“A fiery shop owner. What’s her name again?”

“As if you don’t know,” Judge mutters. “You couldn’t handle her. Trust me.”

Theron’s eyes alight with pleasure at the insinuation. “Now you’re goading me. You know I love a challenge.”

“She’s off-limits,” I tell him. “Seriously. That’s a no-go zone.”

Judge groans, looking at me like I just made a crucial mistake. “Now he’ll never let it go.”

“You know me well,” Theron muses.

“Why don’t you just focus on your recovery?” Judge suggests. “Then you can concentrate on your baser needs.”

Theron smirks, wisely choosing to change the subject, probably sensing I might strangle him if he goes near Solana. Regardless, we fall into an easy discussion about the impending babies, and he seems to hold a genuine interest in the subject, which surprises me. He’s curious about our name choices and even makes a bet with himself on the genders, which will be revealed next week at my baby shower. Oddly enough, it seems like he’s looking forward to being an uncle. And although I’m nowhere close to being able to trust him, I feel like we’re rebuilding a bridge between him and Judge. Theron wants to be a part of his life and, by extension, his children’s. And I think as long as things continue to go smoothly, we can make that happen.

By the time we leave several hours later, Judge and I are both exhausted. Yet his rough promise lingers in the back of my mind when he gets me upstairs to our bedroom back at home.

I unbutton his shirt, sliding my hands over his warm chest while he watches me reverently, the same way he does every time I do this. It’s become a habit, like opening a gift every day, and I have no plans to stop anytime soon. Secretly, I think he likes it when I have my way with him just as much as I like it when he does the same to me.

Slowly, I unzip his trousers, easing my hand in to stroke his cock. He bites back a groan, his eyes shuttering as he whispers a low warning.

“Mercedes.”

I ignore him, sitting on the bed as I continue stroking him. He’s been trying to be gentle with me the further along I get. His words, not mine. Yet I’m always testing him. I don’t want him to be gentle even though I understand his reasons for it. I just want my Judge. Rough and growly and possessive in all the ways that count.

My tongue darts out to swirl around the head of his cock, and his chest rumbles in approval. Despite his best efforts, his hand tangles in my hair as I draw him into my mouth, sucking him with a torturous slowness.