“We’ve been careful enough,” he says gently. “Only skipped once, and you even said later you weren’t ovulating.”
I force a smile and shove the heavy thoughts into a box for later. “Yeah. I guess you’re right.”
His hand slides over my hip, heat flashing in his eyes, and I let myself lean into the shift. He lets out a soft chuckle, then whispers low in my ear. “All this talk about babies getting your panties wet?”
His lips graze mine, and I grin against them, my arms sliding around him. “That’s for me to know, and you to find out.” His brows shoot up with excitement.
“Later,” I add, laughing.
“Fuck. Is it later yet?” He kisses me, and it feels like he’s handing me the world—this house, a future, a family. I want more than anything to believe it’s all possible.
I kiss him back, promising him the same things. That I’m here. That wecanhave it all, and so much more. We just have to keep showing up for each other. Trust each other. Love each other.
That’s the easy part. Loving him has never been hard. The hard part was pretending I didn’t.
And I’m guilty as sin for failing at that.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
ALLEY
I pokemy tongue into the side of my cheek, trying to bait a laugh out of Jensen. He just grins, slides two fingers to his mouth, and drags his tongue between them. It’s hot—but I crack. Laughter bursts out of me, echoing through the elevator and earning a glare from the elderly couple in front of us. I slap a hand over my mouth, but it’s useless.
Immature? Absolutely. But it’s our thing. It’s something we’ve always done—try to make each other laugh while in elevators with other people.
The doors slide open, and our laughter spills into the hallway of Matt’s complex.
Dinner with Michael and Dad was better than I could have imagined. There was real laughter, forgiveness, even a few tears that felt more healing than painful. For the first time in my adult life, I felt whole with my family. My dad sober. Jensen clean. Both of them sitting at the table with me. The only thing missing was Mom, and I like to think she was there anyway. She would’ve been proud.
“You better get that sweet ass inside before I tear your clothes off right here,” his voice booms behind me, low and warning.
I glance back, still trying to smother my laugh, finger to my lips. “Shh.”
The way he’s looking at me tells meshhisn’t happening.
He chuckles, following close behind. “That blow job move got me thinking all the dirty thoughts.”
“No!” I gasp in mock shock. “Dirty thoughts? You?”
His chuckle drops deep and wicked. “You better hurry inside. You’re about to get it like the good girls in your books do.”
“Oh, I’m terrified,” I tease, grinning as I punch in the code.
The lock clicks, and Jensen leans in, his breath hot against my ear. “You should be.”
Shivers skate up my spine as the door swings open. “Behave yourself—we’re almost in.”
We barely make it through the door before Jensen’s arms wrap around me from behind, hauling me against him. His mouth skims my jaw, playful and teasing, before planting a kiss on the curve of my neck. “Thanks for a great day, babe.”
I spin, flattening my palms to his chest. “You’re welcome. Not every day you get to have awkward please-forgive-me dinners with your wife’s family.”
He grins, guiding me backward until my spine meets the wall. “Awkward for maybe five minutes. Michael was great. And your dad always is.”
“Still… thank you for coming. I know it probably wasn’t something you were looking forward to.”
His eyes lock on mine, steady and unflinching. “I look forward to everything with you. Plus, we basically scored a Michelin-star dinner for free.”
True.Michael’s restaurant earned its star a few months ago. It’s a huge achievement. “Well then, in that case, you’re welcome for such a fantastic evening.”
