Locked Hearts (Chained Hearts Duet 2)

“Tidy this mess, and if he wants to talk…” I look down at him as he falls to the floor, “… I’ll be back. And next time I won’t be so nice.”

Two suitcases are sitting out front when I return, and I watch as she brings out a third. Wren’s no longer on her hip. She’s wearing a loose top with bike shorts. There are marks all over the shirt, but it doesn’t make her any less attractive.

Could anything? I’m afraid not.

Six months to try to get over her, and again it wasn’t enough. I feel a lifetime may not even be enough.

Those little doe eyes squint as she looks at me. “You’re back.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t be?” I ask, moving in closer to her.

“I assumed you would get your brother to help, since that’s what you are good at. Directing others to do your dirty work,” she bites back.

How I’ve missed her, and that mouth in more ways than one.

“You have a problem with Joey?”

“No, just with you.” She smiles, showing her teeth so it’s more of a sneer, before going back inside. Wren is in a swing, asleep with a teddy clutched between her hands.

“Problem with me? Can’t say I haven’t heard that before,” I reply, lifting my eyes from our daughter to her.

“I’m sure everyone you meet tells you that because you’re a real asshole.” She drops another quick, sarcastic smile and turns back, grabbing a baby bag. Stepping forward, I reach out and take it from her. When I’m this close, it takes a lot for me to not touch her. I get a whiff of that hidden berry smell that surrounds her, and I want to bury my head between her legs.

“Keir.”

“Say it again,” I tell her.

Her hands plant on my chest and she pushes me back so my body isn’t practically on hers. “Back the fuck up.”

“You know I like it when you talk dirty.”

She rolls her eyes as I reluctantly step back. “How dirty you like it? So dirty that when I wake in the middle of the night to clean my child’s diaper, I imagine running it all over your face? That dirty?” She steps closer to me, stands on her tippy-toes, and bites at my mouth but doesn’t touch me at all. “I don’t want you, Keir. Remember that. The reason I’m coming back is not for you.”

She pauses, her lashes fanning her face as she looks up at me. “It’s because of Wren. She doesn’t need to grow up without knowing you. You’re her father. Better the devil you know and can keep close…” She turns quickly and walks out the door, picking up a bag full of toys, and leaves me standing there.

My cock hard, and my need for her even stronger.

Chapter Six

Sailor

The car ride was… quiet. I chose not to speak to him. He sat in the back, with Wren in between us, while one of his men drove. When she woke, he spoke to her softly. I like the way he speaks to her, and it’s as if she understands him. He talks to her like she’s an adult, there’s no baby talk like I do. No ohhh and ahhh, just straight conversation. Keir gives her his full attention, and she does the same.

The car comes to a stop when we reach the front of my old building—his building, I should say.

“Do you own the building?” I ask as I reach for my bag.

“Yes.”

Figures. Don’t know why I even bothered to ask.

I get out of the car and go to the trunk to grab the diaper bag. When I go back to get Wren, Keir already has her on his hip.

“I would like her to meet my mother.”

Wow. Ummm, okay. That came out of left field.

“I’m not comfortable with being away from her.” I bite my lip. It’s true. It’s not that I don’t want him to have her to himself. It’s just that she’s mine. Yes, technically, she’s his too. But she’s mine. Okay, that sounded slightly crazy even to me. But I don’t want to share her even though I know I have to, and the thought kills me a little inside every time I think about it.

“I want her to meet you as well. Can you be ready later?” The driver has already put all my things on some sort of cart to take inside. The only bag that’s left is the one I have in my hand.

“I have to purchase some furniture,” I say, walking over to Keir and reaching for Wren. She comes easily.

“Be ready at five.” Keir gets back in the car as the driver comes back out, passing me a set of keys before he leaves.

“He’s so demanding,” I whisper to Wren. She smiles as I make my way into my old apartment. It’s small, but not small enough that Wren and I won’t fit. And what I do like about it is that it’s local to everything.