Page 62 of Daniil
“Would it matter if it wasn’t?”
“We could ask them to respect our privacy.”
I’m really going to hate it if that’s the direction she wants to go but I’ve made more progress with her in the last twenty-four hours than the last twenty-four months, so I’ll do what she wants.
“I want Micah’s identity to be kept quiet for now, but not…this.”
“I can live with that.”I roll to the side and then pull her into my arms.
“I don’t know what we’re doing, though,” she says after a moment.“I have to go home…and you mostly have to stay here.”
If I wanted to argue the point, I could.But I won’t.Not yet.Her trust in me is provisional, at best, so I can’t push things.
“You can stay as long as you want.I can pay your bills—and don’t get all prickly about it.You supported my son a hundred percent for the first five months of his life.That’s a lot of diapers and formula, not to mention baby furniture, clothes, and medical expenses.So, I can pay a month or two of your bills while we figure things out.”
“I also have to think about my job,” she says.“Yes, you can pay my bills, but how long can I stay away before Chains replaces me?He was very good to me when I retired from the military, giving me part-time desk work to get me through my pregnancy.I can’t just walk away.”
“No, but you can explain the situation.He obviously knows I’m Micah’s father and this is my first time getting to know my son.As a father, I’m certain he’ll understand.”
“Sure, but I still have responsibilities.”
She sighs, and it’s a long, frustrated sound that tells me she’s torn.Duty and pleasure.Fear and guilt.Probably a lot of other things I can’t pinpoint.And I don’t know how to make any of them better for her.
“Please stay a while longer,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around her more tightly.“I’m not ready to let you go.Either of you.I know you think this is all about Micah, but I swear to you it’s not.I’ve wanted this almost since day one—give me the opportunity to prove it to you.And if you stay for the rest of the month, I’ll go back to Vegas with you.I have to get this damn bill passed, or I could leave sooner.Can you do this for me, Courtney?”
Another sigh, this one less frustrated and more undecided.
“Okay,” she says after a moment.“I’ll stay a bit longer.I’ll call Chains and see what we can work out.I took a week’s vacation for the first week but now it’s unpaid time off.”
“Like I said, I’ll pay your bills.If you want, I can give you what we consider a fair lump sum for my half of everything you spent to take care of Micah.”
She starts to protest but I shake my head.
“Come up with a number on your own, when you have time to think.Then we can discuss it, okay?Don’t make this a big deal.He’s my son and I want to make sure both he and his mother never have to struggle.No matter what we decide, you’ll never have to worry about money.I give you my word on that.”
“I don’t want money,” she says softly.“I just want him to be safe.”
“He will be.I’ll make sure of it.”
To my surprise, she rolls over and straddles me.“I don’t want to talk anymore.”
“No?”My hands settle at her hips as I gaze up at her.“What would you like to do instead?”
“Oh, I don’t know.”She runs her hands over my chest, caressing me softly, intimately.Like she’s touching me for the first time.“Maybe a shower… and then I’d like to suck that big, glorious cock of yours.”
“How about a bath instead?Andthenyou can suck my cock.”
She smiles.“Deal.”
I wish everything was this easy.
Chapter26
Courtney
Despite makinglove half the night, Daniil and I are up with Micah at seven thirty.I’m deliciously sore, incredibly relaxed, and a little sheepish as we join Sandor and Lennox in the kitchen for breakfast.Sandor immediately gives Daniil stink eye.
“I know,” Daniil says before his brother can say anything.“We’re sorry.It was the first time in… a long time.”
