Enticing (Red Lips & White Lies, #3)

by Bella Matthews

“I’m not going to hurt you, Addie. Not you. Not your girls. If any of this is going to work, you have to trust me.” “I don’t know if I’m capable of trusting again, Leo . . .” She closes her eyes for a moment, and when they open, there’s a fire there that was missing before. “But I think if I was ever going to try to trust someone, it would be you.” I press my lips against her forehead. “That’s a start.”

I brush my lips over hers, slowly and gently, giving her time to pull away if she needs to. But my girl surprises me when she presses her body against mine, each soft curve molding to my muscled form. I lick into her mouth, and Addie moans as my blood roars in my veins. “Fuck, wife . . .” I breathe out and press my forehead against hers. “You’re not making this easy.” Her laugh is sultry as she wraps a hand around my neck and digs it into my hair.

“Nothing about my life will ever be easy, Leo.” She runs her teeth over her lip and shakes her head the slightest bit. “And I’m not your wife.” “Not yet.” I step back and pick up the bags I left by the front door earlier. “You hungry? I brought food.” “Does this mean you guys are done making out? Because I’m starving.” Coraline sticks her head out of the kitchen and stares at us, waiting.

gasps, “Leo.” The brilliant-cut, flawless three-carat diamond solitaire sparkles, picking up the white lights from the Christmas tree, and I slide it on her ring finger. Fits like a glove. Guess I better thank Coraline for that. “Gorgeous and understated, just like the woman who wears it.” I press a kiss to her temple. “Marry me, Adelaide.” I choose my next words carefully, not wanting to scare her, and knowing she’s not ready for everything I want to say. Not yet. “Let me make you safe.”

He’s real, and he’s here, somewhere. And for as long as this thing between us lasts, I’m pretty sure he’s mine. My husband . . . If only that thought didn’t scare the shit out of me.

When I snicker, he turns to face me, red cheeks and all. He’s embarrassed. Maybe he’s human after all. “I keep finding you holding my baby.” I force my voice to sound stronger than I feel. His big hand takes up her entire back, and he holds her so delicately as she sleeps snugly against his chest, and I swear something in mine cracks. “Sorry,” he starts. “I heard her and didn’t want her to wake you up.”

He brushes his lips over Lennox’s head and so incredibly carefully lays her down in her crib. “I can’t wait to take you and the girls there this summer.” Holy shit. My heart stops beating. And before I can say anything at all, he’s got my hand in his. “I can hear you thinking, Addie. We’re going to be together next summer.”

I anchor myself with the collar of his wool peacoat and hold him to me. Loving the feel of him. His erection presses against my stomach, and a moan slips past my lips, leaving Leo an opening to push his tongue into my mouth. And my God, my entire body wakes up for the first time in years. Years. Leo’s hands slip down to my ass and squeeze, and fuck, I don’t want him to stop. I whimper when he pulls his face back. “Don’t worry, wife. We can pick this up later. Now let’s get the kids and get inside before it starts snowing again.” “Leo.” I glare. “What the hell . . . ?” “Are you less nervous than you were before?” “I can’t even think straight now,”

“Addie . . .” He nudges me as he stands back up. “That was mean, Leo.” I keep it quiet, so Izzy doesn’t hear me. His lips pull into a wolfish grin, and my belly quivers. “I’ll be really, really nice when I make it up to you later, wife.” Damn, I like the sound of that.

I hadn’t planned to let it go that far, but she felt so fucking good under my hands. My fucking wife. Yeah. I like that.

“Wait—Leo . . .” I stop and wait because when Annabelle Sinclair speaks, you listen. Her watery green eyes dance from me to Addie and Lennox. “Are you happy?” “Mom . . . We just wanted to get married. We didn’t want to wait. We didn’t want some big thing. Just us and the kids.” I wrap my arm tightly around Addie’s waist and hold her close. “We’re happy.” After a long, uncomfortable minute, my mother sighs and cups my cheek. “You always were my most impulsive child. You lead with your heart and leap before you look.” “Mom—” “Let me finish.” She drops her hand and wraps her arm around Addie. “But you know your heart better than any of my children. You always have. Welcome to the family, Addie. Buckle up. We’re a loud, opinionated group.”

“Leave your brother alone,” Dad announces as he joins us outside. He takes the cigar from Nixon and glares at the guys. “Your women are looking for you.” They all leave me like scared little shits. Dicks.

“You made your mother cry.” Yeah . . . he never raises his voice either. “Sorry. I wasn’t trying to hurt her,” I offer, not sure what he wants to hear. “Always so impulsive, Leo.” “It wasn’t impulse, Dad. Mom wasn’t my first priority. Addie was . . . is. And she didn’t want a whole big thing. Her parents are dead. She has

one sister, and that’s it. No other family. All of this makes her uncomfortable. So, I’m sorry I upset Mom. But I did it for my wife. And you always made sure we knew Mom was our mother, but she was your wife, and wife trumps everything else.” Part of me wonders if I should feel like a fraud saying this, but I squash that part like a fucking bug because Addie’s worth it. “And the student becomes the teacher. Touché, kid.” He leans back against the paver wall and crosses his arms over his chest as he looks out at the snow. “So, this is the real deal?” “As real as it gets,” I tell him and look through the glass at the woman inside talking to my sisters. “She’s it. I knew it the minute I met her.” “Yeah . . . that’s how it happens.”

“That why you and Mom have always been so solid?” I clap him on the back as we walk to the back door.

Dad stops and looks at me before he grabs the door. “That and a lot of sex.” “Fucking gross. Jesus Christ. What the hell is wrong with you?” I yell, fucking disgusted, wishing I could unhear his words as he laughs. “Don’t ask if you don’t want the answer.” Well shit. I didn’t want that answer.

I walk into my bedroom, unsure whether I’ll find Leo in here or not. Unsurprisingly, he’s sitting on my bed in black jersey sleep pants with Lennox sleeping on his bare chest. It’s like he’s determined to demolish every wall I have. “She asleep?” he murmurs, careful not to wake my sleeping baby, and sweet baby Jesus in a manger on Christmas, I’m jealous of my daughter because this man’s chest is chiseled perfection. And my daughter on it is the absolute sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life, bar none. Holy freaking hell. This man . . . My husband.

“I can put her down,” he offers, and I realize he’s already changed her. “I already married you, Sinclair. You don’t have to win me over,” I tease as he stands, that predatory grin back in place. “You did marry me, didn’t you?” He kisses the top of my head and crosses the room. “Pretty sure that makes this our wedding night, wife.”

“I’ve never wanted anything more than I want your mouth on me, husband.”

“Fuck. Say it again,” he growls and rips my panties from my hips with his bare hands. And— Oh. My. God. It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.

Another hockey hottie bites the dust, and this one happened in record time. This reporter only just reported on Leo Sinclair and Adelaide James going Instagram official last week. But it seems in a relationship with wasn’t a good enough status update for this new IT couple because their new status should read . . . Married.

You heard it here, folks. Another Sinclair put a ring on it, and he didn’t waste any time. Bring on the stomping of the feet and gnashing of the teeth as women everywhere throw a fit over the loss of this fine bachelor. Guess that only leaves one Sinclair bachelor left, and Chicago is a little far for even my reach. Damn. #KroydonKronicles #AnotherOneBitesTheDust #NewestItCouple

Grace Can we at least throw you a party? Leo Not sure Addie’s the center of attention kind of woman. She’d rather not have all eyes on her. Everly Every woman likes to be the center of attention, Leo. If she doesn’t, you’re doing something wrong. Leo Oh, trust me, she likes being the center of my attention. Doesn’t mean she wants to be the center of your attention. Grace Nope. I don’t need to know anymore. I’m out. Good luck at the game. I’m staying home with the kids. Jake’s not feeling great.

Leo Okay, sweetheart. See you at home. Hey Addie . . .

Addie Yeah? Leo I like the sound of that. Home.

I smile at the picture Addie just sent me. Izzy’s lying on the couch, her head on Addie’s lap, while Lennox sleeps on Addie’s chest. Not sure when these three girls turned into my whole world, but damn, it happened fast.

“Yeah. Addie’s family owns the Bay Hawks. But she doesn’t have anything to do with them. She’s an author, and she lives here. She’s also my fucking wife, so if any of you have a problem with that, let me know, and we can take that shit outside after the game.” I look around the now-quiet locker room. “We good?” No one answers until Coach Kane repeats it. “Your teammate answered your question and asked if you’re good. Does anybody have a problem we need to know about?” “No, Coach,” is echoed, and he nods. “Good. Then let’s get warmed up, men. Time to kick Minnesota’s asses.”

“You love her?” Nix asks. “Fuck yes, I love her.” Even if she’s not ready to hear it yet. “Then don’t fuck it up, brother.” I think about the girls lying on the couch and smile again. Yeah . . . I’ve got no plans to fuck this up.

“Thanks, short stack.” This kid can be as prickly as her mom, but for some reason, she let me in, and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to tell her what that means to me. “You just holler if you need something, and I’ll come running, okay?” She nods and closes her eyes. “Love you, Leo.”

Well, shit. Prickly exterior. Warm and gooey interior. Like I thought—just like her mom. I run a hand over her wild hair, and she relaxes under my touch. “Love you too, Izz.”

She hops off the counter and pushes me out of the way, then turns the hot water knob to full blast until steam is filling the room and water is nearly filling the tub. She eyes it, then me. “Think we’re going to fit?” I run my hands under her hoodie, loving the fact it’s the one I gave her days ago. “Oh, I’m pretty sure I can make it fit, wife.” “It?” She furrows her brow and pulls my shirt over my head. “It . . . Us . . . same difference,” I tease and let her unbuckle my belt and push down my pants and boxers, loving the way her eyes turn to molten chocolate once I’m naked in front of her. “My eyes are up here, Adelaide.” Her mouth forms a perfect little O as she snaps her gaze up to mine, then laughs and pushes at my chest.

“You and the girls are pretty easy to love, yourselves, Mrs. Sinclair.” Carefully, Addie turns in my arms and ignores the bubbles sloshing over the sides of the tub. She wraps her legs around my waist and drags a wet finger down my face. “I’m not sure if I’m ever going to be able to give you more than that, Leo.”

I run my lips over hers. “I’ll never ask you for more than you can give me.” Her beautiful chocolate eyes close as her pussy drags over my cock. “I’m not sure why you put up with any of this when you could have any woman you wanted.”

“You are the woman I want, and I’ve got you right here in my arms. You’re my wife, Adelaide. Nothing about us may have happened the way you think it was supposed to, but I think everything happens for a reason. And for whatever reason, we were brought together. You were always meant to be mine.” I push the damp curls falling from her bun away from her face. “Mine, Addie. And I protect what’s mine. Nothing is ever going to hurt you again. I promise.” “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Leo.”

“Oh, God,” I cry out as I chase my orgasm, and Leo palms my breast and pinches the very tip of my nipple. “When you come, it’s with my name on your lips, wife.” Fuck. That shouldn’t be so damn hot. But it really, really is. “So possessive, husband.” I drag my teeth over his lips and bite down. “Have I told you I fucking love it?”

Do you want to know why storms have been named after women for over seventy years? Threaten my children and find out. —Addie’s Secret Thoughts

“Baby . . . I need you to get mad. I understand you’re scared, but I swear to God, Adelaide, I won’t let him touch you or the girls. He’s never going to hurt anyone again. Now, I need you to get angry because it’s time to destroy his whole fucking family, and tomorrow, we’re going to figure out a way to make that happen. His days of terrorizing you are over.” I lift her in my arms and stand. “Time to go inside and get you warmed up.” “I’m scared, Leo,” she whispers, and that admission fucking eviscerates me.

Gavin fucking Dryson is a dead man walking.

Lennox cries out from her bedroom, and I scramble out of bed to get to her before she wakes her sleeping mother. “Hey, baby girl.” I scoop her up and hold her against my chest. “Shh . . . It’s okay. I’ve got you. You’re okay.” I wait until she’s calm to lay her down on the changing table and switch out her diaper, then she and I decide rocking on the glider sounds like a great way to spend the morning. Lennox smacks my cheeks with her palms and mouths my nose. “You hungry, baby?” She giggles and tugs at my ear before curling up on my chest and cooing the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. “Not hungry yet, I guess.”

“My agent. He’s a lawyer, and he’s signed a nondisclosure agreement, so anything we discuss can’t go anywhere.” He squats down next to the chair and brings himself to my eye level. “We need someone to give us our options, sweetheart.” “Our options,” I repeat back to him. “Yeah, Addie. Our options. Because you’re not in this alone.” “I’m not sure why you’re so patient with me, Leo Sinclair . . . But I’ve never been so glad for a broken-down car a single day in my life as I am for mine the day I met you.” Leo leans forward and kisses me, then Lennox. “I love you, Adelaide. You. The girls. You’re everything to me, and I fight for what’s mine. We’ve got this. I promise.”

Once upon a time . . . She made it the fuck through . . . The end. —Addie’s Secret Thoughts

Belles nods. “You met Lilah and Noah?” “I did. I’m good friends with Caitlin Beneventi, and we volunteered at the soup kitchen on Christmas. At the time, I hadn’t even realized how everyone was related. Your family is pretty big.” My head hurts, just thinking about all the connections. “Well it’s your family now too, Addie.” And damn, if that realization doesn’t blow my mind.

I cup the back of her head and drag my thumb along her jaw. “Now go get your shoes on. I may have gotten conned into going to The Busy Bee for dinner after Izzy’s class.” Her dark eyes laugh back at me. “Sucker.” “Only for the James girls,” I tell her. “Guess that makes us the luckiest girls in the world, Leo.” She lifts up on her toes and presses her lips against mine. “Pretty sure I’m the lucky one.” No truer words have ever been spoken.

“How does Izzy like ballet?” Gracie asks me as we sit in the suite at the hockey arena, waiting for the game to start. “So far she loves it. But it’s only been one class. And your mother won’t even let me pay for it.” Not that I knew where the money was coming from, but I would have found it somewhere. “Izzy and Lennox are her newest grandbabies, and there’s nothing in the world Mom and Dad love more than their grandbabies. Ask Everly. They don’t see any difference between biological and stepkids. To them, they’re all theirs.”

Izzy’s big brown eyes dance excitedly, and I think I fall in love with Lilah. “I knew it. Okay, yeah. We won’t tell anyone because I don’t want to hurt their feelings when they realize my dad is better than theirs.” I suck in a breath and chance a glance at Lilah, who looks considerably less shocked than I am. She called him her dad, and damn, she’s not wrong. In the few short months Leo has been in her life, he’s been everything a father should be. And so much more of one than Izzy’s ever had. But still . . . we haven’t called him that or even discussed it with her or him. My heart cracks for my daughter. She hasn’t had it easy, but this man who just stepped into her life like he was always there . . . I’m pretty damn sure he’s never going to let her down. He’s going to be the father I wish I’d had and I prayed my girls would have.

“Go, Leo. I’ll stay with Addie,” Hendrix tries to assure me, but all I can focus on is my wife. I don’t give a shit about me. “I’ll call your lawyer. We’ll get you out as soon as we can.” “Stay with her, Hen. I mean it.” I’m shoved from behind, and time slows. My wife is in a crumpled ball on the floor. The girls . . . I look around, frantic, as the police try to shove me out. “Where are the girls?” “We’ve got them,” Ares yells back from somewhere. I can’t even see him through the madness surrounding us. “Go. We’ll take care of them.” “Do not let my kids out of your fucking sight, Wilder.” Guess that storm I’d been waiting for just blew in.

Jerry stands, slamming his chair back so hard it crashes to the floor. “And why would I agree to any of this?” “Because you are not the only powerful family at this table, Mr. Dryson. Do not underestimate my reach,” Declan says calmly.

More calmly than I’m capable of, apparently, because my blood boils. “Because if you don’t, I will send that video, that report, and every single one of those pictures to every single news station in the country. I won’t sleep until I destroy you. You and your son didn’t break me. But I will break you. I promise you that.”

“Are you okay, Leo? I was so scared,” she whispers, refusing to let go of me, and I’m pretty damn fine with that because I didn’t think I’d be holding my wife today, and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to let her go. “I am now, baby. But I don’t understand . . . How the hell did you guys get me out?” I ask the two lawyers in the front seat. Of course, Hunter laughs. “You might want to ask your wife about that.” “Adelaide . . . ?” “I got us our freedom.” This time her voice is strong and firm. No fear. No whisper. “Now let’s go get our babies.”

“Go. We’ve got this. Dad’s assistants are running practice today. He doesn’t have to be back until tomorrow.” She kisses my cheek. “I love you, Leo. You’re a good man.” “Yeah well, I had a great example to watch.” Dad throws his cards on the table and fakes frustration while Izzy giggles. “Leo,” she calls out. “Is Mommy okay? Auntie Gracie said her head hurt and that we had to be kinda quiet.” Auntie Gracie . . . I love my family. “Yeah, short cake. She’ll be okay. Her head just hurts. I’m going to go check on her.” She takes my dad by the hand and pulls him to his feet. “Come on, Grandpa. Let’s pop popcorn and watch a movie.” And there goes the GOAT being dog-walked by a five-year-old. Like I said, I had a great example of a good man.