He’s looking at me with intent.Like he dares me to tell him what he wants to hear, even though I’m not sure what that is.
If you want children, we’re fucking having children.
His words earlier—so raw, so demanding, but also so fucking irresponsible. IfIwant children?
“I don’t know, Xander. I hadn’t thought about it when you asked me to marry you, obviously.” I twist the sheet in my lap. “And weobviouslydidn’t talk about it.”
“We’re having the conversation now, Cora.”
“Are we though? It feels like you’re just trying to coerce me into saying what I want. I’m not sure what I want.” I twist the sheets more, and then I look at him. “I don’t want you to have children with another woman. There, I said it. I’m jealous of your next wife.”
Annoyed with the whole situation, I throw the sheets away and start climbing out of the bed. I don’t even make it to the edge before Xander applies his superhuman, sex-god powers and has me on my back.
Covered with his sinewy body, I glare at him. He holds my hands above my head, staring at me, that playful, self-assured smirk making his face even more beautiful.
“There willnotbe a next wife. You’re my wife. And for the record, I always wanted one or two children, and that’s a perfect number for an older woman like you.” He winks.
“Asshole.” I kick his shin and struggle to free myself.
But my effort is pointless against his strength, so I default to glaring only.
My glower is my last defense, even though at this point my heart has melted at his declaration.
“You’re perfect for me, Coraline Winslow-Stone. A month ago, I thought children and starting my own family were a distant destination I would have to accept at one point. You changed that. Not because the clock is ticking, or because Nana wants great-grandchildren. Because you and I, we’re good together. Even if you were eighteen—which I’m very grateful you are not—I would want to have babies with you now.”
“We’ve been together for a few weeks.”
“You always find an objection, don’t you?” He kisses me gently.
“It’s only been a few weeks, though,” I say weakly, not really listening to that argument myself.
“Life-changing weeks.”
Oh, my poor heart. Yes.
Life-changing.
Destiny-altering.
Permanent-joy-inducing.
We grin at each other before our lips clash. Xander lets go of my wrists, and I wrap my arms and legs around him.
His hands are everywhere at once. It’s too much and not enough. It’s just the perfect amount of affection.
Lust.
Connection.
Just the perfect amount. Because I’m with the perfect man.
“Shall we make a baby, Coraline?”
“You want to start right now?” I giggle. Not because the idea is absurd, but because it’s thrilling.
“We kind of started in the pool.” His lips leave a wet trail down my torso. He dips his fingers into my pussy, and I gasp. “Besides, you feel pretty ready for me.”
My pussy might be ready, but me? Am I ready?
