Taivon: Book Three of the Cantrell Brothers Series

Chapter Thirty-Four

The next morning, Taivon woke to the sounds of a little girl squealing and laughing loudly. He rolled over and brought his pillow over his head, but nothing helped. Trace and his little girl Callie had way too much energy in the morning.

“C'mon, Uncle Taiv! Wake up, wake up, wake up!” The soon to be seven-year-old ripped the pillow away from him and began to knock on his forehead like it was a door.

“C-C-Callie,” he muttered. “If yuh-yuh-you weren't th-th-the b-birthday girl, I swear...”

“Wanna know a secret, Cal?” Tobias's voice could be heard, and soon, a shadow was cast over him. “Ya gotta make sure your hands are nice and cold and then...You gotta grab his neck!” All of a sudden, a pair of wet, cold hands were touching his sensitive skin

He shot up with a groan, leveling a glare at Tobias who was hiding behind Jane, a big, idiotic grin on his face. “Jane,” he said, quietly. “C-C-Could ya move t-to th-th-th-the side, p-please? Guh-Gotta teach yuh-yuh-your husband a lesson.”

Grinning, Jane moved to the side. Tobias's eyes widened, but before his little brother could escape, Taivon launched himself at the younger man. It felt like his little brother didn't even put up a fight as Taiv easily got him into a headlock, but then, Tobias kicked his licked under his, and they ended up toppling to the ground. With Tobias sitting right on top of him.

“I don't know, man...” Tobias said, bouncing up and down on him. “That stew made me kinda-”

“D-D-Don't say it.”

“Gas-”

“Don't.”

“C'mon, bro. You're no fun.” With a grunt, his little brother stood up, only to make a show of stumbling and falling back down onto him. Tobias held out his hands to Jane. “Dear, do ya think you could help your old man up?”

Taivon could only watch as Jane rolled her eyes, told Tobias that he was only two years older then her, and then hoisted her husband up. He didn't, however, look when Tobias groped her pregnant belly and began to place kisses all over her upturned face. Those two were shameless.

Getting up from the floor, he slid grabbed spare clothes from his bag and went to the downstairs bathroom. He made quick work of getting washed up, brushing his teeth, and making sure he didn't look too tired.

He'd had a restless night, that was for sure. It had consisted mostly of him tossing and turning throughout all hours of the morning, aching to walk down that hallway and wrap Alix up in his arms. It seemed he couldn't sleep without her.

Peeking down the hall, he made sure everybody was in the kitchen and quickly walked to Alix's room. He closed the door as quietly as he could and then slumped against the door. His eyes were burning for sleep, and as tempting as it was to crawl into the small bed beside her sleeping form, he walked over to the window and pushed open the curtains.

She didn't move when he walked closer and still didn't move as he sat down beside her, stroking her hair away from that welcoming face. There was a smile on her face, but she didn't say anything. He lowered his mouth and lightly rushed his lips against hers.

“Wuh-Wake up, sleepy head,” he murmured.

“No,” Alix groaned. “Too tired.”

“Didn't sleep wuh-wuh-well?”

She shook her head and tugged on his head. “Missed you too much. Now, get into bed so I can actually sleep.”

“As much as I wuh-want to, darlin', I c-c-c-can't.”

“Why?”

“Because we're guh-gonna eat b-b-breakfast soon.” He kissed her forehead and smiled when she finally opened her eyes. “But I'll m-m-make it up to you t-t-t-tonight, I promise.”