"Nathan Elwood… I like the ring of that," Nate said, but I laughed it off.
If these were the worst of my concerns now, then life was good and I could finally relax and let my guard down.
Nate and I had endured the worst storm and we'd come out the other side stronger for it.
I didn't know exactly what the future held, but I knew I could survive it with Nate.
"Ember," he said, looking serious for a second, "I think we need to prepare the brownstone for a baby… Don’t you think?"
"Yes, well, we need to childproof things, but an infant won't move around much yet. Probably more than a year before?—"
"I mean a nursery and crib. We'll need paint and carpet." He sipped his warm milk thoughtfully and smiled when I narrowed my eyes at him.
"I'll put a nursery at my place." I cocked my head at him, and he bobbed one shoulder up and down.
"I thought you could move in now. I mean, it makes sense, doesn't it? I'll care for you and the baby and you can just be barefoot and pregnant?" One eyebrow rose in a playfully suggestive manner, and I laughed so hard, I snorted.
But he was being serious at the same time, and it was a huge step.
I had stayed with him to ride out the chaos, but what he was suggesting was the next step in our relationship, which we both knew was inevitable.
I just didn't realize it would come this quickly.
"You're serious?"
"Dead serious," he said, taking my hand. "Move in with me, Ember. Let's be a real family."
30
NATE
It felt incredible to wake with Ember in my bed, just days before Christmas when her family was set to arrive.
Her decision to move in with me was spontaneous, brought on by my prompting, but it made sense.
We were both committed to making this relationship work against all odds, and I didn't see why she needed to struggle to pay rent at a second home when we spent most nights together anyway.
"Good morning," I whispered as she turned over in bed and smiled at me.
Her belly was still small, but the round, firm bump under my hand fluttered with movement and she grinned and held my hand more tightly.
"Nathan Elwood says good morning too." Her smile was breathtaking, especially with hair lying disheveled across my pillows.
I leaned forward to kiss her, drawn in by how much I cared about her, and she curled against my body, tangling our legs.
"Well, tell little man that Daddy wants to talk to Mommy about grown-up things." I guided her hand to my cock which was already waking up.
Sometimes in the morning, I just needed her a little more.
"Well, Daddy," she said playfully as she stroked me, "Mommy notices how you'd like to give her an early Christmas present." My lips claimed hers again and she smiled into the kiss.
"God, Ember," I murmured against her mouth, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes. "You're the best Christmas present I could ask for."
She laughed and rolled her hips against mine, brushing my swelling dick deliberately so I would notice her. "Yeah?" she asked, arching her head back for me.
I trailed kisses down her throat, savoring the salt of her skin, the way she arched into me with a soft moan.
My hand slid from her belly to the soft curve of her thigh, parting her legs just enough to feel the heat between them.
