Chapter 31

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

KATE

S itting at Jensen's kitchen island, I watch and swoon at how he moves around preparing dinner.

This man knows what he's doing in the kitchen. He wasn't kidding when he claimed he would make Jon weep.

"Can I help?" I ask.

"Nah, Princess." He rounds the counter with two bell peppers in hand. Spinning my chair around, he places them against my stomach and kisses me. "According to the book I was reading last night, at eighteen weeks, our babies are the size of bell peppers."

"And by the time I push them out, they'll be pumpkins." I wince. "I'll never be the same again—my pussy will never recover."

"Your pussy." Kiss. "Is fucking stunning." Kiss. "And always will be." Kiss. "And I really need to stop talking about it because all I want to do is slide inside you when I'm against the clock to get this food done."

"It's all in the prep." I cast a hand across the kitchen, offering a bratty smile. "You could've had some of this done already."

He huffs and gets back to chopping vegetables. "But someone needed to head home and change."

"I felt icky after that jelly and all day in my work clothes."

Throwing some potatoes into a pan, he smirks. "Sure, Princess. Not a diva at all."

I look him over, my nonalcoholic cocktail he made me to my lips. "Doppelganger, remember? Works both ways."

Sliding off the stool with sass for yet another bathroom break, I feel an arm come around my waist. Jensen's lips find the shell of my ear, sending shivers throughout me. "Are you doing anything tomorrow? We don't have a game or practice, and I assume you don't have work since it's a Saturday?"

I was going to spend some of it starting my preparation for Nina's benefit, but I find myself shaking my head. "Nothing."

"Here's the plan. Tonight, after everyone's left, I'm going to lay you on my bed and show you what the best night of your life looks like. Then tomorrow, I'll show you your greatest morning before we head out shopping for our babies and my girlfriend."

Girlfriend.

I keep waiting to freak out every time he says it, but I don't. Instead, warmth washes over me like it's the most natural feeling in the world. The moment I placed my mouth on his at the scan, it was like I finally decided to let go. To let him take control just like Felicity said I should. Trusting Jensen Jones with my heart and putting it in his hands is everything I want— and need.

"Shopping for me?"

He spins me around in his arms like we're dancing. "Well, I only have one girlfriend, so yeah, something for you."

Oh, here we go with the hockey player gift-buying malarky. I should've seen it coming, given all that happened with Felicity and Luna.

"I don't think I need anything. I have all I want."

I have you.

Narrowing his eyes, he quickly glances over his shoulder at the burner and then back at me. "I'm spoiling the shit out of you. Period. I don't want any bullshit ‘Oh, I can take care of myself,'" he repeats in a mocking tone. "Yeah, I worked that one out a while back, Princess. But you belong to Jensen Jones now, and when that happens, even Princesses get an upgrade."

"Wait, Kate, do you not want some pot roast?" Zach points to the huge dish set out in front of us.

I screw up my nose.

"She's off meat," Jensen answers, edging his chair closer to me.

"It's just the smell makes me want to puke."

"I told you we could've gone vegetarian tonight," Felicity says.

"It's fine," I say, waving a hand in front of me. "It's not as bad now that the morning sickness has worn off, but I'm good with my ratatouille and bread selection."

Jensen smiles at me, his fork halfway to his mouth, and I melt at the sight. I've spent way too long trying to make him scowl, and it's criminal when he has a smile like that.

Jon's fork clatters to his plate. "Right, I'm gonna step in here and say we've all congratulated Zach and Luna and Jensen and Kate on having babies. But is anyone going to congratulate me on guessing the genders correctly on not one, oh no, but all three babies?"

"No," Zach shrugs.

"Charming," Jon retorts.

"You're such high maintenance," I drawl, when suddenly, I feel a kick much harder than the previous ones, and my hand flies to my stomach.

Jensen is straight after it. "All okay?"

"Yeah, stop worrying." I giggle flirtatiously. I'm so fucking giddy at the thought of what he promised later.

Jensen's lips find the top of my head.

" Knew it . I fucking knew it!" Jon exclaims.

"Wait, are you guys…" Felicity motions between us with her fork.

He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses my knuckles, never taking his eyes off mine. "Finally, yes."

"Hell to the fucking yes!" Jessie shouts.

All heads turn his way, and he winces. "That was a bit loud, wasn't it?"

Zach narrows his eyes at his almost closed thumb and forefinger. "A touch."

"Just need to marry you off now." Jon waggles his eyebrows at Jessie.

He scoffs, pushing his food around his plate. "Not a chance."

The table falls silent as we take in Jessie's demeanor. Taking a deep breath and pushing his hand through his sandy blond hair, he throws his napkin on his plate. "That was fucking awesome, man. Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Jensen responds.

"I would suggest an eight out of ten." Jon shakes his hand out in front of him as if reconsidering his score. "Maybe eight point five."

"Please forgive my husband's lack of manners," Felicity jibes.

"Always so competitive," Zach shakes his head. "I can see it now when you're coaching, poor guys," he laughs.

"All I'll say is we're top of the league, and Jack is absolutely smashing it."

"He's a forward, right?" Jessie asks.

"Yeah. And an awesome one at that." Jon shakes his head in awe and leans back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm pushing him for the NHL. There's a place for him for sure."

"He was a free agent when he went to college, though, yeah?" Jessie responds.

"Yep. But Jon thinks he's got a chance at a team picking him up. With his contacts and everything." Felicity looks to Jon, hope in her eyes for her son's dreams.

"I do, Angel." He smiles back at her. "I'm talking with my former agent. We think he has a shot."

"What I would give to have had a dad like you." Jessie drums his fingers on the table, and we all look at him, wondering if he'll elaborate, but he doesn't.

"He started late, and being from the UK, he's had few opportunities, but he's talented, and now his technical skills are catching up with his skating. He's…" Jon gives a chef's kiss.

"That good?" Zach's eyes bug out.

"That fucking good," Jon confirms.

"Talking of good," starts Jensen, whose eyes haven't left mine all night. "Dessert? I made a Madagascan vanilla cheesecake."

"Can't you just buy those?" Luna asks.

"Yeah. But they're way better when you make them."

I stand as Jensen's hand trails around my waist, and I smile at the way he can't keep his hands off me.

I love my friends with all my heart, but right now, I just want to be alone with him and make up for all the times I've told him to fuck off.

Yet here he is, still obsessing, still wanting me.

"I'll serve it," I say, walking to the kitchen.

With my head in Jensen's refrigerator, my body leaves my skin as I turn around and find my boyfriend standing right behind me. His hands are in his pockets as he watches me swoon over everything he has in his fridge—all without meat.

Setting the cheesecake on the counter, I look up at him. "Go be with everyone. I've got this."

"I'm just watching you."

"What, like a stalker?" I jibe.

"Why does everyone think I'm some kind of stalker? Can't a boy be obsessed?"

The way I want to march him into the bedroom and let everyone else help themselves to dessert while I take a piece of my own.

Leaning against the fridge, I smile playfully at him. "Is that so?"

He steps closer, and I feel him all around me. He's intoxicating. "Yeah. I don't think there will ever be a day you don't drive me a little crazy."

Looking over my shoulder and to the living area, I hear laughter filtering through. "You have guests."

" We have guests."

"Are you going to fuck me right now?" His weighted look steals the breath from my lungs and promises he might just bend me over right here.

I sure hope so.

He bites down on his bottom lip. "Do you want me to?"

"Maybe."

He leans across and takes a spoon from the drawer in the kitchen island. Digging right into the cheesecake, he offers me a bite. "Don't take it all."

Leaning forward, I bite around half and slowly swallow. God, that tastes good.

Jensen slowly eats the rest but deliberately leaves some on the spoon. "Lick it clean, Princess." His tone is sultry and oh-so-sexy when he offers it to me.

I do just that, wrapping my tongue around the underside, keeping my eyes pinned on him. "Tastes so good."

His eyes hood. "Does it? I've already forgotten." Pressing my back against the refrigerator door, Jensen places his mouth over mine, swiping into me with his tongue. Pulling back, he licks his lips. "Yeah, so fucking sweet."

The way I'm obsessed with his dominance, the possessive way he watches and touches me. I want to stand in the mirror and scream, ‘Who are you, and what have you done with Kate Monroe?' But feminism has left the building, and in its place is the man I loathed for all the wrong reasons.

"Where did you go there?" He caresses my cheek with his palm.

"Somewhere nice."

"Yeah. Care to share?"

"I'm just thinking about us and the journey we've been on to get here, to this moment."

"Are you happy, Princess?"

My eyes sting. For the first time in my life, I am. "Yes. Are you?"

"I'm on top of the fucking world—no, universe. Nothing, and I mean nothing, could top my love for you."

"Y-you love me?"

He throws his head back and laughs softly. Looking at me, he tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. "I don't think love is enough. Four letters could never do justice to the way I feel. I guess I'll just have to spend the rest of my life showing you."

My heart thunders in my chest uncontrollably in the silence as I take him in.

That's until Jessie sighs heavily. "For fuck sake! Who's had a bite out of this?"