Their Reign (The Rite Trilogy 3)

Judge tucks me against his side protectively, his hand wrapping around my lower back to settle on the curve of my hip. An awkward silence falls over the room, and then Theron sits up straighter, wincing as he does.

“I owe you an apology,” he confesses. “And if you’ll hear me out, I’d like to give that to you now.”

“It’s not necessary.” I lean into Judge, grateful for the strength of his body right now. “I don’t want your apology.”

Disappointment flashes through Theron’s eyes as they drift to my very pregnant belly, and I can only wonder if he’s thinking about what he’ll miss out on. That he’ll always be distant from his family.

“Mercedes—” he tries again, but I shake my head and cut him off.

“I don’t want your apology because we’re even,” I tell him. “You saved our lives. You saved Judge’s life. And for that…” I stumble over the words, almost too choked up to speak. “I’m grateful.”

He shifts, clearly uncomfortable by the display of emotion, and at that moment, I see so many similarities between him and Judge. And I can’t help feeling a pang of warmth toward him. Naturally, Theron being a Montgomery, he has to ruin that.

“I suppose I am due some credit,” he says thoughtfully. “You can repay me by naming one of your spawns after me.”

Judge snorts, and I shake my head. And just like that, some of the tension dissolves.

“Not in this lifetime, brother.” Judge takes a seat in one of the visitor’s chairs, pulling me down onto his lap.

“Fine.” Theron grins wickedly, turning his gaze to me. “Then I have a counter suggestion. I’m in need of a good nurse. Perhaps you know someone?”

“It seems to me you have two very doting nurses on hand already,” I answer wryly.

He shrugs dismissively. “They’ll do in a pinch, but I’d prefer someone with a little more bark. Perhaps even some bite.”

I don’t have to guess where this is going, and he confirms it with his next words.

“A fiery shop owner. What’s her name again?”

“As if you don’t know,” Judge mutters. “You couldn’t handle her. Trust me.”

Theron’s eyes alight with pleasure at the insinuation. “Now you’re goading me. You know I love a challenge.”

“She’s off-limits,” I tell him. “Seriously. That’s a no-go zone.”

Judge groans, looking at me like I just made a crucial mistake. “Now he’ll never let it go.”

“You know me well,” Theron muses.

“Why don’t you just focus on your recovery?” Judge suggests. “Then you can concentrate on your baser needs.”

Theron smirks, wisely choosing to change the subject, probably sensing I might strangle him if he goes near Solana. Regardless, we fall into an easy discussion about the impending babies, and he seems to hold a genuine interest in the subject, which surprises me. He’s curious about our name choices and even makes a bet with himself on the genders, which will be revealed next week at my baby shower. Oddly enough, it seems like he’s looking forward to being an uncle. And although I’m nowhere close to being able to trust him, I feel like we’re rebuilding a bridge between him and Judge. Theron wants to be a part of his life and, by extension, his children’s. And I think as long as things continue to go smoothly, we can make that happen.

By the time we leave several hours later, Judge and I are both exhausted. Yet his rough promise lingers in the back of my mind when he gets me upstairs to our bedroom back at home.

I unbutton his shirt, sliding my hands over his warm chest while he watches me reverently, the same way he does every time I do this. It’s become a habit, like opening a gift every day, and I have no plans to stop anytime soon. Secretly, I think he likes it when I have my way with him just as much as I like it when he does the same to me.

Slowly, I unzip his trousers, easing my hand in to stroke his cock. He bites back a groan, his eyes shuttering as he whispers a low warning.

“Mercedes.”

I ignore him, sitting on the bed as I continue stroking him. He’s been trying to be gentle with me the further along I get. His words, not mine. Yet I’m always testing him. I don’t want him to be gentle even though I understand his reasons for it. I just want my Judge. Rough and growly and possessive in all the ways that count.

My tongue darts out to swirl around the head of his cock, and his chest rumbles in approval. Despite his best efforts, his hand tangles in my hair as I draw him into my mouth, sucking him with a torturous slowness.

Another sound gets caught in his throat as his grip on me tightens, and he inevitably gets caught up in it the way I knew he would. He shoves my face deeper, his cock lodging in the back of my throat, making my eyes water as he glares down at me.

“Is this what you wanted?” he growls.