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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

B efore I even step through the door, Mom is on one side of me and Anya is on the other.

“How did this happen?”

“I thought you two were only friends.”

“Are you going to marry her?”

“Does she want you?”

“Do you even want her?”

“Will you live together?”

I blow out a breath, ignoring them both as I walk through the kitchen with them on my heels. I go to head upstairs where I know Audrina and Arwen will be, but I pause when I see Bluey on the big TV. I drop my bag on the stairs as both Mom and Anya continue their ongoing commentary.

“There is no chance she’s not yours. She looks just like you.”

“But my baby is there too. She’s covered in freckles.”

“Are you mad at her for hiding her?

“Please don’t be mad.”

“Honestly, you can’t be mad at her for reacting to your behavior. She was surviving just as you did, and we are just so proud of her.”

“I just wish we had been there.”

Me too.

Still, I ignore them. It’s best to do that when they’re on their soapboxes. When I enter the family room, William and Dad are in two recliners that mirror each other, with a couch between them. On the couch, cuddled in Ingrid’s arms, is Arwen, fast asleep. Her little lips are parted, her lashes kissing her cheeks as she sleeps soundly. Everyone else is watching Bluey .

“Told you guys it’s a good show,” I say as I approach the couch.

Dad chuckles as William nods. “So good. We’ve ordered a lot of Bluey things.”

I pause from where I am rubbing Arwen’s wrist. “I’ve only been gone three hours.”

“Just type Bluey into Google, and you can get products from everywhere.”

Jesus. I meet Ingrid’s gaze to find she’s watching me but not letting Arwen go. “Where is Audrina?”

“Taking a shower,” she says softly. “I ordered a lot of stuff too.”

“You guys are insane.”

“We’ve missed her birth, Christmases, and birthdays. We’re making up for that,” Ingrid says simply. I hadn’t thought of it that way. Maybe I should take Arwen shopping? Before I wake her to do just that, Ingrid tells me, “Plus, we’re going to look so damn cute in our matching black satin Dior robes.”

I scoff at that. “Because a two-year-old needs a Dior robe.”

“If she didn’t, they wouldn’t make it in her size.”

There is no arguing with my sister. “Smitten, I see.”

“Totally,” she answers, pressing a kiss to Arwen’s temple. “She’s perfect.”

“She is,” I agree, my voice soft and a little rough. My daughter is a stunning little creature, her hair all in her eyes, a rubber band where a pigtail used to be. She has something sticky on her lips, but even with whatever sugar she ate, she is knocked out. It has been a big day. “Did she have a bath?”

“Yeah. I helped Audrina do it, and then we came down for Bluey . But Audrina wanted a shower while Arwen was distracted.”

“Cool. I’ll take her up.”

Ingrid nods, letting her go, and I gather Arwen against my chest. She mumbles and whines a bit, but she settles, cuddling deep into me. I move a piece of hair out of her face and fall even more in love with her. Her little mouth is parted, her arm hanging limp, and I want to do nothing but hold her.

Before I can take a step, though, William is beside me, rubbing her arm, and then Dad is on the other side, brushing her hair out of her eyes. Easy to say, my baby has everyone obsessed with her.

“Will she come to the next game?” William asks, and I shrug. Dad and William have a suite in the IceCats arena. It’s a massive one that is fully dedicated to me. Photos of me growing up and playing hockey. My Team USA Junior and Olympic medals even hang in the suite. While my parents come to every game, they also donate seats to different charities all over town.

“I haven’t asked her yet.”

“I ordered her a jersey,” Dad says, and my lips curve.

“Thanks, Dad. Let me go get her to bed. It’s been a long day.”

I don’t tell them that I haven’t been able to tuck her in yet and I really want to. I don’t know why that excites me, but it does. As I head toward the stairs, I walk past my bag, but I flash my mom and Anya a look.

“I’m putting my daughter to bed. I’ll still be ignoring you both tomorrow.”

Mom glares. “We are your mothers. We deserve answers.”

“Things are complicated. Let us figure it out.”

“That girl needs her mommy and daddy,” Anya persists, and I nod.

“And she’ll have us.”

That pleases them, but I don’t care. I roll my eyes as I walk up the stairs, trying not to jostle Arwen too much as I hit the landing. The hallway that leads to my room, and now Audrina’s and Arwen’s, is decorated how the suite is. Full of hockey memories through my mom’s eyes. I pass by my room and head right for the one Arwen will be in. The bedroom is rather large, with a white four-poster bed on a pedestal in the middle of the space. The Bluey plush I got her is propped up on the pillows. The bed is a king-size, with a huge headboard featuring baby angels flying around carved into the wood. It also has brand-new pink bedding that I know my mom just fixed up. I saw the packaging in the garage as I came in. A white dresser is along the wall across from her bed, and by the empty boxes on top of it, I’m sure it’s now full of all of Arwen’s clothes.

Mom and Anya were busy.

I roll my eyes. Those women… As great of moms as they are, they’re terrible gossips and fucking dramatic. God, I love them. A small smile pulls at my lips as I take Arwen to her bed. I pull back the bedding, laying her in the middle, before I cover her and place the little Bluey plush in her hands. She clutches it before rolling over to her side and sighing deeply. My heart clenches in my chest. I pull the blankets up to her chin and then rub her back.

Wow, that felt so damn good.

I glance over to where I hear the shower running.

Then I notice the door to the bathroom is cracked.

I have no reason to go in there other than for my own desires.

That wouldn’t go over well with Audrina.

I lean in, kissing Arwen’s head, and then position pillows around her to make a barrier for her. I know Audrina will come in here later, but I don’t want an accident to happen in the meantime. I could stay here until she gets here, but I’ll die for sure if she comes out in nothing but a towel. I walk toward the French doors that lead to the balcony to make sure they’re locked. Not only are they locked, but someone moved a large chair in front of them.

I head to the door, hearing the shower still running. But that’s not all I hear.

I hear a buzzing.

And then a sexy little moan.

I grip the door molding, leaning in closer to make sure I’m hearing what I think I’m hearing.

When I hear her murmur, “Yes. Oh, yes.” I squeeze the molding while I grind my back molars. My body instantly goes tight, heat firing up in my gut as I close my eyes, imagining her getting off with her vibrator. Would she have her leg up? Is she bent over? Is she lying on the bottom of the shower, legs wide as water falls on her?

Fucking hell, I want to see her so bad.

I want to make her come.

Why couldn’t my bathroom be attached to her room!

She inhales sharply, and then I hear a wet slap, like her hand connecting with the tile, before she’s gasping. My jaw drops, and my cock is so hard it’s painful. I’m leaking in my pants, and I can’t come up with one excuse for why I could go in there. When I hear the buzzing shut off, I lift my hand and knock.

She lets out a little sound of distress, but I ignore it. “Hey, I just laid Arwen down.”

Her voice is ragged. Fuck, she’s come-drunk. I’m so jealous it wasn’t me who made her sound like that. “Oh, okay. I’m done. I’m getting out,” she says, her voice rising with each word.

“Okay. I’m going to bed,” I say, leaning my head on the door, praying she asks me to stay.

“Okay. Goodnight.”

I want to slam my head into the door. “I have a workout, practice, and a meeting tomorrow. So, I won’t see you in the morning.”

“Okay,” she says, her voice closer to the door. She pulls it open, and she’s not in a towel but a large, fluffy robe. My mouth goes dry at the thought of her naked under there. Her eyes hold mine as my cock throbs in my pants. If she looks at it, I’m attacking. Her face is a beautiful pink, her pupils blown out from her orgasm. Her bottom lip is all swollen from where I’m sure she was biting it to keep from screaming. Her hair is up in a towel, her neck on full display and begging for me to suck on it.

If I drop to my knees, would she let me taste her?

Before I can act on that crazy thought, she says, “I guess we’ll see you in the afternoon. We’re going shopping with our moms.”

I nod. “Great.”

She reaches out, threading her fingers with mine. “Thank you for today. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

I squeeze her fingers, clenching my other hand at my side. “You could have.”

Her lips tip up as she shrugs. “I don’t know. I’m glad I didn’t have to.”

“You wouldn’t have had to back then either,” I say softly, my heart pounding in my chest. “Not that we can change it, but I want you to know I wouldn’t have let you do any of this alone.”

Her eyes hold mine. “You were mad.”

“I was dumb as fuck,” I correct, exhaling.

She licks her lips, and I have to look away to keep myself in check. I’m about two seconds from attacking those sweet lips. I pull my hand from hers, needing to clasp mine together to stop from ripping off the damn robe just to take in how different her body must look. Surely she’ll have stretch marks. Maybe little dips in her thighs. I want to taste and trace each one with my mouth, tongue, and fingers.

I take a deep breath, filling my lungs as I nod. “See you tomorrow.” I start for the door.

“Okay. Goodnight.”

I look over my shoulder, and she’s still standing there, her hands in her pockets, pulling the robe down to show her creamy, freckled skin. She has crossed her ankles, so unsure and so fucking beautiful before me. “Let me know if you need anything,” I say hoarsely. Because I’m a glutton for punishment, I add, “And I mean anything .”

She raises her brows since I know she knows what I’m implying. “Behave, Thatcher. Our parents are already confused enough.”

“Aren’t we all?” I scoff, and she lets out a little laugh that lights up my soul. “But also, I can’t behave.”

“You need to.”

“Never,” I say with a teasing grin as I hold the door, ready to shut it behind me. “If I did, you wouldn’t know that I’m available if your batteries run out.”

Her eyes widen, her mouth opening in a little O as she shrieks in surprise, but like the queen she is, she recovers quickly. “It’s rechargeable.”

I shrug. “Then I’ll steal the cord.”

Her eyes challenge mine, but I don’t miss the heat in them. “I have others.”

Just knowing she has more toys makes me hot all over. I want to use every single one on her—and then show her how much better my mouth and cock are. “I’ll hide them.”

“Thatcher Orlov!”

I grin. “God, I miss you.”

A flush creeps up her neck and along her jaw. I want to follow it with my tongue. “I’m right here.”

“Not the way I want you,” I say, my voice desperate.

Her eyes widen a fraction as she inhales sharply. She holds my gaze, but just as she’s about to say God knows what, Arwen wails out for her. The sound is so broken that gone is my need for her mother, and all my attention is on Arwen. We both rush to the bed, where she sits up, tears falling down her little cheeks as she reaches out for Audrina. My heart breaks at the jumble of sounds Arwen makes as she is cuddled into her mother’s chest, and they lie back down. I sit on the edge of the bed, rubbing Arwen’s back as Audrina checks her over. It must have just been a bad dream, or maybe she felt off since it’s a new place.

But none of that matters when she murmurs, “Daddy.”

Who knew two syllables could split me open wide and have my heart on full display.

She looks over at me, and I lie down, grazing her cheeks with my knuckles. With one hand, I sign, I’m here.

Her little lip trembles before she signs, Stay?

I look past her to Audrina to check if it’s okay. I can see her heart in her eyes as she nods, not hesitating even a bit. My heart pounds in my chest as I kick off my shoes and cuddle in closer to Arwen. Yes , I sign, and she sighs deeply, capturing my hand in hers. She uses her other to pull Audrina’s hand to her face, and slowly, her eyes drift shut.

It’s such a sight to see Audrina holding Arwen.

My world holding my purpose in life.

Wow. What a thought. I thought hockey was my purpose, but nothing comes close to my raven-hair beauty who lies beside me.

I feel eyes on me, and when I glance over Arwen, Audrina is watching her hesitantly. She tries not to smile as she says, “Mommy and Daddy will not be sharing a bed every night.”

I pull off my hat, throwing it down beside my shoes before I run my hand through my hair. “Not with Arwen.”

She gasps, her eyes widening as she quietly yelps, “Not gonna happen.”

I scoff, hoping my eyes tell her the exact opposite. “Goodnight, dushen’ka .”

“I’m serious,” she tries, and I only nod.

“So am I. Goodnight.”

I close my eyes, but the smile remains, especially when she huffs like a raging teenager.