Page 141 of The Auction Block

I sit up straight in bed, panic choking me. I flip on the bedside lamp and look over. Lily isn't in bed . . . again. As I run my hands over my face, somber tones from the piano reach my ears. I sigh and climb from bed, grabbing a pair of sweats.

The music gets louder as I walk quietly down the stairs. My heart stops as I take in the two, most beautiful women sitting there. Lily is in her bra and a pair of shorts with Sorina next to her in a tank top and sweats. Both their backs are clearly visible, and my chest tightens.

Most men would shudder at the sight, but they're both perfect to me in every way. I know they hate those marks, and looking at them now, as Sorina, my new daughter, sways to the music, while Lily, the woman I want to be my wife, sings like an angel, I'm reminded how much they’ve been through, how similar they are, and how much I still have to learn about their pain.

I walk as quiet as possible toward them. Lily doesn't stop singing but her head turns ever so slightly, and I know she's aware I'm here. Sorina looks up at me as I gently lay my hands on Lily's shoulders. She doesn't even tense up. I'm so proud of how far she's come in the last five months. She's so much stronger emotionally than she knows.

"You should be in bed, kiddo," I whisper to her as Lily finishes singing.

"I couldn't sleep. I'm sorry," she says looking upset.

I reach over and tip her chin up. "Don't apologize. Tomorrow's a big day for you, Shannon, and the other girls. I want my girl to be well rested so she can enjoy herself."

She stands, walks around the bench, and crushes herself to my side. Trusting men is hard for both of them. They have no idea how much it means to me that I'm the one they trust. I've never thought about having kids until the day Lily decided to announce she wanted to adopt Sorina. I'm not sure what kind of father I'll be, but I know I'll be better than my father, that's for damn sure.

I kiss Sorina's hair and she skips off to her bedroom. Lily's shoulders rise and fall, a signal she's sighing at something. A grin plays on my face, and I massage her arms gently. She's so tense all the time. Even when we make love, which is when she's the most relaxed, I can feel the knots in her muscles.

"What's wrong, baby?"

She leans her head back, looking at me somewhat upside down. "Nothing. Just nervous about the event . . . and Sorina."

"What about Sorina?" I bend down to kiss her lips. They're soft and warm and elicit a reaction in my body I couldn't fight even if I wanted to.

"I'm glad she's here, but what kind of mother can I be, Blake? Seriously, I can't even remember my mother, not that I'd want to. I've nothing to base myself off," she says in agitation.

I clasp her head in my hands and kiss her again. "Lily, you'll be an amazing mother. Between you and me, Sorina will want for nothing for the first time in her life. She'll be surrounded by people who love her and want nothing but the best for her."

She pulls her head from my hands, stands, and wraps her arms around my neck. I kiss her with all the passion I can, her fingernails running against my scalp, sending a wave of shivers down my body.

Damn, what this woman does to me.

I glide my hands down her body, gripping her firm and beautiful ass in my hands. She pushes onto her tiptoes and I lift her over the bench with ease. We move backward as she wraps her legs around my waist, grinding into my erection. I bite her bottom lip and she moans. It's one of my favorite sounds in the world.

I sit her on the kitchen counter, letting my hands trail over every inch of her body. Touching her is like feeling the finest silk. I wish I could get her to wear stuff like that to bed.

Maybe I'll surprise her with some.

Lily leans forward and gently bites my neck. "I love you."

I moan. Those words from her lips make me drunk. "I want you, Lily."

She opens her legs wider and pulls me against her body, grinding into me. I capture her mouth with mine and forget everything but her and the way she feels against me.

She's my siren, my calling, my undoing.

"Ladies, please move your asses," Blake yells up the stairs.

Sorina and I are getting ready for the charity event together. She's wearing the most beautiful dress— strapless, pale pink with silver sequins scattered across the top. We allow her to wear minimal make-up, consisting of light pink eye shadow and lipstick. He bought her pink diamond stud earrings to match, and of course, she's painted her nails pink, too. She will be, without a doubt, the most beautiful girl at this party.

"Mom, are you coming out of the bathroom, or do I have to get Dad to drag you out?"

I sigh, staring into the mirror. "Just go down. I'll meet you there."

My breathing is uneven. The team agreed to wear formal attire for this, with our weapons and badges, and I feel ridiculous.

Blake bought me a very revealing black gown. The dress is strapless and stops at the middle of my thighs. The overlay, which goes down to my ankles is black, flower designed lace. I've never shown so much skin, but I've decided not to hide my scars any longer. I can't expect Sorina to be okay with her body, if I'm not okay with mine.

Around my neck is a single diamond secured by a black ribbon. On my right wrist is my watch communicator and on the left is the bracelet he bought me the other night. I have on diamond stud earrings and my hair is styled in a sleek, tight bun, courtesy of Teresa. I've kept my make-up minimal, like Sorina, with mascara and beige lip-gloss.