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“If you think that’s sass, you’ll be in for a world of pain if we have a daughter.” I freeze, and the smile slips from her face at my reaction. “Lick?” she whispers, sounding unsure.

“Your eyes and smile with my dimples.”

“Huh?”

“That’s how I picture her. With your eyes, smile, and my dimples. Fuck me, she’s gonna be a heartbreaker. I might need to find us a tower somewhere with a moat and maybe some crocodiles to guard it.”

She laughs, lightening the moment between us. I place her on her feet next to the bath and wait until she’s steady before I let go. I stare down at her before my hands move to the hem of her T-shirt. I pause, waiting for her to protest. When she doesn’t, I tug the material up, pausing until she raises her arms before I pull it free and throw it over my shoulder.

“I can manage, you know,” she says softly. But she doesn’t fight me when I reach for the waistband of her leggings and slowly drag them down over her hips. Her underwear too. She steps out of them when I let gravity take over, reaching behind her back to unfasten her bra before tossing it into the pile of discarded clothes.

“You’re beautiful.”

“I’m a mess.”

My eyes lock with hers.

“Then you’re a beautiful mess.”

I take a step closer, my hands landing on her hips for a second as I dip my head and kiss the tip of her nose, keeping it light, conscious that if I push too hard, she’ll retreat. “But I wouldn’t want you any other way.”

“Lick.”

I get to my knees in front of her and cup her stomach with my hands, making her breath hitch. “Hey, little one. I’m your daddy.”

I look up at Emma and see a tear run down her cheek.

“Think they can hear me?”

“Not yet, but soon.”

“Then I’ll just keep talking to them every day until they know who I am.”

I press my lips to the small swell of her stomach as she tentatively reaches down and runs her fingers through my hair. I tip my head back, my cock impossibly hard, and I know in this moment, I’m going to do whatever it takes to make this woman mine. More than that, I want her in twenty, thirty years to still look at me the way she is now, with a little bit of awe and a whole lot of hope in her eyes.

I refuse to be a man like her ex. If I do anything right in this life, it will be making sure that when she looks back at how we came to be, she doesn’t regret me.

I get to my feet and scoop her up again before gently lowering her into the bath. She moans in appreciation as the warm water covers her. “Relax, I’m going to make a couple of calls. If you need anything, shout.”

“Okay.” I head to the door, turning back when she calls my name. “Hey, Lick? Thank you for looking after me.”

“You never have to thank me for that, sweetheart.”

I leave her to it, heading to the kitchen with a plan in mind. I place an order with the local supermarket for food and some dinner from the local Italian restaurant, figuring pasta with a simple cheese sauce would be a safe bet.

Once that’s done, I run over the small space with the vacuum, give it a dust, wash the few dishes in the sink, then throw in a load of washing. Hell, I think I’ve done more housework here than I have at my own place in a month, which reminds me to look into getting a cleaner. Maybe I should get one for Emma too, ease the burden a little, though it might take some coaxing to convince her that I’m just trying to help, not take over.

When I’m done, I head back into the bathroom and find Emma dozing. I pull the plug and grab a towel before smoothing my hand over her hair. “Time to get out.”

Her eyes flutter open, and for a moment she looks lost. But then she gazes around and swallows as if coming out of a dream.

“Can you get up on your own?”

She nods, gripping the edge of the bath and pulling herself up. The water runs down her body, making her look like some water nymph. It’s testing every ounce of willpower to keep myself in check, but fuck me, I want to taste every inch of her skin and trace each drop of water with my tongue.

I wrap the towel around her and clear my throat before helping her out. “You need help drying off?”

She licks her bottom lip. The hesitation is almost my undoing before she shakes her head. “I’m good.”