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“No.” I set my hand on her hip, feeling like I was playing with fire. “The other part.”

“Nik?” She winced. “Sorry. It just slipped out.”

And I was trying to resist the idea of slipping my dick into her. “Yeah?”

She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Sorry. I didn’t intend to bug you or disrespect you by using a damn nickname or anything.”

I leaned in, reveling in the surprise on her face. “I like it.”

Her lips parted. “Oh.” She gazed up at me with a hooded gaze that nearly killed me.

She was so vulnerable.

Mine to take.

So exposed and within reach.

Right here.

“You’re going to spoil me, making me think I’m on your mind enough to earn a nickname.”

“I…” Her breath hitched as I slanted toward her. She blinked, reaching up to set her hand on the back of my neck. “You… are.”

“Good. Spoil me some more, sweetheart, and make me think that you wish I’d be in your bed, too.” Dipping down more, unable to remember why the hell I shouldn’t kiss her, I marveled at how she pulled me lower, urging me to bring my mouth to hers.

“Nik…”

“There’s a box with a picture of a bike on it!”

Brady’s voice cut through the haze of lust that lured me toward Louisa. She flinched, backing up to slam against the wall. I stepped back, running my hand back and forth over my hair.

“Mr. Volkov,” he exclaimed. “A delivery came!”

“Yeah, a bike,” I said, regretting that he’d stopped me from kissing Louisa. “Let’s go check it out.”

“But buddy, this is just a temporary gift,” Louisa said, following after me and her son.

“No, it’s not,” I replied, feeling a twist in my heart as Brady took my hand to hurry me along. His fingers were so small, smaller than mine but strong. They were also so much bigger than Luka’s. The comparison in size got to me, that this boy had so much life before him and I could be a part of it. It made my heart squeeze that he trusted me, comfortable to take my hand and know that he’d be safe to show his excitement around me.

Dammit.

Both of them were fucking up any concept of “normal”.

“Grab my phone,” I called back to Louisa, remembering that I wasn’t done with work yet.

She doubled back to grab my phone and rushed after us. “Brady, this is a temporary gift that Nik is giving you. I mean. Mr. Nikolai.”

I grinned at her over my shoulder. Nik. Fuck, I loved being personalized, standing apart.

“The hell it is. What would I do with a bike that size?” I asked. “It’s yours, Brady.” I squeezed his hand.

He whooped and jumped, losing my hand to run the rest of the way outside.

“Nik,” Louisa said as she caught up to me. “You’re spoiling him.”

I stopped short, high on life with how they changed me. Backpedaling while she walked with me, I looked her over and knew that of all these feelings she and her son were awakening in me, I relished this one the most right now.

“Then you can spoil me as payment.”