Page 89 of Talk Wicked to Me

“What is he doing?” Chloe asked.

“Don’t ask me.” He said something to Conroy that Emerson couldn’t hear, and his father handed him Brennan. Baz looked over, flashed those dimples, and carried Brennan directly over to a young couple who was checking out one of the dogs.

“He did not just do that,” Chloe said sharply.

“Oh, yes, he did,” Emerson said with amusement, watching as Baz gave Brennan as much attention as he did the couple he was talking to. He proudly showed off her son, tickling his belly and earning gummy grins. “Those people don’t stand a chance.”

“Game on.” Chloe hurried over to Preacher and got Marybelle.

“This should be good,” Reese said. “Look at Baz. He’s such a natural with kids. He’s going to make a great dad one day.”

Emerson’s nerves prickled. She and Baz hadn’t talked about his slip of the tongue last week. He’d tried, but she’d brushed it off, not knowing what to say. Any way she looked at it made for an awkward and possibly painful conversation that she’d rather avoid. Life was moving fast, and while Baz did all the things a father would do for his child, he was going away soon, and she knew better than anyone that even the best of intentions could go awry. She never thought she’d lose her parents, have a baby, or move when she was almost ready to give birth. She and Gwen never thought they’d live in different states. But things happened, and lately she’d been wondering if sometimes things happened for a reason. Not losing her parents, of course, but if Gwen hadn’t moved, she wouldn’t have met Brennan’s biological father and had Brennan, and if his father hadn’t been mugged, she wouldn’t have moved and met Baz or had this incredible new life. What did that mean when Baz went away? That if their good intentions of staying together didn’t come to fruition, it would happen for a reason?

Even the thought of that made it hard for her to breathe, but those were the things that kept her from having that conversation with Baz.

She might have overcome her fear to let him and the others into her life, and she might feel safe in her home and in the community, but that hope they were working so hard to nurture was precarious. It was safer to live in the now and appreciate every beautiful moment as it came.

And that’s exactly what she did as she watched the man she adored loving up her son.

Chapter Twenty-Five

BAZ TOOK THE long way to the Salty Hog, soaking in the feel of Emerson wrapped around him as he staked his claim in the way that mattered most. He wasn’t just being a possessive dick. Driving around town with her on the back of his bike added another layer of protection to keep her safe. Nobody fucked with Dark Knights or their significant others, and everyone who was anyone in that town knew Baz not only to be the small-town veterinarian families trusted—a reputation he worked hard to earn and was proud of—but also as a hard-core biker who lived by the club creed and could be as charming as a prince, and as lethal as a cobra. He wasn’t a proponent of violence, but he’d burn down the world to protect the people he loved, and he wanted everyone to know Emerson and Brennan were his to protect.

By the time they parked at the Salty Hog, he felt ten feet tall. He cut the engine but was in no rush to climb off that bike. Emerson’s hands felt too good on his stomach, her soft curves pressed against his back, too sensual. And her thighs straddling his hips? There were no words for how good that felt. He covered her hands with one of his and ran his other hand down her leg, memorizing the feel of her behind him.

“Are we getting off?” she asked.

There was nothing he’d rather be doing than getting off with his girl.

That conjured the image of Emerson naked and straddling him on the bike. Fuck. He was getting hard at the thought. That was a fantasy they would definitely live out, but not here or now. He gave her leg a squeeze, then climbed off the bike and took off his helmet. Then he straddled the bike facing her and took her helmet off. She shook out her hair, sending her golden-brown waves bouncing around her beautiful face. She looked hot as sin in a forest-green gauzy sleeveless shirt that was tight on top, accentuating her breasts with a plunging neckline that showed just enough cleavage to make him salivate, while the rest was loose-fitting with a sexy ruffle along the hem. She’d paired it with jeans that showed off every curve and cute strappy sandals. She’d spent the last half hour before they’d left the house flaunting her hot little body, touching him every time she walked past, being extra flirtatious, when she knew he couldn’t do a damn thing about it because his parents and Brennan were right there.

“Well, hello, handsome.” She arched a brow. “Come here often?”

“Never, actually.” He ran his hands up her thighs and slid them over her hips to her ass, pulling her closer. “But I’d like to.”

She grabbed his thighs, arching forward. “Dr. Wicked, are you propositioning me to do dirty things on this motorcycle?”

Man, he loved getting his little vixen out of mommy mode. He skimmed one hand up the front of her body, brushing her breast, and threaded his fingers into her hair, holding tight the way he knew turned her on, tugging her mouth closer to his. “Absofuckinglutely.” He sealed his lips over hers, greedily kissing her the way he would if they were alone, lustful and demanding. She made the sexiest noise, and he deepened the kiss.

“Dude, let the woman up for air.”

Emerson startled, jerking back.

Fucking Blaine. Baz kept her close, glowering at his cousin, who, like him, wore his cut over a dark T-shirt and jeans.

“You’re one to talk,” Reese said, nudging Blaine.

“I’ve never heard you complain, buttercup.” Blaine pulled her into a fast, hard kiss.

Returning his attention to Emerson, Baz whispered, “To be continued,” for her ears only, and she giggled, luring him in for another kiss. He climbed off the bike, turned his back to Blaine and Reese to adjust his raging cock, and then locked up the helmets, giving himself an extra minute to cool off before helping Emerson to her feet.

“Think you two kids can keep it PG-thirteen in there?” Blaine teased.

“Hey,” Emerson said sassily. “I’m baby free tonight, and I squeezed my mom bod into this outfit hoping my sexy beast of a man would put his hands on me. So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to keep it R-rated.”

Baz chuckled and slid his arm around her, pulling her against his side, and smirked at Blaine. “Guess she told you.”

Reese stifled a laugh.