Chapter Thirteen

S prite had decided she, Blake and Oakley would walk over to Roam's new house. She enjoyed being able to walk and see nature without worrying about someone doing her harm. She hadn't lived in the best part of town, so getting to take the girls on walks in the evening hadn't happened.

Roam had been moved into his house for a couple days. She was glad she hadn't been working at the tattoo studio yet because she was able to help out. Roam had asked her, Beth and Ellie to buy him bedding for two guest rooms along with everything the three bathrooms needed.

Sprite had been ecstatic her house had two bathrooms. She couldn't imagine a place that had three. Although Roam's house was a new build, he'd designed it with a huge wraparound porch. There were two porch swings, along with four rockers. His house was across what would be a street in a regular neighborhood. In their neighborhood, there was an unpaved path a car width wide dividing their front yards. There was a detached garage beside the house for all of Roam's vehicles and the kids' outdoor toys.

A large fort swing set was also in front of Rascal's house. Roam's had a place for a covered sand box that was being installed later and he'd laid out where the track for the kids' Big Wheels and bikes would cross his yard.

Blake had asked about a bike and Sprite wanted to make sure she had one. She just wasn't sure where to get one in the small town.

She walked up the front porch and knocked. Roam had invited them for dinner. She was thankful for some time to just relax with him tonight. This week had been a whirlwind. Once she'd turned in her proposal to Rascal, she'd had meetings with Regina and Bear to see if the space above the diner would work. She, Rascal and Roam had evaluated the condition of the upstairs and come up with a plan.

Their first women's night would be held at the diner because they didn't want to wait until the improvements were made upstairs. Rascal and she had a conference call with Roam's brother Gage, who ran a construction company for the Texas Chapter of Bluff Creek along with their distillery. Gage was gradually training someone else to take over the construction because he'd found his calling with brewing beer.

She'd described what she thought would work, and they'd held her phone so he could see the space. Gage had time in two weeks and would be up then to oversee construction.

He'd mentioned he'd just plan on completing the pickleball park while he was there. Sprite couldn't believe how fast things moved in the MC, but she liked it a lot.

Grant opened the front door for her. She followed him in and heard crying from the back of the house, along with a dog barking.

"Blake, you and Oakley play with Grant while I see who is crying."

Grant gave a big huff as she walked by. "It's Georgia and Casper. I helped them try Dad's chips. Now I's in trouble."

Sprite walked faster toward the crying. Casper was sitting on the floor crying while Roam had Georgia over the sink, scooping water into her mouth and then letting it run out into the sink.

"Oh, thank God. Can you help Casper? Grant crushed up my jalapeno flavored chips and rubbed it on their tongues so they could taste it. Cane, go to Grant." The dog turned and ran to the family room.

Sprite slid her arms under Casper's arms and picked him up, cuddling him close. "It's going to be okay, buddy." She grabbed a tea towel and used it to wipe the snot and drool off his face. Opening the refrigerator door, she pulled out the gallon of milk.

"Where are their sippy cups?"

Roam nodded his head toward the cabinet close to the sink and continued trying to rinse out Georgia's mouth.

Holding Casper in one arm, she quickly got the sippy cups ready and poured in the milk. She awkwardly tightened the sippy cup lid on while Casper alternated between crying and rubbing his mouth against her shirt. Then she grabbed a small bowl and poured some milk in it.

"Washcloths?"

"In the drawer in front of you."

She opened the drawer and pulled out two. Once she had all this done, she brought Casper to the sink close to Roam and Georgia. She leaned Casper over the sink and scooped some water in to rinse his mouth, then moved back by the bowl. She grabbed one of the washcloths, dipped it in the milk and wiped Casper's tongue and the inside of his mouth. Then she handed him his sippy cup.

"Here, trade me."

She handed Casper to Roam and took Georgia in her arms. Tears were running down her face. Sprite grabbed the other washcloth and repeated the same process with Georgia. Once the milk was flowing over her tongue, she held her sippy cup and leaned against Sprite's shoulder, drinking.

Once both kids had quieted some and were drinking the milk, Roam looked at her.

"Thank you. All I could think of was water."

Sprite nodded. "I knew milk and yogurt help but I wasn't sure if they liked yogurt. I knew I'd seen them both drink milk."

Roam leaned toward her, holding Casper while she held Georgia, his side rubbing against her.

"Hey, how do you like being invited for supper at my house so far?"

She chuckled at his wry tone. "Well, I can honestly say my heartbeat had a workout. Now that they are calmed down, it's getting a little better."

"Yeah, now it's time to talk to my little helper, who caused this incident."

Sprite didn't envy him that. She was a little surprised Grant had done it, but who knows what was in his mind. As she and Roam carried the kids into Grant's bedroom where he, Blake and Oakley were playing, she could see this being her life. All of them living here, her and Roam raising a family. She also couldn't understand why this man had been able to crack through her shell of not letting anyone in, but he had. Watching him this last couple of weeks with his kids and hers, along with the club, had her understanding there were good men in the world like her brother. She'd thought he was the anomaly because every single one she'd met was a jerk, or maybe before Roam that's all she'd attracted.

Roam sat down on the floor close to Grant and Sprite sat down close with Georgia.

"Grant, I know you didn't mean to hurt them."

Grant was moving a car along the floor, not looking at Roam with Cane lying beside him. Blake was petting the dog. Grant shook his head.

"Even though you're the big brother and I know you were trying to help them, you're still little and don't know everything. So how about if they want something from the pantry, you come get me. I can help you know if they are okay to eat it. And some of the things they need to be sitting in their high chairs to eat so they don't choke. Do you think you could do that?"

Grant nodded again but still wasn't looking at Roam.

"I'm glad to hear that. You're such a good big brother, always helping them and making sure they're happy. Now, how about you say sorry to Casper and Georgia and then come get a hug from me. I am proud of you that as soon as you saw it was hurting them, you ran out the back door to get me."

"Sowwy," Grant whispered, then crawled under the arm Roam held out to him and wrapped his arms around Roam's waist. Roam hugged him and kissed his head.

"Well, Blake and Oakley, that was quite the welcome to our home. Blake, thanks for watching over everyone. Are you ready for supper? I made homemade pizza, and it should be just about ready. I have juice boxes in the refrigerator for drinks if you want."

Sprite followed Roam and the kids out, helping everyone get situated with drinks in high chairs and booster seats. She really hadn't had a chance to appreciate Roam's island that had seating with chairs or the large table across from it in the kitchen. Since the booster seats and high chairs were at the table, she assumed that was where they were eating.

As she worked, she thought about the difference between how Roam handled a child messing up compared to how her mom had treated her when she did something wrong. Sprite had vowed her children would never be slapped or knocked around because they did something wrong. Roam's gentle voice and talking through a solution with Grant told her more about his parenting style than she could have ever learned with questions.

She'd been apprehensive even after Roam had made his intentions clear, but tonight, she realized they could do this. Roam's house was huge with plenty of bedrooms and maybe if they did end up together, someday, they could have a child from both of them in a nursery.

ROAM HAD PUT GEORGIA and Casper down for the night. Grant, Blake and Oakley were watching a movie. It had about thirty minutes left, and the kids were entranced. Sprite had said she was going to finish picking up the kitchen while he put the kids down. He hadn't needed any help because they'd already changed diapers and put the kids into pajamas twenty minutes before they drifted off watching the movie.

Putting them to bed tonight was placing them in their cribs and kissing them good night. He walked out of the room, leaving it open a little, and walked to Sprite in front of the sink.

She was as gorgeous from the back as she was from the front. Her pink hair cut short had the curve of her neck exposed and highlighted all the places he wanted to kiss. She was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, and he found himself wishing she had on one of her tank tops. He loved seeing her delicate collarbones and her tattoos unveiled for his eyes to feast on.

He walked up behind her, leaning against her back and taking the cup she was rinsing out of her hand. He brought her hand up to his neck, arching her against him.

He leaned a little down so he could nibble against the back of her neck, relishing the trembling that went through her.

"Roam," she quietly groaned.

"It's been hell, keeping my hands off you tonight. Seeing you with all our kids in my house has me imagining all sorts of things with you."

He let his hands trace down the outside of her arm, then lifted it to kiss her fingers one by one. Sprite shifted against him, and he wondered if this would be the time he'd come in his pants like an adolescent. This woman undid him. Her scent. Her smile. Her kindness. Her brain was even sexy. And don't even get him started on her body with tattoos and piercings. He wanted the chance to trace every part of her with his tongue so he could memorize it. They'd been together a short amount of time but their time in the hotel seemed like a lifetime ago.

With the kids here and Sprite not completely comfortable, he knew tonight wouldn't end with him inside of her, but he hadn't been able to resist touching her. She turned around, rubbing against him and grinning up at him.

He knew she could feel his hard-as-steel cock against her. In fact, if he had to label the look on her face, he'd choose mischievous. She was enjoying teasing him a little. She mimicked him, sliding her hand down the outside of his arm, leaving the hairs standing up on his arms in her wake. Her touch lit him on fire. Her hand grasped his, bringing his fingers to her mouth. She kissed each finger, then slid his pinky finger into her mouth, sucking and rubbing her tongue along it. Holy moly, how the heck did her mouth on his pinky feel so fucking good?! More than anything, he wanted to pick her up and carry her to his bedroom. See her pink hair against his pillow and her shining eyes gazing up at him.

"Mama Sprite, the movie's over," Blake called from the front room.

Sprite pulled his finger out of her mouth, turned his hand up and placed a kiss on the palm. "To be continued," she whispered.

He nodded because he wasn't sure he could speak. She grasped his hand and led him out of the kitchen into the family room.

"Okay, can you thank Roam and Grant for a nice evening, girls?"

Blake walked over and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him. "Thanks, Roam." Then she turned to Grant and leaned down, holding up her hand for a hi-five. Grant hi-fived her. "Thanks for a fun time and sharing your dog for cuddles."

Grant smiled. "Cane's good for cuddles."

As Sprite picked up Oakley to carry, Roam took her out of her arms. "I've got her."

"But the kids shouldn't stay alone," Sprite said.

"They aren't," Roam said, then opened the door at a knock. War walked in.

"Go, I got this. Grant and I will get him all squared away for bed while you walk the ladies home. What book shall we read after we get your pajamas on?"

Roam waited for War and Grant to head toward the bedroom, then held the door for Sprite and Blake. Oakley had laid her head on his shoulder, and he guessed she might be out by the time they walked to Sprite's house. Following them down the stairs on the front porch, he really wished they were moved in and he and Sprite were putting the kids to bed together.

Blake moved between him and Sprite, grasping Sprite's hand and reaching for his with the other. He shifted Oakley so he could carry her high on his chest with one arm and hold Blake's with his other.

"So, Cane's really cool, huh, Mama Sprite?"

Roam worked not to chuckle. He'd wondered how long it would take Blake to start asking for a dog. When Phoebe had told her about all the animals at Bluff Creek, Blake had already been asking. He wondered what Sprite was going to say. He was fine with two dogs once he and Sprite were together permanently. He still remembered his and War's puppies they'd gotten that first Christmas at Bluff Creek. It had been a huge sign to him that they were finally home. Man, all those men had spoiled him and War and it was what he wanted for Blake and Oakley. Not just with things but they'd spoiled them with their time and their love.

Rascal and Compass always had time to answer any questions patiently. Rascal had even praised Roam's initial drawings. And wow, when Baron had adopted them, they'd become an official family. He'd been blessed with an amazing childhood and from the little Sprite said, she hadn't. He hoped to be the one to make Sprite's and the girls' dreams come true.

"He is very cool. We'll have been here two weeks when I start work Monday. Let's agree you can start doing research on what type of animal you'd like. When we've been here four weeks, we'll make a decision what type of animal to get. You might want a dog or you might want a cat or something else."

Blake skipped while she was holding their hands. "I've never been around cats."

"Locks has a couple on his property that are barn cats. They keep the mice away. Rascal and Meg have two indoor ones, Blaze and Maisie. You could visit them in the next couple weeks and check them out. Animals have different personalities and you never know what they'll be like. Cane's pretty laid back. He'll just lie there while the kids crawl all over him. Beth's dog Lilly is high-strung, but she will play fetch with a ball for hours. Your arm will get tired before she will. Beth's dogs Moss and Dolly are calmer but they like to run. So if you're going on a jog around the compound, they're the ones to take."

"I want to meet them all for research."

They were at Sprite's front porch. Blake let go of their hands and started twirling. "I'm getting an animal. I'm getting an animal."

Sprite chuckled and caught Blake when she spun out of control and almost fell. "Yes, you are, but not tonight." Sprite opened the door and shepherded Blake through the door. "How about you go put on pajamas and brush your teeth. It's late and we'll do baths tomorrow. I need to say good night to Roam."

"Bye, Roam," Blake called as she ran toward her room.

"Good night, Blake."

Sprite stood staring at him, looking up into his eyes. He wondered what she was looking for. Oakley had fallen asleep against his shoulder. He decided he wanted a kiss before he left. He ached for the touch of her lips against his.

He stared into her eyes and then brushed his finger across her jaw, then tunneled his fingers into her hair.

"I had a fantastic time with you and the kids tonight, Sprite," as he breathed his last word close to her mouth, he closed his eyes and touched his lips to the woman he couldn't imagine life without. She relaxed against him and placed her hand against his cheek.

He didn't claim her lips. He coaxed and caressed until she opened her lips. It was a slow reassurance telling her how much she meant to him. He'd never thought about the enjoyment of kissing just for the sake of kissing. Her palm against his cheek filled his heart with a warmth he'd never experienced.

Oakley grunted and moved against him, and he reluctantly pulled away. He opened his eyes to see a blissful, sweet look on Sprite's face. He dropped a final kiss on her forehead, then stepped back. Tonight wasn't the time to explore more. His brother was watching his kids, and he was building something with Sprite. She needed to understand that although he wanted her with every fiber of his being, he wanted her in his life for more than sex.

Sprite lifted Oakley out of his arms.

"I did too. See you at lunch tomorrow."

He nodded. "Yep, I heard Beth is bringing the deputy. Should be interesting."

"Do you not like law enforcement?"

"I do. Let's just say he's relatively new in town and I don't get a good feeling about him. Not sure what, but something bothers me about him."

He dropped another kiss on her forehead and turned to go before he threw all his good intentions out and kissed Sprite like he craved to. He forced himself to not look back or he'd turn around.

He wasn't sure what it was about the new deputy that bothered him. Rascal had a little run in where he thought the guy was throwing kittens in the trash, but the deputy had said he was taking them to his car.

Roam had always thought he had good intuition until Shanna. Now, he second-guessed himself over everything. There wasn't any more he could do about it tonight, so he should just drop it.

He walked in his front door to War sitting on the couch with Cane curled up beside him. He was thankful they all lived close. It was something he'd really missed when he and Shanna lived in town.

"Kids are down, but I do have a request from your oldest."

War's smirk had him wondering what Grant had enlisted his uncle's help with. With that kid, who knew.

"Okay, hit me with it. You want something to drink?" Roam asked, walking into the kitchen and grabbing himself a cold glass of iced tea.

"I'll take water, tea or milk. We had buffalo wings for supper, and they were hotter than fire."

Roam chuckled. "Couldn't let your wife see that she likes food hotter than you, could you?"

"Seriously, I had sweat beading on my forehead and was opening my mouth between swallows, gulping air in trying to cool my mouth, and she's all like I think these could use a little more hot sauce."

Roam handed War a glass of milk. "Well, sounds like your evening was a little like mine. Instead of the lovely relaxed evening, Sprite walked in to a barking dog and two crying toddlers because their big brother decided he'd help them try my jalapeno chips."

War chortled, slapping the counter. "Now his request makes so much more sense. He wants me to ask you for him to get his big boy motorcycle like Phoebe's. He wants you to give him a pass on tonight when you think about it. That kid is too funny."

"It's not like his behavior is changing when he's getting the bike. I promised when he was four and Dad is already working on it. I will say Sprite handled it well. She was calm and even had a solution to help."

His twin looked at him deeply, then nodded. "It seems this is serious with you two. Have you told her..."

Roam held up his hand. Everyone kept harping on telling her but every time he had it planned, something happened. He'd wanted to tell her tonight but couldn't figure out a time. Now, he was so scared it would drive her away. Maybe he could take her for a walk after lunch.

"I'm working on it. I just need the perfect time."

War shook his head and Roam wanted to smack him just like all those times growing up when, because War was a couple minutes older, he thought he knew everything.

"Trust me. There is no perfect time. Bite the bullet and tell her before it blows up in your face."

Roam gazed at War, knowing he was right but wanting more than anything to fast forward to signed papers in his hands from Shanna so he didn't have to face Sprite.

"You're right. Thanks for always having my back," Roam walked over and pulled War in for a hug.

"Always. I might be needing your help soon."

Roam pulled back and scrutinized War's face. "What's going on?"

War pulled in a breath, then blew it out. "Remi quit her birth control and wants us to try. I'm a little ashamed to admit, I'm scared. I can't lose her. Women die in childbirth all the time."

Roam clasped his brother's shoulder. "You've got this and don't go worst-case scenario. Remi's healthy. We have a full-time nurse and an extra on the compound. Just relax. I mean, you're working on the best part, making love to your wife. Everything else will fall together. You're comfortable with the twins, changing diapers and babysitting even by yourself. You'll make a great dad and then our kids can grow up together and take over the MC from us."

A smirk tilted his brother's mouth. His words had done what he wanted and calmed his brother down.

"Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow at lunch."

Roam watched his brother walk out the door and imagined him with a baby. When the twins were born in Dodge City, War had made a quick drop by to see them. He'd awkwardly held Georgia, worried he'd drop her. Fast forward to his brother now, he had no problem holding little ones and had even nudged Rascal out of the way to hold Joey when he was little. War would make a fantastic dad and Remi would be an amazing mom.

He locked the door and did his circle around the house, checking everything before going to bed. He might live on a safe compound, but he still locked his doors at night just in case. He glanced in at the twins and then checked on Grant. He was star fished in his bed and had kicked the covers off on the floor. Roam picked them up and laid them over his feet. By morning, Grant would be curled up with his blanket tight around him.

Roam walked out of Grant's room and headed to his own. Glancing at his large bed, he wished he was crawling into bed beside Sprite. Not just to slide into her body but to talk about their day and have her cuddle up on his shoulder. He didn't look forward to the conversation about Shanna, but he knew it needed to happen. He just wasn't sure how to drop it in the conversation.