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Chapter Forty-Eight

Rocco

I stare down at our daughter—Seraphina, Phi for short—on my chest, and my heart swells. She’s the most beautiful little thing I’ve ever seen. Her name means “fiery one,” and I intend on her being just that. Even at four weeks old, I can see the red in her hair, and I know she will be a mini-Hallie, and I love the idea.

Matt has been an amazing big brother and best friend, and he reminds me daily that he’s not calling me daddy. I smile to myself while fighting the urge to tell him I’m his mom’s daddy, and she loves calling me it. Something tells me it wouldn’t go down well and what bridges we’ve built would probably be obliterated.

Matt moved in with us at our house and has been working his ass off at the gym. The kid has some incredible moves, and if it wasn’t for Hallie begging me not to, I’d have signed him up for MMA fighting. But what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. If I point him in the direction of the underground clubs, it’s not my fault if he walks through the doors, signs up, and kicks ass.

“You know she isn’t going to settle in her crib if you keep letting her sleep on your chest.” Her soft voice caresses me, and I glance up to find her epic curves tucked into sleep shorts and a camisole top that emphasizes her amazing rack.

“I was just waiting for you to finish up marking your assignments.” Ever since the incident with Gerrard, Hallie has taken time off from school and teaches online courses, mainly because she wants to be home with Phi, and who am I to argue? The last thing I want is some dumbass student eyeing up my girl and her huge tits.

The thought of her tits has my cock stirring, and I lick my lips. Yeah, time to move. The last thing I want around my daughter is a hard cock.

I slide off the bed and head toward the nursery. “Come on, little firecracker, let Papa put you to bed.”

“And don’t be long!” she shouts as I head through the door. There’s not a chance in hell I’m being drawn in to watch her cute sleepy form.

“Not tonight,” I whisper as I place her down in her crib.

Not when Daddy needs to be fed.