Jax kissed his mate on the lips, soft and sweet. “That’s how I knew in my heart that I loved you. Even when I couldn’t say the words,” Jax admitted. “I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
“You make me blush, babe,” Ryder teased, but his cheeks were red and joy poured off him. “You know how I knew?”
Jax shook his head. “From the moment I saw you, all I wanted to do was make every second better than the last. I knew you were my mate, but then I thought of you every morning when I woke up and every second after that till I went back to sleep. I totally cheated when I said I was the only one who could take care of you after your surgery.” Ryder looked proud of himself.
“I know,” Jax said, “but maybe I also couldn’t stand being away from you anymore, ever think of that?”
Ryder beamed like that was the best present he’d ever been given. “I can’t imagine my life without you and Tabby. You’re everything to me, Jax.”
Jax lifted their hands and kissed Ryder’s. “I know.” And he never took it for granted. Because they’d earned this. Worked for their happiness.
“Too sappy?” Ryder asked.
Jax nodded. “Way too sappy.”
His own cheeks were on fire now, and Jax knew he’d been wrong before because he could love Ryder more.
Ryder smiled, and they went on to finish their meal. It was lucky they only needed one hand to eat because neither of them seemed to want to stop touching the other.
When they were done, Jax looked out at the dance floor. “May I have this dance?” Ryder asked, reading his thoughts.
“I would love to,” Jax said.
Ryder stood and came over and helped him out of the booth.
The music was slow and nothing he knew but being close to his mate … Ryder’s arms around him … This night was perfect. But it was also perfect when they had leftovers in front of the TV.
“How about we get out of here?” Jax whispered. Yeah, he was definitely more interested in getting Ryder back home and seeing what magic they could make in the bedroom.
Ryder’s eyes heated. “Yes, dear. Have I ever told you, you have the best ideas?” Ryder whispered.
He chuckled as they hurried back to their table. Ryder didn’t wait for the bill, simply dropping enough cash to cover the food and top, and then they were heading home. But their night was just beginning.
Chapter Eighteen
Ryder
He deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue into his mate’s mouth, and swallowed Jax’s groan of pleasure. Ryder’s erection was straining to be let out. Goddess, he ached to be inside his mate again. He pressed his lips against Jax’s Adam’s apple, and Jax moaned. Ryder carefully ran his fingers around the curve of Jax’s stomach, which must have tickled because he heard Jax laugh. He loved the sound of Jax’s laugh.
He moved his lips back up to Jax’s for a kiss, dipping his tongue between them. “Yes, baby,” Jax moaned as Ryder continued to move his tongue in circles around Jax’s. He moved his hips against Jax’s, their cocks sliding against each other, making them both moan. He was about to blow and needed to get inside his mate and soon. As Ryder moved his hand over Jax’s stomach, Jax released a cry.
“I know. I need you too, babe,” Ryder said. “Turn onto your side.”
Jax whimpered, but then he pushed Ryder off him, and Ryder knew something must be wrong. “This is it!” Jax said breathlessly.
“What! Wait, now? You’re going into labor?” Ryder quickly jumped off the bed and grabbed a pair of sweats. His cock seemed to get the memo and went from at attention to at ease.
Ryder helped Jax sit up against the headboard and got some pillows behind him; he also stripped the bedding of all the duvets and blankets.
“Do your breathing exercises, babe,” he instructed and did them alongside Jax as he grabbed his phone from his pocket. Tabby should be there with them. Even though it was late and Tabby was most likely asleep, they wanted her there. He dialed Roman.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on a date?” his brother said in lieu of hello.
“Rome, listen,” Ryder said. “Jax is in labor. I need you to get Tabby and bring her to the house. We want her here when her baby brother or sister is born.”
“You sure?” Roman asked.
“Please … just do it.” He disconnected the call and started to do the breathing exercises with Jax again. “You’ve got this, baby,” Jax continued to do the exercises, then screamed out as a contraction cut through him.
