But f**k, ass**les said that shit all the time.

“When did I become a crusader for black justice?” he asked.

“You’re not. Sam is. It’s just that, this time, Mr. Humongo is his wing-man.”

He stared down at his woman and shook his head because, serious as f**k, she was a goof.

She pressed closer and coaxed in a soft voice, “Come on, honey. Sam says his house is right on the ocean. The girls’ll love the beach.”

The beach.

Hawaii had beaches.

“I’ll do it,” he stated and watched his wife smile. Then he asked, “Can you tell me why you keep puttin’ clothes on before you go to bed?”

“It’s November. It’s cold.”

Not in the house it wasn’t. He had three girls to look after. He never jacked down the heat. He wanted them to be comfortable at all times so he saw to that, including paying a whack on heating their huge, f**king house. Something else he spent a whack on to keep them comfortable.

“Lex, f**k you before we go to sleep,” Ty pointed out. “You puttin’ on pajamas is a ridiculous obstacle.”

She pressed closer and her hands slid down and around his back to hold him tight.

“I like the ways you take them off,” she whispered.

“That’s good, mama, but it’s me who’s gotta take them off.”

She pulled back and asked, “Is it that much of a pain in the ass?”

Ty moved and he did this quickly and efficiently and in less than thirty seconds his wife was on her ass and na**d in their bed.

Then he answered, “No.”

She grinned. Then she found her knees again. Then she lunged.

Fuck, his woman was a wildcat.

He let her pull him to the bed not about to complain mostly because, seeing his wife na**d in their bed, his c**k was no longer getting hard.

It was there.

* * * * *

“Good day,” she whispered into his chest.

Ty didn’t reply but she was wrong. It wasn’t good. It was fantastic.

“Love the way Irv is with the girls, especially Lell,” she went on.

Ty again didn’t reply but he did too. His father and his girl had a bond, thick as thieves. Irv loved Vivie but he had a connection with Lell, one she’d cherish for always and never forget, even years after he was gone. Ty did not have that. Neither did Lexie. But his daughter would.

And he liked that.

His relationship with his father had obviously improved significantly after his Dad saved Lexie’s life at the same time nearly losing his and, with Irv now off the booze entirely, it kept getting better.

His Mom never entered their lives, not anymore. She’d had a variety of run-ins with Lexie in town and at the house that set Lex to throwing some serious sass and bought his mother a visit from her son communicating her ban. His father might catch it when he got home after a visit but he never said. Ty didn’t ask. But when Irv came over, which was frequently, he never acted like he did, so it was likely he hid it. It was a little late for Irv Walker to shield the ones he loved but it was better late than never.

Ty liked that too.

Lex gave his gut a squeeze and muttered, “’Night, baby.”

“’Night, mama.”

She sighed.

Five minutes later he took her weight.

Five minutes after that, she rolled away.

When she did, he rolled into her, curled his arm around her belly that was carrying, hope to God, his son and pulled her close.

She snuggled closer.

Then he tipped his chin and smelled her hair and two seconds later, Ty Walker fell asleep with his wife tucked close and the lights of the small, quiet, safe, Colorado town of Carnal shining through their huge-ass windows.

* * * * *

Eight months later, Lady Luck was still feeling in a generous mood.

Ty knew this because it was then, Julius Tatum Walker was born.

* * * * *

And twenty months after that, she was still feeling the same way.

Ty knew this because it was then, Elijah Irving Walker was born.