“It was a sign that you are meant to be her stepmother. Veronica is unstable if she thinks she can show up at Hope’s school and here at home, waiting for me to leave so she can get her moment to pounce. Fuck, no. Not okay. My number hasn’t changed. If she wants to talk to me and be reintroduced to Hope, she needs to do it the right way.”
I nodded my head but fiddled with my fingers. “Honey, I’m not her mother. As much as I love her, and baby, you have to know I do, I, too, want what’s best for her. I didn’t have a mother. I know what that’s like, and if Hope can have even a slim chance at a real relationship with her birth mom... I don’t want to get in the way of that.”
Kyson let out a long sigh and then came over to the bed and sat next to me. He took my hand and wrapped both of his around it, resting it on his thigh.
“I get what you’re saying. I would love for Hope to have the Veronica I knew and loved. The woman I married all those years ago. Unfortunately, history has not shown her to be stable. I need to know that she’s off the booze, pills and anything else she might be into. Veronica is not trustworthy. Until I’ve seen her and evaluated what’s going on in that head of hers, I don’t want her near Hope. You did the right thing making Hope go inside and keeping her safe.”
“And what about the things Hope said? About me being her new mommy?” My voice shook with emotion. I wanted so badly to be that person for Hope, but I didn’t know that it was my place. We were still relatively new. Anything could happen.
“Isa, I think Hope understands that you’re the woman in her dad’s life. You’ve brought her into your family, taking her to spend time with Jas and the girls. She hasn’t had that. None of my brothers have ever brought home a woman to spend time with the family. Neither have I, as you know. So Hope is picking up on what she’s getting with you in her life. Someone who dotes on her, teachers her things, takes her shopping and to get her nails done. Her life has only gotten better since you’ve been in it. And baby, all those things you’re doing with her is what all her friends’ moms are doing with them. It’s a natural progression and one I’m not at all against.”
“But it’s too soon.”
He shook his head. “Isabeau, it’s not. Don’t you feel it?” The question came in his low, serious rumble that made me shiver and tremble. The same one he used when he was lost to his pleasure in bed with me.
“Feel what?”
He smiled softly and squeezed my hand. “Don’t you feel what we’re building here, baby?”
I bit down on my bottom lip. “I’m afraid to hope. It’s so soon.”
“No, it’s just that it’s right. We’re building a life together, honey, and it’s beautiful. Fuckin’ amazing. Everything I wanted to have my entire life. A woman that was made just for me. A family. My business. My daughter happy with aunts and uncles everywhere, showing her love. Time with my brothers and parents all together. I have that with you. And Isa, it’s only going to get better.”
I swallowed down the fear and anxiety prodding at me. “How can you be so sure?”
He let go of my hand and lifted his to curl around my nape. He shifted his face so we were almost nose to nose. “Because I’ve never loved a woman the way I love you. It’s as though you’re rooted deep into my life. I never want to lose you. I’m in love with you, Isabeau, and I know you love me. It’s in your eyes every time you look at me. Every time you smile at my daughter. Your love shines so clearly anyone can see it.”
Tears hit the backs of my eyes and one fell down my cheek. He swiped it with his thumb. “I do love you, Kyson. So much. And I love Hope with my entire heart. All I want is for us to be a happy little family. And I want a future with you so badly, it hurts. But I’m scared.”
He pressed his forehead to mine. “What are you scared of?” he whispered. “Tell me your fears, baby, and I’ll fight every last one of them until you feel secure in our love, in where we’re headed together.”
Kyson waited, nose to nose, while I breathed deeply and got myself together enough to speak. “I’m scared you and Hope weren’t meant to be mine.”
He cupped my neck with both his hands and looked deep into my eyes. “Then it looks like I’m going to have to convince you.” He grinned and then took my mouth in a soul-merging kiss.
Kyson took his time convincing me I was his. By the end of the night, when I was curled around his warm body, my cheek pressed to his bare chest, his fingers running through my hair, I fell asleep, content knowing I was exactly where I was meant to be.
Nineteen
Warm hands skimmed over my stomach and up my rib cage, pushing my sleep tank up and over my breasts. Kyson’s hands covered both my breasts as his thumbs teased the tips.
I woke slowly, blinking my eyes open just as his mouth covered a nipple and sucked. I lifted my legs, pressing the soles of my feet to the bed, and hugged the sides of his waist with my thighs, cradling him over me.
He grumbled around my erect tip. “Good morning, baby.” He flicked the peak with his tongue and sucked hard enough to warrant a low moan from me.
I hummed and tangled my fingers into his silky hair, glorying at the pleasure, arching into his mouth as he devoured first one breast and then the other.
My sex throbbed and heat seared through my veins. I lifted my head and ran my tongue along the length of his neck, appreciating the salty, warm, rich taste of him first thing in the morning.
One of his hands left my chest and ran down my body so he could cup my bum. He ground his naked length against my core until I sighed a needy, “Please.”
He grinned against my breast and ran his mouth down to my sternum and lower.
“Want you, Ky,” I breathed, squeezing my thighs against his waist and yanking my top the rest of the way off, tossing it aside.
“Mmm,” he hummed as he inhaled against my panties, rubbing his nose up and down the heart of me. “Want to eat you first.” He curled his fingers into the side of my panties and tugged them down my legs.
“You, too.” The words turned into a moan when he covered my center with his mouth and twisted his tongue inside. “Turn around for me.” I sighed as he sucked on that bundle of nerves that made me arch into him. He was so skilled I had to try hard not to come too quickly. The man was a master at going down on me, but I was hungry, too, and dizzy with lust. I wanted nothing more than to please him the same way he was pleasing me.
“W-want you in my mouth,” I stuttered as he sucked hard at my clit, sending ribbons of fire to lick at my insides and swirl low in my belly, readying for one helluva release.
He groaned, got up on his knees and straddled my form backward. His feet faced the headboard, and his head hovered over my sex. He centered his long, thick cock right over my face. I could still smell the woodsy hint of soap from the shower we took after he made love to me last night.