I sigh, looping my arms around his neck, a smile pulling at my lips.
“I suppose so…” I whisper teasingly, and he growls, his eyes narrowing. “Guess it’s only fair of you to make an honest woman out of me. Since you already did the baby part…”
His head snaps up, eyes wide. His arms tighten around me as he growls low, “Teddy…”
I tug on the back of his neck until his mouth is once again on mine, and I breathe, “Welcome home, Daddy.”
“I’ve got to help get these rigs unloaded and cleaned. It might be another hour before we’re ready to leave,” Xander says, squeezing his arm around my waist. Dalton stands at his side, Penny is in his other arm, braced on his hip, and I once again have Bea cradled against my chest. I tip my head up to look at him from where I’m standing beside him, and his eyes soften as he looks at me.
Like I hung the moon, or something. I’m certainly not complaining.
After my surprise announcement, the entire crew erupted with cheers. Scottie and Vi scolded me for not telling them, but I know they won’t stay upset with me for long. Cal hugged me tight, lifting me off the ground. When he turned to Xander, he extended his right hand, which Xander took in a firm shake. Cal clapped him on the back with his other hand before pulling him in for the manliest ‘bro hug’ I’ve ever seen. My brother’s eyes were suspiciously wet when they pulled back, and Xander’s gaze was adoring as his eyes found mine again, though I’m not sure what had been said between them where no one else could hear.
“Why don’t you take the kids home, and I’ll be there shortly? I want to shower before I come over,” he says.
I shake my head. “Come shower at my place. I’ll join you.”
His eyes darken with lust as he captures his bottom lip between his teeth, a low growl emanating from his chest, but he shakes his head. “I’m filthy, Teddy.”
“I’m aware. Please. I don’t want to be away from you longer than I have to be. Let me take care of you for a change,” I whisper, my eyes searching his. When he smiles, it crinkles his eyes at the corners, just the way I love, and I smile, too.
“Okay, Mama. I’ll meet you at home,” he says softly, kissing me again. I nod against his mouth. “I love you, Teddy. So damn much it makes it hard for me to breathe.”
“That might be a heart attack, you old ass,” King chuckles as he passes, heading back to the rig, having sent Vi and Hollie back home, too. “Might want to get that checked out, Sup.”
“I’m not your sup anymore,” he calls back, grinning. It sends my own heart to tripping in my chest. Holy shit. He really retired. King turns, walking backward, his head tilted to the side in question. Xander nods his chin toward Cal and says, “That title belongs to him, now.”
Tears prick my eyes and I smile at my brother, who smirks just a little and shrugs. “Yeah, well, someone’s got to keep these hooligans in line now that you’re leaving to be all family-man and shit.”
King claps Cal on the back as he passes, and I watch as the two of them head toward the doors of the base building.
Xander walks us back to my minivan and helps buckle Bea and Penny into their car seats, double checking them, just like I always do. My heart melts.
“Will you be here when we get up tomorrow?” Dalton asks from the backseat as he buckles, too.
“I sure will, champ,” Xander says from the open slider door.A beaming smile lights up my son's face, and he nods, satisfied. “Come on, mama. Climb in.”
He holds my door for me as I slide in behind the wheel, and he leans in over me to fasten my seat belt. I laugh, eyeing him like he’s a lunatic. “What are you doing?”
He tests the belt, and then lets his hand rest on my stomach. Butterflies erupt in my midsection when I realize what he’s doing. Kissing me gently, he says, “Just making sure you’re all safe. My entire heart is in this vehicle, Teddy.”
Tears sting my nose all over again. Dammit, this man is so fucking swoony.
“I’ll see you at home in an hour, okay?” he asks, rubbing his thumb back and forth, where it’s still pressed to my abdomen. I nod. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I whisper, loving the way the words feel on my tongue. “Don’t take too long.”
He nods, and then he’s ducking out of the door and closing it gently. By the time I get us home and do dinner and bed routines for all three kids, Xander’s truck rumbles into the driveway. He doesn’t bother going into his side of the duplex, he just walks into mine, like we both know this is where he belongs.
Circling my arms around his neck at the same time his arms go around my waist, I lean up and press my mouth to his in a long, thorough kiss that leaves me aching. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
He lets me go so I can turn around and head toward the hallway, but he keeps one of my hands clasped tightly in his own, like he can’t bear to lose contact. In the bathroom, I lean into the bathtub and turn on the shower taps to warm. He strips off his dirt and soot stained nomex gear as I set out fresh towels and grab bottles of his favorite body wash and shampoo out from below the sink. I’d gotten them as a surprise for him before his accident, so he could shower here, but then he’d been gone.
Once he’s naked, I gesture for him to step into the shower.He does without argument, and when I’ve set my glasses on the bathroom sink and stripped as well, I step in behind him, pulling the shower curtain closed. He’s fully submerged beneath the spray, scrubbing both hands over his face and shoving the wet strands of his hair back. The darkly tanned muscles of his back, shoulders, and arms ripple with each move he makes.
I can’t help myself; I step forward and lay my hands flat along his ribcage at his sides before sliding them around to his abdomen, leaning close to press my lips to the center of his spine. God, this man is so beautiful. And he somehow wants me, loves me.
He covers the backs of my hands with his own, holding me in place, and turns his head to look at me over his shoulder. “Fuck, I missed you, sweetheart.”
