Page 74 of Lethal Salvation

“Me teasing you? You were the one whispering dirty thoughts in my ear.”

“Because you kept wriggling that sweet ass on my dick.”

“It is a sweet ass, isn’t it?”

Gideon palmed the sexy curve as she looped her arms over his shoulders.

“It sure is and when I get you alone, I’m going to fuck it while you play with those gorgeous tits.”

“Jesus, Gideon. Warn a girl before you go all alpha porn star on her.”

Gideon laughed and kissed her, not with the heady passion he was feeling but with a playfulness he’d never experienced with another woman. He slapped her ass. “Get up, this isn’t working to tame my dick.”

She smoothed her hair and laughed. “Well, hurry up because we’re paying a visit to stepmother dearest.”

Gideon sobered and his hard-on deflated like a popped balloon. “We are?”

“Yes. Pay attention in class, Gideon.”

He followed her toward the garages like a puppy on a leash and didn’t even care how pussy whipped he was. “I would if you wouldn’t distract me.”

She took his chin in her hands and kissed him before tugging on his bottom lip. “Sorry, I’ll make it up to you later.”

“Not helping, Cookie.”

Nadia laughed as she climbed in the back seat, with Hurricane and Bás in the front.

The drive to his childhood home was uneventful, the mood shifting the closer they got. He’d learned Damon was heading to the US with Titan to help pave the way with Tarquin and Melissa but not until they had more intel. He had no idea who was running his company right now. He hadn’t opened his laptop in days or replied to any of the hundreds of messages from his directors, except to say he had a family issue and they had to handle things for a few days.

Lucky for him, he’d picked a great team, except for one or two who were lower level and didn’t have access to anything of importance. Watchdog had cleared them too, which added weight to his decision to let them be until this was less of a precarious position.

The grounds were quiet in the harsh light of day, everything looked the same and yet a big piece of his life was gone. He’d hated Carter at the end, despised the way he’d tried to ruin them all and him especially, but he’d always live with his brother’s last words in his head. Had he been trying to change or was it all a ruse to trick him into exposing himself? He’d never know now.

His father met them at the door, and he looked to have aged twenty years overnight. His face was sallow, his eyes sunken, thick black circles beneath. He looked broken and no matter what had gone on, he’d lost a son last night and the child in him hated to see him that way.

“Thanks for coming, Gideon.”

Gideon clasped his father’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “How you holding up?”

“Standing just about. I know he had his faults, but he was my son and I loved him, just as I do you and Damon.”

Gideon pursed his lips, remaining silent as his father lead them into the study.

“Marsha will be down shortly. I’m going to take a walk in the garden if you don’t need me.”

“I’ll come and find you before we leave.”

His dad nodded, his whole body seeming to sag under the weight he was carrying. “I’d like that.”

He nodded his head at Nadia. “Look after him.”

“I will.” She slipped her hand through his and he stepped closer to her. His father hadn’t meant it in a physical way, he’d meant emotionally. Little did he know this woman was proficient at both.

“He needs you.”

Gideon glanced down at Nadia as she spoke and knew she was thinking of her own mother. “I know, I’m just not sure if I can get past everything that’s happened and go back to what we were.”

“Then don’t. Move forward and find a new normal for you to build on.”