Page 67 of Knot Just Their Nanny
He frowns. “Why are you asking me that?”
I shrug. “It just feels like something I need to set straight. I’m here for Mia and you, not to be falling into something with Liam.”
“People fall. There’s not much you can do about that.” The way he says that sends a tingle of desire over my skin.
“Oh?” I murmur, practically drowning in his gaze. Something seems different with him. He seems freer, lighter, like something has shifted inside him. My eyes automatically drop to his neck. It’s crazy how I didn’t notice it immediately, as it is right there, unhidden by the collar of his black tee.
It hasn’t healed up entirely, but it looks a thousand times better than the last time I saw it, just this morning. Moving on instinct, I step into his space and brush my fingers lightly over the side of his neck. “This looks better.”
“It feels better. The bond has snapped,” he blurts out, staring down at me, his blue eyes sharp and stormy at the same time.
“Snapped,” I murmur, shifting my gaze down to his mouth before it shoots back up to his eyes.
“Snapped.”
“Are you okay?”
“Better than.”
“Good.”
The tension is simmering between us. I want him to drop his mouth to mine, to kiss me.
His breath hitches, and he closes the gap. His lips press gently against mine, carefully at first, as if he’s testing the waters, but then it’s all heat and hunger. My arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer, feeling the hard lines of his body against mine.
I’m melting into him like I was made for this moment. Our tongues tangle, and his hands slip down to grasp my hips, bringing me flush against him. I can feel every inch of him, rock solid and wanting, just like I am.
Finally, we break apart for air, gasping slightly. His forehead rests against mine, and our eyes meet, holding everything words can’t express.
Mia shrieks from the lounge, demanding attention and the moment is lost.
Ben steps back hastily as if he is now the one with his hand in the cookie jar, and without another word, he darts off, leaving me alone and more than slightly confused.
Chapter 37
Benjamin
Bolting out of the kitchen like I’ve just nicked the crown jewels from the Tower of London, my heart’s racing faster than a greyhound on its best day. My legs can’t carry me fast enough to Mia in the lounge.
I scoop her up with all the agility of a professional baby juggler, bouncing her slightly as she wails in my ear.
“There’s my girl,” I murmur, trying to anchor myself with her innocence and pure joy. It’s grounding, it’s necessary because, hell, what just happened in the kitchen?
My gut twists at the thought of our kiss. That wasn’t supposed to happen. Not now. Definitely not now when everything’s so complicated. But it was like being hit by lightning, electric and wild and impossible not to feel down to my soul.
I settle Mia in the crook of my arm as I sit and attempt to give her a bottle. She’s refusing again, which is worrying on top of everything else, but her temperature is steady, so I’m trying not to panic. Her sleepy eyes watch me like she knows something’s up. It’s as if she can feel the turmoil building inside me, and now it has reached its peak.
“Daddy’s got himself into a bit of a mess,” I tell her, even if she can’t understand. She just yawns, making me want to protect her from all the world’s chaos.
But what about protecting myself? Right now, I feel like I’m dangling off the edge of a cliff by my fingertips. The bond breaking was sudden, but at the same time, I felt it should’ve happened ages ago. It was supposed to be permanent, eternal, but then again, so was Nicole. I shake my head, trying to rid myself of these thoughts as I watch Mia wiggling about, but not in distress.
I’ve got to sort myself out. I’m a dad. A single dad. My whole world has shifted from under me, and it’s freeing in a way I hadn’t imagined, but it’s terrifying, too, because there’s no road map for what comes next.
Liam swings open the door, exuding easy charm and careless grace. His grin widens as he spots us, but his eyes dart to me with an unspoken question.
“Everything alright?” he asks as he ambles over.
I manage a nod. “Yeah, just peachy.” My voice is more strained than I’d like.
