Page 100 of Lethal Vengeance

His warm broad smile stretches over his face. “I have to warn you… Bath time is an adventure. You might get soaking wet.”

I roll my eyes and tickle Gabriel’s tummy. “You better not splash me, or the tickle monster will get you.”

He squeals and pushes my hand away. “No.”

We wave bye to the others and head up.

In the bath, Gabriel loves to dive bomb his toys, splashing water everywhere. The whole time I’m trying to wash him, he’s either wiggling around to find new toys to show me or dive bombing them into the water.

Sterling watches the entire thing from the doorway, laughing.

In retaliation, I pick up a wet sponge in the shape of a car and toss it at him. It splatters against his shirt and slides down to the floor.

Gabriel finds this outrageously funny and begins to throw more toy sponges at him.

Sterling mockingly roars like a dinosaur.

Gabriel squeals and picks up a plastic toy to throw.

I try to grab it out of his hand, but he jerks it away and lands a pretty good punch on my sore cheek. Shards of pain streak across my cheek.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Sterling says in a serious voice. “Let’s get out and dry off.” He reaches over me and plucks Gabriel out of the bath. “Are you okay?”

Gabriel’s watching me, his lip quivering, and I smile. “It’s fine. Just an accident.”

He leans over and places wet lips on my cheek. “Sorry, Quinn.”

I pat his back. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Get your jammies on.”

While Sterling puts him to bed, I let out the bath water and clean up. Boys are certainly rougher than girls. Sophia’s baths were full of bubbles and princess tiaras.

Sterling’s reading a book to him when I come out. Something about a racing dog. Gabriel’s listening with sleepy eyes.

That delicious British accent sends shivers down my spine, and I lean against the door to listen to the story.

Sterling looks over at me and stops mid-sentence. His eyes slide to my shirt and back up, heat stirring in their depths.

Confused, I look down and close my eyes when I see my t-shirt molded to my breasts, nipples saluting the world. Heat rips across my cheeks, and I duck out, leaving him to finish the story.

In my room, I toss the wet clothes over the shower rod and slip on pajama shorts and a tank for bed.

When I come out, Sterling’s waiting for me. His eyes widen, and he groans. “I’m not sure which one I like more, gorgeous.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Did Gabriel get to sleep?”

He steps in front of me. “He did. I came over to check on your face. He clocked you pretty good.” Fingers lift my face to the light so he can examine my cheek. “Looks like the stitches are intact. I’ll get you some ice to help with the swelling.”

I wrap my fingers around his wrist. “It’s fine. I put a cold washcloth on it for a few minutes.”

He leans over and places a tender kiss on my lips. “I guess I’ll have to wait a little longer to kiss you like I want. But that’s okay. I’m a patient man.” He drops a kiss on the place between my neck and shoulder. “A few tastes of your delectable body will tie me over.”

Fingers slide the strap of my cami down to my elbow. Green eyes glittering like emeralds watch my face, but I offer no resistance to whatever he’s planning to do.

With his hand bracing himself on the wall behind me, he slides his mouth from my neck down my cleavage to my breasts. “Ever since I saw you in that dress, I haven’t been able to get your beautiful breasts out of my mind.” His tongue swirls along the outer edge of my nipples. “And then to see you in a wet t-shirt…” He chuckles. “I wanted to drag you down to the floor and worship every inch of your body.”

Heat spreads across my face and chest.

“But the reality is so much more than I expected,” he murmurs. “You’re so damn beautiful.” With one last nibble, he groans and pulls up my strap. “Please get better soon.”