Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

Alex

I love the wide-eyed look Elliot gets when she takes in her surroundings.

I press my lips against her temple before I whisper, "Sorry about this again."

Her lips curve as she looks up at me from where she sits in my lap. Her legs are crossed, and my arms are around her middle as we look out at the backyard packed with my immediate family and extended family. What was supposed to be a quiet evening with my mom has turned into a full-blown fiesta. Within two hours, everyone I know showed up with food and drinks to meet my girl and see "where my grandson is growing."

There has been a lot of, "This is my new daughter. Isn't she skinny compared to Gordo ? But so gorgeous, yes?'

Of course, Elliot is eating it up and giggling at every turn, and I am loving every single second of it.

"You thought this would happen, and I'm having a blast."

I kiss her again. "Good."

When my brothers appear in front of us, I tense up. They tease me relentlessly as older brothers do, but I don't want them upsetting Elliot. No one but Mom knows that Elliot didn't tell me about the baby until recently. Everyone thinks we just wanted to tell Mom in person, but I know my brothers are suspicious since I'm very close with my mom. Santiago sets me with a look, his eyes more wrinkled with laugh lines than the last time I saw him. We are both very tall and broad. We actually look the most alike, taking after our mom with our caramel eyes and thick lashes. Hugo and Mario are smaller than us, still mirroring our mother but leaner. Thankfully, none of us looks like our sperm donor.

It gives me hope that my son will come out looking exactly like Elliot.

" Mija , you have to dance with us," Santiago tells my girl. "It's tradition you choose your favorite brother to dance with."

I scoff. "At the wedding, not a party! She doesn't know you fools!"

Mario looks between us. "I thought you got married? No?"

"No. She isn't ready," I say simply, and I feel her gaze on me.

"Ah, but you are," Santiago teases. "Don't worry. I'd make him wait too. He's a spoiled shit."

I glare as Elliot giggles.

Hugo says, "Fine, just choose me. I'll be your favorite, and my wife chose Gordo at our wedding."

I bark out a laugh. "All your wives chose me. I'm the best-looking, smartest, and most successful of us all. And if she's choosing anyone to dance with, it's me. Now, move."

My brothers don't like that as I lift Elliot out of my lap and thread our fingers together. They complain, calling her to them, but my girl only has eyes for me. Eyes that are dancing with excitement and, dare I say it, love?

I think so.

A fuzzy feeling burns in my chest when " Hasta el Amanecer " by Nicky Jam starts. A slow grin moves across my lips as I bring her in, our bodies pressed tightly together as I grip her left ass cheek, swaying our hips to the music. Her eyes are bright, laughter escaping her lips as I grind against her sweet, wanton body, and when I set her with a hooded gaze, a blush spreads across her cheeks.

Fuck, she's beautiful.

I sing to her as we dance to the music, bringing my other hand up to hold her nape as she gazes up at me, her lips parted and heat in her eyes. Unlike some women who wouldn't know what to do with their hands, Elliot slings hers around my neck, moving with me as if she has been dancing like this since she was born. I take my hand off her ass, reaching for her hand before I spin her out then pull her back in so that her ass is against me as we sway to the beat. I nip the shell of her ear before whispering, "We will have to dance once you have our boy, so nothing is between us when I grind against you."

Her lips curve as she cups my jaw. "That's the first time you've mentioned something for after our son comes."

"Didn't want to spook ya," I say, nipping on her lobe. "But know, I think of the time after he comes a lot." I spin her out once more then bring her right back where I want her. That sweet ass traps my swollen cock between her cheeks. I groan against her ear, and when her tongue peeks out to lick those lips, I'm ten seconds from dragging her into the house. "I think of how I'll spoil you rotten for giving me the best gift in the world. How we'll take turns waking up with him and changing diapers. How I'll want to make sure to help the most since, when the season starts, I won't be home as much as I want." I feel her tense at that, and I kiss her ear. "Don't. Don't do that to us."

I spin her around, pressing her flush to me as I grab her face, our foreheads touching. I cradle her stomach in my hands and gaze into her eyes. Her eyes are sparkling with unshed tears, and my chest burns.

"I'm not, I swear. It's just—" She pauses, and she presses her lips together. "I've decided I can't let you go."

"Whether you've decided or not, I wasn't letting you go," I tell her simply as I kiss her nose.

"Do you mean that? I think I'm gonna try to talk Peepaw into letting me work remote as an apology for saying I couldn't be with you and work for him."

"I am a huge fan of that idea, but like I told you from the beginning, we'll take things one day at a time."

Her eyes sparkle. "Thank you."

"Ah, Elliot, come on. You know you're as much mine as I am yours."

Her lips quirk as the song changes to " Lo Que Pasó, Pasó " by Daddy Yankee. We dance, our laughter and grins unstoppable as I move her around me and hold her close to me with no intention of letting anyone else touch her. I feel eyes on us as I nuzzle my face in her neck, holding our son as peace falls over me. I could stay like this for the rest of my life. Elliot in my arms, my son in her belly, and the soul-deep feeling of pure joy. I've never been this happy, this complete, and it's all because of her.

Elliot threads our fingers together, and I bring her hand up to kiss the back of it as our hips move. Against her ear, I ask, "You know what would look good on this hand?"

"A few of those steak tacos?"

My shoulders drop, and I can't help but laugh. I feel my mom watching me, and I meet her gaze. "Ma, she's always hungry!" I yell.

"She's growing your baby. You feed my mija !" she yells back as everyone laughs, and I roll my eyes until I notice Elliot looking up at me in confusion.

"What? I thought you wanted tacos too."

"I do," I say, still chucking. I squeeze her hand before pointing to her ring finger. "I was talking about what I thought would look good right here."

Her eyes sparkle as those lips curve up in a sneaky grin. "A taco could fit there."

I narrow my gaze, and she sputters with laughter. I cuddle her closer, kissing her lips with all the love I feel flowing through me. She cups my face, deepening the kiss, and everything fades away as I'm fully engrossed in this girl. Like it always does.

When she pulls back, I bring her hand up, kissing each fingertip, her palm, and then her knuckles. "Or my ring."

Her eyes dance with mine as she swallows. "Are you sure?"

"I've been sure," I say, moving my other hand from her belly to my back pocket for my wallet. I let go of her hand as she watches me open my wallet, sliding out a little white velvet pouch. I didn't want a ring box since I wasn't sure when I would get her to agree to marry me. I wanted the ring on my person at all times, and this was the best way. Before I can open the pouch, though, she covers it with her hand.

"Maybe we should wait," she suggests, and I hold her gaze.

"For?"

"I need to tell you something."

I search her gaze. "Do you plan on taking it off after I put it on and you tell me what you've got to tell me?"

"No, but you might want it back."

I scoff, opening the pouch and holding up the gold band with a single two-carat heart-shaped diamond. Her eyes widen, tears spilling over, as she gawks up at me. I kiss her ring finger then slide the ring down it. I look into her eyes and, in Spanish, I whisper, "I'll never ask for it back. It's yours if you'll have me as yours."

Her lip quivers before she whispers, "Alex…"

"Be my wife."

She nods slowly and then whispers, "You're mine."

"Yes, mami . I am."

"And I'm yours."

"Forever," I tell her, meaning every single syllable that leaves my lips.

Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, can change how I feel about this girl.

I only need for her to believe that.