The Wildcat (Playing to Win, #2)

by Bella Matthews

Yup. I’ve got a daddy kink. It’s official. Because my man—bare-chested with his baby in light-blue footie pajamas and curled up on Cross’s big, broad, bare chest—is fucking stunning. Holy hot daddy.

“Giving my heart to your daddy scares me. But you . . . You just took it without my permission.”

You and me . . . we’re not for show. I don’t care if the world knows your mine. So long as you do.”

“Ares, I swear to God if you make me late, I’m going to kill you,” I yell up the stairs to my brother, who asked for a ride today since his car is in the shop. “That’s not nice, Daddy,”

“You want to tell me what crawled up your ass and died, brother?” “You want to tell me when you’re gonna get serious about something in your life, brother?”

“Come on. You don’t really think little sister isn’t getting her rocks off when she spends the night on campus, do you?”

“I’d drop you where you were standing if I wasn’t driving right now, asshat.” “Yeah, well you’re driving, and I’m not standing.”

“You know you’re an asshole, right?” I fucking mumble as we turn into the parking lot. “What did I do?” Ares laughs because he knows he didn’t do anything. “You made sense.”

So the four of us are sitting in front of Cross’s giant flat-screen, watching Tangled in tiaras while we eat pizza and strawberry shortcake. Not a bad night.

“Gotta say, didn’t think I’d have to be concussed to get you in my bed, Cinderella.”

“Better men than you have underestimated me, God of War. They regret it now.”

“Everly . . . girls take baths. Men don’t take baths.”

Yup. Me on my knees and one single press of my lips and he’s calling me baby.

“It’s not nice to tease a man when he’s down, Cinderella.” “Oh, honey.” I make a dramatic attempt to look down at his dick. “You’re nowhere near down, and I never said you were going to be in the tub alone.

you right now, and I want to enjoy it.” “Enjoy it while you can. Because the only way you’re getting two of me is if you get Gracie too, and you’re not the only one who doesn’t share.”

“Does it hurt?” “Feels like somebody hit the side of my head with a two-by-four.

My vision might be fucked, but the sight of her takes my breath away.

I don’t like that you’re vision is still wonky, Cross. That concerns me.” “Is wonky your official diagnosis, Brynn?”

Lindy asks as she takes the lid off her coffee and inhales deeply. “When you guys have kids, don’t breastfeed. I limit myself to one coffee a day, and I swear I’d savor it for two hours if I had the patience, just to make it last longer.”

“I really wish someone would spank my ass.” “I volunteer as tribute,” comes from an obnoxiously loud male voice.

Guess she didn’t believe me when I said I’d chase her. Her mistake.

“You look beautiful, baby.” “He called her baby,” Aunt Nattie snickers. Mom laughs. “Yes, he did.” “He can call me baby,”

And you didn’t want me there, Cross. I’m a flight risk when I know I’m wanted.

“I’ve got to go.” I take a step back as Cross wraps a hand around the back of my hair and pulls me in for a kiss that makes my toes curl. “Yeah, babe. You better go fix that lipstick.” “Cocky fucker,” I tease. “Arrogance, baby. That’s arrogance.”

“You know my best friend is Sam Beneventi.” “Who?” I ask, genuinely having no clue who that is when everyone breaks out laughing. “Don’t fuck over my daughter, and you’ll never need to worry about it.” Declan shakes my hand, and I see a guy around the same age as him shaking his head. “Smooth, Dec. Just use me as your muscle.” Guess he’s Sam.

“Fuck no. I’m not ready. My wife is going to walk a runway in her underwear. I don’t know how I’m supposed to be okay with that.” Maddox slaps his back. “Because you’re who she’s going home with.

“Yeah. Have fun with that. We’re officially passing the baton. They’re yours.” Maddox grins, and it’s a little fucking creepy. “Only one of them is mine,” I say with a smile. Because she really is. “Nope. They’re a package deal.”

I’m not sure who groans louder, Ares or Callen, because my physical therapist’s very fine ass is on full display in an emerald-green thong.

“Holy shit, brother. I think you just got claimed.”

“You look like you’re ten years younger than me, Cross. Don’t fucking call me sir. But go back there and tell my goddamned daughters to put on some clothes before I stroke out.

“A concussion, babe. I’m not dead. Now, where’s a room with a lock on the damn door?”

“I wasn’t sure if you were going to like this, Wilder.” “Then you don’t know fuck all about me, Sinclair. Because what you did tonight . . . Damn, woman.”

“I never figured you’d do it first. But then, you like to keep me on my toes, don’t you, baby?” “I guess I do.”

“Cross . . .” I whimper impatiently. “You want me to think with your face so close to my pussy?” “If you want my tongue inside that sweet cunt, you’re going to answer me, Everly.”

He bends me over the couch and smacks my ass. “Knew it would look so pretty covered in my handprint.”

“I’m not sure when I figured that out, but in my heart, I think I might have always known it. You still scare me, Cross, but I’m so damn in love with you, nothing else matters.” “That’s good, baby. Because I wasn’t letting you go.”

“I’m going to spread you out and eat you out before I make you scream for me, Everly. Then I’m going to fuck you until I’m the only god you pray to.” Oh fuck.

“Cat got your tongue, baby?” “Forgive me, father, for I have sinned, and I’m about to do it again. Hopefully over and over and over.”

“I had no idea when I met you how fitting Cinderella would be for you. For us. I’m no prince, Everly. But I will always search for you. Shoe or not. You can run if you have to. But I’ll always find you.”

I’ve never had this woman spread out before me on my bed, and wild horses couldn’t get me to rush this.

Both of us so completely destroyed, there’s no going back. There’s no more running. No more chasing. It’s just us. Together.

“No means no, Everly. And if you weren’t able to say no, then it shouldn’t have even been an option. No. It’s an entire sentence. It’s all you ever should have had to say, and if you couldn’t fucking say it, then it should have been automatic, baby.”

“Seriously, call me Declan.” “Okay.” He looks at me for a long moment. “Annabelle said I had to be nice.” “Remind me to thank your wife.”

“She’s perfect,” I whisper, and Declan claps my shoulder. “Nobody’s perfect, Cross. But she’s pretty damn close. So don’t fuck it up.” I don’t bother correcting him. But he’s wrong. Everly is perfect. Perfect for me. For us. And I’m not fucking this up because that woman is the love of my life.

Finally, I gave in and asked Sam, who’s Maddox’s dad, why everyone uses him as a threat. Maddox laughs at me right before his father smacks the back of his head. “Comes with the job,” he tells me and walks away. “What’s his job?” I ask Maddox. “Waste management,”

“Do not let a single hair on her head get hurt or I will castrate you,”

“No. You’re the love of my life. And I can’t fix this for you. Let me fix this.” “It’s not your job to fix me, Cross.”

Being mad is so much easier. Running is easier. But I love him. Cross is worth harder. He’s worth the work. He’s worth the struggle. He’s worth everything, and I just ran again.

Everly bites her lip, and a weary, sad smile graces her gorgeous face. “You chased me . . .” she cries. “I’ll always chase you, baby. I’ll always find you. And I’ll always bring you home. To me and the kids. You’re my forever, Everly Sinclair.” “And you’re my home, Cross Wilder.”

“We’ve got a thing for the rain, don’t we?” I wrap my arms around her and kiss her head. “It washes everything away so we can start fresh.”