A searing rush of love and protectiveness surges inside me and I gather her closer, pressing my lips to hers. She holds on tight, digging her nails into my shoulders, setting me off.
I let go, unleashing an intense orgasm that leaves me shouting her name.
“Love you,” she whispers, blinking up at me.
I drop my forehead to hers. “Love you too. Are you okay?”
She wiggles under me and I groan.
“This table’s pretty hard.”
“I’ll show you hard.”
We both laugh at the silly joke and I pull her up. She’s soft and dreamy as I help her dress.
My fears of losing her haven’t gone away. If anything I’m more aware than ever of how precious every moment is and what lengths I’ll go to in order to protect what matters most.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Rock may have made a joke about hovering over me when he found out I was pregnant, but he wasn’t kidding.
He’s on me about everything. Rather than annoying, I find it to be a relief.
True to his word, Rock’s taken me to every single doctor’s appointment over the last few weeks. There’s no rushing to the appointments either. Nope, he has me up an hour early. I don’t have to worry about anything, honestly.
If it isn’t related to incubating our baby, Rock’s taken over. And frankly, even that he’s very involved with.
“This really isn’t necessary,” I grumble after he wakes me up much earlier than my groggy body appreciates.
“We’re not going to be late today.” He gives my butt an affectionate slap. “Go take your shower. I’ll be downstairs making breakfast.”
My stomach lurches at the mention of food. “None for me,” I spit out before running into the bathroom.
Rock’s a warm, comforting presence at my back while I barf.
“You’re supposed to eat the crackers I left by the side of the bed before you get up,” he says gently, helping me stand.
“I keep forgetting.”
He waits until I’m out of the shower before heading downstairs.
Forget nauseous or hungry. I’m sleepy. I could go back to bed right this second. I sigh and look at the bed longingly on my way to the closet. Maybe I’ll throw on what I plan to wear and sneak in a quick nap.
“Hope, breakfast is ready!” Rock shouts up the stairs.
So much for nap time.
I drag a pair of jeans up my legs, throw on a T-shirt, and grab one of Rock’s flannels, buttoning it as I trot down the stairs.
“Feel better?” he asks in a low voice as he meets me at the bottom of the stairs.
“A little.”
His hungry gaze sweeps over me. “Love you in my shirts.” He tugs on one sleeve and rolls it up, then motions for the other one. “It’s like a coat on you.”
Heidi, Murphy, and Alexa are already at the table. Heidi glances at my outfit. “Slow day at the office?”
“I have a doctor’s appointment and then just catching up on paperwork this afternoon.”
Murphy flicks his gaze between Rock and me. “Everything okay?” he asks.
“Everything’s fine,” Rock says, placing his hand over mine. “Eat your breakfast or you’re going to be late for school,” he says to Heidi. “Dropping Alexa off at your brother’s?”
She nods to the Mermaids don’t wear pants and neither do I T-shirt Alexa’s wearing.
I snort and almost choke on my orange juice. “Is she over her unicorn phase?”
“No!” Alexa yells.
“That would be a no.” Heidi laughs. “She wants it all.”
“Come here, funny baby,” I say, picking Alexa up. In addition to the T-shirt, she’s decked out a frilly, layered and poofy skirt in mermaid blues and greens. A tiny pair of sparkly-pink Dr. Martens boots on her feet complete the look.
“Where can I get a pair of these?” I ask, tapping my fingers against the toes of her boots.
“No!” She brushes my hands off her boots and holds onto them tight.
“I won’t steal them. They’re too small for my feet.”
Satisfied, I won’t rob her of her fancy new footwear, she snuggles into my lap and stares up at me. My heart pitter-patters and I kiss her forehead. “Is Uncle Teller going to put you to work today?” I ask.
“Yeth.”
“Yeah right.” Murphy rolls his eyes. “I’m pretty sure they have an exhausting afternoon of cartoons and naps.”
Alexa giggles and reaches for him and I hand her over.
“Sully’s gym keeping you busy?” I ask.
He shakes his head and sets down his coffee cup before Alexa dunks her fingers in it. “Nah, he’s easygoing compared to working with Wrath.”
“I imagine anyone would be easygoing compared to Wrath.”
“Got that right,” he mutters. “Now that he has a reopening date in mind, he’s got endless to-do lists for me.”
“Do!” Alexa mimics, patting his cheeks.
“Can’t wait till you’re big enough to put to work,” he teases, kissing Alexa’s cheek.
Heidi laughs. “I can totally see her helping you out in the garage.”
“Gotta get her over her hatred of loud pipes first,” Rock says.
Someone taps on the sliding glass door behind us and Rock groans.
Since Z’s the only one who regularly uses the back door, I wave for him to come in without turning around.
“Morning,” he says, thumping snow off his boots.
“You could use the front door,” Rock says without turning around.
“I’m checking up on your safety and security, Prez.” Z reaches over me and snags a strawberry out of the bowl in the middle of the table.
“Grab a plate.” I point at the empty chair next to me and he holds up a hand.
“I’m good.”
“Eeeee!” Alexa yells.
“I figure she’s either trying to say Z or she’s just excited to see you,” Heidi says.
“She’s trying to say ‘favorite uncle’ naturally.” Z plucks her out of Murphy’s lap and holds her at arm’s length to check out her wild outfit. “Mermaids, huh?”
Alexa bobs her head up and down.
“Mermaids used to lure sailors off course to their death.” He grins at Murphy. “Appropriate since that’s what’ll happen to boys who come sniffing around you when you’re bigger.” He says it with a grin, but Alexa squints at him as if she’s not so sure she likes what he has to say about her new favorite mythical creature.
“Who knew your uncle Z was so knowledgeable about mermaids?” Heidi shakes her head at Z and takes Alexa from him.
“Well, thanks for the folklore lesson,” I say, standing up and gathering the plates.
“I got that, Hope,” Murphy says.
“Aw, look at you all domesticated and shit,” Z snarks.
“It’s called being a polite houseguest, you ogre.”
“You’re family, not a houseguest,” I remind Murphy.
“You’re a fucking saint, Hope,” Z says.
Rock stands and takes the dishes from me. “Go get ready. We’re going to be late.”
Getting Hope out of our circus of a house takes some effort, but I have us on the road on time.
“I hope Z and Murphy don’t kill each other,” Hope says.
“They’re fine.”
“I think I’m going to be a little sad when they move out,” she says softly.
“Yeah? You won’t be happy to have our house back?”
“Well, yes, but I like seeing them in the morning.” She chuckles and fiddles with the radio. “Checking out Alexa’s outfit for the day.”
“They won’t be far.” I glance over. “Besides, I think we’ll be busy.”
I expected her to smile, but she places her hands over her stomach and winces. “I hope so.”
“What’s wrong? You feel okay?”
“Just queasy.”
“You need me to pull over?”
“No. I don’t
think so.”
She closes her eyes and sits back, taking long deep breaths until we arrive at the doctor’s office.
“How do you feel?” I ask.
“Better.” She yawns and pushes her door open.
“Wait for me.”
We have a shorter wait than usual to see the doctor.
“How are you feeling today?” she asks as she comes into the exam room.
“Still nauseous a lot.”
“And tired,” I add.
“Perfectly normal.” She runs through a list of other questions and takes Hope’s blood pressure.
The part I’m wound up tight about happens at the end of the appointment.
The last time we were here for a regular check-up we heard the baby’s heartbeat on the fetal Doppler. This time we should be able to see and hear the baby with the ultrasound.
“There it is.” The doctor points to the screen.
Hope sits up a little and I put my hand on her back to help. “Does everything look okay?” she asks in a small voice.
“Yes. The baby’s the size I expect to see at this point. Heartbeat is strong.” She rattles off a few more indicators that point to good news.