Ryker grunts out, “To hit something really fucking hard.”
Zack and I share a loaded look and then we turn to follow him to the gym. It’s not like sleep is an option now. We might as well pummel the bags to work it off. We can pretend it’s that fucker’s face.
Avery
Iwake at the first hints of dawn. I feel…refreshed. I’m incredibly warm and cozy with Kanga’s body pressed along the length of my back. I breathe deeply and the smells that surround me are of Ryker and that makes me feel…safe. I feel my cheeks heat up in a blush as I remember that I flashed him my boobs last night but it was after that, the way he gently touched me and then held me and made promises to keep me safe that warms my cheeks even more.
I roll onto my back and dig my fingers into Kanga’s fur. I’ve never had a man be that way with me before. Then again, I’ve only ever been with one man. Right from the start he was assertive with me. At the time, I was eighteen and thought it was just mature confidence. I was so lost and alone in the world that it was easy to just let him make the decisions. He was kind to me, brought me flowers, and took me out to what I considered grown-up restaurants but looking back now, I can see that it was all contrived to get me to fall into his trap. It worked perfectly. I knew nothing about being an adult or being in an adult relationship. I just went along, flattered that a man of his stature was interested in me. I was a fool.
I pull the wide collar of Ryker’s shirt up to my nose and breath deeply. He’s so, so, big! He could snap me like a twig but his large body and arms made me feel so safe and protected. I sigh deeply, making Kanga lift his head to lay on my chest, his big sweet eyes staring deep into mine.
“Is this going to be awkward?” I ask him. “What do I do? Do I thank him or just pretend like it didn’t happen?”
The dog lets out a soft whine so I just nod in agreement. “Yeah, I don’t know either.”
Chloe comes bounding in and climbs up onto the bed with a happy squeal. I reach out and get a hand on her heavy cast before it lands on the poor dog.
“Kang!” She yells and burrows in next to him as he rolls and starts licking her face as she giggles. “Can Kanga sleep with me tonight? Please? Pretty please, Momma?”
I brush her messy curls back from her face and lean over to kiss her, getting a tongue swipe in the process from the grinning dog.
“I don’t know, duck. You would have to ask Ryker. Kanga’s his dog.”
I roll out of bed with a wince when my ribs pang and put my hands on my hips. “Alright, time to get up. Kanga probably needs to go out to do his business and we need to get dressed and brush our teeth so I can get breakfast going.”
The dog launches off the bed and goes to the door so I let him out but Chloe has starfished herself across the bed. She rolls her head my way with a concerned look.
“Does the Tooth Fairy know where we are?”
I crawl back onto the bed with her and lean on one elbow so I can look down into her face.
“Of course she does! That’s how magic works.”
She rolls her lips in and her pretty eyes slide away from mine. “So, she won’t go to our old house?”
“No. Why, baby?”
I see her lower lip give the slightest tremble before it gushes out of her.
“I don’t want her to go there! Daddy might get mad and hurt her!”
My heart lurches in my chest as I gather her up and rub her back soothingly.
“No, baby, no! Daddy’s not going to hurt anybody. That’s…that’s over now. I promise.”
She sniffs a few times against my chest and then squirms for me to let go. “You smell like Ryker! Can I have cereal for breakfast?”
My mouth drops open for a few beats but then I just nod.
“Sure, duck. You can have cereal.”
****
I’m sliding ham and green pepper omelets onto plates when the guys come in and then turn to pour out three mugs of coffee. I keep my eyes down with just a quiet “good morning” to them all as I slide the mugs over. Thankfully, Chloe’s chatter fills the space as she tells them all about her new favorite cereal that has animal shapes and tiny marshmallows in it. Zack has her giggling as he sticks his nose down almost into the milk to inspect them. A smile pulls at my lips at how nice they all are to my girl as I fill Easton’s travel mug. I know he doesn’t linger over breakfast in the mornings.
“I need one too. I’ll be gone all day,” Ryker says almost directly behind me and I try hard not to let myself flinch when his muscular arm slides past my face to take a second travel mug from the shelf of the open cupboard. I peek up at him from under my lashes and receive a slow wink in return, letting some of the tension in my shoulders bleed out. Okay, maybe not that awkward after all then. I take the travel mug from him and fill it up as well and hand it back with a small smile.
While they all eat quickly, I get to work washing and cleaning up the pans. My mind goes to what to make for dinner as I scrub in hot soapy water so I call over my shoulder, “I was thinking Italian for dinner. Is that okay?”
