Drink and painkillers in hand, I headed to Lottie’s room, peering around the doorway, weirdly nervous. I was never nervous around Eddie or Lottie. Ever. Not even when Eddie had shot me down three years back and we’d met up the next day for a beer. This was new. And not so dissimilar to the guilt churning in my gut. I didn’t like it one bit.
Both Eddie and Lottie were stretched out on the double bed, Eddie stroking her hair and talking too softly for me to hear his words. He flicked his gaze at me, and I held my breath, not sure if I was welcome or not. When a gentle smile lifted his lips, a whoosh of air escaped me.
“How’s it going in here?” I asked, my shoulders relaxing a little. Reaching the side of the bed, I held out the tablets.
“Thanks.” Eddie took them off me and helped Lottie sit and take her pills before they settled back down.
“Thank you, Pearce.”
Affection flooded my chest when I looked down at Lottie’s tired eyes, her skin pale in the soft light. “Anytime, pumpkin. You going to try to get back to sleep now?”
“Yeah.” Her shoulders shuddered a little, and I frowned, concerned that whatever her nightmare had been about had really knocked her around.
“Okay, well if you need anything, just—”
“Will you stay too?”
My eyes widened in surprise at her request. Hesitating and not sure what the right thing to do here was, I sought her dad’s gaze. His smile was tender, and he gave me a small nod, indicating it was okay. And I knew he meant if I felt comfortable doing so.
“Of course I will, Lottie girl. Let me just go throw on a sleep shirt, and I’ll be right back.” I left the room feeling lighter, relieved Eddie was welcoming me in the task of comforting his daughter and touched that Lottie trusted me enough to care for her. Without a doubt I loved this girl fiercely, wanting nothing more than for her to be happy, healthy, and safe.
I threw on one of my old team shirts I used for lounging in and headed back to the bedroom. Lottie’s eyes sprang open when I entered, the sweetest of smiles sent my way a heartbeat later. Since I’d been gone, she’d scooted to the middle of the bed.
Getting into bed without jostling her, I turned on my side and stroked her brow. “You have sweet dreams now, kiddo.”
“I’ll try.” Her words were a soft mumble, her eyes already firmly closed.
The gentle caress of fingers on my head startled me, then I relaxed into the touch, my gaze connecting with Eddie’s. My heart squeezed as I took him in. He was also on his side, his one arm holding his daughter while the other continued to stroke my hair. It was his eyes, though, that threatened to unravel me, and the affection boldly on display in their depths.
I reached out and wrapped my arm over Lottie, hand settling on Eddie’s arm. While this was far from the celebration I’d hoped for, being close to the man I loved and the girl I doted on, it didn’t even feel like a close second. Screw that. This here was the perfect way to end the night.
CHAPTER13
EDDIE
I wokewith an elbow in my face and to the sound of light snoring. Typically these weren’t the most pleasant things to wake up to, but that didn’t stop my content smile from forming or the uptick of my pulse.
Yesterday I’d been out of my mind with lust for Pearce, putting myself out there, emotionally and physically, in a way I never had before. For an all too brief few minutes, it had been perfect. How we’d connected. How I knew he’d be wringing out an orgasm from me to eclipse all previous orgasms.
Sure, that had all ended pretty dismally with Lottie’s nightmare, but I couldn’t regret cuddling up with my two favorite people in the world. Peace was a funny thing, something I’d been certain I’d previously felt. Last night, though, after tasting Pearce’s kisses for the first time, then falling asleep the way we had, peace took on a whole new meaning. And holy shit, I was totally on board with the buzz of contentment running through my veins.
It was early, too early to be awake after a late night. With dawn breaking and soft light filtering through the curtains, any chance for falling back asleep was gone. Usually I’d get up, enjoy the quiet dawn afforded, but the soft snore coming from Pearce and Lottie’s breathing provided the best type of calm.
That was until Lottie shifted and kneed me in the nuts.
I grunted at the contact, my mind whiting out for a moment as my eyes watered. Clamping down on my lips and dragging them between my teeth to stop from crying out and waking everyone up, I cupped myself, turned, and focused on breathing.
Jesus, my kid was trying to kill me. Either that or she was determined to remain an only child.
Once my mind calmed and my vision cleared, I realized the snores had stopped. The mattress moved and dipped. I angled around to see Pearce sitting up, bleary-eyed and frowning.
I huffed out a pained breath and pressed my face into the pillow, not quite ready to do anything beyond cradle my crotch and consider what I’d done to deserve a wake-up call like this.
Pearce’s hand touching my shoulder jolted me into awareness. Having not heard him move, I wondered if for a moment I’d blacked out there.
“You okay?” With his mouth close to my ear, I figured he’d got out of bed and was beside me.
I managed a nod and pried my eyes open, turning to face him. Once our gazes met, he smiled that brilliant damn smile of his that was far too cheery and perfect. There wasn’t a chance my bruised balls could handle him looking so irresistible.
