The pink diaper bag dangling from his shoulder in no way made him look less intimidating or manly.In fact, it only emphasized how muscular he was, since it looked miniscule on him compared to when Joy hauled the thing around.
He grabbed a bottle out of the refrigerator, then zipped Arden into her fleece coveralls, the ones with the cute bear ears on the hood.“I’m taking her to the garage with me.I won’t be back for…a while.You two have fun.”
“You’re sure this is how you want to do this?”Joy stood and faced him.
“Certain.”Walker gave a single nod, then tipped Arden toward Joy for a moment.“Say bye to Mommy.Tell her we’re going to play with our friends and she should too.”
Joy couldn’t resist going close enough to kiss Arden on forehead and fuss with her clothes before taking a huge breath and then stepping back.“You know how I feel about this.I’m not kicking you out, but I’m also not going to say no.”
“Good.”Walker put one arm around her and squeezed Joy tight before letting go.Dane knew that if he held her for any longer than that, he wouldn’t be able to walk out the door.
So why was he going at all?
“Wouldn’t you rather stay?”Dane asked the man.
Walker paused with his hand on the doorknob.He looked over his shoulder, his eyes swimming with regret.“That’s not how this was meant to be.For once in my life, I’m going to do the right thing.You should too, even though our paths are diverging.It’s okay, Dane.”
Then he drew Arden’s hood up, tucked her close to his chest to block as much of the cold wind as possible from blasting her, and took off toward Hot Rides.He was halfway to the garage before Dane could even consider chasing after him to argue.He bolted from the couch.“I should…”
Joy put her hand on his upper arm, stopping him with the slightest of touches.“He’s a grown man, responsible for his own choices.So are you.Are you going to blow your chance with me, too?”
Dane looked out the window a moment longer before turning back to Joy.“No.I don’t plan to.But I can’t figure out what I’m supposed to do.He and I have been a team for so long, especially in bed.It’s weird and I feel bad.”
“Why?He didn’t when he went down on me the other day.”Joy shrugged.
“He what?”Dane’s eyes widened.He figured they’d made out like he and Joy had.Figures Walker had gone further—he was bolder than Dane ever could be.Story of their lives, really.
“I’m sorry.I should have told you right away.”The corners of Joy’s eyes pinched and her forehead creased.“I hope that doesn’t piss you off.”
“I mean, if it does, it’s only because I missed it.Where the hell was I?”Dane sure as shit would have heard it if he’d been home.Walker knew how to get a woman off, hard, and Joy wasn’t shy when it came to enjoying their attention.The night they’d shared her, she’d been so affectionate, giving, and sensual.
His cock stiffened thinking about it.And just like that, he was finding it hard to concentrate on anything other than finally being with Joy.The two of them, spending as much time as they liked exploring each other and simply enjoying the effect their touches, kisses, and whatever else would have.
“You were at Hot Rods with Arden when Walker brought me home from the hospital.We didn’t plan for it to happen…”
“I get it.I feel the same way when I’m around you.”Dane caressed her cheek with the backs of his knuckles.“I don’t blame him.Or you.It’s hard to resist either of you.”
“Should we go get him?”Joy asked.
Dane shook his head.“Fuck it.I don’t want to be talked out of this right now.Or let the universe put some new roadblock in our way.I need you, Joy.I always have.I’m going to take his bait.If that makes me a shitty man, so be it.”
She bit her lip, then nodded.“I agree.We can fix things with Walker later, right?”
“I hope so.But if not, you’ll have me.I swear I’m never going to leave your side again.I shouldn’t have done it before.Not the first time or the second time and definitely not the third time.It ripped my heart out to leave you lying naked in that bed.”He would grovel if he had to.“I hope you know I only did it because it seemed wise at the time.I had nothing to offer you.”
“So make it up to me now,” Joy said with a smile that was equal parts coy and devilish before unwrapping the shawl she’d had on over her tank top, which left her breasts easy to access for pumping.
Dane thought he might be experiencing a full-on feeding frenzy of his own soon enough.She looked so mature, her breasts ripe and full, reminding him of how well she provided for their daughter.
Joy was incredible.And he couldn’t wait to show her what a goddess she was to him.
He took her hand and intertwined their fingers, like they used to when they would sneak away for long walks in the woods near the Wildfire clubhouse, which weren’t all that different from where they’d made out the other day.Except back then his kisses had been chaste and now they were anything but.
Dane used their connection to draw her into their room, then shut the door softly behind them and locked it, keeping everyone else out but them.Their mountain of troubles and the rest of the world didn’t matter.At least for the next couple of hours.
He put his palm on the wood and slowly counted to five, but there was no turning back now.
When he spun to face Joy and saw her staring back at him with wide eyes, he drew his shirt over his head, leaving himself bare-chested and bare-footed.His hands dropped to the button of his jeans.There was no use in denying this interlude between them would end any way except with them naked.