Page 26 of Finding Redemption

“But I’m g-going to m-miss you, Daddy,” she whispered.

Hazel eyes met mine, but I quickly looked away at the intensity I saw there.“I’m going to miss you too.Both of you.But Brooke is here.She takes such good care of you that you don’t even notice when I’m around most of the time.”

Bella’s wet eyes drifted over to me, and she nodded her agreement.“That’s true.But what if she leaves?Like Kayla.Or Christy.Or—”

“She’s not going to leave,” he snapped, but he quickly cleared his throat and gentled his tone.“She won’t leave.Will you, Brooke?”

More than anything, I wanted to stay, but I knew that wasn’t smart.My emotions were already too deep.If I stayed, everything would only get more complicated.There wasn’t just me to consider.Bella was too precious and innocent for me to play games that could end with her shattered.

I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, though, or make her sadder than she already was, so I forced a smile when she gave me those big, hope-filled brown eyes.“The only place I plan on going today is to drop you off at school.”Standing, I grabbed her backpack from where she’d tossed it earlier.“And if we don’t hurry, you’re going to be late.”

“But if I skip school, we could go with Daddy,” she suggested, already nodding up and down as if she were mentally planning everything out.“There will be plenty of room on Uncle Luck’s plane.And there is always an extra bed in the penthouse when Daddy and Uncle Luck stay at the hotels.You and me can share, Brooke.”

“You and I,” I automatically corrected.“But nice try.Skipping won’t get you out of that spelling test.And I thought you wanted to start karate classes.We have to sort that out.How do you plan on learning to be a real Jedi from hundreds of miles away?”

“Fine,” she huffed.She hugged Paxton’s neck tightly before smacking a kiss against his cheek.“Be careful, Daddy.Love you.Bye!”

“Love you, Bella-Boo,” he choked out as he placed her on her feet.

I pointed toward the door.“Go wash your face, and then we can go.Hurry.We don’t want to make Henry wait for us.”

“Okay, geesh.Give me a minute.”My eyes narrowed at her tone, and she ducked her head contritely.“Sorry, Brooke.”

Bella ran down the hall to the guest bathroom.I would have followed or at least waited for her by the front door, but Paxton caught my arm, locking me in place.As soon as his daughter’s energy faded from the room, he jerked me against him.“Promise me you’re not going anywhere.”

I twisted my fingers in his shirt, playing with the buttons to keep from having to look up at him.He was really hung up on my staying.Ironic, because it was everyone else who left me.Always.

With my heart pounding against my ribs, I could barely hear myself when I spoke.“I signed a contract, so the only place I’m going for the next three months is to take Bella to school.”

His growl vibrated through me, making that ache deep in my belly throb.“You know what I mean, Brooke.”With his thumb under my chin, he tipped my head back.My breath caught, seeing that the hazel had turned to the moss color I loved so much.Watching the gold swirling around in them was hypnotic.

Sucking in a steadying breath, I tried to be reasonable.“It’s only been a week.That’s not nearly enough time to determine whether this is a good fit for all of us.Isn’t that the entire point of having a trial period?”

“Fine,” he grumbled, reminding me so much of Bella that I had to press my lips together to fight a smile.“Can I at least have a goodbye kiss since I’m not going to get a promise?”

“I thought you wouldn’t be able to stop at my lips?”My knees felt weak.I wanted his kiss, but I was scared that I might beg him to stay just as Bella had only minutes before.

“That was last night.I’ve gotten control over myself.For the most part.”Lowering his head, he brushed his lips over the shell of my ear, whispering, “My cock is raw from how many times I jerked myself off.”

A little squeak left me as heat flooded my face, making him laugh.“Ah, kitten, your blush is so damn pretty.”

“I… Um, I should go,” I mumbled.“Bella—”

“One kiss.”His breath teased over my cheek.“Just one, to hold me over until I can touch you again.”

Unable to find my voice, all I could do was nod, but that seemed to be enough for him.He skimmed his thumb down my throat before he pushed my hair over my shoulder, the heavy tresses falling down my back as he dropped his hand to my hip, molding our lower bodies together.Feeling his hardness digging into my belly made me whimper.I liked knowing that I could affect him so powerfully.

Lashes lowering, I didn’t have to wait long before his lips lightly brushed over mine.I tasted coffee, and I had no idea where the hint of cinnamon came from, but suddenly, it was my new favorite flavor.His tongue skimmed over my bottom lip, and I immediately opened for him, my fingers clutching at his shirt as he deepened our kiss.My breasts felt too big for my bra, my nipples so hard they scraped painfully over the fabric of the cups.I arched into him, wanting him to touch me.Wanting his hands everywhere at the same time to ease the ache that was clawing at the fibers of my sanity.

Breathing heavily, he lifted his head.It was over before I was ready.Honestly, I wasn’t sure I would ever be ready, but just a few seconds was way too short.“I’ll call you tonight.”

Gasping, I tried desperately to clear the fog from my head.“I… Um, I’ll make sure Bella—”

“Luck and I will call Bella,” he interrupted, squeezing my hip before letting me go, thankfully ensuring I was steady on my feet before releasing me.“But I will be calling you, kitten.Afterward.”He brushed his lips over my brow.“And you better fucking answer.”

ChapterSixteen

Brooke

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