Chapter 13

Thirteen

As soon aswe're in the dining room alone, I pull Scarlett into my arms, "You okay, baby?"

"Yes, Knox, I told you everything was fine. Your mom and I had a really good talk. She explained her feelings about everything and then we agreed on one very important point."

"What was that?" I ask, backing her into the wall.

"We both love you." Her smile is radiant. A weight has been lifted off her with this dinner at my parents'. This was the last big hurdle to us being a real couple again in my mind. Tonight, I plan on spending the night with her in my bed.

"You do?" I kiss her and put everything I feel into it. This isn't a sweet kiss. This is a claiming. I want her to feel that she is mine.

She lifts her legs and wraps them around my waist. My dick is so hard you could probably see the indention of my zipper imprinted on it.

"Fuck, I wish we were home."

"Me too," she says, placing kisses along my jaw and down my neck.

"Mom! Knox is making out in the dining room!"

I almost drop Scarlett when Clara screams out. I turn around to find her laughing hysterically.

"I'm sorry, Scarlett. I shouldn't have done that to you, but Knox used to bust me all the time coming home late. This was a bit of payback."

I look back at Scarlett and she's laughing too. "You know I'm going to get you back, Clara Bear."

"You can try, big brother." Clara pulls the plates out of the cabinet. "I'll help set the table since everyone's going to be in here soon."

The three of us get it done quickly and when Wilder, Mom, and Miles bring in the food everything is ready.

"Clara, your brother is in his thirties. He can make out in the dining room if he wants too," Mom says as she sits down.

Then she turns to me. "Knox, keep it in your pants at my house please."

Everyone laughs, but no one louder than Scarlett. The rest of the dinner feels like she never left. She asks my dad about his favorite football team, which she remembers, and little tidbits about my siblings. Afterwards we hang out for a little bit and Ivy asks if Scarlett wants to hold the baby.

"Can I?" she asks with trepidation. "I've never held a baby. I'm not sure it's a good idea while she's so little."

Ivy laughs. "These big men hold her like a football. You'll do great." She hands Scarlett the baby. "Just support her head. Yeah, like that."

Scarlett smiles down at my niece and then at me. My heart beats faster in my chest. I want this. I want a family with this woman.

"She's a natural," Ivy says as she walks up to me, bumping me with her shoulder. "She looks pretty good with a baby in her arms."

"Are you trying to push babies on me, Ivy St. James?" I don't take my eyes off Scarlett. She looks gorgeous holding Jovie, and I can see future family dinners when it's my baby being passed around to family that loves them beyond reason.

"I'm just saying that Jovie could use a cousin."

"I think that you need to look elsewhere for that," I say, just as Scarlett walks up.

She looks shocked at my answer. Surely, she knows I meant not right now. She doesn't think I don't want to have babies with her…does she?