“It’s a very good morning, Ms. Carlson.” His voice was rumbly with sleep.
His mouth took hers and she kissed him back, all the while stroking his cock. It hardened under her touch.
Mmm-mmm.
Easton muttered a curse. His hand pulled her closer, then it shifted and slid inside the loose leg of her shorts.
Harlow gasped.
He touched her clit, toying with it before sliding a finger deep inside her.
She moaned, and stroked his cock faster. They tormented each other, Harlow riding his hand while he thrust his hard cock into her fist.
She was coming apart at the seams, a big orgasm brewing. She needed him inside her. Connected to her.
She sat up and pushed him flat on his back. She straddled him and quickly shoved her pajama shorts off. He shoved his boxers down and she positioned his cock then sank down.
“Harlow.” His deep voice was strangled.
She leaned forward, planting her hands on his chest. She moaned. “I love you inside me.”
“So damn tight and sweet.” He cupped her ass. “Move.”
She did. She rode him hard and fast. She really wanted to watch him come.
His hand went between her thighs, and found her clit again. Their gazes locked.
“Love you, Harlow.”
She broke. With a cry, her body was engulfed with pleasure.
A second later, Easton arched, his head pushing back into the pillow. “Fuck.”
His hips jerked up and she felt him coming inside her.
Harlow collapsed on his chest. She knew her tangled hair was everywhere, but she didn’t have enough energy to move.
Easton wrapped his arms around her and she focused on getting her breathing under control.
“A very nice way to wake up,” he murmured.
She smiled against his pec.
“You going to move?”
“Maybe.” She didn’t want to.
“You going to fall asleep again?” His voice was laced with amusement.
“Maybe.”
He slapped her butt. “You have to get up, baby. We need to shower and get to the hospital.”
She raised her head. “And you need to get to the office.”
He shook his head, a lock of his dark hair falling across his forehead. “I’m not going to work. I emailed Gina last night. I’m taking the day off.”
Harlow gasped. As far as she knew, Easton had never taken a day off. “How many days off have you taken, last-minute?”
He cocked his head. “Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
“None.”
She fisted her hands in the black silk of his hair and kissed him.
“As much as I want to roll you under me and stay in bed all day,” he said, “we need to get to the hospital.”
She nodded.
When they entered the hospital, Harlow’s stomach twisted with nerves. What if something bad had happened? What if her father had taken a turn for the worst?
Easton pressed a hand to her lower back. “They would’ve called if there was a problem.”
“Get out of my head,” she said.
They rode the elevator to her father’s ward. The smell of the hospital seeped into her senses, setting her on edge.
Yesterday, she’d been too worried and panicked to think about being in the hospital. Now that she was here, she felt eight years old again, her mother bleeding, screaming.
“Hey.” Easton turned her to face him.
“Hospitals.” She licked her lips. “I hate them.”
He kissed her. Deep, with lots of tongue, until she was clinging to him and her panties were damp.
“Okay, now?” He had a faint smile on his face.
“Hmm, you’re a good, if cocky distraction. I might need distracting again later.”
He threaded their hands together. “Deal.”
After a quick stop at the nurses’ station, they reached her father’s room. Rome was leaning against the wall outside, cradling a takeout coffee cup.
“Hey, Rome,” Easton said.
The big man nodded. “Harlow, your mom’s inside.”
Harlow smiled. “Thanks for watching out for her.” She reached the doorway and saw her mother in a chair beside the bed. Her father was propped up. He was pale, but awake.
“Mom? Dad?”
Charles Carlson’s head whipped up. “Princess.” He shook his head slowly. “I’m so sorry. It’s not enough, I know—”
Harlow hurried to him, and kissed his cheek and grabbed his hand. “I was so worried about you.”
“I brought this down on all of us. You bore the worst of it.”
“I haven’t been alone. I’ve had help.”
Her father nodded and met Easton’s gaze. “I’m grateful, Norcross.”
“Dad, Easton’s brother Vander found the dagger. He returned it to Rhoda Pierce.”
Her father shuddered. “Thank God.”
The door opened and Scarlett stormed in.
“Scarlett,” her dad said.
“Dad, I am so angry at you—” Scarlett sucked back tears. “And I’m damn glad you’re okay.” She rushed to the bed and gently hugged him.
“Dad, we need to talk about Antoine,” Harlow said.
Her father pulled in a shuddering breath. “When I get out of here, I’ll take care of everything.”
Harlow’s stomach turned over. She’d heard this story before.
“No.” She shook her head. “Dad, you’ve tried to fix this. You got shot, you got me shot—”
“You got shot?” her mother cried.
Her father’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“Nicked. I’m fine.” She looked hard at her dad. “If I’ve learned anything during all of this—” she glanced at Easton “—it’s that you can’t always do everything alone. Sometimes you need help.”
Her sister straightened. “We’re all going to help sort this out. I’m going to take out some student loans. I can pay for my own college degree.”
Their father’s mouth dropped open. “Sweetie—”
“No, Dad.” Scarlett held up a hand. “I’m doing it.”
Then their mom stepped forward. “I can cut back. No more spa retreats.”
“Ella—”
“No, Charles.” Her mother lifted her hand. “And I’m canceling our cruise.”
Her father’s chin dropped.
“And…we’re selling the house,” their mom declared.
Harlow gasped and her dad’s head shot up.
“No,” he breathed.
“Rock on, Mom.” Scarlett grinned.
“It’s our family home—” their dad started.
“The girls are grown. It’s just you and me rattling around in that big place. It’s time to downsize.”
Harlow had never seen her mother so take-charge.
Her father swallowed. “It will go long way to pay the debt…but not all of it.”
Harlow’s stomach dropped. “How much, Dad?”
Her father swallowed.
“Charles,” her mom snapped.
“Three and a half million.”
Oh. God. Harlow couldn’t breathe.
Her mom dropped into the chair.