Page 62 of Double the Redemption

Sure, she kept looking around for the first little bit, but she stopped when she spotted Taz up on the roofs of the buildings and houses they passed.

He was going to hear about that from his brothers, especially after Taz scared the shit out of Royal when they passed by her and Savage’s place. Savage looked murderous until Taz explained what was going on and pointed out Karissa on another roof.

After that, Naomi seemed to relax and calm down. Asher was none the wiser. He skipped along, asking random, gibberish questions and gathering more and more flowers as they went. He’d dropped them somewhere along the way when he started getting cranky from being tired.

Ink tried not to feel guilty over Asher wanting him to carry him instead of Naomi, especially when a flash of pain crossed her face. He was glad Asher trusted him this much, but he didn’t want Naomi to resent him when they were making enough progress that she might give him a chance.

“One night without a bath probably won’t hurt him, will it?” he murmured.

“No, I’ll just change the sheets and wash them tomorrow. Are you sure you’re okay carrying him? I can take him if he’s too heavy.”

He stared at her, insulted, and her lips twitched. “You’re just itching to flay my ego, aren’t you, baby?”

She ignored the pet name. “I just thought maybe your hand was still sore.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “You mean the hand you chomped down on like a piranha?”

“Piranhas eat your flesh, and I’m not into cannibalism.”

“Thank Christ for small miracles. I’m fine. If you want a demonstration, I can carry you back too, without breaking a sweat.”

She flushed but shook her head. “I’m not a child, and I’m not going to make your ego any bigger than it already is.”

He bit his tongue to keep from making the raunchy joke that popped into his head. Instead, he smirked and said, “I don’t know, you’re awfully tiny compared to me.”

“You’re not picking me up, Ink, and if you do, I’m going to be forced to grab Asher and kick you in the balls.”

He chuckled but didn’t doubt she was serious. Not after the other night. “All right, I won’t.”

“I’d pay to see that,” Taz called out from above them with a chuckle. “Just make sure you do it in front of a camera, Nay-Nay, so we can relive it over and over again.”

“Nay-Nay?” Ink repeated, scowling.

Naomi looked up at the rooftop and shook her head. “I’m not doing anything for your amusement, Taz. And don’t call me Nay-Nay. I’m not a toddler.”

Ink grinned. Good. He didn’t want any other man to give her a nickname. Besides, he loved her name. He couldn’t wait to moan it when he was deep inside her.

Taz laughed, unfazed as they reached the warehouse steps. “I’ll think of something better, then. Karissa is going to take the next watch while I get a shower and some food. Not like you guys offered me any dino nuggets.” Ink didn’t even need to see his face to know he was pouting.

“I figured since they weren’t in the shape of a banana, you wouldn’t want them,” Naomi fired back, laughter in her voice as they walked up the steps.

Ink let out a soft snort, trying not to wake Asher, but Asher was dead to the world, not even a hint of stirring.

Taz’s laughter boomed through the air as Naomi opened the door and held it for Ink to slip inside. “Just put him down on the bed, and I’ll get him changed and tucked in,” she whispered. He nodded and did as instructed.

He eased away, giving her space, but didn’t venture far from the doorway. She expertly got Asher into his pajamas despite Asher’s limp body and groans when she woke him. By the time he was tucked into the middle of the bed, his little stuffed animal under his arm, he was fast asleep once more.

“Damn, I wish it were that easy for me to fall asleep,” he whispered as they headed back down the hall, leaving the bedroom door ajar so they could hear him if he called out.

“He’s always been a hard sleeper. Working his brain all the time tires him out, and then the walk and everything tonight just added to it. He’ll probably sleep all night.”

Ink tucked that information away. He might finally get some time alone with her. Part of him worried he might be pushing her, but the impatient part of him reminded him he was running out of time. If one more thing happened, he wouldn’t be able to keep her here. Or, worse, if the trial were moved up and she were called to testify earlier than planned, he’d lose her before he had the chance to convince her to stay with him.

He couldn’t let that happen.

“Thanks for the walk, Ink. It … it definitely helped.” She gave him a soft, almost shy smile. “And thank you for being so patient with Asher. I know that being around a toddler can be a lot sometimes.”

He leaned against the kitchen counter, ready to get comfortable. “He’s no trouble at all. I like kids. They’re innocent and don’t look at me like I’m a freak because I’m covered in tattoos. They find joy in the little things.”