Page 87 of Under Ground
Reece nods. “Both of them, really. But Josh wasn’t around when Amelia was a baby. I think he’s trying to make up for it with Addison.”
“Oh?”
Reece drops onto the couch beside me. “Those two have a story all of their own, but if you’re going to stay here, you should know they’re prone to extreme shows of PDA.”
Pania laughs. “You’re not wrong.”
I shrug. “I think I can handle it. As long as Lana’s happy, I think I can handle anything right now.”
Reece holds up his beer and I tap mine against his. “Amen to that.”
* * *
There are still mornings when I can’t believe my life.
Everything I ever wanted is right here in my arms, and she stirs as I brush my lips against her temple.
Lana’s nose wrinkles, and she opens her eyes slowly. “What are you doing?”
“Waking up with you.”
“More like waking me up.” She rolls onto her side, facing me, tucking her hands under her cheek.
“Are you complaining?”
She lets out a long, contented sigh. “No. What’s the time?”
I roll over and reach for my phone, grimacing at the bright light. “A little after eight.”
“Do we have to get out of bed?”
Dropping the phone back on the bedside table, I roll over and then run my index finger down her neck and over her collarbone, and trace a line down her arm before circling back to her bare breast. “No. What did you have in mind for today?”
Lana raises her palms to her forehead, arching her back as she stretches. It’s such a familiar move, and I love watching her do it. She’s so graceful, but it also puts those delectable breasts almost in my face.
She laughs as I lick her nipple.
“We can’t stay in bed and do that all day. We should go out and be sociable,” she says. “It’s weird that Casey hasn’t been in here yet. She was tired last night, but she knows where we are, and I would have thought that she’d be up by now. I should check on her.”
“Then kiss me quick and I might let you out of bed.”
She rolls her eyes, leans over, and pecks me on the lips. “That’ll have to do you until later.”
I wait until she’s sitting on the side of the bed, pulling a shirt over her head before I grab her around the waist and pull her backward.
She squeals with laughter. “Alex Stone.”
“Yes?”
I gaze at her—her face so full of love. Her eyes aren’t as tired today, but I know it’ll take a few days for her and Casey to shake the jetlag off. I’m not feeling too bad after a good night’s sleep. Staying here is probably more luxurious than staying in a hotel. The bed is soft and comfortable, and I really appreciate that Delaney and Josh have taken us in. This welcome has been so good for Lana and for Casey.
“I love you,” she says.
“Good. Now give me a proper kiss.”
We shower before Lana leads me to Amelia’s room. There’s no sign of the girls there, so we head into the kitchen for breakfast.
“Mummy and Daddy. My mummy and daddy are here,” Casey calls from the kitchen table. A half-eaten bowl of cereal sits in front of her.