Page 83 of Secret Baby Daddies
I blinked up at Jace and my chin wobbled as I spoke.
“He hates me.”
Luc swore and ran a soap-coated cloth over my shoulders.
“No, he doesn’t.”
“He doesn’t, little girl. He’s just hurting. You aren’t the only one who let him down these last few weeks.” Jace saw me flinch at the reminder that I’d let him down and sighed. “I didn’t mean—”
“No. I did let him down. I let all of you down. I should’ve talked to y’all. I should’ve told you what I wanted and needed and let you prove yourselves. I was stupid.”
“You weren’t. You were hurt. And scared.” Luc pressed the cloth into my hand. “Wash the rest of your body. If I do it, I’m not going to be able to let you go find Mad.”
Heat burned low in my belly but I ignored it as I scrubbed myself raw. I didn’t even realize I was doing it until Jace caught my hand and yanked the cloth away.
“Enough.” He gripped my hips in the water and dragged me forward. “Tip your head back.”
I did as they said but tears still leaked from the corners of my eyes. I hadn’t thought about how much I was hurting them when I was at Reagan’s. I’d been consumed in my own pain and so selfish. How badly had I hurt them for Maddox to walk away from me like he had?
“Everything will be okay, little bunny. Just as long as you don’t run like that again. We won’t survive it next time. Worse, I thinkwe’d become the men you feared we’d become. I don’t think I could let you stay gone a second time. I don’t think I could let you leave.” His voice was raw as he tipped water over my hair and then worked shampoo through it.
“I don’t want to leave again. I was wrong about so much. I don’t want to lose y’all. I love each of you and I want to make up for hurting you. I want to come home. Forever.” There was no stopping the tears as I clutched at Jace’s hands and felt him grip me back just as hard. “I was so stupid.”
“No, you weren’t. You were scared and hurt. Your coping skills suck but we can work on those together.” Jace grunted and tugged his hand free to wipe shampoo suds from my forehead. “We’ve got the rest of our lives to figure everything out.”
“What if he can’t forgive me?” I stayed still as Luc rinsed my hair and then added conditioner. “What if he really does hate me?”
“Impossible. I know my brother. He’s as in love with you as we are, Harley. He’s been busy keeping the two of us from losing our shit the whole time you were gone and it probably didn’t help that Luc and I took over up here.”
“I need to go to him.”
“As soon as we’re finished here, you can. As much as I want you and need you right now, I think he has to come first.” Luc finished rinsing my hair and the two of them got me out of the bath and dried me off.
Jace left and came right back with a shirt.
“One of his.”
I let them drop it over my head and inhaled Maddox’s warm scent. His silky button-down went to my mid-thigh and the sleeves hung past my hands until they rolled them up. The top few buttons were undone and I reached up to button them but Jace stopped me.
“A little temptation will help ease the way.” He smiled and then pressed a chaste kiss on my cheek. “I want to fucking devour you, little girl. Hurry up and smooth Mad’s ruffled feathers, okay?”
I leaned into his chest.
“You said you’re in love with me.”
“If you’re just now catching on, we need to have that pretty head of yours checked.”
Luc stood like a sentinel by the door, arms crossed and face dark.
“After a punishment like that one I’d normally rub you down with a pain-relieving salve. The way you were scrubbing yourself in the bath made me think you need the reminder, though. You need that pain, don’t you?”
I nodded shyly. I did. It was a physical reminder that they still cared. I wanted to feel the sting and be grounded in the knowledge the making up process had started. I needed to feel it each time Maddox’s shirt brushed over my sore ass. I pressed my forehead to his chest and shuddered when he reached down and cupped my ass.
“I need it.”
“I love you, Harley. You won’t need the bite of pain to remember that for much longer. I’m going to make sure you feel it every single fucking day.” Luc gently pushed me away and pulled the door open. “Go on. We’ll be right behind you. You’ll never be in that club without at least one of us at your side again.”
“I love both of you so much. I’ll make this right.” I had to get Maddox back first, though.
