“Of course you do. And how’s that working out for you, Riley Jane?”
She hesitated—and then sidestepped his question. “We’re here in the same house,” she said. “And yet in some ways, I miss you all the time.”
He knew exactly what she meant. “I feel the same…”
“And tonight, I just want you here, in this room with me for a little while. I want that so much.”
“Did you get the impression that I was objecting? I’m not. I want it, too.”
“You sure?” she asked.
“I am,” he replied.
“Then stay…for a little while?”
“Yes.”
She sighed again as her smile bloomed wide. “I’m so glad.” And then her soft expression changed, became focused—even a little bit desperate. “You should kiss me now.”
“Whatever you want.”
“Kiss me…”
And he did, swooping down to claim her mouth, catching her lower lip between his teeth, worrying it gently as he guided her back across the bed.
“Oh, Josh…” She breathed his name against his lips.
It was everything to him, to be here on her bed with her again, to hold her close, to hear her say his name with heat and urgency.
At last.
Holding her, kissing her, undressing her as she returned the favor—it was so good. It was everything he needed, all that he longed for.
And she was every bit as eager as he was, unbuttoning his shirt, shoving it off over his shoulders, trailing those soft hands down his chest, sighing against his lips.
“I’ve missed you like this,” she whispered. “Missed you so much…”
He was all over her, too, taking off her shirt, getting rid of her bra. Her breasts were fuller. And her belly…
“So beautiful,” he said, cradling that fine roundness between both his hands.
“It’s only going to get bigger,” she warned with a grin, her fingers combing through his hair, a chuckle escaping her.
“I can’t wait.” He breathed the words against the firm ball of her belly. “I like to watch you getting bigger, knowing what’s coming. I can’t wait for the day she’s born, the first day I’ll get to hold her in my arms. I can’t wait to raise her, to watch her grow up, one day my little girl and then, too soon, a hard-hearted teenager who wants nothing to do with her dear old dad.” He dropped a kiss to the left of her navel and then looked up into her waiting eyes. “It’s going to be so good, Riley. You wait and see…”
She reached down and cradled his face in her hands. “Come up here…”
He kissed his way up between her breasts and claimed her lips again. That kiss was never ending. As it went on and on, he rearranged them on the bed, scooting her up so her head was on a pillow, then stretching out beside her.
He touched her everywhere, needing to explore every soft, sweet-smelling inch of her. And when he lifted her thighs and guided them over his shoulders, she said, “Oh, yes…” on a soft, excited cry.
“Shh…” He reached up over the baby and covered her lips with his hand. “Don’t wake the children…”
She laughed.
“Shh,” he said again.
And she sighed. And then he kissed here there, where she was wet and soft and eager. He kissed her until she cried out again—and he covered that cry, too. Just in time. A moment later, she was whimpering under his hand as her body pulsed in completion beneath his tongue.
