Southern Pleasure (Southern Heart 1)

“I got you, baby. Just feel,” he whispers in my ear. It’s with those words that I let the pleasure roll through me and fall off the blissful cliff that is Evan.

My body slumps against the bed, sated and relaxed. Evan kisses my neck, then my lips. Guiding me to lay on my side, he wraps me in his arms. I know I should repay the favor, but I’m putty at the moment. Instead, I allow him to pull my body close, and he buries his face in my neck. “Fucking amazing,” he mumbles. My heart swells at his words. I refuse to let my worry over, well . . . everything take this moment. I focus on what it feels like to be skin to s

kin with him and drift off to sleep.

The sunlight shines through the curtains and I fight the fact it’s time to get up. I just want to curl my body around Kinley’s and hold her a little longer. The thought of Kinley has me reaching for her. When I find cold sheets, I force my eyes open. I’m in bed alone. Damn, I really wanted to wake up to her.

After a quick stop in the bathroom, I throw on a pair of shorts and head out to find my girls. Kinley’s laughter travels from downstairs, and I take my time with each step while enjoying the sound. When I reach the bottom, I see Kinley lying on her side beside Lexi on the floor. Lexi is under the baby gym, kicking her feet and flapping her arms. Her baby jabber is a mile a minute.

“Is that so?” Kinley asks her. I couldn’t prevent my grin if I tried. “Well, okay then,” she laughs, continuing on like Lexi has something important to say.

This girl.

“Morning, ladies,” I say, taking the spot on the other side of Lexi on the floor. She turns at the sound of my voice, and I maneuver my way through the gym to kiss her cheek. Then, leaning over, I do the same to Kinley. She tries unsuccessfully to hide her shocked expression.

“You girls had breakfast yet?”

“Miss Lexi just finished hers and was telling me how good it was.” She taps the end of Lexi’s nose, which causes her legs to move even faster.

“If you’ve got her, I’ll fix us something.”

“Yeah, we’re good, aren’t we, Lex?”

I leave them to play and head for the kitchen. Kinley is always taking care of me, so I like the fact that I get to make her breakfast. Too bad it’s not in bed, preferably with her naked. She didn’t mention last night, and I won’t either. That’s not what we do.

I’m not exactly the best cook, but I can make a mean bagel—toasted with bacon, egg, and cheese, melts in your mouth. It’s also quick. I make two plates, grab two bottles of water and a couple of napkins, and head back into the living room.

“Your breakfast, my lady.” I hand Kinley her plate and settle back on the other side of Lexi before giving her the water and placing the napkins out of reach of little fingers. Lexi has a firm grip for such a little thing.

“Do you have her today or does your mom?”

“Me. I had a message this morning saying the shoot I’d blocked most of the day for cancelled. Triplets who are sick.”

“Does that happen a lot?”

“When it comes to the little ones, yeah. It’s hard enough to get a three-year-old to sit still for pictures, add in the fact they don’t feel well, and it’s . . . a long day,” she laughs.

“I’m such a bad dad. I haven’t taken any ‘professional’ pictures of Lexi yet.”

“Pshh,” she waves her hand in the air, “I’m all over that. I took newborn, one month, and two month. We are almost ready for month three, aren’t we, Lex?” She speaks to her like she’s a little adult. I think it’s adorable. I know I sound like a lovesick fool, but it just can’t be helped.

“Thank you, McKinley. For everything.”

“I love her, Evan. I can’t let those people take her. They told Misty to . . . not have her. Now they want her? Not on my watch.”

Reaching over, I run my fingers through her hair. “I have some errands today, but it won’t take me long. I’ll try to get back early, so you can get some editing done.”

“No rush. Lex and I play, and then I edit while she sleeps. I’ve even done a shoot with her.”

“Really? How did you manage that?”

“I used the swaddler. I picked it up at Target. I put it over my head then place her in it, and she rests tight against me. I had both hands free to do the shoot. She was fussy that day and Mom couldn’t calm her, but when I held her, she was pacified. I decided to try it out and she seemed to love it.”

“You already had this carrier thing?” I ask her.

“Yeah, I kind of always make a trip through the baby section when I’m at Target. I found it on sale and thought it might be useful for you to get stuff done, being on your own and all. I just kept forgetting to give it to you. It worked out.” She grins.

All I can do is grin back at her. She’s so carefree. I expected her to be consumed with this marriage we both agreed to. I expected her to be . . . different, I guess, about last night, but I should have known better. This is McKinley. She’s tough as nails.