War of Hearts (Storm MC Reloaded 2)

I’ve spent the last few months worried about Mum and this pregnancy, and this news only increases that worry, but I push the fear down and nod. “I’ll stay and look after the kids. And I don’t have work tomorrow, so I can stay as long as you need.”

He exhales a long breath. “I appreciate this.”

I nod. I know he does.

He leaves and I do my best to put the worry out of my mind. That’s not as hard as usual because Meredith is giving me enough grief to put anything out of my mind.

Another fifteen minutes pass with no change in her sleepiness. The only thing that does change is she grows increasingly fretful.

I’m pulling my hair out ten minutes later when Fury puts his head around the corner. “You need help?”

“Oh my God, I suck at this,” I whisper-yell while nodding.

He enters the room and scoops a crying Meredith into his arms. Cuddling her, he says, “Cade wants you to go kiss him goodnight.”

“He’s in bed?”

“Yeah. I got him bathed and in his jammies, and I read a book to him. He showed me where everything was. He’s pretty tired but is hanging out for a kiss from his sister.”

“Holy fuck,” I say quietly, “You’re the freaking kid-whisperer. Nothing gets these kids to sleep that easily.”

He chuckles softly. “I’ve just had enough practice.” He jerks his chin towards the door. “Go. I’ll get her to sleep.”

I still hold some doubt he’ll have as much luck with Meredith as he had with Cade, but fifteen minutes later when he joins me in the kitchen, I let go of that doubt. I also un-pigeonhole him in my mind. Gone is the asshole. In his place is a man I’m interested to know a lot more about.

I stop washing up. “Seriously? She’s asleep?”

“Yeah.”

I pull one hand out of the washing-up water and flick bubbles at him. “Shut up. Ugh. I’m gonna need you to tell me all your secrets. That kid never falls asleep for me.”

He wipes the bubbles from his face and reaches for a tea towel and a dish to dry. “Sorry, princess, I have no secrets to tell. Either you got it or you don’t.”

His tone is playful and I have to admit I really like it. I flick more bubbles at him. “Smartass. I don’t know what you’ve got, but I bet it can be learned.”

“I bet you’re right. But wait, how old is Cade? Three?” His eyes sparkle with more of that playfulness. “You’ve done so well in those three years.”

I don’t flick bubbles this time; this time I smack him. “Has anyone ever told you what an asshole you are?”

As soon as my hand lands on his abs and the words leave my mouth, the playfulness disappears from his eyes and is replaced with heat. Before I know what’s happening, he’s in my space, staring down at me. “You’ve told me plenty,” rumbles out of his mouth, all gravelly and rough.

The mood between us shifts. I realise my hand is still pressed to his abs. I also realise I really freaking like it there and it seems he does too.

I stare up at him. I don’t know what to do. It’s the first time in my life I’ve not known what to do with a guy. That’s not because I’m a slut like Tommy thinks, though. It’s because I’ve only ever flirted with guys my age and they’re all pretty predictable with what they want from me. They’re also predictable with how they’ll react in any given situation

. Fury’s different. He’s older, and I don’t find him easy to read. Until tonight, he didn’t even appear to like me, let alone find me attractive.

I bite my lip as warmth floods my body. The way he’s looking at me is doing all kinds of crazy things to me, the least of it that warmth. “I don’t actually think you’re an asshole anymore. I mean, you definitely have asshole tendencies, but I, uh, I’m beginning to think there’s some good traits buried deep inside you.”

He rests his hands on the kitchen counter either side of me, bringing his body even closer to mine. “Is that so?”

“Yeah.” My voice is all breathy and that seems to affect him. His nostrils flare and his eyes leave mine to travel down my body. Oh God, I like having his eyes there. I like it a lot. “I now know you like kids, cats, and ducks. It makes me wonder what else you like.”

His eyes don’t return to mine straight away. He takes his time with my body. By the time he’s done, I feel all needy. I want to kiss him and touch him and have him in a way I’ve never wanted anyone. “It seems I like things I can’t have,” he murmurs sexily.

“Oh.” It falls from my mouth before I can stop it.

What is happening here?