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“I didn’t mind,” I admitted. “I kind of liked that I was… That you took control. It made me feel…”

“It’s not for the faint-hearted, my son said. Being on the receiving end.”

“They call it bottoming these days.”

He grimaced, then smiled. “Bottoming. Sounds rather crude.”

“It’s just a word. Doesn’t matter what you call it. I enjoyed it. I hope we can do it again sometime.”

“When we don’t have a sleeping child next to us.”

“Constance will have to move downstairs. She’s demanding that we redecorate.”

“Is she now?” He kissed me. Soft. Deep.

“And then Phinney can have his own room.”

“Mmm.” Another kiss.

“And we can indulge in all sorts of shenanigans.”

That made him grin through the kiss he gifted me. His lips on mine, my chest against his. Our bodies helplessly entwined as once again…my phone went off.

“Hello,” I said into the handset, having picked it up out of habit. I’d lived with this for so long now, waiting to hear news. Anything. Hoping and wanting. And now that I had the children here, the fear was still ingrained in me.

“I assume the children are in bed.” Gun Larsen.

“Yes. All is well.”

“Delighted. Veronica will be served papers within the hour. I would recommend you not pick up the phone for the next twenty-four hours or so. Keep quiet. You will be served in the morning. I have the courier departing at eight. Sign the paperwork, Dylan, and have them bring it right back to me.”

“And what does this paperwork say?” I was barely breathing, Stewart’s hands gently stroking down my back. Under my top. Fingertips around my hips.

“A decent and honest custody agreement. The children reside in the UK. The mother has full visitation rights. If she wishes to share custody, she needs to find a suitable place of habitation nearby so as not to interrupt the children’s schooling.”

“And you think Veronica will sign this?” I shrieked. She wouldn’t. This wasn’t that simple, and definitely not this easy.

“I have that Hendrix by the balls, Dylan, and Veronica understands how this is all done. Neither of them has a leg to stand on here, and Hendrix will ensure she signs. I am more than confident in this. Confident enough that I will say this, Mr Scotland. It’s been a most satisfactory few weeks in your company. Most amusing. But now I hope I never have to deal with you again. I’m off to Madrid in the morning to handle a much less amusing project, so I trust you will leave me in peace.”

“Gun?” I said quietly.Please don’t leave.God. What was I like?

“Don’t be a dormouse, Dylan, it doesn’t suit you. Go be the father you always were, and be happy. This nonsenseis all done and dusted. And before you ask, yes, all above board. The children were voluntarily handed over to you, and now they are back on British soil. We play by the rules and follow the law, and everything is in the paperwork.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, too shocked to say anything else.

“Say hello to Stewart for me.” She hung up, leaving me lying there on my side, hyperventilating into the phone.

“I heard,” he said quietly. “Well done.”

“I have no idea what she’s done. Me? I haven’t done anything.”

“Yes, you have. You’ve kept your cool, and you’ve kept your promises to the children. They’re home. And whatever those papers say in the morning? We’ll deal with that. Relax. There’s nothing more you can do now.”

“Constance threatened to throw me out the window.”

“Sounds complicated. She’s a small, delicate wisp of a girl.”

“Don’t underestimate her.”