“Yes,” she laughs, tears spilling over.
“We’re gonna be parents?” My hand lingers on my head. I still can’t believe it. “Get up here, babe.” I pull her into my arms and bury my face in her neck. The emotion hits late but hard, my chest caving and expanding all at once, joy detonating like a bomb. I cup her face and crash my mouth to hers, my voice breaking against her lips. “God, you’re amazing. You’re everything. I can’t believe this is real.”
She pulls back just enough to ask, “Are you happy?”
My gaze catches on her dimple, my throat thick. “Are you serious? Look at me. I’m a fucking mess.” My vision blurs. “God, I’m feeling so many things.”
“So… you’re happy?”
“Jesus,” I choke out, nodding. “Yeah.” My thumb traces her bottom lip. “Yeah, babe. I’m really happy.”
I kiss her again, slower this time, letting it sink in. Every ounce of joy, relief, and love spills into her mouth, into us. Into the life we’re about to build together.
Her palms glide up my chest, one hand sliding around the back of my neck, fingers gripping tight. She pulls me closer, moaning into my mouth, anddamn, I want her. The craving hits harder than any high I ever chased. Because in this moment one thing fills every thought:
Us.
It’s not just her or me anymore—we’re a unit now. Alley. Me. Our baby.
I have everything a man could ever want. A beautiful wife. A home. A family.God, I can’t believe I almost threw away the chance at all of this. And beneath the joy, there’s a flicker of fear. This isn’t just about her anymore. It’s no longer about just staying clean. I have to provide a stable life for my family. Protect them. Be an example. And I’ll never let myself fuck it up.
I drag her bottom lip gently between my teeth, then ease back and rest my forehead against hers. A grin tugs at my mouth as my hands drift to her belly, splaying a palm flat against it. “How far along are you?”
“Not far. Only seven weeks. I don’t want to tell people yet. Not until we’re farther along.”
“How long have you known?”
“Only a few days. It’s beenkillingme not to tell you.”
“I don’t know how you kept it a secret. My family’s gonna go nuts over this.”
She laughs, soft and sweet. It’s fucking music to my ears.
“Do you really not feel well,” I murmur, “or was that just a ploy to get me up here?”
She plants her lips on mine. “I really am tired. Exhausted, actually. And I get bouts of nausea. But no.” She shakes her head. “I’m not sick.” She kisses me again.
And again.
“Why don’t you go lie down then.” I cock a brow. “You can be my pillow princess.” I press a kiss to her forehead. “Let me take care of you.”
“Ooh. I do love being a pillow princess.” She giggles, her fingers slipping under the hem of my shirt. They trace the grooves of my abs, heat sparking everywhere she touches. My cock jerks, growing harder by the second.
When her thumbs dip below my waistband, I grip her ass and scoop her up into my arms. “Yeah, we’re fucking. We have to celebrate.”
She laughs as I carry her out of the room and down the hall to the bedroom, where our bed is the only thing put together. I toss her onto it, then cross my arms and pull my shirt over my head.
She sinks into the pillows, settling in, and I dive onto the mattress beside her, making it bounce. My lips find hers, and I let myself get lost. Because if there’s ever a time to get lost, it’s with Alley.
She’s the love of my life. My anchor—my way back, every time.
Chapter Forty-Three
ALLEY
I tipmy head back and close my eyes, letting the sun warm my face. My smile is instant. There’s no holding it back.God, that feels good.
It’s one of those rare spring days in the low sixties, bright blue skies overhead and just enough of a breeze to keep it from feeling too warm. I couldn’t ask for better weather on my birthday. It’s perfect.
