Split(119)

“He’s getting so big.” I palm her belly like a small basketball. “He’s not hurting you, is he?”

She pushes up on her elbows and forks her fingers through my hair. “No, he’s not hurting me.”

I try to relax, but ever since I found out about the baby, I’ve been a nervous f*cking nightmare. Congratulations, you’re pregnant. Here’s an injection of psychopath with a dose of homicidal tendencies. I can’t believe she hasn’t told me to f*ck off and banished me from her life yet. I’ve become the world’s most obnoxious helicopter husband. The worst part is, I don’t know how to stop. I’ve wanted to rip people’s arms off for touching her belly, caught myself growling at the ultrasound appointment, twice. Considered very strongly gutting her doc during a very routine exam.

It’s Luke who’s saved me. I’ve tapped in to the calm he feels every time he’s around Shy. I’ve managed to harness the tingling warmth that envelops his chest when they’re together. I’ve paid attention to the way he talks to her, the soothing tenor of his voice when she’s freaking out about something like dust mites in the baby’s clothes. He’s great with her, so much better for her than I am right now, and yet she looks at me, like the way she is now, as if I could do no wrong. Like the earth ends and begins with me.

“Have you decided on a name yet?” Her fingers continue to rake across my scalp.

I push up the last foot and a half to drop down to her side, throwing my thigh over hers to keep contact. It looks possessive, but it’s really a weakness. I need to touch her. “I’m leaving it up to Luke. After all, I owe everything to him. I’d never be here, with you, like this, if it weren’t for him.”

Her eyes fill with tears. “Don’t do that! You know I always cry when you get sweet.”

I kiss away a single tear that slides down her cheek. “You cry when Buddy’s sweet. And he’s a dog. He’s not capable of anything else.”

She sighs, and another tear falls. “Aww, Buddy . . .” Her face screws up and a sob rips from her. “He’s such a good dog.”

Okaaay, that’s my cue.

I brush my lips along her ear. “I love you, Shyann. I’m gonna keep loving you until we’re both long gone from this earth. You and the babies you give us.”

“I love . . .” She sniffs. “You . . .” Another sob. “Too.”





LUCAS


I come to with my face buried in Shyann’s neck. I breathe her in and start to grin when I hear the not-so-quiet sound of her crying.

Thanks a lot, Gage. Always ducking out when things get sticky.

“Baby . . .” I wrap her in my arms and pull her to my chest. “Shhh . . . it’s okay.” I try to soothe her with my touch, but with us both being naked, my hands have minds of their own.

I cup her backside and she wiggles in deeper, her legs straddling my thigh and the firm bump of her belly at my hip.

“I’m okay. It’s just . . .”

“Gage bein’ sweet again.”

Another loud sob and then hot tears hit my throat. “Yes! I liked it better when I couldn’t cry!”

A laugh rumbles in my chest. “I don’t.”

She pulls back, her puffy eyes meeting mine. “You don’t?”

“Nope.” I run my thumb along her full lower lip.

“But . . . I’m a mess!”

Sifting my fingers into her hair, I pull her down so her lips are just a breath away from mine. “Yeah, but I love cleaning you up.”

Our lips come together in a sensual touch. She breathes against me, “You’re too good to me.”

I roll her to her back, taking care to shift my lower body to the side to keep from crushing her belly. “You always say that.”

Her tongue slides into my mouth, and it’s just like that first kiss. My stomach leaps into my chest and butterflies explode behind my ribs, because finding Shyann was like opening a door to a different life. We’ve found acceptance, not only in her love and loyalty to us, but also in her family. In this town. She’s given us more than we’d ever dreamt we could have, and no matter how unworthy of us she feels, she has to know that we’re the grateful ones.

Her hips thrust against me and I rip my mouth from hers. Ravenous for her taste, I slide down, sucking her swollen nipple and circling it with my tongue. Her back arches off the bed and the sound of her cries echoes off the A-frame walls of our newly added loft bedroom.

I scoot farther down her body, ravishing her with kisses until I’m between her legs. Her hands grip the comforter at her sides and her knees fall wide open in invitation. I take a second to appreciate her form, her body spread out like a buffet for my senses.

I run a firm hand up her inner thigh, pressing it to the bed to open her more. “You’re so beautiful.” Gliding my tongue up her thigh, I don’t hesitate before plunging it deep inside her. Her taste floods my mouth and I growl into her.

I’m lost to every sound that falls from her lips, every groan that vibrates her entire body, and every pinch of pain from her fingernails. It all shoots straight to my hard-on with a hunger that refuses to be ignored.

She whimpers when I pull away and drop beside her.

“Come here.” I reach over and scoop her up to guide her on top of me.