Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

"You're awfully quiet, sweetheart," Stefano said three hours later when they arrived back home—the house they'd bought together and moved into six months ago.

Roselia had seemed happy and bubbly during the entire party. She'd laughed at every silly game, took notes for Summer about what gift came from whom, and enjoyed cake and ice cream with everyone else.

It hadn't been until they'd gotten back in the car that she'd gone silent. She'd spent most of the drive staring out the window, chewing on her lower lip, arms crossed.

He didn't think she was mad at him for anything. That wasn't like her. But he intended to find out why she'd clammed up before they went to bed.

Roselia took her coat off and hung it up on the rack before she crossed her arms again and shot him a glare. "You were right, and I hate it when you're such a perceptive mindreader."

He furrowed his brow, wondering where this conversation was going. It was obvious she was not seriously angry. She was being dramatic about something, and he loved it. He loved every damn thing she did and every personality she had.

Pulling her into his arms, he tipped her head back and asked, "What was I right about?"

"Did you know every one of them is pregnant except Kally? And she's not even on the pill anymore."

He chuckled. "Yeah, I heard. It's crazy how everyone in the room kept Gemma's and Nora's pregnancies a secret even though every person was aware. But what does that have to do with me being right?"

She sighed and ran her hands up his chest. "I got baby fever," she admitted as though she were telling him she needed a tooth extraction tomorrow.

He laughed. "I figured that would happen." He bent his knees just enough to lift her off the floor. "Wrap your legs around my waist." When she complied, he turned and headed for the bedroom.

"That's all you have to say? No gloating? No I told you so?"

He headed straight for the bed, lowered her onto her back, and hovered over her, hands at either side of her face. He held her gaze. "No need to gloat or say a word. When women start having babies, it's normal for all of them to join in like a big club."

She couldn't keep from grinning any longer as her fingers came to the buttons on his shirt and started working them free. "I'm not saying we should stop using condoms today specifically, but maybe it wouldn't hurt to at least practice the baby-making a bit more until we're certain we fully have it down pat."

He laughed as he helped her finish with the buttons before shoving back so he could take off his shirt. "How about you remove that sexy dress so I can see the lingerie I saw underneath it earlier?"

With a coy look, Roselia rose onto her knees and slowly stripped down to the panties and matching bra while Stefano removed all his clothes. It never got old. Seeing her naked made his mouth dry and his heart race. She'd filled out some in the past year. Her breasts were fuller and her hips wider. Sexy. Sinful. Tempting.

Mine .

Practicing the baby-making was not something they were lacking. It was rare that a day went by when they didn't have sex. But Stefano wasn't going to argue her point. He was perfectly willing to "practice" all she wanted.

When he climbed over her, causing her to drop onto her back and look up at him with that winning smile he loved, he couldn't help but hover for a few moments, watching her, letting his gaze roam up and down her sexy body.

"What are you doing?" she whispered.

"Memorizing this moment," he told her.

"What's special about this particular moment?" she asked.

He finally bent his elbows to drop a kiss on her lips. "All the moments with you are special, Rose. Every single one is a gift I will never take for granted. I want to memorize them all. I love you."

She grabbed his neck and hauled him closer. "I love you, too. Now, remind me how this baby-making works again. I've forgotten. We should probably practice it more often until we get it right."

He chuckled as he dropped over her and let his cock lodge against her panties. God, he loved her. He was one very lucky man.