“Ah.” Except… “We were careful before and it didn’t matter.”
“Yeah.” She tucks her chin in a little closer and I can practically hear her thinking. “I mean, I guess there’s always a chance.”
Right. “Did you…” Fuck. I pinch the bridge of my nose. Don’t go there, man. You really don’t want to know.
“Did I what?”
I pull in a deep breath and huff it out, pissed that I’m even thinking about it. “Have you had the IUD for a while or…?”
“Just a couple of months.”
“Oh. Okay.” Not what I was alluding to, but it’s for the best, because I know damn well I wouldn’t have liked her other answer.
“This is the first time I’ve had sex since.”
Or maybe I don’t mind, after all.
“I meant it when I said things weren’t good.” Her fingers trace up and down the trail of hair beneath my belly button. And all I can do is thank God.
“So, the IUD… it’s long term, right?”
“A few years, but I can have it removed sooner if plans change.”
“Plans…” I pause. “Like, if you wanted to get pregnant?”
“Uh huh.”
I should be happy knowing what I know, but if an IUD is long-term, then… “You said once that you saw yourself with a couple kids. Is that still something you want?”
She nods. “Yeah. I mean, I can’t imagine growing up without Hannah. I want Jett to have someone, too.”
I wet my lips and swallow. “I’ve always thought the same. Maybe a couple more.”
I feel her smile against me. “Jett would be an amazing big brother.”
“Damn right, he would. He’s pretty friggin’ cute, too.”
She shoves at my ribs. “That’s because he looks just like you.”
“Don’t be too jealous, babe. At least he got your hair.”
“Ppfftt.” She sighs. “Honestly, I see a couple more kids, too. Always have. A bunch of little blonde-haired, blue-eyed babies running around.”
I can picture it, too. Jett pulling a little sister in his wagon or showing a little brother how to throw a baseball.
And then it hits me.
“Babe, you have brown eyes.” And more to the point, so did Lane.
She’s quiet for a long moment. So long, in fact, that I roll to the side so I can see her face.
Her eyes close and her cheeks tinge pink, as she wets her lips and whispers. “I know.”
“You were thinking about babies with me.”
She nods.
Fuck yes. Fuck. Yes.
I lean down and capture her mouth, kissing her until we’re both breathless and our towels unravel around us.
I dip my head and roll my tongue around a puckered nipple, sucking it between my lips and loving the way her shoulders press into the bed in response, already gasping.
“You want more, city girl?”
“Can you?” she pants, and I grin, guiding her hand to my cock in the darkness.
“What do you think?”
“I think you’d better call Amelia and see if she can spend the night.”
“Consider it done.”
HAYDEN
For the second time this week, I wake at sunrise with the very sexy, very multi-talented Jesse Enders in my bed.
Unlike Wednesday, there’s an ache between my legs that promises this won’t be the last time he ends up in my bed, either.
Last night… God. Last night was so many things. Not only did I get my first tattoo, but Jesse and I finally came together again. Quite literally. And I told him I loved him, too. Three simple, yet complicated words, that have lived in my heart for years. And now he knows. And my world is already a happier, more content place because of it.
“Mmm, what time is it?” Jesse mumbles, half of his face stuck in a pillow.
“Five thirty.”
“Shit, I told Amelia I’d be home by seven.”
“Babe, that’s an hour and a half from now and you live five minutes away.”
“Yeah, but we haven’t had morning sex yet,” he says, sleepily pushing himself up from the bed to turn toward me, his massive arms and chest flexing.
“You just woke up.” And we only went to bed three hours ago. After two more rounds and another shower.
“That’s what I’m saying. Time’s ticking. Come sit on my face.”
Oh, my God. Is this my fate? Sex at every waking moment? Not that I’m complaining, because, again, my man is multi-talented.
“You are insatiable.” I laugh, but his face goes serious.
“You got a problem with that?”
“No, I’m just saying—unghh.”
He launches at me so fast, it’s a good thing there’s a pillow beneath my head or I might’ve gotten whiplash.
“You were saying what?” he taunts, elbows planted on either side of my head as he hovers above me, so imposing and plain fucking hot.
“I-I don’t remember.”
A wicked grin slashes across his handsome face. “Good. Now let’s see if we can make you forget your name, too.”
He starts at my mouth and makes his way to my ear and my neck, leaving a trail of damp, beard-scuffed skin in his wake. By the time he’s finished torturing my breasts, the coil of arousal running between my nipples and the center of my legs is strung so tight that one strum would probably set me off like a live wire.
But as he nears my ribs, devouring every inch of my bare skin with his tongue, sudden panic awakens.
Last night, it hadn’t been an issue. I was either dressed or it was dark. Even the night Jett had caught us, I’d been wearing shorts. But now in the light of day…
“Out of my way, woman,” he murmurs, trying to push my hands from my stomach, so he can continue his descent. “I have important work to do down here.”
“You could always jump ahead on your journey. I wouldn’t complain.”
“Mmm, but you’re like a fine wine. I want to sip and savor every bit of you.” He urges one hand away and swirls his tongue around my belly button, making me flinch.
“Can you just… can you not?” I rasp, even though I know my fear is foolish. I trust Jesse more than I’ve ever trusted anyone. What’s more, he’s never made me feel anything but beautiful. It’s just… Lane didn’t.
“What is it? What am I doing wrong?” He sits up and leans back on his heels between my legs. He’s unabashedly naked, hard and proud, and from his position, there’s no doubt he can see every pink part of my body.
Except one.
“You have some stretch marks you don’t want me to see, babe?” His voice is softer now and the hand that rests on my knee just as tender. “Not sure if you’ve noticed, but I have them, too.” He lifts his arm and points to the stripes between his bicep and chest.
The gesture is sweet. Really, really sweet. But…
“Your C-section scar, huh?” He nods knowingly and all the air in my lungs bursts free in a ragged part sob, part exhale. “Why would you ever want to hide that from me?”
“It didn’t heal right,” I whisper, hand still clenched over my lower belly. “It’s not pretty.”