Page 88 of The Sweetest Mistake

“I couldn’t think of anything else.”

“Didn’t your mom ever sing you nursery rhymes?”

“I’m sure she did, but I couldn’t remember any of them. Besides, I was under pressure.”

Julia giggled and handed him the bottle. “Here. As much as she seemed to enjoy your singing, I think she wants this more.”

Taking the bottle from her, he adjusted Ava’s position so she was cradled against his chest, and he put the bottle to her lips. The scene was so natural, so beautiful, that Julia got a lump in her throat. Suddenly, everything meshed together in her mind. Maybe she and Connor had come together for this very reason, to not only love each other but to love this little girl too.

Neither of them spoke as they watched Ava contentedly suck down her formula, her eyes beginning to droop once again.

“I still can’t believe she’s mine,” Connor said softly.

Julia squeezed his arm. “I know. She’s so beautiful, Connor.”

“So are you,” he said, turning his head toward her.

Leaning in, she gave him a quick kiss on the lips in lieu of a thank you. When she pulled away, she noticed that the bottle had slipped out of Ava’s mouth and formula was dribbling down her chin.

“Here,” she said, handing Connor the burp cloth she’d brought in with the bottle.

He took it from her, threw it over his broad shoulder, and immediately hoisted Ava up. Patting her back with just the right amount of pressure, she emitted a burp and then nestled her face into the crook of his neck.

Julia couldn’t help but think what a stunning picture they made—daddy and daughter together. If Harper were there, she would have snapped a thousand photos by now. Then again, Julia wouldn’t want Harper to be there with Connor looking all rumpled and sexy in his underwear.

He looked completely at ease with Ava resting on his shoulder, and once again, Julia was amazed at how much had changed in such a short time. When she’d first met Connor, she would have never pictured him like this—sexy and sweet. She’d been so caught up in the sexy…

Suddenly, he shifted beside her and carefully climbed off the bed. She admired his backside as he walked softly to the crib and gently laid Ava back down before pulling the blanket up over her. When he turned back around, he caught Julia staring, and his face broke out into a sexy grin.

Crawling back into bed, he pulled her close and said, “Now. Where were we?”

“I think you were about to make love to me.”

“I thought we were talking,” he said, although his eyes widened to mammoth proportions when she whipped off his T-shirt and tossed it onto the floor.

“We’ll talk later,” she said as she reached around and unhooked her bra. He swallowed hard when she slid down the straps to reveal her bare breasts, which were heaving with desire. Leaving her underwear on for now, she crawled over his lap and settled herself on his hips before wrapping her arms around his neck.

“I thought you were worried about waking Ava,” he said as his hands came up to cup her breasts.

“We’ll just have to be quiet,” she said, thrusting her chest forward to fill his generous hands.

“It was my singing, wasn’t it? That’s what got you all riled up,” he teased, flicking his thumbs across her taut nipples.

She smiled and shook her head, undulating her hips against his. “Guess again.”

He groaned as his erection rubbed up against her core. “Can’t…really…think straight.” And then he dipped his head to her chest and drew a nipple deep into his warm mouth.

Massaging her fingers into his scalp, she held his head in place as he sucked and nipped at her breasts. Her legs tightened on either side of his as she rubbed along his erection.

Dropping his hands from her breasts, he reached around to cup her backside and lifted her off him. Expecting him to get a condom, she was surprised when he said, “Stay just like that.”

And then he dipped his hand down the front of her panties and cupped her sex.

“Connor,” she said on a deep exhale.

“Shhh. Quiet.”

Nodding, she placed one hand over her mouth and braced herself against him with the other. After teasing her damp folds, he inserted a finger deep inside, causing her to tighten her core around him. He played with her, alternating between soft strokes and deep penetration, until she was bucking into his hand, her head tipped back, one hand still clamped over her mouth.