Page 23 of The Winning Hat Trick (The Steel City Knights #1)

Celeste tilts her head back, her eyes red and shining from the tears she shed.

"Thank you, Mac. I know it's not fair for you to pay for the sins of another.

I don't mean to be guarded, but it's not just my heart on the line.

" She takes a deep, steadying breath. "I know you're nothing like him, but please be patient with me.

I'm going to mess up, throw walls up when I get scared, or pick fights when I feel like things are out of my control.

Just please give me time to calm down and remember that you're a good man and on my side.

" Her eyes are begging me as more tears fill them.

"I can do that. I promise." I lean down and seal my lips to hers.

This kiss is different than our first. Our first was filled with our uncontrollable need for each other, while this one is full of that same need but also an understanding that wasn't there before.

It's unhurried as we learn each other's touch and taste, exploring together.

We only break apart when the need to breathe outweighs our desire to continue kissing.

"Come over." Celeste is breathless.

"Are you sure?" I search her eyes and see nothing but certainty.

"Positive." She smiles devilishly.

"Drive safely. You've got my favorite people in your hands." I press a peck to her lips.

"I will."

It's hell tearing myself from her, but I do. I watch as she climbs in her SUV, then pulls out of the lot. I race across the parking lot and hop in my truck, racing to follow her.

I arrive at her house and walk into the open garage, where Celeste is getting a sleeping Calla out of the car. "Who do you want me to grab?"

"Can you get Talon? Layla's fine in her car seat, but Talon's all limbs and getting harder for me to carry when he's passed out like that."

"Sure." I brush a kiss to her head when she walks past.

Getting Talon out of the car is a little harder than I thought it would be.

He's in the third row, and it's almost impossible to squeeze my big frame between the seats to get him.

With a few swear words and some awkward maneuvering, I manage to get Talon out of the SUV without waking him.

Once inside, I get him to his room and into bed.

"Thank you. You wanna grab Layla while I get him tucked in?"

"Of course. Love you, bud," I whisper then kiss Talon's mop of hair and make my way to the garage to get my sweet girl.

Layla doesn't stir as we walk through the house to her room. I clumsily strip off her clothes and get her diaper changed. She woke up during the process but is now snuggled on my chest as I rock her in the chair.

"Wow, you made a lot of progress while I was wrestling Talon's clothes off his cast." Celeste leans against the door, a bottle in her hand.

"I did but didn't know what she wears to bed, so…" I shrug.

"Here. It's better to give her this without any clothes on anyway. When she's this tired, half of the milk rolls out of her mouth."

I take the bottle, which Layla grabs at greedily.

She drinks about a quarter of it before I see what Celeste meant.

The bottle keeps falling from Layla's grasp as milk runs out of her mouth.

I guide it back in, and she drinks half before Cel tells me that it's enough and takes her from my arms. She cleans up Layla, gets her dressed, then lays her in her crib.

"Come on," she beckons from the door.

I stand to follow but make my way to Layla first. Leaning over her crib, I give her a kiss. "Happy birthday, Layla bug. I love you," I whisper.

Once in the hall, I detour to Calla's room, make sure she's content, then kiss her head and tell her I love her too.

These kids have my heart, just like their mama, and there's no place I'd rather be tonight.

Celeste is waiting at the door, a smile on her lips. She takes my hand and guides me down the hall. I'm surprised when we stop outside her bedroom door. She looks up at me shyly, then tugs my hand and pulls me into her room.

"Gorgeous?"

"The kids aren't the only ones who are exhausted. It's been a wonderfully long day, and I want nothing more than a hot shower and to crawl into bed with you. Is that okay?"

"Fuck. Yes," I growl as I kick the door shut with my foot and slam my lips on hers. "Please tell me I get to join you in the shower."

"Of course you do." She smirks at me.

"Are you sure, Celeste? If we cross this line, you're mine. There's no going back." I hold her face in my hands as I stare into her blue eyes.

"As long as your mine in return, then yes, I'm sure."

"Thank fuck." I kiss her hard as my hands slide down her back and lift her in the air to carry her into the ensuite.

"Wait, Mac. I need to grab the baby monitor."

"I'll get it." I set her down then hustle into her room. "Get naked," I call out as I search for the baby monitor.

"Already a step ahead of you," she purrs.

I trip over her clothes in my haste to get to her. "Christ, you're perfect." I drop to my knees in front of her and grasp her waist.

She's naked from head to toe and the most stunning woman I have ever seen.

She's still got a little pouch of baby weight right above her bare pussy, but I fucking love it.

Her body is beautiful and has blessed us with three perfect kiddos.

Her breasts are full and flushed from my hungry gaze.

My eyes and hands move of their own accord, scouring her body as she gasps at my touch.

"Maclan." She moans as I kiss her hip and tug her pert nipple.

"What do you need, gorgeous?"

"You. I need to feel you. Make me come, Mac."

"Hold on." I lean forward, swipe my tongue through her dripping folds, and suck on her nub.

Celeste's legs quake as I lavish her center.

When I pull away for a minute, Celeste cries out in frustration.

I pick her up and set her on the counter, spreading her wide to give me better access and make sure she doesn't collapse.

I dive back in like a man possessed. I use my fingers, teeth, and tongue to build her climax until she throws her head back and cries out my name with her release.

"Oh my fucking God, Mac." She pants, legs splayed wide, as she drips from her center while I lap her clean. She wraps her fingers in my hair and pulls hard, guiding my body up hers, then slamming her lips on mine.

"Ready to shower?" I murmur into her neck as I nip and kiss it.

"You're going to have to carry me because I don't think my legs are working yet."

"That can be arranged."

"Wait, what about you?" She runs her hand over my hard cock.

"That was just for you." I step out of her reach and start stripping.

Celeste leans back, eyes hooded as she watches me shed my suit.

I'm throbbing in my dress pants and will blow if I can't rein myself in.

What little restraint I have left flees as my eyes follows Celeste's hand down her chest until her fingers dip into her wet center and lazily start rubbing circles across her clit.

"Spread your legs wider," I demand as I drop my pants and boxers, and fist my cock in my hand.

She does as she's told on a whimper. I stroke my cock, smearing the precum down my shaft, as I watch Celeste pleasure herself.

"You like watching me touch myself, Mac?"

"Fuck yeah, I do, gorgeous. Keep strumming that clit. Make that pussy drip for me."

"Mmm, Mac. K-keep stroking your cock until you're coming all over my stomach," she stutters.

"Holy shit, Cel." I groan and stroke faster, her dirty words turning me on even more. "Are you close? I need you to get there again, Celeste," I barely manage to grit out.

"Help me, Mac," she pleads.

"What do you need?"

"Y-your fingers." She pants. "Kiss me."

I step close, slide two fingers into her center, then pull her lips to mine. My tongue matches the rhythm of my hand around my cock. I can feel her walls fluttering around my fingers as I try to hold off my release, but it's getting harder by the stroke.

Just when I think I'm not going to last, Celeste explodes.

"Yes, Mac!" she cries out, her head and back arched, legs shaking, and walls gripping my fingers so tight.

"Ngh." I groan as I shoot my load all over her stomach, rope after rope until I'm spent, my hands on either side of Celeste on the counter while my head rests on her shoulder. I plant a gentle kiss there as I catch my breath.

"That was unbelievable, Cel."

"You're telling me. You're definitely gonna have to carry my ass to the shower now."

I guffaw at her sass.

"Sounds good, gorgeous. Just give me a second until I can feel my own legs. Don't need us both going down." I smile lazily at her sated expression.

After a minute, I pull myself away from Celeste and turn on the shower.

I give it a bit to warm up, then scoop up Celeste and carry her in.

As much as I want to keep exploring her body, I'm completely wrecked from my game and the one orgasm we already shared, and Celeste isn't holding up any better.

I make sure to thoroughly wash her hair and body, then wrap her up in a towel when we're done.

"Do you need to dry your hair?" I raise a brow at her while I dry off and pull on my boxers.

I have a bag of workout clothes in my truck, but I forgot to grab them when I got here, so these will have to do for the night. I'll run out in the morning and grab my bag so I can have clothes before the kids get up.

"Nope, I'll just braid it so we can get to bed since the tiny humans will be up bright and early. You can go lie down if you want."

"Okay. Do you have an extra toothbrush?"

She opens a drawer and hands me one.

I brush my teeth as she does her nightly routine. Even though this is the first night we're spending together, it doesn't feel awkward. I love getting these unguarded glimpses into her life.

In her room, I climb into bed on the side that doesn't have any of her stuff on the nightstand. I put my phone on silent and beg my eyes to stay open until Cel gets into the room. Sighing when the bathroom light turns off, I wait impatiently for her to join me.

She crawls under the covers, and I don't hesitate to pull her into my arms, where I've been dying to have her. With a kiss to her head, I let myself relax into the bed, more content than I've been in months.