Page 36 of From Angel to Rogue (Four Foxes #6)

Luka’s eyes suddenly welled with tears, and my heart dropped. I maneuvered my pregnant body into a crouch and cradled his cheeks.

“Luka, what’s wrong, baby?” I felt like crying when I saw tears stream down his red cheeks.

“I want the pengwins to be free, Katiew,” he sniffled. “T-the ba-ad man used to lock me up like that, and I didn’t like it. I was scared. The pengwins must be sc-cared too,” he hiccuped.

I felt like someone was ripping apart my heart from my rib cage.

“I’m so sorry those monsters hurt you like that.

But Katy and Lan will never, ever let anything happen to you, okay?

And these penguins are very happy here buddy.

See they are loving the fishes,” I consoled, forcing a smile on my trembling lips.

“Katiew, I want to stay with you both forever and forever.” Luka hugged me tightly. “Pleawse don’t send me back to the b-bad man.”

“I won’t. I promise.” My voice cracked. “You’re my boy now, and no one can ever take you away from me, you understand?”

He nodded, a faint smile whispering his lips while I wiped away the remnants of his tears.

Luka’s mood significantly improved by the time we made it to the gift shop. He was already giggling at my silly jokes and happily slurping his chocolate milkshake I got him, his second milkshake of the day.

We finally came to the plushies section and even after seeing all the animals, Luka still didn’t know what his favorite animal was.

It took us about ten minutes till we narrowed it down to four animals.

A rhino. A lion. A flamingo. A tiger.

“Katy can buy them all for you, buddy,” I said.

“No.” He shook his head. “I only want one. Can I get Mitchell one?”

“Of course.” I smiled.

Mitchell was his best friend in St. Mary’s. Luka sometimes tagged along with Matty when he went to Iona to see his friends and visit Lucia and Peter. But he was settling better in his new environment and had gotten pretty comfortable living with us, so he considered the apartment his home.

Luka chose the tiger because he thought it was interesting and a pink glittery flamingo for Mitchell. But just on the way to the counter, he dropped the tiger and picked a giraffe and declared it was his favorite animal in an instant.

I shook my head. I would never understand boys.

“We’re home,” Luka and I both announced when we returned home

There was no response, except for the TV running in the background.

And from where we were standing, it looked like no one was sitting on the couch.

Where was Lan?

I thought he would be at home.

Frowning, we both shrugged off our coats and padded closer to the couch. A smile split through both our faces when we saw a shirtless Lan snoring softly. He was on his back, sprawled lazily, too tall for the length of the couch.

Luka cupped his hand over his mouth yet his giggle leaked through his fingers and I motioned with my pointer finger to keep quiet.

I dropped the gift bag on the coffee table and tiptoed to Lan.

I silently counted one, two, three to Luka with my fingers. He was loudly giggling now, shifting on his feet.

And when I finished my count and whispered yes, his two little feet jumped and landed on top of Lan with a huff.

With a startle, Lan jerked awake, his eyes wide in panic. “What the f—?”

He couldn’t even finish his sentence when his eyes blinked at the giggling menace on his chest.

“Lawndon, you’re funny,” Luka announced and tried to run away, but Lan caught him in a hold with his big muscular arms.

“Are you attacking me, you little minion?” Lan fake growled like a villain in a Disney movie. “You shall be punished,” Lan declared and started to tickle the hell out of Luka, which only made Luka laugh harder and harder.

“Lawndon, let me goo,” he spurted through his giggles. “Lawndon, I’m sorry.”

I let them wrestle for exactly two more minutes before I cleared my throat loudly.

They both stilled and looked my way. Good, at least they knew who was still in charge in this house.

“You.” I pointed at a labored breathed Luka. “It’s time for you to change out of your outside clothes and get ready to finish your homework. Then we can have dinner and watch a movie.”

Luka pouted at the word homework, but like the good little boy he was, he obediently listened to me and padded to his room.

“You are scary sometimes,” Lan exclaimed, leaning back on the couch. “Do you have an order that I need to execute as well?” he asked in a thick, husky tone while raking his gaze over my body like I was the object of his desire.

I couldn’t contain the flush that scorched my cheeks. “Behave. We have a child, and there are two right here.”

He cocked a brow, smirking. “They didn’t seem to mind when I fucked from behind last night.”

My flush intensified but I held my glare. “Were you not taught manners in school?” I admonished, slipping away from there before he could hook me into his trap.

“We went to the same fucking school, Katy. So you tell me,” his voice said from behind me.

I smiled, dashing into our room. Laid-back Lan was so much trouble.

My feet halted when I saw a huge red box on the bed. The smile on my lips deepened as I neared it and found a thick white cardstock sticking on top of it.

Did my man leave a kinky present for me?

Taking the card, I read the small typewritten words in the middle.

Your every dream is valid - L

Confused, I set it aside and opened the lid to the box, and what I saw inside stung my eyes and burned my chest.

Yarn.

Of every color, every size, and every material.

A sad smile lifted my lips when I reached down and took one in my hand.

It was a bright red fine cashmere that was so soft to the touch. Just feeling it in my hand flooded my mind with memories.

Memories that were sweet and innocent.

It felt almost bittersweet to even think about it.

“Do you like your present?”

I spun around to see him leaning against the doorframe. “But how?” I waved the wool in my hand. “Is this because of that video?”

“Is that something you like to do, Katy? Knitting?” he asked instead, his gaze pinning me in place.

“Yeah,” I said softly. “I loved to knit. It was my favorite thing to do.”

“Then why did you stop?”

I flushed. “I thought it was lame. I thought everyone would think that I was lame.”

“Is that something that you still want to do?”

I paused as I thought for a second. The more I eyed the yarns, the more a tiny spark lit inside my chest.

Like an inspiration. Like a wild thought. Like an exciting feeling.

Like something that I haven’t had in a while.

“Yes,” I blurted, my eyes landing on him. “Yes, I want to knit. I don’t even know if I still remember how to do it, but I want to. It makes my heart calm, and I love that feeling.”

“Good.” He walked over to me and hooked a finger under my chin to meet his eyes. “Then do it for you. Who gives a fuck if they think it’s lame or stupid or boring? Do it so it makes you smile.”

My lips curved into the widest smile. “I’m going to knit you the ugliest Christmas sweater ever.”

His smile matched mine as he leaned closer, his lips whispering on my cheek. “Then I can’t wait to fuck you wearing just that, angel.”