Page 129 of Beyond the Blue Horizon
And my son…he was hooked in the crook of his arm, Theo casually holding him as if it was something he did each morning while he chatted with my grandmother.
Finn noticed me first, and he pointed at me with his chubby finger, his adorable little nose squishing up as he shouted, “Wookit! Mommy wake up!”
My throat nearly closed off when Theo shifted around to look at me.
All the acute, harsh angles of his gorgeous face were illuminated by the rays of sunlight that cut through the windows, making him appear even more severe than normal.
A sharp blade of protection standing in the middle of our kitchen.
His black hair as messy as mine, and my stomach flipped when I thought of the way I had my hands fisted in the lush locks last night.
His lips were full and red and so freaking distracting as his tongue swiped out to wet the bottom one as if he were every bit as affected by the sight of me as I was of him.
His powerful body rippled with strength and volatility while my son grinned and wiggled on his hip.
The vision was so utterly perfect that I wanted to drop to my knees and beg him to never leave.
To plead with him to give us this impression of peace forever.
Wayward thoughts creeping in that maybe I could trust him. That maybe I could give him what I’d been carrying for so long, and he’d see me for who I was.
Understand.
Maybe he was powerful enough to protect me from it.
Disbelief shocked through my senses.
How could I be so selfish to even think it? Putting him in the path of the monster that would forever nip and snarl at my heels?
Grief fisted my heart.
Did I so easily forget what had happened last time?
What I was responsible for?
I swallowed down the panic that crawled up my throat and forced out, “Hey, my sweet boy.”
White hair a halo around his face, Finn’s grin only widened, and he kicked his feet. “Get down, myFeo.”
Theo’s gaze remained locked on me as he settled him onto the floor.
Moonlit eyes both penetrating and soft and riddled with something that he shouldn’t be devouring me with in the light of day.
“Guess the kid knows when the best thing walks into the room,” he rumbled in that low, seductive voice.
My stomach twisted and butterflies flew.
What the heck was he saying? In front of my Nelly?
Nelly who swiveled around just as Finn came running my way, his little arms in the air.
I scooped him up and hitched him onto my hip as Nelly blatantly surveyed my disheveled appearance.
“Well, good morning, sleepyhead. Look who came a-knocking at our door first thing this morning.”
She pointed at Theo with a large two-pronged fork.
Oh.
