“Yeah.”
“You sure you don’t mind staying in the manor? We can live in the city. I have an apartment there or we can find a home closer to the bakery.”
I shrugged. “Maybe someday. When the kids are older and we need our space. But I like it here. I love the people, I like getting to know my dad. This is your home.”
“Kids?” He raised a brow.
“Yeah. Kids.” I knew we weren’t stopping at just one. I would be happy with half a dozen.
“I like the sound of that.”
“Yeah? Maybe we should practice making said kids.”
Dain’s grin turned lecherous. “I like the sound of that.”
Even though I was six months pregnant, he swept me into his arms without hesitation.
I squealed and wrapped my arms tighter around his neck. “Dain! I’m too heavy.”
“You’re perfect,” he said, his voice rough with emotion as he carried me toward his—our—suite of rooms. It was quite the trek up the stairs and into the other wing, but he managed it in record time.
“You’re absolutely perfect, and I need you to know something,” he said.
My heart fluttered at the intensity in his eyes. “What?”
He kicked open the door to his rooms and carried me inside, setting me gently on the edge of the bed. Then he kneeled before me, his hands resting on my thighs as he looked up at me with those beautiful eyes that had captivated me from the moment we met at that masked ball.
“I love you, Nym. I’m in love with you. I have been since that night, even when I thought I’d lost you. Every moment we were apart, I ached for you. And now that I have you back, I’m never letting you go.”
Tears pricked at my eyes. “Dain...”
“I know we’ve been taking things slow, rebuilding trust, but I need you to know where I stand. This isn’t just about the baby or your father or any of that. It’s about you. You’re my mate, my everything. I want to build a life with you, wake up next to you every morning, fall asleep with you in my arms every night. I want to be there for every kick, every doctor’s appointment, every late-night craving. I want it all with you.”
A tear slipped down my cheek, and he reached up to brush it away with his thumb.
“I love you too,” I whispered. “Goddess, Dain, I’ve loved you since that first night. Even when I thought you’d abandoned me, even when I was alone and scared, I couldn’t stop loving you.”
He surged up and captured my lips in a searing kiss that stole my breath. I melted into him, my hands tangling in his hair as he cradled my face like I was something precious.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, he rested his forehead against mine.
“We’re really doing this,” I said softly. “Building a life together.”
“We really are.” He pulled back just enough to look at me, his hand settling over my rounded belly where our baby grew. “You, me, this little one, and however many more we decide to add to our family.”
I laughed through my tears. “I love everything about that.”
“I can’t wait,” he said, and the sincerity in his voice made my heart swell. “For all of it. The good, the bad, the sleepless nights and the dirty diapers. All of it, as long as it’s with you.”
I pulled him up onto the bed with me, needing him closer. “So about that practice...”
His laugh was warm against my skin as he settled beside me, careful of my belly. “Insatiable.”
“Only for you.”
“Good,” he murmured, his lips trailing along my jaw. “Because you’re the only one I want. Now and always.”
I shivered as his mouth found that sensitive spot just below my ear. My hands roamed under his shirt, over his broad shoulders, relearning the planes and angles of his body. Even after weekstogether, I couldn’t get enough of touching him, of reassuring myself that he was real and here and mine.
