Craving Rose (The Aces' Sons 5)

“Mack,” Rose called in exasperation. “Come sit down while I make dinner.”

“I haven’t seen you naked or had my mouth on you in too fuckin’ long,” I argued. “I’m goin’ up those stairs.”

She jogged around me and planted herself directly in my path, her hands on her hips.

“Jacob MacKenzie,” she said, making me stop in my tracks. “I want one night of peace, alright? One night where we have dinner and sleep in our own bed and I don’t have to worry.” Her eyes filled with tears.

“Aw, baby,” I said, instantly feeling like shit. “Come here.”

She came to me and wrapped her arms loosely around my waist, careful not to press up against my surgery scars that were already mostly healed. Shit still hurt, and I wasn’t going to be one hundred percent for a while, but the hardest parts were behind us, thank Christ.

“I’ll come hang out while you make dinner,” I said into her hair, enjoying the feel of her against me. It had been too damn long since I’d held her.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’ll sleep naked tonight.”

I grinned. “You’re so good to me.”

“Say that again tonight when you’re hard as a rock and I won’t ride you.”

I let her lead me into the kitchen again and sat down at the table, propping my leg up on a chair.

“We should have a fire in the pit tonight,” I said as she pulled things out of the fridge.

“Getting pretty antsy to be outside, huh?” she asked sympathetically.

“Swear to God, hospitals have recycled air, like airplanes,” I grumbled, making her laugh.

“I don’t think so.”

“Entire place stinks,” I said with a sigh. “It’s good to be home.”

As we ate dinner, we discussed the logistics of our new normal. Kara was staying the night with my parents so they could take her to school the next day, but after that, we’d all be in the same place again. I couldn’t fucking wait. It was nice to spend the first night home just me and Rose, though. We needed the time. I was fucking starving for her—not just her body, though that craving was insane—but for her smiles and her looks across the table and the way she moved around the kitchen.

I followed her outside after the dishes were cleared away, and sat on a lawn chair while she lit the fire. Damn, I’d be glad when I was healed up and she didn’t have to wait on me. As I watched her, I couldn’t help but smile. I knew Rose couldn’t wait for me to be back to normal, either, but she seriously got off on helping me. Farrah had been right—Rose loved taking care of the people around her. It was her thing.

“Sit with me,” I said as she finished.

“I can’t,” she said, looking at me in indecision. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t hurt me,” I assured her, patting my leg. “One of my legs is still good.”

“Both of your legs are good,” she said as she sat down gingerly on my left thigh.

“Be a while ’til I can ride again,” I said, staring at the flames. God, she smelled good.

“But you will,” she said sweetly, leaning her head on my shoulder. “Just give it some time.”

“Should probably see about gettin’ my nuts reconnected,” I replied, making her snort incredulously.

“Get your nuts reconnected?” she asked, leaning up to look at me.

“You know, get the vasectomy reversed.”

“I knew what you meant,” she said with a huff. “Nuts reconnected.” She snorted again.

“Just sayin’, the time would be now, while I’m not ridin’, anyway.”

“Is that what you want to do?” she asked tentatively.

“You want more kids, yeah?”

“Yes.” The word was so soft I could barely hear it.

“Then I better take care of it.”

Rose was silent for a long time.

“It might not even work,” she said quietly.

“Then we’ll figure something else out,” I said, rubbing my hand up and down her back. “Plenty of kids needin’ homes out there.”

“Maybe we could do both,” she said hopefully.

“Well, now you’re just pushin’ it,” I joked.

Rose leaned up again, a small smile playing on her lips. “What made you change your mind?”

“Guess it was probably the same thing that made you change yours,” I replied honestly. “Don’t wanna be without you.”

She opened her mouth to speak and I covered it.

“Don’t wanna be the one that takes your dreams away, either, baby.” I let my hand drop. “You’re not goin’ anywhere and neither am I. I’m so tangled up in you, can’t even tell where I stop and you start anymore. So if you wanna have some more kids, I’m down. I love bein’ a dad, it’s no hardship.”

“I love you so much,” she said, her voice quivering. “I had no idea I could love someone this much.”

“Love you, too, Rosie,” I murmured as she leaned in to kiss me. I ignored the twinge in my chest as her shoulder pressed against it.