Page 67 of Shattered King

Fuck.

I ran my hand up and down her back. Jesus. Did she have any idea what that meant to me? Any idea at all? “You keep saying shit like that, Lulu. I’m gonna want to take you to my bed and fuck you. Look into your eyes while you come, telling me again and again how I put that smile there.” I slid my hand down her smooth thigh then up under my T-shirt that she’d claimed to sleep in—which fucking pleased me to no end—and cupped her ass. “You in my bed, looking at me like that, saying shit like that to me. There’ll be no going back. I’ll keep you there, you know that, right?”

She stilled, just for a beat, and then she moved in closer, tits soft and warm against my ribs, and kissed my neck. I felt it like she’d pressed her lips to the head of my cock. “I want that.” She kissed me again. “I want all of it.”

Now it was my turn to go still. Her voice had come out muffled, since her mouth was against my skin. So I wrapped my arms around her back and shifted to my side, so we were facing each other. “What did you just say?”

She wrapped her arms around my neck. “I want it.” Her eyes locked with mine. “All of it.”

“You want it all?” My voice came out a shaky rasp when I repeated her words. I didn’t give a fuck. It wasn’t a question, because she’d said it now, which meant there was no going back.

“Yeah,” she whispered.

“You know what you’re saying?”

“Yes.”

“You’re giving us another shot. You’re in my bed every night. You, me, Josh, we’re a family.” A tear streaked down her cheek. I brushed it away with my thumb. Another fell straight after, and I swiped that one away as well.

She slid her hands into my hair, holding me captive with her beautiful gray eyes, and damn near destroyed me with her next words. “Yes. If you’ll have us.”

“Fuck, Lulu.” I cupped the back of her head. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

My other hand was still up the back of her shirt. I smoothed it down her side then around and back up over her soft belly, to cup one of her full tits. Its softness overflowed my hand. When I swiped my thumb over a stiffened nipple, she moaned softly.

Lulu’s knee was bent over my hip, and she wriggled against me. Fuck. I wanted her naked under me, now. Her cheeks were flushed, breath coming in little pants. “Hunter . . .”

It was at that moment our little spider monkey scrambled onto the couch. He leaned in close and wrapped his arms around my neck, so we were nose to nose. He’d obviously been trying to get our attention for a while, which had failed for obvious reasons.

“Pancakes!” he yelled.

“I think you’ve created a pancake monster,” Lulu said, giggling beside me.

“No shit,” I mumbled and grinned over at her, heart so full I thought it might actually burst.

“Shit!” Josh mimicked.

Lulu’s smile vanished, and she narrowed her eyes. That was my cue to haul ass and go make the damn pancakes. I did it with a stupid-assed grin on my face the whole time.

After that, I had things to do, plans to make and shit to buy.

Lulu and I had lost more than enough time.

Tonight was the start of our lives together.

Lulu

I stared across the room at Hunter, phone to his ear. “Where?” he growled down the line. “He has to be there somewhere.” He was silent a moment. “Right.” Then he disconnected.

The happy bubble I’d been in burst and my fingers curled into tight fists. “Someone’s seen him, haven’t they?”

Hunter dipped his chin. He was hiding something, trying to protect me. I didn’t want to be kept in the dark. As much as I wanted to close my mind to it, I couldn’t, I refused to, not this, not anymore.

“What aren’t you telling me?” I persisted.

Hunter shoved his fingers through his hair, searching my face, no doubt wondering if I could handle the latest addition to this nightmare.

I stood and crossed the room to him. “I can take it, whatever you don’t want to tell me. I’m strong, you said it yourself. I’m done sitting in this apartment, letting things just . . . happen to me . . .” My anger rose. I wasn’t angry at Hunter; I was angry—furious—with Pierce. I was also done being his goddamn victim. “Tell me, Hunter. I won’t fall to pieces. I deserve to know.”