Emily brushed her fingertips through a lock of hair draping across my forehead, those eyes flickering across my face. “That’s exactly what I signed up for, Royce. I signed up to spend my life with you. And that little girl is a part of you.”
A smile swam across her teary face. “I want it all, and I want it with you. I want to sing. I want to play. I want a family. Do you want that with me?” she asked, her tone dipping into a plea.
My forehead dropped to hers. “More than anything.”
She reached out and took my hands and pressed them both to her flat stomach. “Do you feel that?” she whispered, her gaze peeking up to meet with mine. “Us living inside of me? We’re goin’ to have a baby, Royce.”
I squeezed my eyes closed as her words penetrated.
Emotion gripping.
Overpowering.
My throat shook as I swallowed hard.
Her pulse pounded, and she pressed down tighter on my hands that burned against her belly.
“Tell me what you’re thinkin’,” she quietly begged.
I lifted a hand and spread my fingers out over the back of her head, pressing my nose to hers, lips murmuring my truth, letting myself fall into those trusting green eyes. “I’m thinking I’ve never been so happy in my entire life.”
And I kissed her.
Kissed her with everything I had.
As recklessly as it’d all started. She whimpered, struggling to get as close to me as she could.
My body pressing against hers.
Wanting to consume.
To give.
Love and live.
I angled her head, kissing her deeper, rumbling at her mouth, “Are you happy? Is this what you want?”
She pulled back and forced me to look at her, her fingertips scratching through the stubble on my jaw. “Loving you is the very meaning of joy. Having a family with you is ecstasy.”
I pulled her off the stool and into my arms.
Instantly, my hands were everywhere, gripping for fistfuls of this girl.
Kisses frantic.
Hands desperate.
Our tongues danced.
Gave and took.
Two of us were unable to get close enough to the other, pawing and panting our way for the door.
“Ecstasy, huh? That’s a good thing because I’m about to make myself at home in paradise.”
Could feel her smile beneath my mouth, her breaths growing shorter, need a glow that burned in the middle of us.
“Oh yeah? And where is that?”
“Let me show you.”
She was giggling when I swept her off her feet and carried her through my house up the stairs.
Emily looped her arms around my neck, green eyes glinting with adoration and all that hope.
We passed by Maggie’s empty room.
Sneaky girl.
I’d have to thank her later, my baby sister looking out for me the way I would forever try to look out for her.
The second I carried Emily through the threshold of my room, the air shifted.
Blood pounding.
Our mouths right back to desperately making their claim.
I peeled her out of her dress while she shoved me out of my clothes, and I couldn’t even make it across the room before I was picking her up again and sinking into a chair, the girl quick to straddle me, taking me into that sweet body.
A groan ripped out as she sank down, and I drove a hand into her hair, the other arm wrapped around her waist.
Our noses touched. Our breaths mingled. Our hearts beat in sync.
Every part of us shared.
“Right fucking here.”
And I was going to stay right there.
Forever.
Catching her . . .
Catching me.EpilogueSix Months LaterLittle arms held tight around his neck. He held her close, her tiny heart drumming an erratic beat.
“Will you catch me, Daddy? If I fall?”
He wrapped his arms tightly around her, pressed his mouth to Anna’s temple. “Of course, I will catch you. That is what I was meant to do.”* * *THE END