She fits perfectly in my arms. This woman was made for me and I refuse to think otherwise.
“Dad.” Glyn sulks. “Why would you say that?”
“Because he’s a little psycho, that’s why. Imagine what he’ll become when he grows up.”
“Aiden?” Astrid asks with a mischievous smile. “You still love him.”
“Toleratehim, not love him, princess.”
“Oh, please. You’ve been overprotective of Aiden since you were kids. Either way, Aiden is the type of man who puts his family above the world, so don’t be judgmental.”
“Yeah, Dad, don’t be judgmental.”
“We’re playing two on one now, are we?”
“Well, you put yourself in this position,” Astrid tells me, shamelessly taking our daughter’s side.
“Still love you, Dad.” Glyn pecks my cheek, then grins. “I’ll get going before you start kissing.”
Her laugh echoes in the air as she leaves the studio.
My wife slides her hand up my ribs and to my chest, a glimmering light shining in her eyes. “Are we going to start kissing, my king?”
It only takes a few strokes from her to transform me into a raging volcano. “Not sure. You just took that fucker Killian’s side over mine.”
“Because you’re being unreasonable and you know it. He brought our daughter back from the edge and that alone makes me forever thankful.” Her hand travels to my cheek, her voice softening when she says, “Are you really not going to kiss me?”
“I’d never say no to you, princess.” I’d lose to her over and over if I have to.
My fingers lift her chin and my mouth meets hers. I kiss her with gratefulness, love, and the absolute need to have her in my life.
Sheismy life.
My wife.
The mother of my children.
Mine.
* * *
Levi:I just lost my daughter.
Xander:Please tell me that’s figurative and Glyn is actually okay?
Levi:If by okay, you mean breathing, then sure, she’s okay. But she brought home a boy and said the dreaded words of “I love him.”
Aiden:Surely you knew she’d do this eventually? She’s fucking nineteen, Lev, not nine.
Levi:Says the one who only has sons. You don’t understand, so how about you kindly fuck off?
Aiden:What’s so wrong with having sons? Don’t be jealous.
Ronan:Agreed. Sons are the shit. Also, I’m on pins and needles for when Remi will introduce his special someone to us.
Cole:From what I gather, there will be specialsomeones. I wonder where he got that womanizing tendency from.
Ronan:Fuck you, Nash. My son is living his life as a healthy uni student and I won’t allow anyone to shame him.