When we were both feeling highly sated, she pressed a kiss to the skin right over my heart and looked at me with those mesmerizing green eyes. “Thank you for understanding, believing me, and being the most remarkable man I know.”
My heart began a steady rhythm and I placed my hand on top of hers where it rested on my stomach.
“I can feel your heart beating and it pulses through me, making me feel so alive, Pax.”
Fuck, this woman was everything.
“It’s beating for you, darlin’.”
ChapterTwenty-Three
CAPRI
I hada lot to be thankful for.
Thanksgiving was at Bodie and Gemma’s. So many wonderful people gathered together and I was elated to be a part of it. I was also still in a bit of shock that I was not there alone this time around. Nope, I walked in with the most wonderful, sexy man on my arm, and had some exciting news to share.
I knew it was killing Brinley that she’d kept my secret from everyone for a little over a month. It was just so soon into my pregnancy and I wanted to make sure everything was going okay. We had told her she could tell Rowan and I’d hoped that the others were not mad about them knowing first, especially Gemma since she was Pax’s sister.
It made Halloween hard when all us girls got together to dress up in our superhero costumes as usual and everyone was sharing stuff, shooting the shit, and gossiping. I’d almost caved and told them about the baby when they started asking questions about Paxton and me, but I’d bit the inside of my cheek and held my ground.
Now that we’d made it through my first doctor appointment, I felt like it was time to share our extraordinary news on such a special day with all the amazing people in our lives. While morning sickness still plagued me every day, I was happy it knocked off by lunch time, and couldn’t be happier. I’d throw up until the birth knowing the end result was me looking into the face of our baby.
Ourbaby. The thought of having a baby with Pax sent tingles down my spine and butterflies fluttering in my belly.
Paxton was crazy over the top as excited as I was. If possible, maybe even more. I had to ask him to chill out when he wanted to go running out and buy a ton of baby stuff right away. Hearing our baby’s heartbeat for the first time made it even harder to not go bananas and buy out the stores. But oh my gosh, the rush of love and wave of pure happiness when we heard the thump, thump, thump of our little one’s heart was the best moment of my life.
There was a lot going on and so much up in the air. We stayed in my condo all the time but he’d been dropping hints without trying to overwhelm me by making changes to our living situation. I was just trying to get my feet wet with everything that happened so far first and he didn’t push.
“You ready, darlin’?” Pax asked after opening my car door and offering his hand to help me out. His voice was full of eagerness and his smile lit up my world. The man was itching to break our news.
I placed my palm in his. “Ready.”
He pulled me into his embrace with one hand, while shutting the door with the other right there on the curb in front of Bodie and Gemma’s beautiful home. It was a little chilly being November, but I was bundled up and my man’s warmth sunk into my body.
A breeze blew, rustling the colorful display of yellow, orange, red, brown, and purple leaves. The delicate notes they made whispered in my ear and blew my hair across my face. Paxton softly swept the strand away before dipping his face closer to mine and applying his lips to my own in a kiss so sweet it could have given me a toothache. Instead, it sent love galloping through my body, heart, and soul.
Right then I knew anything he asked me, my answer would be yes.
“Get a room,” I heard a deep voice yell from beside us.
Paxton and I took our time but managed to break apart. I turned in his arms to see Rowan and Brinley walking down the sidewalk with their children. Rowan was talented as he managed to playfully cover his son’s eyes and ears. Good thing with the banter that was going on.
“Maybe we can borrow one of my sister’s,” Paxton said in a joking tone.
I playfully swatted his chest. “We are not getting busy in your sister and Bodie’s house.”
Our friends who were now next to us, laughed their asses off.
“Geez, is the party out here or inside? You all need to get your feet a movin’.”
That voice I’d know anywhere. Alley was the sassiest woman in the group and a load of freaking fun. Her, Landon, and their little girl approached adding to our group hanging out on the sidewalk.
“Well, these two,” Rowan said, pointing at me and Paxton, “can’t seem to make it inside because their mouths were fused together and they were giving the whole neighborhood a show.”
A blush covered my cheeks but I laughed along with everyone else. I’d been caught up in the kiss. My guy could make me forget everything when his lips made love to mine. I peeked around at the surrounding houses wondering if anyone was watching, but my eyes landed on the front door of the home we were going to. There stood Gemma and Bodie looking at us.
“Get your butts in the house for goodness sakes, it’s colder than a witches t—” Gemma, sassy woman number two of the group, stopped on a dime and glanced behind her causing another burst of laughter from us watching her.
