Exposed King (Boys of Brisley 2)

Chapter Thirty-Nine:

Bombs Away

Waking up after themove felt amazing. Mia had been sleeping when I got home, so I didn’t bother her with the Anthony news just yet — I’d simply held her and slept easy knowing she wouldn’t be rushing out the next day.

She lived here now, they all did.

When she started to stir, I kissed her shoulder. “Morning, baby. How’re you feeling?”

She groaned, rolling onto her back with a pout, but when she seemed to remember where she was that pout turned into a smile. “I feel home.”

Mia moved in impossibly closer, fitting perfectly with her legs tucked between mine.

“Good. Are you comfy and happy? I have to tell you something,” I whispered, holding her tighter so she couldn’t escape.

“Ollie,” she mumbled, saying so many things with just one word and the tone of her voice. She was tired and probably not feeling well, but she was happy and comfy, and she knew I was about to ruin it. “What is it?”

“First, I want to say that I love you very much and violence is frowned upon. With that out there ... Anthony was at the house last night when I went.”

I braced myself as she squirmed in my arms to break free. “What the fuck! Oliver Bishop!” Mia reached down to my most ticklish spot and squeezed my inner thigh. “Tell me what happened. He knows we moved? Did he try and hurt you?”

I jerked and gasped as I tried not to laugh or thrash, but she had me good. “Mia! I— yes and no!”

She stopped once her questions were answered, but I could tell she was still nervous. “Did he seem like he cared about Rio at all?”

My heart dropped as I shook my head and held her again. “No, baby. He didn’t.” I relayed our conversation and left out some of the more colorful language he’d used, because the point got across without it. “I’m sorry.”

I didn’t know what was worse, her being angry or her being numb, but the complete lack of shock radiating off of her was heartbreaking. “Yeah, guess I didn’t need to ask that one. Whatever, he had almost seven years to give a shit and he never will. Rio deserves so much more. I get so angry at myself when I think of how that’s his dad. I don’t regret my baby boy for even a second, but I still believe he poked a hole in that condom and I was stupid enough to sleep with him.”

“I’ve been there. Literally, though I wasn’t the one poking holes. You know what this tells me?” I asked, brushing her hair out of her face and meeting her endless sunset eyes.

“Hmm?” she hummed, leaning into my hand so gently I don’t think she even registered the movement.

“That we’re perfect for each other,” I said honestly. “If it happens for us, it’ll be real. Not some trick to get the other one to stay, because we’re staying anyway.”

She smiled softly at me, leaning in to kiss my lips before laying down on my chest again. “So that news wouldn’t make you run for the hills, baby?”

I shook my head and ran my fingertips along her skin. “Of course not. I’ve wanted to be a dad since I was a little kid. Just not under the circumstances most of my scares happened under. I wanted a family. Would you ever consider having another one?”

Mia nodded her head, squeezing me a little tighter. “If you would have asked me six months ago I’d have said no, but now ... with you? Yes. I’m running out of time, baby. I’m an old lady now.”

“I’ve been coming inside of you for months,” I whispered. “If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. Unless you got on birth control and didn’t tell me.”

“I didn’t get on it without telling you, you never asked if I was on it, baby.” Mia sat up so she could see me again. “Do you want to know?”

I could’ve sworn I had, but maybe I hadn’t wanted to know. In that moment, I knew I didn’t want to know. “Nah. Don’t tell me unless it happens. Can’t have you breaking my heart today.”

“I thought so.” She kissed my lips and got out of bed, stripping right in front of me so she could go shower, and for a moment, I imagined how her belly would look with a tiny Bishop inside of it.

It was almost embarrassing how badly I wanted it, and I hadn’t been kidding. Part of me knew I’d be heartbroken if it never happened, but the rest of me knew it didn’t really matter. I’d love all five of the kids living with me like they were my own, and I’d love Mia more every day until I fucking exploded from it — but still.

Part of me hoped.

Mia

For the first time since we moved in, we had the house all to ourselves. The boys were with Dinora at the movies, and I was finally feeling okay after days of being nauseous — I wasn’t about to waste a second of it.

As soon as I saw the time and knew their movie was starting, I didn’t say a word as I grabbed Ollie’s hand and dragged him to our bedroom. The second I locked the door, I rounded on him, nearly ripping off his sweats trying to get to his dick. “Need you, Papí. We have two and a half hours.”