Filed to story: Claimed by My Ex’s Alpha Brother
The three of us began to eat. Goose under the table, was hoping to catch any fallen food. Grayson picked up his corn, his legs swinging happily under the table.
“So, what should I call you?” Grayson asked after he swallowed his first bite. “Liam or Dad?”
Liam’s fork clattered to his plate. As he looked at our son, his eyes shone with affection.
“You can call me whatever you want to call me,” he said after a moment. “Whatever you’re comfortable with.”
Grayson took another bite of his corn and scrunched his nose
in thought.
“I think I’ll go with Dad,” our son said casually and continued eating. “That seems like the right thing since you are my dad.”
A wide smile bloomed across Liam’s face, and adorable wrinkles creased around his eyes, which were shining with happiness.
During our meal, Liam asked Grayson questions like his favorite food – my potato salad – his favorite color – black like Goose’s fur, and his middle name – Theodore.
The last question I’d had to answer for him.
My son became more chatty the longer the two of them talked. An hour after we’d finished eating, Grayson was concluding a long-winded story about the time one of Aunt Mia’s horses gave birth and how he wasn’t allowed to watch.
“Don’t you think that’s unfair, Dad? That I wasn’t allowed to watch?” Grayson asked. He had stood up and was now bouncing on his feet, hyper from the sugar in the lemonade he had been drinking.
“Oh, I think it’s completely unfair,” Liam agreed, then subtly winked at me.
I rolled my eyes and suppressed a smile.
Grayson beamed in reply, and the two of them bumped knuckles.
“See, Mom?” Grayson said, turning to me. “Dad agrees with me.”
“Honey, I didn’t even want to watch that. It would have grossed you out,” I said gently.
“Nuh-uh!” Grayson’s brown curls bounced as he shook his head. “I don’t get grossed out.” He stopped bouncing and then looked back at the pool. “Can we swim now?”
“Yes,” I answered and stood up to get the blue swim floaties Liam bought along with mine and Grayson’s swimsuits. “Come here, sweetheart.”
As I put the floaties on my son, Liam stood up, rummaging around in a shopping bag.
“Remember, you need to keep these on at all times,” I told my son. “You’re not the strongest swimmer yet, and these will keep you safe.”
“Mom,” Grayson whined and looked back at his dad, who was coming back toward us. “Not too loud. Dad might hear you.”
I grinned, and my heart lifted.
“I got goggles and sunscreen, too,” Liam said and proudly showcased both items.
My smile widened.
Was it strange that Liam bonding and taking care of our son made my former Mate even more attractive to me?
The two boys stepped away, and Liam sprayed sunscreen on our son, making sure he was completely protected. Once they were done, I walked over to them.
Liam’s eyes shot down and studied my bikini-clad body. His pupils dilated, and his mouth dropped slightly open.
It seemed like he had been momentarily stunned.
By me.
His reaction caused desire to pulse down my spine. The way he was studying every curve of my body made my confidence rise, and I had to stop myself from smirking.
“Why don’t you two swim without me?” I suggested. “I’m going to clean up lunch.” I put on my black swimsuit cover-up.
“Are you sure?” Liam said. “I can help you clean up, then we can go swimming.”
Grayson got bored with our conversation and crept back over to the table to sneak more lemonade, even though I told him he couldn’t have any more. I didn’t know who that kid thought he was fooling. The squeaking of his floaties gave him away instantly.
“I think that it will be good for you and Grayson to spend some alone time together,” I said. “Just please make sure that he keeps his floaties on and just keep your eye on him. He isn’t the best swimmer.”
“I promise to protect him. You can trust me with him, Ella.”
I grinned and stepped an inch closer to him, our eyes meeting.
“I know I can.”
***
“Have you heard of the boxing maneuver?” I asked Liam as I paced around his office.
“No, I haven’t. It sounds interesting. What is it?” he asked, his fingers poised over his keyboard, ready to take notes.
“Essentially, it’s used to ‘box’ your opponent in. We need to surround them from all sides,” I said.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?