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“But he’s my son.”
“Not anymore.” As if it were choreographed, a knock comes at the door and I stand straight, grinning back down at Stan. “Oh, we’ve got a visitor.”
“What the fuck?” Grinder looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“Open it.” With my arms crossed over my chest, I try to take this moment in like a gift from God.
“What in the name of sweet Baby Jesus is all this?” The voice of reason… I hope.
“Miss Bennett, good to see you again.” When I turn to face the social worker, I put my hand out and wait for her to shake it. It’s clear she’s not sold on this whole scenario but I needed her to see the man who has the natural right to take Paxton. Wanted her to see him at his worst. Hell, for all I know this is at his best.
“Mmmhmm, I know you did not just make me run across town just to mix me up in whatever illegal activity you’ve got goin’ on here.”
I grin because all that’s missing here is the kitchen roller and she could be the perfect stand-in for my mama.
“No, ma’am. I just wanted you to see what kind of man came to Paxton’s school thinkin’ he could take him away.” I step aside so she can get a full frontal of Stan in all his heroin glory.
“What on God’s green Earth?” Miss Bennett doesn’t step back but her entire body leans away from the mess that is Paxton’s dad. “Did you hurt him?”
Grinder snorts and Psycho slaps him in the back of the head. “Ow!”
“No, ma’am.”
“Did you do anything illegal?” This time, her scrutinizing gaze hits me square in the face.
“No, ma’am.” I have officially poured out my vinegar and replaced it with honey and I see the exact moment when MissBennett sees the good in me. The mama’s boy who would always do right by Paxton.
“Well, it’s not up to me, but I’ll see what I can do.” She turns from the two stooges in the back and whispers. “Who are these two?” Her thumb is pointing over her shoulder and her bottom lip is cocked out in disapproval.
“Nobody important.” I wink, hoping these two idiots won’t be the reason we can’t get custody of Paxton.
“Hey!” This time Grinder is the one elbowing Psycho so he’ll shut his trap.
“Miss Bennett, just tell me what I need to do and I’ll get it done. Paxton is happy with us and this guy all but forgot about him as soon as he thought he was getting an ounce of drugs. That’s just not—” Miss Bennett takes out her phone and shushes me with her index finger in the air. It’s as efficient as a shoe to the back of my head. Oh, the sweet memories.
“Say it again.”
I’m hovering over Athena, my weight pressing against my forearms on either side of her head while she looks up at me with love as unconditional as it is honest. This is the fifth time I’ve told her.
“He’s ours.” I love saying those words. They’re like sweet honey to a sore throat.
Earlier today, Miss Bennett called her superior and got the ball rolling on Stan. It was surprisingly easy to convince him to give up his legal rights to Paxton. The mere cost of raising him and the risk of jail if he didn’t do it right was enough to scare him.
That and knowing that I’d be watching him like a fucking hawk every minute of every fucking day until he fucked up. And he would, fuck up that is. This way, things are easier and no one is killed.
Because let’s be clear, me witnessing Paxton being abused would have been a death sentence for Stan, and despite his current state, he was very much aware of that.
“Forever?” My hips are moving slowly as my cock slides between her pussy lips. She likes the tease, the slow-burning need that drives her crazy.
“Well, the legalities will take a while but we’ll get a lawyer and make it all official. For now, he stays with us without the fear of him being taken away.” My chest is against her chest, my stomach pressing against her every time I slide up and down until I rear my hips back and position the head of my cock at her entrance.
“You’re my hero.” At the sound of her words, I slam inside her and we both gasp at the perfection of it all.
“Nah, Baby Girl, I’m no hero. I’m just a man in love with the strongest woman I know.” I pull back and slam right back in again, my lips coming to hers and my tongue demanding entry.
“Yeah, I’m pretty badass, huh?” She speaks into my mouth, her words mumbled as my tongue seeks her out.
“The fucking baddest of them all.” My hands grab onto her head and we kiss the same way we fuck. Slowly, with an intensity that fills our entire bodies. “Now, stop talking and start screaming.”