Page 173 of Grand Love

I pump into her three more times, then I’m coming right along with her.

* * *

“I really didn’t thinkI’d cave so easily.”

I chuckle at Nina’s admission, smiling up at the ceiling as I lie sprawled out on my sofa with her on top of me. “Nah, I knew we wouldn’t last a day.”

She lifts up onto her arm to look at me, her warm hand smoothing over my chest. “You? Sure. Me? Nope. Didn’t think I’d cave.”

“This is all on you,” I tell her. “I didn’t seduce you in the kitchen with my tits.”

“Uh, thankfully you didn’t, no. But you did seduce me with the whole daddy, mummy, Ellis vibe, and ‘go get naked in my tub’ tactic.” She arches her sharp brow at me. “I’m not stupid, Mr Lowell.”

I pull her back down so she’s flush against me. “I wanted to cheer you up. I knew you’d be sad when you came here.”

She doesn’t say anything for a minute, her finger tracing circles on my chest. “He didn’t get mad. He didn’t really do or say anything.”

Probably because he’s a fucking psycho. “He probably saw it coming.”

“Hmm,” she hums, not delving any deeper into it. “What did you want to tell me about Jasmine?” she asks.

My hand falls to her hair, sliding the silky strands between my fingers. “I told you she’s going through social services to get her children back.”

“Yeah,” she sighs.

“She’s not a bad person, you know. She’s working to get her life straight again. It’s the only reason I gave her the job and a place to stay.”

“I’m glad you did,” she murmurs, barely audible.

“You are?”

She props herself up on her arms so she can see my face. “She would’ve been pregnant, right? If she has a child the same age as Ellis. I don’t know why she did it, but I can only imagine the situation she must have been in for that to ever become a scenario. I don’t know. It just seems awful to think about.”

“From what we saw, I’d say her boyfriend had a lot to do with the why. She was afraid of us.”

“Us?”

“Me and Charlie. We went to her flat. There were drugs, it was damp and mouldy, and she had Betty, her baby, living amongst it all.” I grimace just thinking about it.

She purses her lips, a sad expression on her face. “Do you think you took her in because of Ellis?”

“Maybe. I knew I couldn’t leave her there though.” I roll to face her, wanting her to understand my reasoning. “But I also wanted something—someone for you. Family, Nina, real family.”

She watches her own hand as it runs through my hair again. “I know, and I love you for it.”

“Would you consider meeting her, properly?” I ask, hopeful.

She doesn’t say anything right away, her brow creasing as her beautiful mind works. I give her a moment, not trying to push her into anything.

“One day. I think I could one day.” Her gaze meets mine again. “But right now, it seems a little soon. I feel like we’re only now finding our new dynamic as a family and there’s so much room to fuck it up. I’m sure I will fuck it—”

“Shut up with that,” I cut her off, squeezing her hip.

“But it’s not a no, and I want to know more about her.” She shrugs. “I’m intrigued.”

“Of course, you are.” I give her a soft smile as I smooth a hand over her back.

“I want to meet my dad too.” My heart seems to jolt in my chest at her words, my body running hot with unease. “I haven’t heard from Mum since before Ellis was born. I’ve reached out but haven’t heard a thing back. I don’t think I can do any more than that, but I could try my dad.” She looks up at me again sheepishly and I try to relax my features. “I spoke to Vinny about it today.”

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