Nerves flutter in my belly like butterflies taking flight as I approach the bed. Which is dumb. All we’re doing is sleeping, with a kid between us, and he doesn’t even know I’m here.
But still, climbing into bed with a man who’s watched me masturbate while sitting on his lap feels reckless. Like I’m not only inviting trouble into my life, but holding open the door and throwing a dinner party in its honor.
Or maybe I’m just tired and not thinking straight. All I know is, when it comes to Orion Cartwright, more and more, I find myself wanting to take chances.
Sun peeks in through the gap in the curtains and consciousness begins to slowly filter in.
Maverick’s curled in a ball, with his head under my chin and his knees against my chest. He’s still burning up.
I am too, but for a completely different reason…
One that involves the man wrapped around me from the other side. Orion has one arm wrapped around my middle and his chest is pressed tightly to my back. But what really has me hot and bothered is the big, thick erection digging into my ass.
Why is this my life?
Luckily, Maverick’s presence keeps me grounded, because let’s be real—if he wasn’t here, I’d be tempted to throw myself at the man groaning in my ear like he’s dreaming about something naughty.
“Fuck,” I mutter, realization dawning that if the sun’s up, we majorly overslept. Which I guess doesn’t really matter since Maverick’s clearly not going to school today.
If anything, I need to get up and call the pediatrician’s office to see if they can work him in today.
“Mmm,” Orion rumbles, low and dirty. “Fuck’s right.”
My entire body warms, every bit as embarrassed as I am turned on. I need to put a stop to his wandering hand and thrusting hips—the man’s still sleeping for Pete’s sake.
“Wake up,” I whisper, trying to wriggle free of his hold, but he only tightens it. “Orion, get up.”
“Shh.” He presses his lips to my shoulder.
“No.” I crane my neck forward. “Not happening.” Even though I really, really wish it could.
I try once again to free myself from both Orion and the covers, but it’s no use. I may as well be a fly in a freaking web.
His hold on me is so tight, I can’t even roll over. I swear, this is the kind of shit that only happens to me.
It’s like the universe was all… Oh, you like him? Well, now you live with him! Oh, and he’s into you, too, but you’re keeping a secret from him and let’s be real, it’ll never really work, but temptation be thy name—have fun though!
Maverick’s still sleeping soundly, curled in a ball at my side. The last thing I want is to wake him, but I also don’t want him to wake up and see Orion cuddling me.
That would lead to questions I’m in no way prepared to answer.
“Orion!” I try one last time, but he only nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck.
I’m weighing my options when his hand leaves my hip and presses into my soft belly, his fingers dangerously near the waistband of my leggings.
Temptation is definitely thy name.
His index finger slips beneath my leggings, and I panic, yanking on his arm hair.
“Shit!” he hisses, bolting upright in the bed.
“Shh!” I smack a hand over his mouth and cut my eyes toward Mav, who is still sleeping.
“What the fuck, Frankie?” he whispers, glaring at me.
“You were two seconds away from shoving your hand down my pants! I didn’t know what else to do!”
“Oh.” He coughs and looks away, his cheeks turning a deep shade of scarlet. “Uh. Sorry about that.”
“It’s…” I run my hands through my tangled hair. “It’s fine.”
“How’s Mav?”
“He’s still running a fever.” I draw my legs up to my chest and rest my head on my knees.
“Damn, poor kid.”
“Thank you for taking such good care of him.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“But I have to, Orion.” I sit up straight and lock my eyes on his; I need him to see how much I mean this. “I have to, because what you did, the way you cared for him, it means everything to me. He loves you so much and I—”
“You what?” he asks, leaning toward me, his gaze laser sharp.
Was I about to tell him I loved him, too? I don’t think I was… but… fuck. “I appreciate you.”
“Right.” He pulls back, propping himself up against the headboard. “Well, I appreciate y’all, too.”
We sit side-by-side, with only the sound of Maverick’s deep, steady breaths filling the room—until Orion lurches toward the nightstand and grabs his phone.
He taps around on the screen a few times before cursing under his breath.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, aside from missing your call last night.” His voice is soft, but I can hear his regret so clearly. “I’ve missed three from Ben this morning and one from a supplier.”