When I walk into my living room after an uneventful drive home, I’m surprised to see Reid lying down on the couch. His bare feet are hanging off the edge, and when I step closer I see he's wearing nothing but a pair of jeans.
Now, this is a sight I could get used to coming home to.
“This is a nice surprise,” I say, sitting on the edge of the couch next to his hip.
“Hey, beautiful,” he says, his voice thick. His blue eyes smile at me.
“Were you sleeping?” I lean over and nuzzle his neck.
“Mmm-hmm.”
“Slide over, baby,” I say, trying to wedge myself in. Reid chuckles and lifts me up so I’m lying directly on top of him, every inch of our bodies in contact. “Someone’s happy to see me,” I say, grinning. I grind my hips into his, earning myself a throaty moan.
“Always happy to see my girl,” he says, smiling at me.
“Didn’t you have work today?”
“Nah, Ryan said it’s dead so there was no point going in.”
“That was nice of him.” I lay my head on his hard, warm chest. I run my fingers up his arm, feeling his smooth skin.
“How was class?” he asks, wrapping his arms around me tightly.
“Good, actually. I’m on top of everything,” I say, stroking his chest absently.
“On top of everything, indeed.” I roll my eyes at his lame joke.
“What are we doing tonight?”
When Reid stills, I look up into his eyes. “What is it?”
“Ryan told me what happened at dinner,” he says, his jaw set stubbornly.
“Yeah, that guy's an ass**le,” I mutter.
“Yeah, he won’t be bothering you again,” he says, his voice sure and determined.
“What did you do?” I ask, frowning.
“Nothing yet, but I asked your dad to move the fight up,” he says, sounding smug.
I sigh. “Reid, what’s that gonna accomplish?”
“No one disrespects my woman.”
“Caveman.”
“You love my caveman tendencies,” he says, grinning.
“Only in the bedroom,” I admit, earning me a deep chuckle.
“Seriously?” I hear Xander growl as he enters the lounge room. I sit up off of Reid and smile up at my brother.
“Hey, baby bro.”
“We needa set some damn boundaries, sis,” he says, looking put out. He opens the fridge and pulls out an energy drink.
“We aren’t doing anything,” I say a little defensively, my face heating.
Xander huffs and walks out, but not before I see the small smile playing on his lips.
I grin down at Reid, who I find is already looking at me. He looks… content. His eyes are soft, and I watch as he licks his bottom lip.
“You look happy,” I think out loud.
“I am happy.”
“Good,” I say, leaning down to kiss his scar.
“My father did it to me,” he says, his voice so low I barely hear him.
I sit up. “What?”
“Yeah, he was hitting my mother, and I tried to stop it. He said he wanted to teach me a lesson,” he says, pulling me down against his chest once more.
“How old were you?” I ask, dreading the answer.
“Ten.”
Tears pool in my eyes, as I imagine a young Reid Knox, standing up to his own father. “Your dad's in prison, right?”
“Yeah,” he says, but doesn’t elaborate.
“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice breaking a little.
“Beauty,” he croons, when he sees me getting choked up. “I’ve never been a good boyfriend,” he continues when I don’t say anything more. “I never thought I would be a husband. Ever. But after meeting you I think, maybe this time, I could be different. For you, I could be. I think I already am.”
“You’re perfect for me,” I tell him, capturing his lips in a needy kiss.
“Fucking hell!” I hear Xander curse as he walks back in, ruining the moment.
“Next time we’re going to my place,” Reid demands, looking grumpy.
“Or you could just go into her room,” Xander mutters, walking out the front door and slamming it shut behind him.
“Well, the coast is clear,” Reid says, smiling against my lips. He runs his hand up the back of my thigh, causing chills to erupt all over my body. I reach my hand down to stroke him, just as we both hear a knock on the door.
“Maybe they'll go away?” he says, looking adorably hopeful.
Another knock. Louder this time.
“Impatient bastards,” he mutters, sitting up with me still on him.
“I’ll get it,” I say, lifting a leg down onto the floor.
“No, you won’t, you lie here and relax, I’ll get it,” he says, kissing me on the nose before jumping off the couch.
“Put your shirt on!” I say, picking it up and throwing it at him.
He looks amused. “Why?”
“Humour me,” I say, rolling my eyes. He flashes me a boyish grin and puts his shirt on, walking quickly to the door when more knocking commences, louder this time. I hear him open the door, and then an angry, “What the f**k are you doing here?”
I get up and follow him to the door, my eyes flaring when I see Mia standing there. And she’s not alone.
Next to her is a little boy.
One who looks exactly like Reid.
Blond hair, blue eyes and a cute little pair of lips.