Chapter Fourteen

 

 

Kim stood in the doorway watching her son sleep. He wasn’t twisting or turning. He’d pretty much dropped right off after she’d kissed his forehead and turned the lights out.

But then he’d had a big day. He’d been brimming with excitement when she’d picked him up at the kids’ club. He’d introduced her to a bunch of kids that he’d called his new friends, and she’d talked to Kenzie Taggart, who’d told her all about Roman’s day and explained that he’d really liked peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and how could he be six and not know what they are?

Dinner had been more of Roman talking about his new friends and the teachers and how some of the kids were going to a camp soon, and didn’t that sound like fun? Beck had listened intently and then asked about how her reunion with Ariel and River had gone. He’d been patient and attentive. After dinner he’d explained that he and Rob and Jax had made plans for the three ladies to have a spa and lunch day at a swanky hotel where they could spend their entire Sunday catching up and the men would handle all the childcare. The only reason they weren’t going on Saturday was Big Tag’s party, which he’d asked her to attend with him.

It was incredibly thoughtful and yet she could sense something simmering inside him, something dark and needy.

She turned, ready to go to the bedroom he’d assigned her to. It was comfortable, larger than her room in Malta, and it felt incredibly empty.

She wasn’t sure how long she would be able to hold out. How long would it be before she was the one knocking on his door looking for comfort?

She stopped because he was standing at the end of the hall. He’d changed out of the khaki slacks and button-down he’d worn to work. It was obvious he’d taken a shower because his hair was still wet, and all he was wearing was a pair of pajama bottoms.

One of the things she’d always found so fascinating about this man was how he morphed from blandly attractive office guy into the kind of alpha male that would make any woman’s heart skip a beat. It was like the khakis and loafers were some sort of armor he wore, and every layer he peeled back exposed the hard masculinity underneath.

“Is he asleep?”

She wasn’t sure if she wanted to answer that question. If she did, then she owed him time, time that would lead to his bed. Time that would lead to his hands on her and his mouth on her. His body against hers.

God, she wanted him. “Yes. Did you hear anything back from Tag?”

“He’s got a call in to his friend at the DPD.” Those pajama bottoms rode low, exposing his six pack and the notches at his hips. “Hopefully we’ll know something tomorrow. Also I talked to Rob and Jax. We’ll all be together on Saturday at the party. But we’re sending a bodyguard with y’all on Sunday.”

She nodded. She wasn’t going to fight him on protection, despite the fact that she and Ari could take care of themselves and River. At least Ari probably could. She needed to start training again. “All right. Thank you for the spa day. And for bringing Ari and River here. I loved seeing them again. I loved meeting their kids. Roman seemed to get along with Caden and Rio. They’re darling. And Dara is adorable.”

She’d sat and held Ariel’s baby while she slept, and it had reminded her so much of how she’d felt holding Roman.

She wanted another baby. She shouldn’t. She was too old, right? Her life wasn’t exactly settled.

“She is. Luckily she takes after her mom,” he said wistfully. His gaze hardened. “Are you going to the club with me tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Then there’s no reason to stay away from me tonight. Come to my bedroom.”

She hesitated.

He stared for a moment and then took a step back. “All right. I’ll see you in the morning.”

This was what had been bubbling under his surface. He’d had a day and he needed sex. He needed the control that came with his kind of sex. He needed her to submit to him and let him know she trusted him.

She might have been able to turn him away if he’d simply needed it from any woman, but he needed her. Only her. He’d been faithful even when he’d had no idea where she was or what she was doing.

They had a horrible past, but through it all this desperate need had always been between them.

Because she needed him, too.

At least now she knew how long she could hold out.

She crossed the distance between them and let her hands find his chest, glorying in the warmth of his skin. “I don’t want to be alone tonight either. I’m sorry. I’m nervous. It’s been a long time for me.”

His fingers sank into her hair. “Exactly the same time for me. Except you had a nice man who touched you and caressed you and brought you to orgasm a couple of days ago.”

He was staring at her like she was the most beautiful thing in the world, and she started to relax. It would be good. Sex between them had always been good, and she needed the release. She could hold herself apart. She could get what she needed and not give too much up.

“It wasn’t enough.” Those few moments in Sicily hadn’t even been close to enough. “It was good, but I wanted more.”

His fingers tightened, pulling lightly at her scalp. “I can give you more. Do you remember the rules?”

She liked the rules. The rules reminded her that they were different now. They weren’t the same dumb kids who’d fallen into bed and never wanted to get out. “Yes. I obey you for as long as I like, and I can stop you at any moment.”

It was true. She was in control, but what the exchange did was give Beck permission to put everything on the table. He didn’t have to hesitate to ask for what he wanted because they’d agreed to talk about all of it.

The kids they’d been certainly hadn’t done that.

“Yes, but let’s emphasize the ‘you obey me’ part and just know the rest of it is there if you need it.” He stopped short of putting his mouth on hers. “You might need it. I feel restless today.”

She felt certain it wasn’t only today. “I’ll let you know if it’s too much. But seriously, Beck, I hadn’t even kissed anyone until I kissed you a couple of days ago. I don’t know...I’ve had a baby since you saw me last. I’ve changed.”

Her body had scars she didn’t have before, and he was still the gorgeous man she’d dreamed of at night.

She was older, a little heavier.

He tugged on her hair. “You’re still the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever known. You still make me crazy just thinking about getting my hands on you. I want you to walk into that room and take your clothes off for me because I’m going to think you’re sexy as hell. I want to look at you. I want to study you and memorize you all over again. I want to touch and kiss and lick every inch of you, and when I’m done I want to fuck you until I forget we were ever apart.”

It would be dangerous to forget, but she wanted everything else he’d promised. She especially wanted to feel sexy again. Her skin was already starting to heat, to tingle wherever he touched her. “Yes.”

“And then tomorrow night we’re going to drop Roman off with my friend Kai and his wife, and we’re going to a club where we’ll check everything at the door. All that will matter for four hours is that we are Dom and sub. We’ll spend the whole time indulging in everything we can’t all week long.”

Sex. Intimacy. Each other.

It scared the hell out of her, but she couldn’t tell him no. She’d agreed to this deal. It wasn’t fair to back out.

She might be out of practice when it came to the spy stuff, but damn, she was up to date on self-deception.

He finally brought his lips to hers and brushed them in the sweetest kiss. It was over altogether too soon, and he stepped back, releasing her. “Go to my bedroom and take off your clothes.”

It would be so much easier if he ripped her clothes off. She wasn’t even fond of the blouse she was wearing.

He turned and walked down the hall, the opposite direction of his bedroom. She glanced back and he stopped at Roman’s bedroom, looking in on their son the same way she had.

It made her heart feel too tight. She forced herself to walk away, to move down the hall and into Beck’s bedroom with its king-sized bed and carpet her feet sank into. She’d only been in this room once when he’d given her the tour of the house. It was a comfortable room, but there was very little of Beck in it. There was a small dish on the dresser where he could put his wallet and a charger for his cell. Other than that, it was utilitarian, and that was a shame because there was so much room.

It needed a comfy chair for reading and something other than the one sad lamp on a plain nightstand.

She glanced in the mirror and caught sight of herself. She wasn’t bad. Her cheeks had taken on a rosy glow and her hair was mussed. She looked like a woman who’d recently been kissed.

She didn’t look like a woman who’d uprooted her whole life and her son’s and who might still be in danger.

“I want you to take a deep breath,” Beck said from the doorway. “I want you to acknowledge a couple of things for me starting with the fact that our son is all right.”

She turned back to him. “I know. I’m sorry. I was looking around and I didn’t follow orders.”

His eyes narrowed. “I understand. I can completely forgive you not being naked. Now I want you to obey me and take me seriously. I want you to close your eyes and take a deep breath.”

This was stupid, but she got the feeling if she told him so, she might be in actual trouble. She let her eyes close and forced her shoulders down from around her ears. She filled her lungs and held the breath there for a moment before letting it out.

“And another.” He sounded like he was closer to the big bathroom now.

She forced another breath, though she felt herself relax slightly.

“This time I want you to know that our son is sleeping and he’s happy and he’s eager for tomorrow. He’s not afraid. He’s not in pain. He’s a resilient kid and he knows he’s loved.”

He was not going to make her cry. She took a deep breath. “Okay. Roman’s okay.”

“This time I want you to know that Ezra is safe. He’s got two bodyguards staying the night with him, and Sanctum has a lot of security. He’s okay.”

She knew how much it took for him to add his brother in what was essentially nighttime prayers. “Ezra’s okay.”

This time the breath felt cleansing.

“And you’re okay. Whatever happens between us, you are okay, and I will ensure your safety and comfort. I’ll take care of you.”

She opened her eyes and looked at him. He was standing there, his gaze on her. “I’m okay. You’re okay, too, Beck.” How did he do this to her? Two minutes before she wasn’t going to acknowledge anything but the sex. “I’ll make sure that you’re okay.”

The sexiest smile crossed his face. “How are you going to do that, baby?”

She could think of exactly how she wanted to do that. He was good. Far better than he used to be. He’d settled her fears so she could focus on herself for once. On them. On him.

It would be so good to focus on him.

But first she was going to prove that she could obey when she wanted to. She started to slowly unbutton her blouse. “I seem to remember you asked me to touch you. I could start there.”

He’d put something on the nightstand while her eyes had been closed. It was a tray, and she couldn’t see what was on it. “That would be an excellent place to start. Where will you go from there?”

She set the blouse on the dresser and went to work on her slacks. “I’ll take you in my hand and I’ll stroke that big cock of yours until it’s hard and thick and long. I’ll think about what it’s going to feel like to have you inside me.”

His eyes closed briefly, and a low groan came from his mouth. “You don’t need to touch me to get me hard. I’m hard as hell right now, baby.”

She could tell. His flannel pajama bottoms had tented admirably, and she hadn’t lied at all. She truly was thinking about what it would feel like to have that big cock penetrating her. Her nipples had peaked, and it had nothing to do with the air conditioner. She folded her slacks and reached behind to undo the hooks of her bra, deeply grateful that Charlotte Taggart apparently didn’t believe in plain cotton undies. There had been a week’s worth of outfits hanging in the closet, and several bags of underwear, bras, socks, and pajamas, all in her size.

The undies were a pearly color with lace adorning the sides, and suddenly she felt sexier than she had in forever.

“After I finish stroking you, I’m going to get on my knees and I’m going to lick your cock, Beck. It’s been so long. I want to taste you again.”

He grimaced. “Baby, it’s been so long that if you keep spitting those dirty words out of that sweet mouth of yours, I’m going to show you how good my imagination is. I’m close right now. I’m close because we’re in the same room and I can see your beautiful body. There were nights I sat up and wondered if I would ever see you again.”

She shook her head. She couldn’t do this part. “Please. Can we stay in the moment?”

“We can for now, but my whole past is wrapped up in loving you. I want a future, too, but I took that from us and I have to earn it back. So we’ll stay in the present for now. Take those panties off. I want to see every inch of you, and I want everything you promised me.”

She could give it to him. This was exactly what she needed—to sink into what they could give each other in the moment. In this room there was no future to worry about and no past to drag them down. They were Kim and Beck—a sub and her Dom.

She hooked her thumbs under the waistband of her lacy panties and shoved them off. Then she took every bit of knowledge she’d gleaned from romance novels years before and sank to her knees, spreading her legs wide. It was a vulnerable position, but it did something for her. It made her feel incredibly sexy to open herself physically to him.

He moved in front of her and his hand came down to tip her chin up. “I dreamed about this every single night.”

“Beck,” she started.

He shook his head. “Sorry. That was the last of it. You are gorgeous and I’m going to be so proud to show you off tomorrow. Are you going to have a problem walking around the club showing off how gorgeous you are?”

“I would have said yes, but I feel pretty good right now.”

“I intend to make you feel fabulous.” His hands went to his hips. “I think you should undress your Dom.”

There was nothing she wanted more than to see him in all his glory. She felt a deep sense of power as she reached up and began to slowly drag the pajama bottoms down. He wasn’t wearing boxers so his cock sprung free quickly, and she was reminded how thick it was, how it barely fit in her hand, and how it would make her jaw ache the tiniest bit when she deep throated him. She helped him out of the pajamas and settled back. “You’re still gorgeous, Beck.”

“Touch me. God, I’m going to die if you don’t touch me,” he said, his voice deep.

She sighed and reached for his cock. He smelled like soap and that delicious musky scent that let her know he hadn’t lied. He really was ready to go off, and she hadn’t touched him yet. It wouldn’t matter. They had these hours to do whatever they liked, and she intended to spend them with her hands on him. He’d said he wanted to relearn her? She would do the same. She would caress every inch of his skin, kiss every scar, make memories for when they were apart again.

His cock was still lovely and the moment she touched him, a thousand memories shot through her of all the nights they’d lain together. She’d missed this so much, and yet she hadn’t been able to bring herself to have this level of intimacy with anyone else. He was the only one for her.

“You’re going to kill me, aren’t you? You know I won’t rush you so you’re going to make me ache for it.” He said it with a smile on his face.

But hadn’t they both ached enough? She took him in one hand and gave him a long, slow stroke. Breath rattled out of his body, and she watched a shudder run through him. Pleasure? Or relief? He looked like a man whose longing had finally been realized. Like he knew he would finally get what he needed.

Her.

His hand found the top of her head, and slowly he tangled his fingers in her hair, getting a gentle grip. “You know I can come and still take care of you a few minutes later. I promise.”

She knew. He would take care of her one way or another, and there was nothing she wanted more than for Beck to use his hands and mouth to throw her over the edge before he sank his cock inside. “You should tell me what you want me to do in great detail. Like I said, it’s been a while for me, and I might not remember clearly.”

It was a lie, but a playful one. She remembered every moment with him, knew exactly how he liked to have his cock sucked, but she wanted to hear him.

His eyes were narrowed as he tugged on her hair, urging her forward. “I want you to put that gorgeous mouth of yours on my cock. I want you to use your tongue to make me crazy. I want you to cup my balls and suck my dick until I can’t see straight, until the only thing in the world that matters is how soft and hot your mouth is around me.”

She leaned forward and licked at his cock, thrilling in the way it jumped at her touch. She sucked him lightly behind her lips, giving the head of his cock a brief twirl of her tongue before releasing him again.

“Oh, that’s good. That’s so freaking good,” Beck breathed.

She gripped the base of his cock and leaned forward again, giving him exactly what he wanted. She licked every inch of his cock, paying particular attention to the super sensitive underside of the cockhead. There she flattened her tongue and caressed that bit of skin while sucking gently.

“I knew you were going to kill me.” Every word out of his mouth was accompanied with a panting breath.

She settled in to the job at hand, sucking and stroking and reveling in the power she had over him. She might be in the submissive position, but she had the power right now. It would be an exchange because she got the idea once he’d come in her mouth, once she’d swallowed him down and he could breathe again, he would take the power right back and she would be the one shaking and begging.

“That’s it. Just a little more,” he said as his hips started to pump.

She sucked him deeper with each pass of her mouth, rolling her tongue around him as best she could. When she gave him the barest hint of her teeth, he hissed, and she felt his balls draw up tight against him as he began to fill her mouth.

She drank him down, her heart thrumming in her chest and every inch of her skin feeling alive as he softened in her mouth.

She sat back, licking her lips as she looked up at him.

It wasn’t more than a second before he was lifting her up and lightly tossing her on the bed.

“I make this mistake with you every single time. I know we need to work through things, but I can’t stop myself.” He gripped her ankles and tugged her down until she was in the perfect position for him to drop to his knees and get his face right in her pussy.

She was about to point out that they were living in the moment, but the first swipe of his tongue took her breath away. He didn’t play around. He started eating her pussy like the starving man he was.

His tongue plunged deep as he parted the petals of her pussy and his thumb found her clit.

She clutched the soft comforter and bit back a cry, spreading herself open so he didn’t miss an inch of her pussy. She didn’t think about the fact that she was wetter than she’d been in forever, that she could smell her own arousal. All that mattered was Beck groaning against her sensitive flesh and the long luxurious licks of his tongue.

Her eyes closed as pure sensation took over, rushing across her skin and making the blood thrum through her as she moved closer and closer to orgasm.

He pressed down and pleasure washed over her, sweeping away all her cares and worries. They were gone in a wave of heat and satisfaction, the thrill heightening her senses.

Beck rose to his feet, staring down at her. “Now I think we can really get started.”

She caught the gleam in his eyes and knew he was far from done for the night.

 

* * * *

 

Beck stared down at the woman who’d always been the center of his universe, and a feeling far more satisfying than any orgasm flowed through him.

He had another shot with her. She was here. She wasn’t running. Oh, he knew he would have to deal with some bullshit about how much better they would be apart in a couple of months if he didn’t prove to her how they’d changed, but he had no intention of failing at that.

He reached to the small tray he’d place on the edge of the bed before she’d gotten naked. While he’d been leading her through a personal inventory, he’d brought this little kit out and set it where he could reach it easily.

What he hadn’t told her was he’d gone through the same exercise while he’d taken a shower. He’d closed his eyes and told himself that Kim was safe, that Roman was safe.

That his brother was safe.

The day had been rough. He knew the cop could have been honest in his reasoning for pulling them over, but he doubted it. He didn’t believe in coincidence anymore. He had to think that Levi now knew Ezra was alive. And then there was that mysterious note Kim hadn’t mentioned to him. She’d brought it to Tag. He’d had to let that go, too.

He had to earn her trust back.

But she was here, and he left behind the worry of the day because he’d promised her they would spend this time in the now.

And the now included making her scream for him again.

“I want you to kneel on the bed for me.”

Her eyes came open. “What? Beck, come on. I’m good. You can go for it.”

How quickly she forgot. It was time to show her that he meant business. He gripped her ankles and easily flipped her over so he had access to her gorgeous ass. She’d barely gotten out a minor shriek before his hand came down in a short arc. It wasn’t more than a light crack against her cheek, but it made her gasp.

“I said I want you to get on your knees for me.”

“I already did that,” she shot back like the brat she was.

He’d only ever dealt with perfectly submissive partners for the simple fact that he wasn’t going to touch one of them sexually. He was strictly a service top at Sanctum. He spanked subs and whipped them when they wanted. He always used a chair and St. Andrew’s Crosses. He rarely ever used his hand during a spanking.

Because it was all for her. All for this mouthy brat who’d held his heart in her hands more years than he cared to admit.

He slapped her ass again. “You remember your safe word?”

Her head turned slightly, and she wrinkled her nose his way. “You think I need a safe word for that baby tap, Beck? You forget who I am.”

He wasn’t the one who’d forgotten she was a Valkyrie glorious bitch goddess he worshipped with his whole heart. He gave her a harder smack, one that got her skin pink. “I know exactly who you are.” He spanked her again. “Do you know who I am? Because I can spank you all night.”

He gave her another three, each slightly harder than the last, and she was breathless when he finished, but she got up to her knees.

“Happier?” she asked, apparently unwilling to stop the saucy replies.

“Yes, because you’ve given me new ways to punish you.” He grabbed her from behind, dragging her back against his chest and getting his hands on those magnificent breasts of hers. He cupped them and let his fingers find her nipples. He gave her a hard tweak that made her wriggle against him. “See. I can pull and pinch all your sweet parts like this.”

Her head fell back against his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Beck.”

He should tell her to call him Sir, but he didn’t want that. He liked his name coming from her mouth. For so long he’d denied himself the name he’d grown up with. Hearing her say it with that breathy plea in her voice brought him right back to the moment when he knew they were meant to be together.

She’d believed it even when the world had fallen apart. She’d had faith.

It was time to repay her.

His cock was coming back to life rapidly. He rubbed himself against the seam of her ass, nestling himself lightly there. “I love you.”

She stiffened in his arms. “No. You told me we would stay in the moment.”

“I love you in the moment,” he whispered in her ear. “Right here. Right now. I love you.”

He didn’t mention that he’d loved her in the past. He would love her in the future. He would love her long after they’d passed from this earth and their son lived on.

“That’s not fair.”

He tweaked her nipples again. He’d never promised to play fair. “It’s true. As true as this is.” He flexed his pelvis and slid his cock along her backside. “Are you going to be good for me now or do we need to continue with the spanking?”

“I like the spanking, but I want you inside me.”

At least she could be honest with him in this space. He planned for a lot more honesty tomorrow night. Tonight he was going to give her what she wanted. As much pleasure as she could handle.

“I want you to come for me again.” Because he likely needed to sleep with her a couple of times before he would last as long as he wanted to. But he’d planned tonight’s session out carefully. He wasn’t getting them in trouble the way he had the last time. If she got pregnant, it would be because she wanted to.

Because she trusted him enough to share a pregnancy with him, to share their kid’s childhood.

He reached over and picked up the small wand he’d bought earlier in the day. It was sterilized and ready for her. He flicked the on button and a low, unmistakable hum started.

A breathy moan escaped from Kim and she rubbed back against him. “Seriously?”

He nipped at her earlobe. “Seriously. You’re going to come for me and then I’ll get my turn. But I want to hear you, want to feel you come.”

Her hands came back to cup his hips as though she knew she would need something to hold on to. His left arm was around her, just below her breasts. He had no intention of letting her fall.

He brought the vibrator against her pussy. “Tell me when I hit the right place.”

He didn’t need words. Her whole body started to move against the wand in his hand.

“That’s it. It feels so good,” she whispered. Her hips moved, bumping her ass against his cock and getting him harder than he’d been before she’d used that sweet mouth of hers to swallow him down.

He moved with her, cupping her breast and holding the wand against her so she could find the perfect spot to send her into bliss. It wasn’t long before she shuddered against him, and he felt every muscle in her body relax.

He eased her down on the bed and set the wand on the tray. There was the sweetest smile on her face. He remembered that dreamy expression. It meant he’d done his job well.

He reached for the second item he’d put on the tray. He watched her as he rolled the condom over his cock. Her blonde hair was spread across the comforter and she looked so fuckable it hurt. She’d been worried about the changes in her body, but she’d only gotten more gorgeous. He’d loved her body when it was in peak physical condition, when she’d been a weapon. He loved her body like this, too. Softer.

He accepted that he would love her no matter what. Her body was beautiful because it housed the soul that completed his own.

“Beck?” She was staring up at him, a bit of the dreaminess fleeing.

He was pushing her too hard, too fast, but he couldn’t help the way he felt. He needed to keep some of it to himself. “I was thinking of how beautiful you are.” He moved between her legs, spreading them wide. She needed this to be hot. She wasn’t ready for his emotion yet. He hooked her knees over his elbows, making her utterly vulnerable to him. “I was thinking about how much I want to fuck you.”

Her pussy was still wet from the orgasms he’d given her. She was slick and hot, and he couldn’t wait a second longer. He surged inside her and his eyes rolled from the pure pleasure of her tightening around him.

He thrust in and pulled out, letting himself off the leash for the first time that night. All day this was where he’d needed to be. He needed to end every night inside her and wake up with her in his arms.

He let her legs slide down and pressed his body to hers, kissing her in long passes as he fucked her hard. Her arms and legs wound around him, surrounding him with her silky heat.

It was more than pleasure that struck him as he came. It was the feeling of being home and safe. It infused him with a vibrant joy as he started to come down from the high of his orgasm. He let himself drop down on top of her, sighing at how good it felt to be close. He would have to get up in a moment, have to deal with the condom he didn’t want to wear, deal with the fact that they were only really together in these moments.

But for now he was going to revel in her.

She hugged him close. “We’re in the now, right? Just right this moment.”

He was going to spend the rest of his life trying to convince her they had a future. “Yes, baby.”

She was quiet for a moment. “I love you, too. Just for now.”

He kissed her again. He would take it.

Just for now.

 

 

Two hours later it was almost midnight and he watched as Kim slipped out of the bed and grabbed one of his T-shirts.

“You could stay, you know,” he said quietly. He’d made love to her twice more and they’d rolled around in the bed like they were young and just learning each other’s bodies. But when she’d started to get tired, the mood had changed.

She was back to being wary.

Their time—for tonight—was done. He watched as she gathered her clothes.

“I don’t want to confuse Roman.” She turned back to him. “This is how it has to be right now. I understand if you don’t want it.”

He managed to not roll his eyes. Instead, he got out of bed and walked to her. He stopped in front of her and cupped her cheeks. “I told you I’ll take what I can. Tomorrow I’ll get you in Sanctum and we’ll play for a couple of hours. Then we’ll get our son and come home and I’ll tuck you both in bed. I’m looking forward to it, and Roman is definitely looking forward to the party on Saturday.”

A smile crossed her face. “Yeah, a party will be fun. I’m eager to see what Big Tag thinks a family celebration looks like.” The smile faltered. “I should go to bed.”

She needed to run away but she wasn’t going far, so he leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Good night, Kim.”

She stepped back. “Good night.”

She practically ran out of the room and he realized he wasn’t going to be able to sleep. He took a quick shower, grabbed fresh pajama bottoms and his phone.

It wasn’t fair but he couldn’t sleep, and his brother was part of the reason.

He’d thought about Ezra all afternoon. Since they’d been pulled over it had run through his head a thousand times. He could lose his brother again.

He dialed the number and in seconds a groggy voice came on the line.

“What? Is something wrong?” Ezra asked.

“What was Roman like as a baby?”

Ezra had offered earlier in the day. Now Beck found he needed to listen.

If Ezra was upset it was after midnight, it didn’t show in the tone of his voice. “He had the fiercest cry. When he was hungry everyone knew it.”

Ezra started to weave his tales and Beck started to forgive his brother.