Ruthless Game (GhostWalkers #9)(73)
Author: Christine Feehan

He groaned and adjusted his jeans. “That’s just not right. You’re torturing me.”

“You deserve it for being right about going out with shadows tailing us. I hate not being right. And anytime you best me, just think of this moment.” He was standing close enough to her so she gave in to temptation and reached out to stroke the front of his jeans in long caresses.

He didn’t move but pushed into her hands, allowing the friction to deepen. “I did do that, didn’t I?” He grinned at her. “Bested you, babe. I was right.”

She rolled her eyes. “Rub it in, soldier.” She increased the pressure on the front of his jeans, drawing another groan from him.

The strobe in the bedroom went off at the same time the intercom buzzed at the front door. Kane sagged. “This just sucks.”

Rose smiled serenely and cradled Sebastian to her. She’d done a darn good job of turning the tables on him. Playing together was important. Just like trust. There were so many things she had to learn about relationships. The camaraderie between Kane and Mack and Jaimie was the same she’d shared with the women she’d been raised with. They shared trust, an unbreakable bond, along with the other members of the team. She wanted to be part of that. When she walked out onto the street to do her shopping or go to a movie—something she’d always dreamt of doing—she would feel safe knowing they were watching over her.

She rubbed Sebastian’s head, noting his hair was growing fast and thick. He seemed stronger than ever. She’d read in the baby book of the progress he was supposed to make from week to week, and he seemed far ahead both physically and mentally of where he should be. He obviously recognized both of his parents and even the team, although he was much more withdrawn around them. He rarely made a sound around the others. Rose had to watch him closely for cues when he might by hungry or need his diaper changed.

He was always eerily silent around strangers. The doctor and physical therapist as well as any deliveryman prompted him to go completely still, and he stared unblinkingly at them until they left his line of sight. He had easily held up his head far before the book told her he would, and he was pushing himself up by his arms as well as using his hands with coordination.

“Because you’re so smart, Sebastian,” she whispered. Inside, she was just a little afraid. If Whitney ever got an inkling that Sebastian was weeks ahead of where he should be in his development, she was certain he would send an army after the boy.

She tried to keep her son away from everyone and often cautioned Kane not to brag about him, even to his team members. If Sergeant Major learned about Sebastian, would he say something to his superiors? Would it be put in a report somewhere for Whitney to find? She knew the man had spies everywhere. Money talked, and Whitney had plenty of it. He also was very adept at blackmailing people into getting what he wanted. Or threatening them.

Whitney had a variety of ways to succeed at his plans, and he was ruthless enough to always come out on top.

She brushed kisses on top of Sebastian’s head before switching him to the other breast. “You don’t have to worry, son,” she whispered, rocking him a little. He always seemed to sense her agitation and reacted, snuggling closer as if to comfort her. “You’ve got not only your daddy and me but Mack and Javier and all the rest of the team. I know some of them are scary, but they’ll look after you always.”

Saying the words aloud comforted her. Maybe no one was completely free. She wasn’t a prisoner unless one counted love caging her in. It was her choice to stay with Kane and the others. “We can have a life here, Sebastian. It won’t be perfect. You’ll have to learn about self-defense and guns and hand-to-hand combat, but we’ll have fun. I promise you that. We’ll definitely have fun.”

“Hey, sweetheart,” Kane stuck his head into the bedroom, keeping the door closed just in case anyone might catch a glimpse of her. “I’m heading up to the training floor. Eric gave the okay, and they’re going to work me a little harder.”

She laughed. “Does he know you’ve been training for the last couple of weeks?”

He frowned at her and gave a quick shake of the head.

“I knew you were lying to me when you said he gave the thumbs-up.”

“I never told you Eric gave me the thumbs-up. When you asked me if it was okay for me to train, I put my thumb up, that’s all. I can’t help how you interpret gestures.”

“I can give you a couple of other gestures you might want to interpret,” she threatened, trying not to laugh. He was impossible to keep down.

“We can discuss that when I get back. Or you could call Jaimie and ask her if she wants to go shopping with you.”

She could see the effort it took for him to make that concession. He was determined to give her whatever freedom she needed. “I might put off the shopping until tomorrow, and you can arrange for our shadow escort ahead of time. That way, no one has to scramble or interrupt any plans they might have already made.” She leered suggestively. “I think a discussion is definitely in order when you get back. I’ll have Sebastian asleep by then. I’m going to play with him now. He likes to be on the floor.”

“He rolled over the other day.”

She didn’t have the heart to tell him she’d seen Sebastian doing that particular trick a few times. He was abnormally strong. She planned on mentioning it to Paul the next time she saw him. There was no question that Sebastian had inherited special DNA from both parents.

“He’s great, isn’t he?” she answered. “Don’t overdo, Kane. Really, just do what the physical therapist says is safe.”

He blew her a kiss and shut the door behind him. She could hear his laughter fading away as she snapped her bra back into place and buttoned her shirt before lifting Sebastian to her shoulder to rub his back until he burped.

She loved the way he smelled, all clean and fresh with a hint of his father on him. “Do you feel like playing today, son?” She crooned as she spread the thick rug Kane had brought her just for this purpose. He had more baby toys than any one child should ever have because the team was constantly bringing him gifts.

She stretched out on the floor, lying on her stomach next to him. Sebastian immediately pushed himself up as if doing a push-up from the knees up. He held his head up and looked around the room before looking at her, almost for approval.

“That’s a boy. Stretch out. Doesn’t that feel good? Your arms are getting very strong, Sebastian. Now push with your legs.” She turned him over and took his legs, singing softly as she mimicked kicking and walking in the air.