“I’ll look forward to it. Want to run?” Pen asks.
“Absolutely.”
Kat turns on her heel and leaves us.
I hold out my hand, and Pen clasps it.
“Bedtime,” I say, smirking as she stifles a yawn.
“I thought you would never finish.”
“I couldn’t just roll over,” I tell her, knowing she’s fully aware of the competitive streak my siblings and I have.
We make our way upstairs and find Lottie and Callum asleep on one bed. Toy Story playing in the background.
Gabriel retrieves Callum while I scoop Lottie into my arms and carry her to her bedroom. Mum has always made sure Lottiehad her own room in the house. I lay her down on the bed and cover her with the duvet. Stepping back, I look down at my daughter. Pen rests her hand on my shoulder. I turn to the woman who’s crashed back into my life.
“She’s growing up so fast,” I say.
“She is, but she loves you with all her heart.”
I know Pen’s right. Lottie and I have a strong bond. But I look at my little girl and see the woman she’s becoming. She’s getting bigger before my eyes. In a couple of weeks, she’ll be fifteen. Darra has asked for her to spend the weekend with her in Italy. I have yet to ask Lottie what she wants to do. I know Darra is missing our daughter.
I lean down and drop a kiss on her forehead as we make our way outside.
“Stay with me tonight,” I say, turning and pulling Pen into my arms. “It’s not like they don’t know about us.”
Pen quirks an eyebrow. “Was this your plan all along?”
I feign innocence, but I’m glad my family knows. That they’re happy, or at least ninety per cent of them are.
Kat has already told Pen she’ll be having words with her tomorrow before the party. She wants to know how I finally won her over.
“I’ll stay with you,” Pen says as I interlink our fingers and lead her to my room.
When we get inside, I close the door, dropping a kiss on her nose before moving to her neck and the spot just above her collarbone that has her shivering. Pen moans and desire shoot straight to my cock, and I’m instantly hard. Memories of her coming apart on my tongue and fingers fuel the fire. It’s like I’m permanently inhorny modewhenever Pen is near. Not that she’s any different. My hand finds its way under her dress. Wet and ready, her body desperate for my cock.
She locks her arms around my neck, and we give in.
CHAPTER 53
PEN
Kat’s waiting for me in the kitchen, and I’m pleased I packed my running clothes.
Elijah’s still in bed, post-coital, after I woke him with my lips tormenting his cock. The feel of him coming into my mouth has left me wanting more, but I promised my friend and I will not renege on her, for her hot and sexy sibling. Therefore, this run is exactly what I need.
“You’ve dragged yourself away from my brother?” Kat says, leaning against the kitchen side, her eyes sparkling. She looks more refreshed this morning.
“Did you think I wouldn’t be able to?” I ask as we push our way out of the back door and onto the gravel pathway.
“Debatable,” she chuckles. “Woodland or road?”
“Woodland, there are going to be a lot of delivery vans heading this way, according to Leah.”
Leah has been helping organise the yearly fundraiser since she and Gabriel first got together. I think Franny used it to snare her into the family. She’s always had a knack for knowing what is best for her children.
“Okay, let’s go,” Kat says, taking off with a laugh.
