Page 69 of Riot’s Thorn (Sons of Erebus: Reno, NV #4)
If the guys are doing something scary, I have Tinleigh and Navy to commiserate with, and if I’m ever bored, someone is always around to keep me company. Each one of the guys has something different to offer, and I love that about them.
Riot lays Chance on the crib mattress. “He’s so small.”
“Too small for this big crib.”
“Co-sleeping isn’t recommended, but he’s safer with us than out here on his own,” Riot says, trying to justify his emotional response to being separated from his newborn. He’ll never be able to name every emotion he feels, but it’s endearing to me.
“I agree.” I pick him up and inhale his sweet baby smell. “That’s why I bought a co-sleeper.”
“But we agreed the safest place was in his crib.”
“No, you told me what you learned, but I knew once he was born, you weren’t going to want him away from you.”
Riot hugs me from behind, gazing down at the baby. “Sometimes, I think you know me better than I do.”
“I do,” I say and turn my head for a kiss. It’s sweet and loving and so not us. But we’re in a new season, and I’m trying to embrace it. “Promise me once I’m healed, you’ll go back to pulling my hair, spitting in my mouth, and spanking my ass.”
“That kiss was weird, huh?”
“So weird.”
He nuzzles into my neck, placing his lips next to my ear, and I gasp when his hand reaches around to grip the base of my throat.
“You have six weeks, Little Thorn. After that, you better put on your running shoes. I want to chase you through the forest and then fuck you against a tree, leaving you with abrasions up and down your back. After that, I want to throw you to the muddy ground and rut into you like the filthy whore you are. I won’t stop until you tap out or you pass out from too many orgasms. How does that sound? ”
“Jesus, baby. You can’t rile me up like that. Six weeks is a long time.”
He licks up my neck, moaning like my skin is his favorite flavor. “That gives me six weeks to think up a scene you’ll never forget. Now, let’s go eat some food.”
My entire body erupts in goosebumps. “Okay.”
Riot bakes one of the many casseroles Sugar loaded us up with while I breastfeed Chance. For something so natural, it feels bizarre. Plus, my already triple-D boobs are now somewhere in the “too big to be real” category.
“I’m just letting you borrow those things, little man,” Riot says, gently running a finger over Chance’s dark hair. “So don’t get too comfortable.”
I laugh. “You got jokes today.”
“Not really. I saw someone say it on a TV show one time and stored it away just in case.”
“I’m glad you did. It was funny.”
Riot sighs, looking around at the living room that seems too small now that it’s covered in baby things. “I think we might need to move.”
“I tried to tell you that.”
“I don’t want to.”
“I know. It’ll be hard for both of us, but unless we become okay with clutter, it’s inevitable.” I yawn, tucking my breast away.
“Let me,” Riot says, taking Chance to burp him. “Go and dish up some dinner and take it to bed with you. I’ll take the first shift.”
“It’s okay, I can?—”
“I wasn’t giving you a suggestion.”
I pout. “Okay. Sheesh. God forbid a girl wants to hang out with her guys.”
“Your body just went through trauma. You need rest.”
After kissing Riot and Chance, I dish up some lasagna and head to our bedroom, where I eat in the shower. It’s amazing, and I think I’ll take all my meals in here from now on. After completing my nightly routine, I miss them too much and pad down the hallway.
When I hear Riot talking, I slow and peer around the corner. He has Chance in his arms, curled up in his safe place, his mischief of rats snoozing around him while he chats about anything and everything. My heart nearly explodes with love for this man.
“I don’t know whether you’ll inherit my rough edges or your mom’s gentle spirit, but either way, you’re lucky.
Before her, the world saw me as a psychopathic killer, a figure to be feared and shunned.
Isolation was my coping mechanism. Then I met your mom, and my universe transformed.
To everyone else, I was just a biker, but your mom was different.
She saw right through the exterior, glimpsed the man inside, and made the world see him too.
She’ll be the most incredible mother to you, and I promise I’ll try to be the best father.
“You should know we want you to be you, whoever that may be. There’s no need to hide your true self from us or to put on a front.
Just be you. And whenever life feels like it’s too much to handle, remember that you can always find solace here.
We have headphones to drown out the chaos, soft blankets and plush pillows to offer comfort, and, of course, your pet rats, who are always ready to provide companionship. This space can be your refuge too.”
I round the corner, wiping my eyes because I’m sobbing at this point. “Goddamn it. You can’t be that sweet because now all I want to do is make another baby.”
He tilts Chance back and kisses him on the nose. “I love you and your mother very much. . . even though she’s a thorn in my side.”
The End