“Ooh, someone is going to get an earful on the drive home.” Connor winks and clucks his tongue at Declan.
Declan gawks at my nephew. “Or not, as there is nothing more to say. By the way, how is the signing bonus my team paid you? Reminding you to mind your own business?”
I snicker a laugh, as these two always tease one another but are close.
Ford sets a hand on Connor’s shoulder, as they are sitting next to one another. “Connor knows he is on the straight and narrow now. A little less partying and staying humble.”
Connor just rolls his eyes. “Let me just grab my fictitious guitar and we can all sing Kumbaya together.”
Declan and I glance at one another, and we both roll our eyes, entertained.
“Why do I fear the years ahead?” Ford says to the sky.
“Because my husband may have hockey swimmers like you, and we’re your competition on producing the future hockey leaders of our world,” I deadpan.
My brother looks at me, pretending to be unimpressed, yet he can’t control the trace of a smile on his face.
All while my husband glides his fingers along my thigh, informing me that he has plans for me tonight.
* * *
It’san hour later when we’re back at the house, and the moment we make it through the door from the garage to the hall, Declan’s hands are on me, and our bodies are flush together as he walks us forward, with him behind me. His hot breath spreads just below my ear in that sensitive spot before he kisses the nape of my neck.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispers.
“It’s been three days but three days too many.” I hum a sound when his fingers drag the hem of my dress up as we continue to head toward the stairs. We may just burst from the overpowering urge to forge our reunion together, literally.
“My favorite part of returning home to you is when I get you naked and take you, with our hands and our wedding rings linked together. It’s the reminder that you’re always waiting because you’re mine.”
I reach behind my back to yank on his belt. “Wedding rings do tend to symbolize that. So do some collars, but you’re not a fan of that,” I taunt him.
His chuckle rumbles against the back of my neck, and he fists some of my hair. “Naked. Now,” he barks.
“You’re so impatient.” I begin to shimmy my cotton dress to the ground, and my eyes catch the outside patio lighting, which flashes an image of backyard sex, and then my head spins into a different direction. “Your parents,” I state.
Declan stops his own clothing removal in a heartbeat, because admittedly, I just ruined the mood. “It’s not a big deal,” he insists.
“I just didn’t realize.” Really, it is that, because I guess it’s a minor thing in the grand scheme of things.
Declan guides my body to face him, and I’m standing before him in my bra and panties. “They might have said something the other week, but I didn’t think they were serious.”
“Okay.” I blink several times. “Why do they want to move?”
His fingertips cascade down my arms to link our fingers together, and he gives me one gentle yank to bring our bodies close again. “Because they made a grandchild remark.”
“And? They often do.” In a gentle not pushy kind of way, more of “do we need to plan our year around any potential development” kind of way.
A peculiar look flashes across his face, with the sexiest most endearing smile appearing on his lips. “I didn’t remind them to be quiet.” Declan kisses the outside of my hand and steps closer, letting go of my hands to cradle my face. “Instead, I smiled to myself.” His thumb runs along my bottom lip, my heart thumping like crazy, because a balloon of hope fills my chest.
“What are you trying to say?” My eyes narrow as I try to read his mood.
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately, and don’t you dare think your little ‘my husband has the good hockey genes’ speech back there is any influence,” he warns.
“Influence over what, exactly?” Feelings swell because we’ve always respected that we didn’t want kids right away, we have time, but I’ve been feeling the desire lately. I never wanted to push, but now it seems…
Declan drops one hand to my belly. “I want to put a baby inside of you.”
A warm smile instantly hits me, as my entire body enters a new state of happiness. Maybe we’ll be lucky to one day get pregnant, maybe not, but right now, we’re on the same page and timeline, and that feels like a positive start to a new chapter for us.
