I shifted his weight, bracing to stand. “Why don’t I carry him up to bed? He probably needs some rest.”
Sutton nodded. “Are you sure you’ve got him?”
One corner of my mouth kicked up, even if it was half-hearted. “If I can’t carry a seven-year-old up to bed, I’ve got problems.”
Sutton returned my smile, but hers wasn’t full-on either. How could it be? Her boy had been hurt. And it made me want to burn every news media outlet who’d carried the story to the ground.
Since I couldn’t do that, I pushed to my feet, holding Luca to me. His breathing was heavy in my ear, but it was reassuring, the quietpromise that he was all right—or at least he would be with time. I vowed to give him all the family belonging I could. I would call my mom tomorrow and bring her up to speed. If there was one thing Nora Colson was good at, it was bringing lost sheep into the fold.
I took the steps one at a time, knowing I had precious cargo. It didn’t take me long to reach Luca’s room, one it was beyond time to truly makehis. I’d get on that immediately. Just like I would think of any way imaginable to make Sutton feel at home here, too.
Because I didn’t want them moving back to that apartment over the bakery, no matter how amazing Shep and his crew made it. I wanted Sutton and Luca here with me. Forever.
Sutton rounded me and hurried to pull back the blankets on Luca’s bed. I laid him down, and we each went to work on a sneaker. I glanced at her. “Is he okay sleeping in these clothes?”
The workout pants and T-shirt that readHockey is Lifelooked comfortable enough, but I didn’t know the rules.
Sutton’s expression softened, and she nodded. “He’ll be okay in these. I’ll have him change when I wake him up for dinner. I still want him to be able to sleep tonight.”
“Okay.” I carefully pulled the covers over Luca’s small body, tucking him in. But I didn’t move for a moment afterward. I just stared down at him, thinking about everything Roman was missing out on and all the damage he’d done.
Finally, I forced myself to turn to Sutton. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her to me. “Are you okay?”
She didn’t answer right away, but eventually, she pulled back, her eyes searching mine. “I love you.”
My whole body went wired. I’d tried not to get in my head about the fact that Sutton hadn’t returned my sentiments when I gave her those three words the other day. Tried not to overthink what it could mean. I knew she had trust issues, and that it wouldn’t be easy for her to give her heart to anyone.
“Say it again,” I rasped.
Sutton’s mouth curved. “I love you.”
“Fuck. You don’t know how good those words are to hear.”
“I’m sorry it took me a little while to give them to you.”
I shook my head. “You needed to go on your own timetable.”
Sutton’s eyes glistened. “What you just gave Luca, it made me realize that you’ve given us both the gift of belonging. A family.”
“Warrior,” I growled. “Tell me this means you’ll stay. Here, with me. Tell me we’ll find a way to make this work.”
“Yes,” she breathed.
I moved then, hauling her into my arms and striding out of the room. Sutton’s legs hooked around my waist as her mouth met mine. If I hadn’t memorized the hall’s path long ago, I likely would’ve been bumping into walls and sending artwork crashing to the floor.
This woman’s taste.Hell.I could drown in it forever. She tasted like she smelled: cinnamon and sugar with a hint of vanilla. The scents of the bakery imbued into her very being. I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. All I knew was that I never wanted it to end.
The moment we crossed the threshold to my room, I shut the door, locking it quickly behind us. “Say it again,” I commanded.
“I love you.” Sutton whispered the words across my lips so I could not only hear them but also feel them.
“Gonna be greedy for those words for a while, Warrior.”
I slowly lowered her to the floor, the feeling of her body sliding against mine making my dick harden. I’d never had a woman affect me like this. It was so much more than simple attraction. It was as if she held my soul hostage. But I didn’t give a damn. I’d be her willing prisoner for the rest of my days.
My hand slid along Sutton’s jaw, tangling in her hair. “So fucking beautiful.”
One corner of her mouth kicked up. “I’m probably covered in flour.”
