He shakes his head smiling at me, “You won’t find him there. Look.” He makes his way to me holding his phone out to show me something on it. Looking as he tilts the phone to me my heart constricts in my chest. Rhett and Rowan are asleep in the movie room together. Laying beside each other both with their mouths slightly parted, their left arms behind their heads and their feet crossed at the ankle. I fall more in love with him every day, and seeing him like this, when no ones around, just solidifies that I’d marry this man right now if he asked.
Kieran breaks the silence, “You know, if you’d have told me Rowan was going to be a dad a few months ago I would have laughed at you. I was convinced that after dealing with the five of us after our parents died that he would never want or have kids. But I swear I think he fell in love with Rhett just as quickly as he fell in love with you. He’s tough, ninety nine percent of people who know him are terrified of him. We have a reputation of being ruthless. With you though, I’ve never seen him like this. He reminds me exactly of how our Da used to be with our Ma and us.”
My eyes well up, “Your Da, from what I’ve heard he seems like a really good man.”
He smiles fondly, “He was. Anyone who worked with him would describe him as stoic, and heartless but fair. We never saw any of that at home though. He was kind, loving, andmodeled what an amazing husband and Da looks like. I’m biased because he was my Da, but he never missed an event for us. He showed up for us and my Ma every single day.” Kieran wipes his eyes quickly then pulls that mask back in place, “Anyway, I’m headed to bed. Rhett’s safe and sound. Go rest, Clara. They’re worried about you.” He pulls me into a side hug and when I hug him back he flinches and his face is mirroring pain.
“Are you okay?” His eyes widen before he waves me off.
“I’m fine, just been working out harder than normal. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” Turning to go back into our room I’m smiling to myself. He really is an amazing man and father figure. Sending a silent thank you to his dad, I decide to go to the bathroom then back to bed to sleep away the lingering effects of this migraine.
The next morning, I’m half asleep I feel little hands wrapped around my neck and big hands wrapped around my waist from behind. Rhett’s head is half nuzzled into the front of my neck, Rowans into the side of my neck. They’re both snoring softly, and I’m feeling so content with my boys snuggling me. I’m shifting slightly to wrap my arm around Rhett when Rowan pulls me impossibly closer, he lets out a sleepy sigh.
“Hey Pretty Girl, how are you feeling?” My heart flutters every time he calls me that. Especially when it’s accompanied with that sexy gravelly voice.
“I won’t know for sure until I get up, but it seems okay right now.”
Nuzzling his head into my neck he makes a sound of acknowledgment. “Good, I was so worried last night.”
Furrowing my brow I attempt to move so he can seemy face without waking Rhett up, “You were? It was just a migraine.”
Shaking his head he shifts so I can see his eyes, “Maybe, but to me you were in pain, sick, and I couldn’t do anything to help or make it stop. That made me worry more than anything. All I could do was rub your head, take care of Rhett, and wait for it to pass.”
Oh, I love this man. This sweet, kind, tender man. Knowing he’s a ruthless crime leader makes him such a conundrum, because that’s not the man that heals the hurt he didn’t create. He loves us without abandon, but once he’s away from Rhett and I, he’s commanding, intimidating, and merciless.
If I wasn’t sure that he’d take his own life before hurting us, he’d scare me to no end. “I’m sorry, I’m sure it’s not easy for you to feel powerless. Especially when you’re usually in control of everything.”
He leans in and presses his lips so tenderly to my temple whispering, “It wasn’t easy watching you struggle, it broke my heart. But being there for you guys? Stepping in fully when you needed to rest? Well baby, that’s as easy as loving you two, which just to be clear, is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”
Smiling, I reach the arm that was around Rhett’s waist and cup the back of Rowan’s head pushing his lips into my temple a little more firmly.
“I love you so much, thank you for loving us like you do. I saw you last night, you know.”
He pulls his lips from the side of my head where he’s been pressing little kisses. “Oh yeah? You were creepin’ on us?”
Letting out a quiet laugh and playfully rolling my eyes, I smart back, “It’s not creepin’ when you’re both mine.” That grin that makes me feel tingly from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, forms on his addictive lips.
His eyebrows lift, and I can see the playfulness dancing in his eyes. “Yours, huh? I like you laying claim on me.”
“Yeah?” I smirk and look him up and down, drinking in every ounce of his strong, carved to perfection body.
His eyes flare with heat as he grips my hip, “You can’t look at me like that, not while Rhett’s in this bed with us.”
Acting innocent, even though I know exactly what I’m doing I ask, “Like what? I’m not looking at you like anything.” Rowan’s lips press against the back of my ear then up and down the shell.
He growls out, “Like you want me to tie you up to this bed and keep you on the edge of climax until you’re begging me to let you come.” My whole body shivers as his fingers lightly skim up and down the side of my body.
“Maybe, because I do.”
He smirks and starts kissing my neck when Rhett stretches his arms up. Rowan freezes and this time I pretend to be asleep. I can feel them signing to each other but have no idea what’s being said.
I feel little lips kiss my cheek and Rowan’s kiss my forehead and murmur, “Stay and rest baby. I’ll be back up in a little while.” I decide to take advantage of the fact that I’m not the only one taking care of Rhett anymore, as well as knowing he’s as safe with Rowan as he would be with his own secret service detail, and drift back off to sleep.
19
Chapter Nineteen
