“Fuck, I missed you,” he sighs against my lips,walking me backward so I’m pressed into the door. His hands roam, settling on the sides of my stomach as his thumbs coast over the soft material of my maternity dress.
“I missed you too,” I reply, smiling into the kiss. My arms snake around his neck, pulling him even closer as we make out lazily right in the middle of the entryway. The aches and pains I was feeling moments ago are a distant memory, my feet barely even registering the floor beneath them while I try not to float away.
He breaks the connection, a soft laugh weaving through the air between us when I attempt to chase his mouth with mine. I whine, pushing my lower lip into a pitiful pout, but he doesn’t give in, grinning down at me with a sparkle in his enchanting blue eyes. “It’s time for my shower gift. I’ve been waiting patiently.”
My face twists with confusion. The girls slipped and told me that he had footed the bill for our entire day, including the beautiful pink roses that awaited me when I got to the restaurant. I know it had to cost him a fortune, so I certainly wasn’t expecting there to be more when I got home.
“Theo,” I say quietly, shaking my head. “You’ve already done so much. I don’t need anything else, truly.”
“Well,” he says, kissing the tip of my nose. “Good thing it’s not for you, then. It’s forher.” My heart gallops in my chest at his words. No matter how many times he refers to the baby like she’s one of the most important people in his life, it never gets old. She’s the luckiest little girl in the world already, just knowinghow excited he is every day for her arrival. I’m pretty lucky, too, since he always goes out of his way to make sure I’m feeling cherished and adored.
“Okay, fiiiiiine,” I say, drawing out the word as I pretend to be unexcited. But how can I not feel giddy when the man beside me is nearly bursting at the seams with his entire expression radiating happiness? He wraps his hand around mine, holding gently as he leads me up the stairs.
“Before I show you,” he warns, slowing as we turn down the hallway, “I want to apologize for the amount of sneaking around that had to be done. I promise, it was with the best of intentions, and if I need anything going forward, I’ll ask you myself.”
I look around as we come to a stop in front of the closed guest room door, completely bewildered. “You’re scaring me a little bit.”
He chuckles. “Don’t be scared. I just wanted to show both of you that you belong here, and for the baby to have everything she needs.” Wrapping his fingers around the handle, he pushes it open, my breath getting caught in my throat at the sight in front of me.
The room is painted the most beautiful pale pink, with subtle gold accents adorning each wall. A large round mirror hangs above a white dresser, which is decorated to perfection with soft pastel trinkets. A white rocker sits in the corner, a plush blanket draped over the back as though it’s just waiting to provide warmth and comfort. Everything from the faux fur area rug to the jeweled chandelier hanging overhead was taken directly from the nursery inspiration photos Ishared with the girls, but nothing more so than the round white crib, complete with the bedding set I’ve seen in my dreams on more than one occasion.
“Theo,” I whisper as I step through the door, barely even able to hear my own voice over the blood that’s roaring between my ears. I’ve never seen this kind of perfection in my life. “I can’t believe you did all this.”
“Do you like it?” he asks, stepping up behind me and dropping a soft kiss to the heated skin of my neck. “Do you thinkshe’lllike it?” His hands slide around to cradle my stomach, and I lean back into his chest as he holds us.
“She’ll love it. It’s the most beautiful nursery in the world.” I turn my head, my tear-filled gaze finding his. “Thank you.” It seems like such a small way to express how I’m feeling in this moment, but to be honest, I don’t think I could ever find words that are big enough to cover it.
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make you happy, Finley,” he says, spinning me in his arms. His deep blue pools shine with emotion, a nervous smile pulling at his lips as a shaking palm settles against my cheek. “I love you.”
In an instant, every breath is being stolen from my lungs as I stare up at him. I’ve never been so overwhelmed—soconsumed—by a single sentence, yet I feel like the weight of everything I’ve been holding onto for so long has been lifted from my shoulders. But that’s how it always is with him. He’s always there to remind me that I’m not alone, and I can’t remember the lasttime I truly felt like I had a safe space. Theo has given me that, in every sense of the word.
He’s my home. My rock. My other half.
“I love you too,” I reply softly, tears of pure joy spilling down my cheeks. I’ve never said those words to a man before, but I’ve never been surer about anything in my life. I feel free. I feel alive. Like I’m no longer treading water, my soul tired and ready to give out as I fight to survive.
“Holy shit,” he chokes out, all the tension in his body relaxing as his eyes flutter closed. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to tell you that. I was afraid it might scare you away.”
My expression softens, and I ghost my hands up his stomach and chest. “To be honest,” I say, holding his gaze, “it terrifies me. But the way you stepped up and empowered me when I felt like I had nothing good to offer makes me want to be better. Not only for myself and the baby, but for you, as well. I have no idea what I’m doing, and I’m sure I’ll fuck up every now and then, so please be patient with me while I figure out how to be everything you need.”
He dips down, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “You already are, Mama. You already are.”
THIRTY
THEO
Early morning sunlightfilters through the bedroom curtains, slowly pulling me from a peaceful sleep. Finley’s naked back is pressed to my front, my hand resting over her belly, where it stayed all night. Now that she’s officially on the home stretch of her pregnancy, with about a month to go, I’ve been more protective than ever. I feel unhinged sometimes, having to remind myself that she’s a strong, independent woman who can take care of herself—but it hasn’t been easy.
I may look and act like a giant teddy bear, but I’d burn the world down for my girls.
I push up on one elbow, carefully sweeping a stray lock of red hair from Fin’s face. Just like they always are when we’re snuggled up under the comforter, her cheeks are pink and warm, her pouty lips parted as she snores peacefully. She’s been having trouble getting comfortable, especially when she’s lying down, so it’s a relief to see that she managed to get a full night’s sleep.I’d like to think the multiple orgasms I gave her before bed last night helped a little, too.
Taking in her beautiful features, my heart swells in my chest. The delicate slope of her nose and the light smattering of freckles that run across it. The small wrinkle between her brows that digs in when she’s deep in thought. The soft, sweet skin that I’ve spent hours pressing kisses to.
I love every part of her so much that it almost hurts.
Just as I’m about to sayfuck itand skip out on practice so I can spend the day admiring this woman’s beauty, she inhales a long, deep breath. “I can feel you staring, stalker.” Her voice is raspy and full of sleep, but her sassy attitude is wide awake as she turns her head and looks at me through her lashes.
“There she is,” I say, kissing her softly. “I don’t think it counts as stalking when you willingly fell asleep in my bed. I’m pretty sure this is just classified as a regular guy who’s obsessed with his girlfriend.”
