Page 60 of Brick
She’d done her best to avoid sex with Keetan, hadn’t slept with him in over a year.But there’d been a couple of times after Bray was born that he came to her bed, drunk and demanding, when she was there alone.She’d done what was necessary to survive and hadn’t enjoyed a single moment of it.
This was different.This was natural.Brick was the father of their son.Someone she cared about and respected.Someone who’d move mountains to protect them.
He deserved to be welcomed into their life, and god, she wanted him there more than anything.More than her next breath.
Brick lifted a shoulder with hesitation.“I would, but Bray might be freaked out if he wakes up to find me in bed with you guys.”
She fisted her free hand on her hip.“Nonsense.I won’t take no for an answer.Besides, it’ll be safer to have him between us.”
“Natalie, you don’t have to do this.”
“Brick.”She gave his hand an insistent shake.“I want you to sleep with us.I think it’s a good thing to show Bray we’re together, for him to have you present in every aspect of his life.He might not understand what’s happened, but already he trusts you.He was never himself around Keetan.He wouldn’t have dared to throw his food on the floor or be silly at bedtime when Keetan was around.”She wet her lips, hating how much those memories stung.How many things she’d dismissed for the sake of survival.“He needsyou.”
Brick’s face tightened, and his eyes sparked with fury.“I should’ve fucking killed him,” he muttered.Then he cupped the back of her head.“I’d be honored to sleep with you guys, babe.I’ll be right up.”
She grinned, rose to her toes, and pecked his lips.“Good answer.”
He chuckled as she sidled by him and made her way to the stairs.Creeping silently into the room, she heard Bray’s soft breath.She smiled as she went to the far side of the bed, where there was less room, and scooted in beside him.
Fatigue weighed down her bones, but her mind still fired with satisfaction.Though she still needed rest, her nap had given her a second wind.She lay there for ten minutes, refusing to give attention to pressing thoughts about Keetan, and then Brick’s footsteps padded up the stairs.
The hall light clicked off and he entered the room.Moonlight shone through the pale curtains, illuminating his form.The covers rustled and the mattress dipped beneath his weight.Bray let out a shuddering sigh.Brick froze.Natalie stifled a laugh imagining his fear of waking their son.
She reached her arm over their sleeping boy’s head and patted Brick’s shoulder, urging him to get comfortable.He shifted a bit more, and moments later she could see the outline of his face on the pillow.“Good night,” she whispered.
He snagged her fingers, which still rested on his shoulder, and kissed her knuckles.“Night,” he murmured.
A deep smile spread over her face.She’d dreamed of this moment for three years—her son safe and content with his father, Brick a part of their family.
Even if it was only hers for tonight, for this moment, she’d thank her lucky stars for giving her this little piece of heaven.
CHAPTER 17
“Iwant anana.”The raspy little voice filtered through Brick’s hazy sleep.
He frowned but kept his eyes closed.Damn, that dream had sounded real.
Smack,smack,smack
A small hand patting him square on his face made him jump.He snapped open his eyes to see two brown pools staring back at him.Bray lay on his belly, his hair wild and his eyes bright with the kind of alertness only a toddler could wake up with.
“Nana,” he demanded, a little more loudly.“Pweas.”
Brick rubbed his eyes and glanced over Bray’s head.Natalie lay curled on her side facing them, her cheek resting on her palm, her wheat-colored hair spread over the white pillow.
He wanted nothing more than to kiss her full lips, but if he didn’t take care of Bray’s hunger pronto, Natalie wouldn’t get another wink of the sleep she desperately needed.Still, a deep comfort swept over him.Bray had woken up and seen him, and instead of being freaked out, the boy had woken him.If that didn’t tell him his son felt safe in his presence, nothing would.
“I hungry,” Bray said, once again not so quietly.
Brick smiled at Bray’s expectant face and brought his finger to his lips.“Shh.Mommy’s sleeping,” he whispered.
Sliding out of the covers, he pulled on his T-shirt.He’d slept in sweatpants.Normally, the most he wore to bed was boxer briefs.He held out his hands and Bray popped up and stretched out his little arms.Warmth spread through him as he lifted his son against his chest.“Let’s get you that banana.”
“Rocky,” Bray called, stretching toward the bed.
“Shhh,” Brick said gently, as he fished the stuffed animal from under the blanket and placed it in Bray’s greedy hands.
Bray snuggled Rocky as they moved silently into the hall.Brick closed the bedroom door softly, and they went downstairs.He headed straight to the bundle of fruit on the counter and ripped a ripe banana from the bunch.After peeling it, he handed it to Bray, who took the banana eagerly and bit off a hunk.
