Chapter 9 - Emma

My heart's still racing from Max's impromptu girlfriend proposal. His arms feel like home wrapped around me, but doubt creeps in like smoke under a door.

"Max?" I pull back slightly. "Can we talk?"

He settles on the couch beside me, concern clouding those green eyes I fell for.

"What's wrong?"

"I need to know something." My fingers twist in my lap. "Did you ask me to be your girlfriend because of the baby?"

"Emma—"

"Because I've wanted this since our lake picnic." The words tumble out before I can stop them. "Remember? When you packed those fancy sandwiches and that ridiculous red checkered blanket?"

His hand finds mine, stilling my fidgeting fingers. "The one where you taught me about cloud shapes?"

"Yes." I swallow hard. "That's when I knew I wanted more than just casual dating. But then we never talked about it, and now there's a baby, and I'm afraid—"

"That I'm only stepping up because of the pregnancy?"

I nod, not trusting my voice.

"Emma, look at me." He tilts my chin up with his free hand. "I've had the girlfriend question sitting on my tongue since that damn picnic too. You wore that yellow sundress that made you look like sunshine, and all I could think was 'I want this forever.'"

"Then why didn't you ask?"

He runs a hand through his hair, messing it up even more.

"Because I'm an idiot? Because I was scared of rushing things? Because every time I tried, some emergency call would interrupt us?"

"And now?"

"Now I realize life's too short for maybes." His thumb traces circles on my palm. "The baby isn't why I want to be with you. It's just made me brave enough to finally say it out loud."

I study his face, looking for any sign of doubt. But all I see is Max – my firefighter, who runs into burning buildings without hesitation but needed a pregnancy test to finally admit his feelings.

"Besides," he adds with a slight smirk, "I'm pretty sure Sadie would kill me if I didn't ask you to be my girlfriend as soon as possible. Ever since she made grumpy Kane fall for her, she believes we all deserve and need to find love."

"Who's still single in your crew?" I ask, trying to keep track of all the firefighters' love lives.

"Just Danny now." Max settles back against the couch. "It's complicated. His family consists of all doctors, very traditional. They have... expectations."

I nod, understanding. "He'll find someone when he least expects it. Like we did."

"Speaking of us..." Max's voice drops lower as he leans forward.

His lips find that spot on my neck that makes my knees weak. Thank god I'm sitting down.

I tilt my head, giving him better access. My lower lip catches between my teeth as he trails kisses up my throat.

"What are you doing?"

"Celebrating," he murmurs against my skin. "The baby. Us being official. Everything."

Before I can respond, he scoops me up like I weigh nothing. My legs wrap around his waist instinctively as he carries me to his bedroom.

He lays me down gently on the bed like I'm something precious. The mattress dips as he joins me, hovering above me with those ridiculous muscles on full display.

I look up at him, taking in the strong jaw, the green eyes that crinkle at the corners when he smiles, the strands of dark hair falling across his forehead. How did I get so lucky?

"What?" he asks, noticing my stare.

"Nothing," I whisper. "Just... I love you."

His smile could light up the whole room.

"I love you too, Emma. You and our little firefighter-in-training."

His hands move reverently over my body as clothes fall away. Every touch feels different tonight - more meaningful, more intense. This isn't just desire; it's a celebration of us, of our future.

His lips trace paths along my skin, making me grip the sheets as he moves lower. He worships every inch of me, whispering words of love against my flesh. When he reaches my thighs, I can barely breathe.

"Beautiful," he murmurs, his breath warm against my sensitive skin. "Every part of you."

I arch beneath his touch, lost in sensation. We've done this countless times before, but tonight feels special. Tonight, we're not just lovers - we're partners, parents-to-be, a family in the making.

His fingers tangle in my hair as his lips worship the soft skin of my inner thighs. I arch my back, pulling him closer, desperate for his touch. When he slowly drags my panties down, I eagerly lift my hips.

His tongue swirls over my wet pussy, coaxing gasps from my lips. He lavishes attention on my most sensitive spots, hands gripping my thighs hard enough to leave delicious marks.

I love being claimed by him, love the reminders that I am his.

Sweat beads on my forehead as his skilled mouth works me into a frenzy. The sensations build, each flick of his tongue against my swollen clit sending shivers through my body.

It's almost too much, this connection, this celebration of our love and the new life we've created.

"Max..." I pant out his name like a prayer. "I need you inside me. I need us to be one."

He looks up at me with hooded eyes, giving me that heart-stopping smile before ridding himself of the last barriers between us. His thick cock bobs free, already hard and throbbing.

I spread myself, silently begging him to fill me. Max doesn't make me wait a second longer. He settles between my thighs, guiding himself to my soaked entrance and pushing in with a slow roll of his hips.

We both moan as he sheathes himself fully inside my velvet heat. For a moment, we're perfectly still, savoring the feeling of intimate reunion. Then Max starts to move, rocking into me with deep, purposeful thrusts that quickly pick up speed.

Max feels amazing inside me. He moves in and out over and over again. I'm under his body, looking at his big muscles and handsome face.

"Don't stop," I say, taking deep breaths. "You feel so good, hitting all the right spots."

He gives me a cocky smile.

"I love you, Emma. Forever and always." His words make me feel warm inside.

Our sweaty bodies move together perfectly. Everything else fades away until it's just Max and the fantastic feelings he gives me. My heart is so full of love, just like the tingling feeling between my legs as he pushes deeper inside me.

His hard cock rubs against that sweet spot over and over. I'm so close, my whole body tensing up, waiting for the mind-blowing climax.

Max leans down, his forehead touching mine.

"Let go, baby," he pants heavily. "I want to see your beautiful face when you cum for me."

I whimper as he pounds into me with renewed vigor. It's too much and not enough all at once. My nails dig into the flexing muscles of his back as wave after wave of pleasure crashes over me.

Finally, I shatter around him, crying out his name amidst the fireworks exploding behind my tightly shut eyes. Max keeps moving, extending my high until I'm a boneless, whimpering mess in his arms.

When I finally regain my senses, he's peppering gentle kisses across my sweat-dampened skin.

"You're so gorgeous like this," he murmurs.

Heat floods my cheeks, but I can't contain my giddy grin.

"My turn," I tell him, rolling us over smoothly until I'm straddling his sculpted hips.