AKA Lexi Frost (Lexi Frost Series) (28 page)

“
It’s unlikely you’ll meet my kids anytime soon. You’re still young and right now it’s more important to protect you from them than introduce you.”

“
So you’re not good with kids,” Dev said. “Does Mom really want to trust you with raising us then?”

“
Probably not. She doesn’t need me to either. I can see her having me remind you of rules already in place, but I can’t see making new ones unless it’s serious. She’s got things pretty well in hand.”

Dev looked at him
, dumbfounded. “Have you been paying attention? This house is chaotic.”

“
You’re right, although not as much as it seems on the surface. No house with six teenagers is going to run smoothly. Your mother is smart enough to accept that and let things flow with just a little guidance when needed. I would have tried to make things orderly and caused absolute turmoil and genuine chaos in the process. Your mom’s much smarter than you give her credit for.”

“
Yeah, if you say so. Don’t step on Cat, she’s behind you.” Dev brushed past Paul and retreated to the basement.

Paul looked to see Cat sitting quietly on the step below him. He sat and slowly reached out a hand for the gray tabby to sniff. He stopped
, holding his fingers just a couple of inches away to allow her to come to him.

Cat looked up at him then stretched forward to sniff his fingers. She brushed her whiskers against him. Remaining still
, Paul allowed himself a smile. Cat started to brush her whiskers past his fingers again, then stopped, bit him, and disappeared before Paul fully stood in surprise. He retreated back up the stairs, examining the bleeding puncture holes and swearing quietly.

Teri was already in the shower and Paul slid in behind her while she washed her hair. The sweet berry smell of her shampoo reminded him he needed to restock his own toiletries. Unlike Teri, Paul didn’t care for his hair smelling like food. He let his eyes roam over her bare skin as he considered that edible worked for her.

“
So you survived,” Teri smiled as she turned to rinse the lather from her hair. Standing under the shower, the suds raced down along her body, accentuating her curves.

“
The house is on my side, he’ll come around. Finding out the way he did was a shock, and worthy of my parenting history over yours. I hope I’m not becoming a bad influence on you.”

“
Oh, stop. You knock your fatherly abilities, but to be honest, I just can’t see it. You were in a rough situation with your kids.”

“
That’s kind of you to say so.” Paul moved closer now that she was soap-free. “You usually wash your hair last.”

“
Yes.”

“
I missed it then? I love washing you.” Paul pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He let his lips linger on hers before moving on to her cheek, then her jaw just in front of her ear. He intended to change her mind.

“
I was fast. Too fast probably,” Teri grinned up at him as Paul looked at her in mock horror. “I might have missed a spot.”

Paul nodded and reached for her pouf and shower gel.
“Then let me take care of that for you.”

Teri pressed her body against his
, and she giggled as she let her breasts brush teasingly against his chest. Paul added strawberry shower gel to her pouf and lathered his chest.

“
I thought you were washing
me
,” Teri protested. “I also thought you didn’t care for smelling like a dessert.”

Paul pulled her close
, transferring the soapy bubbles from his chest to hers. “I’m experimenting. And I’m hoping the scent dissipates before I leave the shower. I don’t need the boys sniffing me and making comments.”

“
Always self-sacrificing. That’s very kind.”

“
Hmmm.” Paul kissed her again, letting his soapy hands run down her back and grab her buttocks. He slowly moved her against the wall and farther away from the stream of water so it flowed over their bodies instead of their faces.

Pulling back slightly so he could see her face
, Paul marveled at how loving and peaceful Teri was. He would be worthy of her, he vowed. He’d take care of her and this family. He’d do whatever it took to protect them from his past, and give them the brightest future he could. And, right now, he wanted to see that peaceful expression turn to something else.

He was hesitant to pin her to the wall in her bathtub enclosure the same way he would to a regular wall. Even with textured seashells on the tub floor
, it was too slippery to risk. Instead of lifting both of Teri’s legs, Paul lifted just one, holding it around his thigh. The change provided enough room to maneuver, and she wasn’t in danger of falling.

Leaning into her again
, Paul began his run of small kisses along her neck as he positioned himself at her opening. Teri wrapped her arms tighter around him in encouragement, and he slid inside of her. She was so warm and smooth it almost took his breath away. Paul paused for a moment in appreciation before plunging into her again.

Teri moaned softly and Paul repeated the action. He lifted her leg higher
, changing her position and giving him a slightly better angle. It amused him to learn she was an expert at the aesthetics of the female body, but utterly clueless about the mechanics of how intercourse worked. It didn’t matter. Pleasuring her was his job, and he knew how all the intricate pieces fit and moved together.

A small change in Teri
’s breathing and shift in the way she held him told Paul she was progressing faster than he expected. He stopped distracting himself with other things to postpone his own reaction.

Rocking his hips in a familiar rhythm
, Paul repeatedly stimulated her. Teri moaned again and pushed her pelvis forward to meet him. Paul smiled and drove into her deeper, accepting the invitation. She tightened in response, and Paul thrust hard and deep inside her. He was rewarded immediately by Teri’s soft cry as her muscles contracted. The squeezing pressure on his cock was a welcome feeling as Paul allowed himself to succumb to the explosion building inside him. He pulled Teri’s hips to him as he plunged deep inside her one last time.

The eruption
, scalding and blinding in its intensity, drained him of energy. Paul locked his knees to brace himself and laid his head on her shoulder, softly kissing her neck, and held her while he steadied his breathing.

Eventually
, Paul became aware he was running on automatic: gently kissing Teri’s neck and shoulder, holding her waist to his, listening as her ragged breaths slowed to normal. From the sound of his heartbeat, it had only been a moment; he hadn’t missed much, and Paul was possibly holding Teri up as well as himself.

The water on his shoulder was cooler now
, they were draining the water heater and it’d be cold soon. Teri wasn’t going to appreciate that.

Keeping his curses to himself
, Paul summoned the willpower and energy to stand up. Teri still had soap on half of her, as did he. Adjusting the shower, he turned up the hot water, not that it made much difference, and aimed the spray to rinse the residual soap off them both.

Teri shivered.

“Sorry, we’re losing the hot water. It’ll be gone in a minute, I thought you’d like to be rinsed now while the water’s at least lukewarm,” Paul explained, turning her around and rinsing the soap off her back and the wall. He reached over and turned off the water, standing just in time to find Teri snuggling into his arms. Paul smiled, keeping one arm around her while he opened the sliding tub enclosure and grabbed an oversized towel hanging from the towel bar nearby. Unfolding it, he wrapped it around Teri and put his arms back around her, holding her tight.

“
Aren’t you cold?” Teri asked.

Paul shook his head.
“I’m fine. Let’s get you dried off and into clothes.”

“
It’s nice of you to take such good care of me,” Teri said.

“
I’m looking forward to spending a long time taking care of you,” Paul said, sweeping Teri into his arms.

Thank you for spending time with Teri, Paul, and the kids. The saga will continue as I have plans for some of these individuals.

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Flynn’s In

Flynn Peterson knew Lexi Frost was different from the first time they met. They were meant to be together, he felt it in his gut. He felt it just as deep when a man she already knew swept in and stole her from him before he even had a chance to get to know her.

But Flynn was never one to give up easily. Lexi was his future, Flynn knew it. She had a son in a band, Flynn was a rock star. She was a photographer, Flynn had a body women loved to . . . well, she could take pictures if she wanted. Lexi had a secret identity, Flynn couldn’t care less. Lexi Frost, Teri Giles, he just wanted
her.

A small deception and Flynn was suddenly spending most of his days at Teri’s house developing her son’s band. He’d get the boys on track, make them stars. He’d teach the girls how to cook. He’d woo the woman of his dreams. But Teri starts questioning his presence, and Flynn can’t lie to her forever. And even as he hopes she’ll understand, Flynn realizes the better man won her to begin with.

Be Careful What You Wish For

When seventy-year-old Viv goes on a cruise to start over after her divorce, she finally meets the perfect man. A genie, a wish, and a false assumption on Viv's part lands her unexpectedly back in 1986. She's twenty, in college, and the man of her dreams doesn't remember her any more.

Even with fifty years experience behind her, Viv starts making the same mistakes she made before. She also learns a genie's wishes come with insidious fine print.