Alexei (Chicago Blaze 5)

“That would be the best for her and the kids.”

He takes my hand and squeezes it. “I don’t respect any man who breaks his word to his family. I’ll never break my word to you.”

“I know.” I brush my palm over his stubbled cheek. “Hey, you should get some sleep.”

“I won’t be able to sleep.”

“Do you have coffee, then?”

“Yep, but how about if we go out for breakfast instead?”

“That sounds good.”

I start to stand up, but he tugs on my hand, pulling me down into his lap.

“Hey,” he says, nuzzling my neck.

“Hey yourself.”

“I really loved last night. I’m sorry about all this.”

“I loved it, too, and this isn’t your fault.” I kiss him softly.

“I need you to do me a favor.”

“What’s that?”

He sighs, his breath warm against my neck. “Delete Joe’s number from my phone. Even though I’m pissed as fuck, I don’t think I can bring myself to do it.”

“Of course.”

“My phone is set to block all unknown callers, so once you delete it, he won’t be able to reach me anymore.”

He sounds upset about it, but resigned.

“It’s the right thing to do,” I assure him.

“It’s not about the money.”

“I know. You know I understand.”

He nods. “If he calls again and gives me some sob story about his kids or something…”

“Just give me your phone and I’ll do it.”

He pulls his phone from his pocket and passes it to me, telling me the passcode. I type it in, pull up Joe’s number and delete it.

“Done.” I pass the phone back to him.

“What’s gonna happen to him?”

“I don’t know.”

“Statistically, what are his chances?”

“Well…the best thing that could happen to him at this point is to get arrested. Jail is the best rehab for some people. Maybe he’ll realize what he’s done to his family.”

“I wanted him to stay clean. I was hoping he’d stay clean.” Alexei shakes his head. “More than I wanted it for any of the rest of us. He’s a dad. His kids love him so much.”

I don’t say anything as he wraps both arms around me, pulling me close.

After a few moments of silence, he says, “I’m so sorry you went through that shit as a kid. No kid deserves it.”

My throat tightens, even all these years later. “You’re right.”

“I swear to you, I’ll never take another drink. I’d never do that to our kids, or to you.”

I close my eyes, trying to understand what I’m feeling—it’s trust. I believe him. Alexei has never let me down—not once. And I’m starting to think that maybe, he never will.26AlexeiI’m still half asleep when Graysen reaches over and wraps her hand around my morning wood.

“Mmm, morning,” I say, fully awake now.

“We have to celebrate now since you have a road trip tonight,” she says, sliding on top of me.

In a matter of seconds, she’s sitting on my cock and pulling the T-shirt she slept in up and off.

I fucking love it when we start our mornings this way. I wrap my hands around her waist, steadying her movements as she rides me slow and hard. It’s not long before she’s moaning and picking up the pace, already close to getting off.

Morning sex always makes me come harder. When she cries out in satisfaction, I hold her hips down against mine, muttering a few choice swear words as I finish. She’s she only woman I’ve ever had unprotected sex with, and fuck if it doesn’t feel about a million times better than it did with condoms.

“Happy one year,” she says, leaning down to kiss me.

“I think we should start celebrating every day I’m sober now,” I say with a grin. “Just like this.”

“That works for me.” She kisses me again before rolling off the side of the bed. “I have to go take a shower. Are you going to the early morning meeting?”

“Yeah.” I get out of bed with her. “Since I have a road trip, that’s the only one I can make, and I want my one-year chip today.”

“A year.” She grins at me, her blond curls a sexy mess and her cheeks flushed. “I’m so proud of you, Alexei.”

“Thanks. I had a good therapist at rehab.”

“You don’t say.”

“Yeah, but her ass was pretty distracting.” I wrap my arms around her warm, naked body and pull her close. “I actually had this fantasy about her, you know, and there happens to be a desk in my guest room right at this very moment.”

She hums her interest and my cock stiffens in anticipation. Spreading her out on my desk sounds like a perfect way to continue this celebration.

“I really have to get in the shower, though,” she says, groaning with disappointment. “And you do, too, if you’re gonna make that meeting.”

It all works out in the end, because I fuck her up against the wall of the shower before we wash each other—another new favorite of mine.