Page 54 of Hex Appeal

“Definitely.”

I scoop up the cat.

Clove protests loudly.

“You have your own bed.”

More protests.

“Your father bought you a very expensive heated one.”

I deposit Clove in his bed. He glares at us.

“I don't appreciate your attitude,” I tell him.

“He gets that from you.”

I turn around. Welles is grinning. “Oh, really?”

“Now.” I climb back onto the bed. “If I remember correctly, Chief Hawthorne, there's a particular activity involved in trying for a baby.”

His gaze drops slowly down my body. Heat replaces amusement. “I've heard something about that.”

“And since we've officially decided to try…” I straddle his hips. His hands immediately settle at my waist. “I suppose we should get started.”

“I suppose we should.”

I kiss him. He kisses me back, his hands sliding around me as I sink against him.

I taste the cider we drank downstairs.

He tastes like Welles. My husband. The man I get to love for as long as life lets me. I deepen the kiss.

Then he stops.

“Wait.”

“What?”

Welles reaches toward the nightstand.

I stare at him.

“You cannot possibly be checking your phone right now.”

“I'm not.”

He gets out of bed.

Nearly naked.

I watch him cross the room.

Then I realize where he's going. “Oh, for fuck's sake.”

He bends toward the dresser. “Welles.”

“We're going to be distracted.”