Corps Security: The Series (103 page)

Melissa sits up and starts laughing uncontrollably. I look over at her and notice that the sheet has pooled around her waist about the same time Cohen does. I hold my breath . . . waiting for it.

“Mommy! Boobies! Mommy has boobies. Boobies. Boobies! Ha ha ha! I want Lucky Charms for breakfast! Let’s go! I’ll go get my girls!”

It’s my turn to laugh now. Melissa is blushing about ten shades of red, and I’m standing in the middle of the bedroom, naked as the day I was born, laughing at my wife.

As hectic as my life is between Cohen and all his crazy fun, two little girls who seem to do nothing but wake and eat with a little sleep sprinkled in there, and a full-time job, it’s moments like this that make me realize just how lucky we are and just how blessed we are to be here.

It hasn’t been easy. Melissa had to stay in the hospital for two weeks after she woke up. The doctors wanted to make sure that she was completely cleared before they would release her, and I was okay with that.

Lillian was able to come home with Melissa, exactly a month after she was born. She’s such a strong little girl. Taking Melissa and Lillian home was bittersweet. In one hand, it felt so good to have them home, but I think we all felt the hole from that not having Lyndsie home with us left.

It was for almost three weeks full of daily hospital visits later that we were able to take Lyndsie home. She had issues with her reflux that just kept setting us back, but finally, almost two months after she was born, we were able to bring her home and complete the Cage family.

Cohen took to his sisters instantly. He helps with everything he can. He holds the bottles while we feed them; he talks to them and sings to them. And every night he tells them everything he’s going to teach them when they get older.

I love watching them interact. Knowing that he feels the need to protect his sisters makes me smile. Those poor girls are going to love when they get older and have two shadows over them. There’s no way in hell that Cohen or I will let anything happen to our two princesses.

Melissa finally got her casts off both her arm and leg removed about a month ago. She’s had some issues with gaining her full strength back, but she keeps at her physical therapy, determined to heal.

It hasn’t been the easiest of times, but we’re together, and I’ll take a bumpy road over the alternative any day.

Melissa and I get ready in a comfortable silence, listening to Cohen chatter in the girls’ room through their baby monitors.

“Come on, my Beast. Let’s go get that crazy boy out of the nursery before he wakes up the girls. Good thing they can sleep through anything.”

She starts walking out of the room, only limping slightly, and my mouth waters when I see the yoga pants she’s put on hugging her perfect ass.

Ever since we got the go-ahead from the doctors, we’ve been almost insatiable. Doesn’t take a doctor to tell me that I’m channeling my fear from almost losing her into sex. Melissa isn’t complaining. If my diving into her sweet body daily gives my mind peace, she’s more than happy to help out there.

I have to give myself a few minutes to calm down before I can follow her out of the room. Just one glance at her tight body and I’m ready to lock the door and throw her back on the bed.

“Come on, Cohen. Let the girls sleep some more.” I smile when her voice comes over the monitor, before I finally walk out of our bedroom and down into the kitchen to start breakfast.

They follow not long after I started cooking, and even though Cohen starts to fuss over Lucky Charms, he eats the eggs, bacon, and pancakes quickly before asking for seconds.

“Daddy! Did you see? I looked out my window this morning and there’s a gigantic trampoween out there! Santa brought it. I knew he would! Can I have a motorcycle when I get older? Maddox Locke has one!”

Jesus, it’s hard to follow his train of thought sometimes.

“Why don’t we talk about that when you’re old enough?”

“Okay. Can I get wiener rings yet?”

Melissa sputters out a snort-like laugh. Of course she would leave the answering to me.

“Cohen, we talked about this the last time you asked for . . . wiener rings. Let’s wait until you’re older—way older—before we talk about that one, okay?”

“Okay. Can I have a monkey?”

“How about we stick to the trampoline before we start bringing in zoo animals?”

“Okay. Can we wake up my girls now so we can open up our presents?” He’s literally bouncing in his seat.

“How about this? The girls are so small that they aren’t going to miss anything if you start, and they can join us when they wake up. How about we go open some of your presents or at least go see what Santa brought before we go wake them up?”

His brow crinkles and he tilts his head to the side before speaking. “Why would I do that? My girls need to be with me. I can wait.”

How did I get so lucky?

“You’re one awesome big brother, you know that?”

“Yup!”

We finish up our breakfast. Cohen helps Melissa clean up the dishes, and I go check on the girls. I am just about to step through the threshold of their room when I hear my phone ringing from the office down the hall.

Knowing it’s either work related or one of the guys, I groan and head off to my office.

“Cage,” I bark in the phone.

“My, aren’t we happy this morning,” Axel laughs in my ear.

“You try having two newborns and a kid who thinks waking up before the roosters is a brilliant idea.”

“Yeah, I’ve got one of those kids. Nate was up at five this morning. He isn’t even old enough to know what the hell is going on, but I swear that kid ran right into the living room and started tearing shit open.”

We laugh and continue talking for a few minutes before he gets silent.

“So . . . Izzy gave me my gift.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah . . .” He trails off, and I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to say here. Obviously he’s calling because he wants to tell me what she got him, but I’m not sure what it could be that warrants a call at seven in the morning.

“I reckon next year I’ll get a taste of the early rising kid while trying to keep a baby asleep.”

It’s early, but it’s not early enough that I don’t catch his meaning.

“No shit? Congratulations, brother! Another little Reid, huh?”

“Best feeling in the world, Greg. Once Izzy held those little angels of yours in her arms, she dragged my ass home and told me she wanted another baby immediately. So I guess in some weird way I should say thanks for turning my wife into a baby-craving sex maniac.”

“HA! Well, I’m happy I could help you out.”

“Yeah, yeah. Feels good, you know? Having our kids so close together. Going to make for one hell of an interesting future, seeing these kids grow up together.”

“As long as you keep reminding Nate to stay away from my girls, we should all just be fine.”

We joke back and forth before hanging up. I take off back down the hall and into the girls’ bedroom. Looking over the crib they’re still sharing. I see identically beautiful faces staring up at me. It causes my heart to skip a beat and a smile to pull at my lips.

“Good morning, my lovely little ladies! I just talked to your Uncle Axel, but don’t you worry. I reminded him that you aren’t ever going to be dating so I’m sure he’s talking to Nate right now about that.”

They keep looking up at me, and I smile, rubbing their heads before going about our routine. It takes me longer than Melissa, mostly because I don’t have that magic touch it seems only mothers possess. I keep reminding them that they aren’t ever going to date and they’re going to stay daddy’s little girls for the rest of their lives.

It isn’t until later that night that I think about Axel and Izzy’s new little baby coming, and I smile when I wonder about the chances that they would have a girl. Knowing Axel and his extreme protectiveness over Izzy, it’s going to be funny as hell to watch him with a daughter.

“You ready for bed?” Melissa drops down next to me and reaches over to turn off the news.

“Beauty, if you’re coming with me, then hell yeah. Way I see it, I’ve got about two hours before someone is waking up for more food. That’s a lot of time to spend between these legs.”

She smacks my arm but doesn’t waste a second, jumping up and rushing to our bedroom.

I don’t get two hours that night. Nope, my girls decide to sleep a little longer. I spend the next four hours worshiping my wife and remembering each and every time just how lucky I am to have this life.

15 Years Later

Cohen

“I can’t believe you’re leaving tomorrow. At least Lyn and Lila are driving now, so it won’t be so bad not having you around to take us places.” Danielle looks over at me from the other side of the couch, giggling softly and knowing damn well she’s going to miss more than my driving them around.

I throw the game controller down next to me and look over at her. God, she really is beautiful. I should feel guilty feeling these thoughts about her. She’s my little sisters’ best friend, practically family. Hell, her brother IS my best friend. It’s a line I shouldn’t cross. God, that makes me feel like such a sicko. I feel like all I do lately is remind myself I shouldn’t be lusting after her. She’s just about to turn fifteen and I’m leaving to start my freshman year at the University of Georgia.

But I can deny it all I want. There’s a connection I’ve always felt between us—wanted or not.

There’s nothing normal about what I feel for Danielle Reid.

“So that’s all I am to you? Huh, Dani? Just a ride from point A to point B?”

She blushes, and I swear I feel it all the way to my dick. I should be ashamed for feeling this way about it. For craving this girl as much as I do. I should be out running around town and sinking inside of all the chicks who want to send me off to school in style.

Hell, I’m no damn saint, which really makes me feel like I’m never going to be good enough for Dani.

Plus, her father would kill me.

Not just kill me. He would kill me and my family would never find the body.

Yeah, Axel Reid is a man who I’ve always known would tear apart anyone who tried to touch his daughter.

“No, Co . . . You’re more than that. A lot more than that.” She blushes again and looks away quickly.

Uh, say what?

“Dani? I’m no good at reading between the lines. I might have two little sisters, but unfortunately they never taught me much about how y’all’s minds work.”

She looks over at me, her green eyes bright with emotion, and clears her throat a few times, pushing her long raven hair behind her ears before talking. I can see the nervousness rolling off of her tiny body.

“Can I be honest with you, Cohen?”

“Oh course, Dani. You know that.”

Her eyes widen when she hears my sisters start yelling from upstairs. It won’t be long before they fly down the basement stairs to where we’re sitting like two twin tornados of sass.

“If you don’t want those two overhearing you, now would be a good time, Dani.”

She blushes more. “I’m going to miss you, Cohen. I know you don’t look at me like I look at you, but one day, you’re going to come back and I’ll still be waiting for you. Waiting for you to see me like I see you. Mark my words, Cohen Cage. One of these days, you’re going to be mine. And until you’re ready . . . I’ll be here. I’ll be waiting.”

Before I can even get a breath in my lungs to respond, Frick and Frack come running into the room, talking about who knows what. I just sit there frozen, my jaw slack and my eyes on Dani. Before I know it, they’re pulling Dani off the couch and running out the back of the house.

What the hell just happened?

The End

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’m going to keep this short and sweet this time. (Yeah, right!)

First and foremost, to my husband and daughters. Thank you for putting up with my own special brand of crazy while I’m in the middle of writing a book. You put up with a crazy messy house, my moments of complete space-outs and comatose mornings after bring up all night working. I don’t know what I would do without you guys.

To the best damn PA in the world, Danielle Calcote. Without you, I honestly don’t know what I would do. You keep me from needing one of those fancy straight jackets. #SJ Thank you, from the bottom of my cold heart, for everything that you do for me day in and day out. Don’t let this go to your head . . . but you pretty much are always right. (I can hear Lara yelling at me now for feeding that ego)

Mickey Reed—Girlfriend, you are a gem! You took me in, fixed my mess, and handed him back with a beautiful bow. Your notes are invaluable and I’m looking forward to where we go next. Now, forgive me for not letting you edit this. ;)

To my betas, my team of kick ass ladies that help make my books better and better. I love you ladies more than you could ever know. Danielle, Debi, Amber, Elle, Becky, and Lara. THANK YOU, I love you all!

Katie Mac. I’m not really sure I could ever thank you enough. You held my hand and love me like one of your own. I love you to pieces.

Melissa Gill—I still don’t know how you can handle my insane mind. LOL! I’m so lucky to have you as my graphic queen. All you need is a few seconds chatting and you deliver an image/design like you plucked it straight from my head. And you put up with my crazy PM’s throughout the day and all hours of the night. Hehe! <3

Brenda Wright, Oh, B! Book four and you’re still by my side and I know I’m lucky as hell to have such a great friend in you. You never stop showing me just what it’s like to have a real friend willing to drop anything to help. I love you!

Angela, Katie and Kelly—Really . . . do I need to express the ways I love you? HA! You girls have been with me from the beginning and beyond that. I couldn’t imagine doing this without y’all and our daily messages . . . and facebook stickers, those really are a must.

Debi Barnes, Jessica Adams, and Julie Bales—thank you for letting me pick your brains about twins! <3 <3 I’m sure it’s completely normal to get random messages asking about your sex life while pregnant! (Julie—I totally love you in a way that is probably lesbehonest.)