Want to see her belly round with my kid. Want to watch her navigate motherhood with the same fierce protection she showed everyone she loved. She'd be incredible at it. Wild and devoted and probably terrifying to anyone who threatened her children.
Like a tiger protecting her cubs.
Perfect.
The image settled in my bones, solid and sure in a way few things in my life had ever been.
"You look like you're plotting something," Grayson observed.
"Always am." I drained the rest of my beer. "Occupational hazard."
Leo's phone buzzed, and he pulled it out, frowning at whatever message he'd received. "Supply issue on the east docks. Grayson, I need you on this."
Grayson straightened. "Now?"
"Sooner the better." Leo glanced at Jackson. "You good here?"
"Yeah, I've got it covered."
The two of them headed inside, Grayson calling something to Sofia about being back soon. She waved him off, already engagedin conversation with Elena about something that had them both laughing.
Jackson moved closer to the pool area, taking up a position where he could keep an eye on all the women while still maintaining distance. Professional as always.
I watched Ivy pass Marcello to Elena, then stretch her arms over her head. The movement pulled her shirt tight across her chest, and I tracked the curve of her body with the kind of focus that would've gotten me killed if I'd been on a job.
She caught me staring and raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Knew exactly what she was doing, the tease.
I jerked my head toward the house, a clear invitation.
She bit her lower lip, glancing at the other women. They were deep in conversation, passing around nail polish colors and debating something that involved a lot of hand gestures. Sofia had Marcello now, bouncing him on her knee.
Ivy looked back at me and shrugged, casual as anything, then started making her way around the pool.
"Grabbing more drinks," she announced to no one in particular.
I was already moving toward the sliding glass doors.
Inside, the air conditioning hit like a wave of relief after the poolside heat. I heard her footsteps behind me, quick and light on the tile.
"You're not very subtle," she said, closing the door behind her.
"Don't need to be subtle in my own house."
"Our house," she corrected, crossing her arms. "You made a whole speech about that when you convinced me to move in, remember? 'This is ours, Ivy. Our space. Our home.'"
"I remember." I moved closer, backing her against the wall next to the door. "I also remember you agreeing with me. Eventually."
"Eventually." Her hands found my chest, fingers spreading over my shirt. "After you wore me down with that persistence thing you do."
"Worked, didn't it?"
"Unfortunately for my sanity, yes."
I kissed her, slow and deep, tasting chlorine and something sweet she must've been drinking. She melted into me the way she always did, that initial resistance giving way to want.
When I pulled back, her eyes had gone dark. "We can't. Everyone's right outside."
"Jackson's watching them. They're fine."
