Page 31 of Hunted Temptation (Alpha Nights: Unlikely Heroes #4)

HALE

Sleep is for the weak.

And after four months of living with a newborn, I am beginning to think that I am weak and that the baby is the strongest creature that has ever lived, while at the same time being completely helpless.

It’s the weirdest thing ever.

The only rest I get is at the office, and when I’m there, I miss her. I miss him. I miss them both and can’t wait to get home to them. Although I think it’s time we move out of the safe house and into our own place.

I’m also not sure how Marlowe would feel about that. We’ve been dancing around one another for months… and months… I’m on the edge of losing my self-control. I can’t stop thinking about her, dreaming about her.

I want to taste her, to be inside her. It’s almost as if I can’t breathe. I want her so badly. I’ve never felt this way before, and as the months have gone by, with the addition of a baby, I keep expecting the feeling to wane, but it only grows stronger.

I haven’t acted on anything. I want her to feel safe. And me rubbing my hard dick against her isn’t going to do that. A knock on the office door breaks me out of my thoughts, which is a good idea since I’m in the surveillance room today.

“C’mon in,” I call out.

The door opens, and I see Theron standing on the other side. “You good?” he asks.

Arching a brow, I tilt my head, confused by the question. His lips twitch into a smirk, his shoulder shaking slightly before he continues.

“That baby’s been keeping you up. Why don’t you go home and sleep today?”

“Why?” I ask.

He shrugs a shoulder. “I know what it’s like. Everyone needs sleep, Hale.”

Clearing my throat, I lean back in my chair, lifting my legs and placing my heels on the desktop in front of me.

“I’m good,” I say.

“I don’t think you are.”

“Why?”

“I just don’t think you are. Maybe go home, figure out what the fuck is going on with that mama, and stop dancing around shit. Besides, the girls are ready to meet her and the baby, and have her be part of their little club,” he states.

“Their little club?”

He snorts. “Their Women of Securus Club. I’m sure they’re dying to figure out what kind of skills she has that they can use.”

“None,” I state. “No way in fuck am I going to let Lucille talk her into any crazy shit.”

Unfazed by my words about his wife, Theron’s lips curve up into a smile. He knows what Lucille is like, and he loves the fuck out of her crazy ass. I, on the other hand, don’t need Marlowe causing any damn trouble.

Trying to change the subject, though I know he’s not leaving it alone, Theron continues. “Have you heard from the father yet?”

I take a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “I haven’t,” I reply. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not still anticipating it, because I am.”

“Has she told you anything about him?” he asks.

Shaking my head, I drop my feet from the table and swivel the chair around to face him.

“Every time I bring it up, she gets this panic-stricken look on her face. Her breathing becomes erratic, and her eyes widen in what I can only assume is fear. I end up dropping it, but I need to know so I can help her and protect them.”

“She going back to work?” he asks.

“I don’t want her to.”

And here it is—Theron’s perfect opportunity to insert Marlowe into the office. “With Colette on maternity leave, I could seriously use someone to get this place organized… It’s falling behind.”

Fuck.

“You had this planned,” I grind out.

He lets out a bark of laughter. “No, but it works out in everyone’s favor,” he states before he winks and walks out of the room. “And bring the baby. She can have him here and earn a little money.”

Well, I guess Marlowe is coming into work tomorrow. Because I don’t want her going back to the salon, and I'll be damned if the baby goes into day care, at least not yet. He’s too small.

Maybe I can find a nanny or something similar to what the other guys have done. But if I could have him with me here at the office, where I know he’s safe, that is the ideal situation. Honest to fuck, I never want him out of my sight. That would be ideal.

MARLOWE

Calm or peaceful one. That was the definition beside the name I chose for my son. Stellan. But it’s as if God is playing a cruel trick on me, a joke of epic proportions. Stellan is neither calm nor peaceful.

He cries all the time.

The only time he isn’t screaming his sweet little head off is when he’s asleep, but that only lasts for short periods of time.

Basically, just enough time for me to shower, maybe put one bite of food in my mouth before he’s back at it.

And at night? Forget about it. I’m up all night long trying to keep him quiet so he doesn’t wake up Hale.

Hale.

He’s been so generous and kind. He’s done nothing but support me.

He was there at the hospital. He was there when we came home.

He’s been there through this entire process.

I couldn’t have done any of this without him.

And as I look around this gorgeous house, I feel nothing but absolute gratitude for him.

I still don’t know why he’s chosen us to bestow this kindness on, and each day that passes, I can’t help but think that either I’m taking advantage or I’m going to owe him a debt too big ever to repay.

But I know that if I were still living in Myra’s house, well…

Stellan and I might have never survived one night, let alone the past five months.

It’s time for me to stop living in a dreamworld, though. It’s time for me to figure out my life. I’ve spent six months here living in la-la land. Reality is knocking, and I need to answer it. No doubt, Hale wants to move on with his life.

There is no way that having a woman and a baby here is what a sexy-as-sin bachelor like him thinks of as a good time. I just need to figure out how on earth I’m going to survive on my own… well, how we’re going to survive on our own, Stellan and I.

I’m pacing with Stellan in my arms when the door to the condo opens. Stopping in my tracks, I turn my head to the side and watch. My breath hitches at the sight of Hale moving through the door. I watch as he turns, locks it, and then shifts around to face me.

His expressionless face instantly softens, and a smile appears on his lips at the sight of us. Holding my breath, I watch as he moves toward us, then he does what he does every single day after he comes home from work.

Hale dips his chin to touch his lips to my cheek with just a brush of a kiss before he lifts his head. He gently places his palm on the middle of Stellan’s back, and then he speaks.

“You have a good day, sweetheart?” he murmurs.

“I did,” I whisper back, trying to swallow the lump that is threatening to form in my throat as a million different emotions flow through me.

Hale shifts his attention to Stellan, and his softness… it becomes gooey mush as he focuses on my baby. “And you, Stell. Were you a good boy for your mama?” he asks, his hand gently rubbing circles against Stellan’s back.

Stellan coos, which is what he always does when Hale is around, especially if he’s talking. I have to admit that I would coo, too, if Hale were talking to me in that extremely soothing tone while rubbing my back. In fact, I might try to do more than coo…

“Do you want to go out to dinner tonight?” he asks.

My eyes widen in surprise. “Dinner?”

I haven’t gone anywhere since the baby was born except out on the balcony for some much-needed sunlight and fresh air. I don’t even know if I have anything I could wear to dinner. Hale must sense my panic. His hand leaves Stellan’s back before I feel his palm cup my cheek.

“How about I order in a nice meal? I want to talk to you about something.”

Well, now I don’t know how I’m going to be able to concentrate on anything. He’s going to tell me that I’ve overstayed my welcome, that it’s time for me to go, I know it. My gaze searches his, and I try to read the answer there but find nothing.

“Is everything okay?” I ask in a whisper, hoping he’ll just put me out of my misery here and now.

He slides his thumb across my bottom lip, his lips curving up into a sweet smile. “Everything is good, sweetheart.”

And while I’m still nervous as shit, I melt a little. I really hope that if he is going to kick me out, he gives me a few months to figure out a plan of some kind, although I have no idea what it will consist of since I’ve been playing the avoidance game with my life.