But I had a one-track mind. I wanted to get home and start where Kai and I had left off. There was nothing wholesome or family-like about my thoughts. I sat in the middle seat of the truck on the way home, and he kept running his hand farther and farther up my thigh.
The second we stepped inside the apartment, his mouth was on mine. As he trailed hot kisses along my jaw, down my neck, and over my collarbone, he led me all the way to my room. There was no room for fear or uncertainty amongst the crushing waves of need. He pulled back when we were right next to the bed, causing a whimper to escape me. Breathing heavy, he held a hand up, dark eyes pinning me in place. Heat and butterflies burned and fluttered through me all at once.
Then he came a step closer, trailing a calloused hand over my cheek. “Will you let me make love to you, Kate?” he asked, and my brain exploded.
Make love?
Not the rushed frenzy we had that one time. Not a quick romp in a bathroom, or my bed, or wherever seemed fitting with whatever guy I was with. I had never “made love” with anyone in my life. Sex had always been meaningless nothing that I used to accomplish a goal that meant zilch now. Not now that I was head over heels for this guy—breaking my first rule. Not now that I was having babies with him—breaking my second rule. Not now that I would do something with him that would mean more than any other time, that would be the first time I’d ever had sex with the same person more than once—breaking my third rule.
He’d ripped down all my defenses, had turned me into someone I didn’t even know but someone I liked, someone I thought might be the real me. The me I hid from all others.
Biting my bottom lip, I nodded, agreeing to embark on a whole new adventure, discovering a whole new me with this amazing man.
Pure bliss. That was what I felt the next morning, waking in his arms. I wasn’t scared, wasn’t angry with him or myself. He’d been so kind and loving and slow, so very slow. It was the most amazing night of my life. I just lay there smiling like a lovesick idiot, not knowing what to do with myself.
He hummed against my back, squeezing me tighter against him. “Sleep good?” he muttered into my hair.
“Mmmm. You have no idea.” Which was a feat unto itself, since sleeping had already become a bit of a nuisance.
“We better get up. My family will be here soon.”
“Yeah. Wouldn’t want them butting in on our business again,” I snarked.
The idea of opening all those presents in front of people didn’t seem like a good time and was slowly dampening my bliss. But I would do it. I would spend time with his family because he cared about them, which I guessed meant I had to, too. Not that it was much of a chore with how kind they’d been.
We climbed out of bed and started getting ready for the day. He made coffee while I showered, knowing it was the only way I wouldn’t be grumpy with his family. When I came out in leggings and a long gray shirt with my hair braided again, Ava was already there getting herself coffee. That struck me as odd, since she usually chose tea, but then I realized I didn’t have tea in the apartment anymore now that she didn’t live there.
“Hey, Kate!” She greeted me with a giant smile, not seeming to mind the oversight. Of course, she’d probably been up for a while and already gone on a run. “You get some coffee in you before my mom and Mia get here.” She winked.
Kai handed me a well-creamed cup of coffee with a kiss on my forehead, which had images from the previous night flashing through my mind, making blood rush to my cheeks. A sultry smile lit up his face. “I’m getting ready,” he told me before heading for the bathroom.
Ava watched me sip my coffee. “So, how are things going with Kai?” she asked in a not-so-subtle way. I shrugged, not really wanting to go into detail about our relationship or admit how amazing it was going, how blissful I felt being with him. “Come on, give me something!” she urged.
“Umm… it’s good, I guess. I care about him a lot. And I’m excited about the babies.”
“We’re all excited, goofball.” She rolled her eyes. “But apparently not excited enough to open your presents.”
I snorted. “Yup. I hate presents.”
With that, I went about tidying the house up, trying to ignore the pile of gifts in the living room. The coffee was barely enough to keep my mood up by the time they got there. With much grumbling on my end, Kai gave me a kiss before leaving with his dad. His mom and Mia came in with Starbucks and a ridiculous amount of pastries. They actually looked appetizing.
I ate eight of them and finished my entire peppermint mocha while they chatted about whether Cade and Ava were thinking about getting married, too. Ava blushed a lot and laughed, saying she wasn’t sure whether they would make the leap. It didn’t seem pressing since they were already living together. It was the first time I saw Mrs. Hart make a sour face at the favored twin. Mia didn’t say much, mostly staying quiet while eating a couple pastries. I personally didn’t want to discuss the marriage topic at all, but I would deal with it as long as it stayed off me.
When I finished my last pastry, Mrs. Hart clapped her hands and announced, “Present time!”
It took everything in me not to cringe. They just want us to know they care, I kept telling myself. It seemed like it took forever, opening bag after bag of soft blankets, cute itty-bitty clothes, and a ridiculous amount of diapers. The giant boxes were saved for last, by which time Mrs. Hart was bouncing where she sat on the couch.
I opened the purple-wrapped one first—it was a white crib. I hadn’t even guessed at it and didn’t prepare myself for it. The other was a dark cherrywood one. They’d gotten us so much of what was needed. The emotion that flooded me was surprising and overwhelming; I couldn’t help giving Mrs. Hart a giant hug with tears in my eyes.
“Thank you so much!” I told her.
“You are so welcome, sweetie,” she muttered, patting my cheek. “If you need anything else, you just tell us.”
That emotion rolled through me again, but I kept the crying at bay. Having them care enough to take care of me, take care of these babies…. I had never known love like that. Had never had anyone but Delia’s family care for me like that.
While Ava and Mrs. Hart awed over all the clothes and shoes and blankets that were freaking adorable, Mia glanced at her phone, her nose wrinkling. Then she got up from the couch and went to the kitchen. It wasn’t a super secluded area, but it was probably the best I would get while they were there. I wasn’t even sure why I cared so much. Maybe because she reminded me of myself.
She was picking at a chocolate scone at the counter facing away from the living room. Conveniently enough, she was right next to the coffee machine, so I used that as my excuse. After getting more creamer, I went to stand next to her. Mouth in a thin line, her eyes remained glued to her phone.
“What’s going on?” I murmured, hoping I was being quiet enough. Ava’s squeal was a sufficient indicator.
Mia shrugged, then whisper-grumbled, “I feel like I’m being babysat. I hate that Pierce has to be away, but I can’t be a dick and tell him to find a different job. And when he’s gone, my parents babysit me. Poor Murphy is staying at a dog hotel.” She paused, squishing the whole scone into a pile of crumbs.