Page 149 of Bad Run

Only comparable to his insides. Lance is a beautiful and kind soul. Loyal and loving. A supportive protector. He’s everything, and I’m the lucky woman who gets to keep him.

“What’s rattling around in that brilliant brain of yours?”

“Just thinking how lucky I am to have you in my life.”

Lance scoffs. “I’m the lucky one. You mean everything to me. You’re all I need.”

“Me and baseball?” I tease, looking away.

Lance tilts my chin up, forcing me to look him in the eye. He shakes his head as the hand twirling my hair moves to my nape, splaying across the back of my head and neck. “Fuck baseball. I just need you.”

Tears sting my eyes and the back of my nose. He has no idea how those words heal a hollow part inside me. Years of expectation without prioritization. There isn’t a man in my life who would put me above baseball. Not even my father.

But Lance? He places me above baseball.

“I love you, my filthy knight.”

“I love you too, my sexy little witch,” he says with a smoldering smirk.

Biting back a laugh, I lean down and seal our mouths together in a passionate kiss. I channel every ounce of love I have for Lance into every swipe of my tongue and nip of his lip until his cock hardens inside me.

Then I ride him, showing him with my body that he’s all I need too.

forty-seven

Gwen

Present

The morning sun shimmers along Lance’s wet, muscular arms as they slice through the water.

Like I do each morning, I sit at the end of the pool beside the stairs and swirl my feet in the water, waiting for Lance to finish swimming laps. I was surprised to wake up to an empty bed and the incessant buzzing of my phone.

It’s been two days since the showdown with my father, and I’ve been ignoring everyone. Except for Lance. He’s been amazing to talk to about everything. He’s been so supportive and is one hundred percent on my team.

When I woke up this morning and checked my phone, there was a text from Mom and Juju asking me to meet them for lunch. Guilt for not talking to them sooner made my stomach hurt. I let the anger directed toward my father shut them out, and that’s not fair.

I’m not sure what I want to do about my dad yet. Or about my job. I need more time to figure it all out. Without giving too many details, I sent Maryse a message, letting her know I wouldn’t be in for the rest of the week. But my return is looming over my head, and I’ve yet to figure out my plan. My dream was always to work for the Evaders.

Pushing away my anxiety, I watch my husband swim. Focus on his speed and strength. The soothing sound of water and birds chirping in the backyard.

On Lance’s next turn, he notices my presence and slows his strokes.

As he closes the distance between us, he dives underwater and reaches out for my ankle, giving it a tug. Hand on my foot, he pulls himself to a stand. I can’t take my eyes off his hard body as water cascades down his broad, heaving chest and rolls over the defined ridges of his abs.

Fucking hell, he’s so hot.

My mouth waters, and my overused lady bits scream in protest at the gush of liquid lust that shoots through me.

“Good morning.” His voice is coarse and ragged as he catches his breath, pulling me from my dirty thoughts.

“Oh, um, good morning.” My eyes jump away from his delectable abs to his face, my cheeks flaming at being caught.

He chuckles, tossing his goggles to the side and wiping the water off his face. “Did I wake you up?”

I frown. “No. That would be my phone.”

Lance steps between my legs, placing his hands on my thighs. “Your dad?”