Free Words From The Heart (Spring-Summer Romance Book 2) by Alex Greenville Page B

think?” Then again, though she longed for uninterrupted rest, she’d miss the quiet time. She was always better for spending those moments alone with June, whereas much of nursing August had been stained by painfully fresh memories of Cale’s behavior.
    The baby cooed softly, her body soon warm and pliable. Eyes closing, Audrey became lost in thought.
    Taking care of June had become her salvation in many ways. She’d needed to know that motherhood during these first few months could be rich and sweet and fulfilling. With August, always in her head, she’d heard Cale’s negative remarks. Didn’t she know what pregnancy would do to her? She wouldn’t be attractive anymore. No longer his trophy, but his mistake.
    As a result, she’d nitpicked at everything, every blemish, the stretchmarks, the sag to her breasts. Her weight wasn’t what it should be, her waistline too thick. Even her face … she’d thought her cheeks too florid, the circles beneath her eyes more pronounced. All of that had to be why he’d rejected her, right?
    She’d thought she’d overcome that mentality. Over time, she’d certainly fallen in love with her son. She had no regrets about having him; he was perfect. Perfect. Time with June, however, brought those memories back and healed them in a way she hadn’t expected.
    Bennett’s attention helped further it. Unlike Cale, he seemed to appreciate where motherhood had taken her, and that was satisfying.
    June squirmed, and Audrey turned her to the other side, the cool air on her moist nipple turning the flesh rigid. Peace descended, and June nodded off, eventually, her mouth pulling free. The silence of the house and soft darkness tugged at Audrey’s eyelids.
    She realized she’d been sleeping when Bennett’s shape rose overhead. He stooped, sliding June from her arms, and laid his daughter, a warm lump, in the crib. Audrey pushed to her feet, the heel of her hand scrubbing one eye. She realized then, the edges of her blouse fluttering, how exposed she was.
    She scrambled for the buttons, clenching them in her palm, but Bennett stretched out one hand and laid it over top. Taking hold, he peeled her fingers away and slipped one hand beneath her blouse. His fingers warm, he leaned in, the weight of her breast cupped in his palm. Desire written in his expression, he lowered his mouth to meet his fingertips. His tongue danced over the arch of her breast and she gasped, aroused by the soft suck of his lips.
    “Bennett …” A plea, spoken from desperation to feed the heat flickering in her mind.
    He pulled away, the place he’d moistened cooling. “You are … succulent,” he said, his voice deep, “and I was jealous.” He released her breast, one by one, closing the buttons of her shirt.
    Jealous? Of June? Or did he mean Cale? He hadn’t known Cale, but if that was the case, might figure she was, similarly, jealous of his wife. She wasn’t.
    The last button fastened, he stepped in reverse.
    “Don’t be, and don’t … go,” she said.
    He halted in the doorway, his need for her clear beneath the fabric of his pants. He made no effort to conceal it, if anything shuffling his feet uncomfortably. In her next breath, he vanished into the hall.
    Her pulse stole her breath, and weakened, Audrey sank back into the rocker, one hand rising to cradle the place his mouth had been.
     

     
    Finding Audrey asleep, her breasts exposed, had spiraled his mind back to the first night when his reaction to June’s cries had been to sprint for the nursery. Except this time, he’d been bold enough to taste what tormented him. Sweet, tantalizing flesh.
    His confusion between it being Audrey and not Beth had caused him to retreat. That wasn’t fair to her. She’d asked him to stay. But the last thing he wanted to do was treat Audrey like her only purpose was to relieve his angst.
    Their relationship had changed as the days passed, growing closer, and in many ways, he was glad for that. Just the same,