand in his, held on tight, and let him lead her toward the door.
Epilogue
One month later
“Looks like your ribs are finally healed. Not back to a hundred percent though.”
Elliot glowered at Deacon, following the look with a quick jab-sidekick combo. Her breathing was heavier than she’d like. No, she wasn’t fully back to normal—she’d fought for her life, for fuck’s sake, more than once—but that didn’t mean he had to point it out. “You know I’ve been working all day, right?”
“And what have I been doing, sitting on my ass?” Deacon raised an eyebrow. His elbow strike–back fist landed a light blow to her temple. “Running after a four-year-old isn’t sitting, ya know.”
He was taking it easy on her. Elliot threw a punch at his face. When he blocked, she targeted his ribs. He growled at the contact.
“You’re getting slow is what you’re doing.”
“No, I’m getting distracted by the scenery.”
Elliot gave him a perky smile. Her breasts bounced behind her sports bra as she pivoted on her toe and shot another side kick at him.
Fuck. Me.
He tackled her to the mat.
“Deacon!”
“Elliot.” He buried his face in the damp cleft between her breasts. One hand cupped her nape, the other her ass, holding her right where he wanted her. No more fighting. “I think it’s time for a shower.” And not because they were sweaty from their workout.
When he traced a line of sweat with the tip of his tongue, Elliot melted into the mat beneath them, her legs opening, knees coming up to cradle him against her. When they were like this, when she surrendered to the alpha in him, let the warrior fall away and became all woman…fuckin’ A, she blew his mind. It had been weeks since the first time he’d made love to her, and every day he wondered if it was possible to ever get enough.
“It’s late already. I have to be up early if I’m going to get Syd ready and into town in time to meet Livie.”
He nudged his already hard erection against her clit. “I doubt this will take long.”
That was an out-and-out lie, but he didn’t care. He’d waited all week for her most recent assignment to end, spent five days aching for her in his bed, and now that he had her, he’d take his time and then some. She’d sleep deep tonight, no matter how late he got her head on the pillow.
Yes, he was a selfish bastard, but he didn’t care. Turning his head, he traced the edge of her bra with his tongue.
Elliot moaned. He hid his grin against the creamy skin at the top of her breast.
She usually stayed with them on the weekends, but though tomorrow was Saturday, she and Sydney had plans. They were meeting up with Dain’s wife, Livie, to do a bit of pre-baby shopping. The couple’s little one was due in two-and-a- half months. Sydney had talked of nothing else all week, but Elliot…his woman hated shopping unless it was to add to her arsenal, which rivaled his in both size and scope—and that was saying something.
