Page 112 of Perfect Bragg

“Hold on. Hold on. You’ve never once indicated a fear of children. You’ve been a great dad from day one.” It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with him.

“Nevertheless, I tried to pull away from you because of Robin.”

I scowl.

“Not because of Robin. Robin’s awesome. The best baby girl in the world. But because of your guardianship of Robin.”

“I need more information.”

“My dad bullied Miller.”

“Your dad bullied Miller? The guy built like a linebacker?”

“And I did nothing about it.” He pauses and I wait him out. There must be more to this story. “I’m Miller’s big brother, his twin, I should have protected him from our dad.”

I connect the dots. “And this idiotic thinking made you believe you’d be an awful dad and shouldn’t have children.”

“I prefer the term misguided thinking.”

“Of all the things you could have said to me, I didn’t expect you to come out with the most stupid, most idiotic, most out of this world excuse ever thought up by a man.”

“Hey now,” he protests.

“It wasn’t your job to protect Miller growing up. It was your dad’s job. And if he was the problem, then it was your mom’s job. Not yours. You were just a kid.”

“I know I—”

I don’t let him finish. I have lots to say on this subject. “And even if it was your job, which it wasn’t, you recognized your mistakes and are aware of them. All of this is irrelevant anyway. You are an awesome dad. You’ve been an awesome dad to Robin since the day Ms. Cross dropped her in my lap. Robin loves you.” I frown. “More than me in fact, which is completely wrong and unfair.”

He places a hand over my mouth. “I know. My idiot brothers pointed all of this out to me already.”

I pry his hand away. “Then, why are we discussing this?”

“Because I might screw up in the future. I need you to tell me when I’m doing something wrong.”

I chuckle. “Don’t worry. I’ll tell you when you’re wrong.”

“Thank you.” He kisses my nose. “We’re agreed then. I’m yours. You’re mine. And the fake in this fake marriage is hereby erased.”

“Agreed.”

Chapter 34

It’s not my fault the curtains caught on fire. I’m not a magician. ~ Text from Petal to Peace

Elder

Relief courses through my body. Harmony’s mine. She’s always been mine, but she’s finally agreeing to what I’ve known since the moment I saw her. She’s mine.

There’s only one way to celebrate this occasion.

I haul her close until our chests are touching and smash my lips on hers. She sighs and I thrust my tongue into her mouth. There it is. The taste I’ve been missing. It’s only been a few days but fear of never having her again makes it feel as if it’s been years since I felt her soft lips against mine.

She moans and throws her leg over my waist. I punch my hips until my hard length hits her center. She rubs herself against me.

I pull away from her lips. “Keep rubbing yourself all over me and I won’t last long, darling.”

She smirks at me. “Am I finally going to meet the five-second man?”

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