“What is it?” he asked soothingly.
“We were rather loud,” she mumbled
He grinned arrogantly. “We definitely were.”
“Everyone on the first floor probably heard us.” She looked horrified.
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Impossible. I’ve had the basement soundproofed.”
“You have?”
“Mmhmm, otherwise Eleanor would kill us for firing guns inside the house.”
Somehow she managed to pull her legs off of his shoulders and gently push him off so that she could sit up. “You said ‘us’, you mean Chris is firing guns?”
He exhaled loudly. “Madison, he’s not a boy. We’ve talked about this. He’s a Sentinel. This is what he’s meant to do and he’s very good at it. They all are, but he has to practice to improve his skills.”
She took his hand into her lap and began playing with his fingers.
“Madison? Do you understand?”
After a moment she spoke. “Yes, I don’t like it though. Chris is like a little brother to me and he’s my best friend. It scares me when you take him out on patrol.”
“I know that, baby. You need to remember that he’s my son and I take every precaution to keep him safe. I would never let anything happen to him, okay?” His voice was tender.
She looked up at him, smiling sweetly. “You really love him, don’t you?”
His lips pulled into a lopsided grin. “The brat’s definitely grown on me.” In a more serious tone he continued. “Yes, I love him very much as I love Joshua and Jill as if they were my own as well.”
Madison tugged on his hand until he leaned forward for a kiss. “You’re a very good man who does very, very, very, very, very stupid things.” She half teased.
“I’m an idiot.” His eyes were focused on her lips. “You’re really going to have your hands full keeping me in line.” He brushed his lips against hers.
“What do you suggest I do to keep you in line?” her voice was low and husky.
“Marry me. Make an honest man out of me,” he proposed against her mouth as he laid her back onto the mat.
She pushed him onto his back and quickly straddled his hips. “I tell you what, if you can make me scream your name three times I’ll marry you.”
His hands cupped her hips. “Is there a time limit on this deal?”
She leaned forward, sliding against his already hardening length. “Oh no, actually taking your time is encouraged on this deal and if you make me scream your name four times I’ll marry you tomorrow.”
He gripped her h*ps and brought her forward as he thrust inside of her. “Better get ready to repeat your vows, Madison, because tomorrow you’re mine.”
********
“Nice!” Chris said appreciatively as Joshua took out four bad guys.
Joshua was in the zone. Nothing outside of the video game mattered to him. He leaned back against the foot of Chris’s bed as he readjusted himself into a new sitting position, his eyes never leaving the screen.
“Hey, loser.” Jill knocked on his door and came in without waiting for an invitation. She flopped on her stomach across his bed.
“He’s not a loser,” Joshua said automatically.
“Thanks, little man.” He looked back at Jill. She was watching them play. “Whatcha need?”
“Grandma’s on the phone calling everyone she’s ever met. She told me to order pizza for dinner.”
“Sweet,” Chris said. As much as he loved grandma’s home cooking he missed junk food. She didn’t let them order out very often unless something big was going on. “What’s up with Grandma? Did the reverend finally make his move?” he teased.
Her eyes shot to Joshua. “I’ll tell you later.” That piqued his interest.
“Tell me now. Give me hints.” He tossed his controller on the floor and turned in his game chair to face her.
“No, order the pizza first.”
“You.”
“No, you do it,” she said dismissively. Every chance she got she talked down to him. It was irritating. He often wondered what he did to get her panties in a bunch.
“Fine, hand me my phone it’s behind you.”
She looked over her shoulder at the silver phone on his nightstand. “Just use the one in your pocket.”
He pretended not to hear. He wasn’t really supposed to talk about that phone. It was his Sentinel phone, GPS, and emergency beacon; basically it was his lifeline to the council. “It’s my work phone, Jill. I’m not allowed to use it for ordering pizza. Just throw me my phone.”
She tossed the phone to him. “I don’t understand why Ephraim quit his job with the police department to work with a sixteen year old working security?” Disbelief filled her tone.
“Believe what you want.” That was the cover story they gave. Luckily they wouldn’t have to use it much longer. The clergy needed to enter the house soon to add protection. The house required prayer guards and extra support. Ephraim said they would need to know the truth soon and he was thankful for that because even he wasn’t buying it.
He placed the order and tossed the silver phone back her way. “So, tell me what I want to know.”
Gossip. That was Jill’s best friend. As long as you allowed her to report it or gave it to her she would be your best friend. “Well it seems in seven and half months they will be letting out another room.”
Chris rolled his eyes. “Oh, that? I already knew about that.”
“You’re such a liar.”
“Puhlease, I was the first person after the two of them to know three weeks ago.” In fact, Madison had twisted his arm, literally, and made him go into a Wal-Mart an hour away to buy the damn test.
“Liar, why would they tell you and not us?”
He gave her a ‘duh’ look and spoke slowly to her in much the same manner. “Because he’s my father and she’s my best friend.”
“Hey!” Joshua griped.
“Besides you, little man, of course.” Chris reached out and gently punched Joshua on the shoulder.
Joshua nodded firmly, satisfied with the correction. “Of course.”
She snickered.
“What?” he asked mildly annoyed.
“He’s not really your father you know.”
“Tell that to our legal system,” he said dryly.
“Ephraim is too his Dad! You’re just jealous! He treats me like his son too and you like a daughter so I don’t know why you’re complaining, Jill. I think you’re just mad because he didn’t adopt you, too.” Joshua’s voice was crisp.