Page 90 of Light

It has to be well after four o’clock. That means an army of fifteen hungry stomachs, including three Spec Ops hunks and an equal number of bottomless pits known as our children will have to be fed soon. No time for caving in to carnality and yanking his sexy-as-hell ass in here with me.

On to option two. Changing the subject. Fast.

“Looks like you’ve been busy, Aquaman.”

“Errrmm…” He cocks his head, causing some of that deliciously damp hair to fall against his forehead. “The name’s Aqua Bolt, ma’am.”

“Ahhh.” I can’t help another light laugh. “Yes, of course.” I quirk a mischievous smirk. “And is that what you told the kids to call you too?”

“Right.” He snorts. “And you think they’d listen if I did?”

I pop up a little straighter, not caring about the suds running down my bared breasts, as a semi truck of a thought slams my brain. “Shit. Ira and Mis—”

“Had a blast,” he supplies. “Though we could have predicted that, based on how much they already enjoy bath time.”

A smile blooms all the way up from my heart. “Well, I’ve seen them giving the pool some cautiously optimistic looks.”

“And once I informed them that there was such a thing called ‘water ballet’…”

I break out with a delighted chuckle—though my horrified gasp interrupts it as Mack truck number two barrels in. “Oh, but shit! I haven’t thought to get them swimsuits yet!”

“Hey.” He scoops one of my hands into his. “Follow the directions, lady. Keep breathin’. Don’t worry. Angie bought them some cute suits during her dash into Malibu yesterday.” My instant reaction to that, a mix of relief and bewilderment, doesn’t slip by him for a second. I can tell because of the ruminative look that claims his own features. “I told her it was all right, Velvet.” His assurance is firm but gentle. “She’s been processing her reaction to the new intel about them.”

“About Tyce being their true father.” I return his grip with some pensive squeezes. Get a swallow down that’s just as conflicted. “Of course,” I mumble. “I sensed as much during our estrogen and sangria fest this afternoon, but I didn’t want to pry, especially in front of the others.”

Reece dips in to flow a tender kiss across my forehead. “Because your heart is that tender and your soul is that insightful,” he whispers. “And I know she probably felt your concern anyway. Your magic is a tough thing for anyone to ignore, beautiful.”

I rock my head back, making it impossible for him to ignore where I want him to re-aim his kisses. “You’re being really gooey for a guy who probably spent the last hour being ruthlessly clobbered at Marco Polo,” I get in before our lips meet in a slick, sweet smack. “And being the enchanted water ballet prince.”

Another wet kiss. A beam of his wider smile. “See? You are magic.”

“And you’re full of a lot of mush talk.” I frame his jaw with my fingers, using the grip as leverage to push him back by several inches. “But maybe you just need to rip off the bandage here, Dr. Bolt.”

His obvious bemusement backs him up by another inch. “Rip off the huh?”

“Reece.” I roll my eyes. “Just stop.” Another roll, this time of my shoulders. More bubble residue dribbles down my chest, but I’m beyond caring about propriety at the moment. “And just give it to me straight. If Angelique wants to file for custody of the girls, then we have to agree that we won’t stand in her way. She’s just as entitled to—”

I’m cut short by more rolling, though none of it’s my doing now. My husband moves in to consume my personal space with a push of his shoulders and then a plunge of his mouth, whirling his tongue deep inside me while working his grip around the back of my neck. A moan escapes my throat. Steamy heat invades my thoughts. Arousal drenches my blood. I’m assaulted by his passion, expressing itself in ever-changing sweeps and angles, enforced by the sensual lunges and turns of his jaw and lips…and soon, his shoulders and arms, as well. A savage sound curls up from the middle of his chest as he leans in more, engaging his body in as much of the ruthless invasion as he can. In return, I slide my slippery hands up his chest and then around his neck, clinging one around that beautifully muscled column while delving the other up and into his thick, luxurious hair.

I’m still holding him that way, and he grips me with matching fervor, when our mouths finally break free from their fiery fusion. His gaze is a hypnotizing whirl of silver heat. His responding words are a stamp of noble vow—and violent promise. “Those girls are ours, Emmalina.” He clenches his jaw so hard, there’s an earthquake-worthy tick that appears in it. “That’s not my arrogance speaking—nor my selfishness or my righteousness or my belligerence.” He moves a hand around mine. Guides it from his neck to the center of his chest. “That’s my heart, declaring what I know is the right thing for them. Our family.”

A tear-weighted sigh leaves me—one of several that have broken out since he started talking, though I’ve kept them subdued so as to not interrupt him. So as to not stop the declaration that vibrates my soul more than any other magnificent thing he’s ever declared to me. The love he’s committing to with such trust and grace, I’m drowning in the force it. Overwhelmed by the beauty of it.

At last, I’m able to form my lips around words of my own. “I know all of that too, my love. And I believe all of it just as thoroughly.” With a small wince, I press my fingertips harder into the valley between his massive pecs. “But we can’t just dismiss Angie—”

“And nor should we.” His dedication to the statement is as plain as his others. “And she already knows that too; I’m sure of it. She sees how Lux already looks after them and how caring for him in return is a source of comfort for them.” A deeper solemnity takes over his gaze. “And I think she also knows that they’ll thrive more with the stability of a family rather than being at the mercy of whatever her life holds for now.” The seriousness flees as a curious chuckle takes hold of him, reacting to the sharper one I’ve already tossed out. “What?” he finally prods past his twitching lips.

My own mouth, still surrendering to humorous twitches, calms enough to volley, “You really went there, didn’t you?”

“Went where?”

“Called our life stable?”

He submits to a full snort. “Well, at least I accomplished my mission.”

I arch both brows. “There was a mission?”

He nods. “To finally rescue my fair damsel from her brood over the Scorpio invasion.”