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"I know. But that was before I stared evil in the eye and realized he could be coming for my baby. My ex was a bastard and wanted to kill me, but compared to your dad? He was like a baby bunny."

Phoebe looked over at him, and he saw the sadness in her eyes. He knew she'd already decided. There was no other option for her, as a mother. His heart wanted to crack in half, but he refused to let it. He wasn't giving up now, not now that he had the chance to finally start living.

But he understood where she was, and what she was feeling.

He didn't know how he was going to get this sorted, but he knew he would. He had to, for all their sakes. He knew he was good for Annie…and for Phoebe. And they were already his world.

"Jacob," she said firmly. "We're going to leave."

He took a breath, knowing that she was in too deep to even hope for an answer, a solution, let alone look for one, so he nodded. "I understand. I'd never ask you to endanger Annie, or yourself."

She nodded. "Okay."

He cupped her face with his hand. "I love you, Phoebe. You and that beautiful daughter of yours. And Cupcake." He leaned in to kiss her before she could answer. A kiss to remind both of them of this beautiful thing coming to life between them.

She kissed him back, fiercely, almost desperately.

He pulled her into his lap, and she came willingly, settling her knees on either side of his hips while they continued to kiss, never breaking the kiss. She clasped her hands behind his neck as he palmed her hips, feeling the curves of her body under his hand. "I love touching you," he whispered between kisses.

"It's an incredible gift," she said. "I didn't think I could feel safe in a man's arms again, let alone want to be naked and vulnerable, but you give me that gift."

He grinned. "You want to be naked? Now?"

Her gaze met his. "Yes."

Need coursed through him. "Hang on." He set her to the side, then rolled off the bed. He strode into the hall, checked on a sleeping Annie and Cupcake, then left her door ajar. When he got back to their room, he locked the door. "I left her door open so we can hear her if she calls for us."

Phoebe had scooched back to the middle of the bed, and she was on her back, propped up on her elbows. "You're incredibly thoughtful. You'd make an amazing dad."

His breath caught. "I never thought about being a dad until I met Annie." He sank onto the bed beside her and pulled her into his arms. "Until you." He kissed her, using his actions to tell her how deeply he meant his words. This little trio had turned his world into chaos and rebirth in a matter of days.

He would give his life to keep them safe, but he hoped he didn't have to, because he wanted to live his life…with them.

Phoebe tugged at his shirt, and he pulled it over his head as she did the same. He ran his hand over her hips, then slid her pants down over her legs, kissing her skin with each additional inch exposed. "You're incredibly beautiful," he said. "My angel."

She ran her fingers through his hair and laughed softly. "My mom used to call me a demon. I was a handful as a kid. Kind of like Cupcake."

"Kids should get the chance to be handfuls," he said as he pulled her pants over her feet, and paused to kiss each toe.

She watched him, her eyes sparkling with laughter. "I have nice toes, do I?"

"You do. They're very kissable." He kissed the arch of her foot. "And this part, too." Then he kissed her inside anklebone. "And here, as well." He raised her foot up, and kissed her along the back of her calf. "Fantastic legs, by the way."

She grinned. "I've always considered myself drop dead gorgeous, personally. Men often fall to their knees and crawl around after me, because I'm really too much for most of them."

"Not too much for me." He moved between her legs and kissed her again, deeper, pure seduction and need. "I love how much you are," he whispered. "On every level."

She locked her arms around his neck. "I can tell. It feels good."

"You feel good." He slid down her body and kissed across the swell of her breasts. Her body was already starting to feel like home, the place where he belonged, and he leaned into that allowing himself to connect with her physically, on a deeper level.

She patted his ass. "Pants off, cowboy. I want me some of this awesomeness."

He laughed and rolled off her long enough to shuck his boots, jeans, and boxers. When they came back together, with nothing between them, it felt shudderingly right.

He locked his leg over her hip, and she snuggled against him, chest to chest, entwined and touching along the length of their bodies. He kissed her again, a long, leisurely kiss which quickly ramped up into an escalating fire.

She rolled him onto his back, and sat across his hips, settling deeply. He spread his hands on her thighs, and slid them along her hips, up her ribs, and cupped her breasts. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes, fully surrendering to him, trusting him, enjoying him.