Unbroken Rules (Rules 3)

I breathe a quiet laugh. “I will, I promise.”

If that day ever comes.

As I walk down the stairs leading to the kitchen after putting Maika to sleep for her afternoon nap, I hate that her attempt at cheering me up only made me sadder. She meant to help, but now all I can think about is Des.

And the life she’ll never get to live.

“There you are.” Winter’s voice brings me back, makes me forget about the million emotions at war in my chest. I look up to see her staring at me, leaned back against the kitchen counter with crossed arms.

“How was the doll playing?” she teases.

I move toward her. “Would you believe me if I said amazing?”

“Nope.” She wraps her arms around my neck.

My hands curl around her waist. “Where’s everybody?”

“My dad is resting upstairs. His parents left five minutes ago, and Kendrick, Allie, and Jay went to pick up something at the store. I didn’t really listen. I was way too busy imagining you playing Barbies.” She chuckles.

I know this isn’t the right moment—it literally never is with us—but when I pull her into my arms, I can’t stop the thoughts creeping inside my head.

I want her.

So fucking bad.

Maybe it’s because this girl is somehow the only person on this damn planet that makes me feel better when I start spiraling. Maybe it’s because her ass looks like art in those jeans.

All I know is I need to feel her.

Right now.

When I lower my mouth to her neck, she turns to putty in my hands. A smirk remolds my lips. She’s always been receptive to my touch, even when she doesn’t want to be. My kisses are slow, light, but they’re enough.

“Haze.” She releases a soft moan.

Okay, fuck.

Someone wants to come out to play.

My fingers glide from her arm to her shirt, from her bare stomach to her nipples. She shivers.

“Here? Really?” she jokes, but I catch the desire in her tone, her trembling voice. She’s all hot and bothered.

“Would you rather go upstairs where the baby and your father are sleeping?” I trace my lips down her collarbone, aiming for the sensitive spots I know drive her insane. “Don’t think for a second because we’re moving into your childhood home, I’m going to become family-friendly, Kingston.”

When I bite her earlobe slightly, she lets herself go, but only for a few seconds. She’s fighting it. Something’s on her mind.

“Okay.” Her hands fly to my chest, and she holds me at arm’s length. Like she’s afraid of what she could do if I were to get any closer. “Haze, baby… You have no idea how much I want to do this right now, but we can’t.”

When I see her hard nipples peek through the fabric of her shirt, I can’t tame my smirk. “I think I do have an idea.”

No bra, huh? She’s making this even harder. Me—she’s making me harder. I remember Harry accidentally dropping something on her shirt earlier. She was soaked. Probably threw on the first shirt she could find, then got too lazy to open up her billion suitcases to find a bra. She notices her nipples and crosses her arms over her chest with the most adorable, shy smile I’ve seen in my entire life.

“But that’s what we’ve been doing since we got back together. Things escalate, we have sex, and don’t get me wrong, it’s been…” She flushes. “Amazing, but it’s always before we can talk about our issues. I don’t want to avoid it anymore.”

Why do I feel like I’m in trouble?

“Avoid what?”