Chapter 132

Genevieve wasn’t in bed when I finally went back inside after Lane left. I tossed the paper on the nightstand but took the capsule with me. I found her in the bathroom with her shirt up, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She frowned as she poked her stomach.

Leaning against the door, I took a moment to watch her with a kind of unrivaled fondness. With her last pregnancy, I was too fucking drunk to enjoy any real part of it. This time—thanks to Lane—I was determined to slow down and do just that.

“You look fucking perfect,” I told her softly. She dropped her shirt instantly and whirled fast, wide-eyed.

“Sorry, I was just—”

“You don’t need to explain yourself, baby girl.”

“I know, but just…” Her voice trailed off. I held out a hand to her and pulled her closer when she took it.

“Open,” I said. Trusting me, she did as I asked, and I popped the capsule in her mouth. It burst on her tongue. The woman gagged but swallowed it with a whole-body cringe.

“Oh, my God!” she exclaimed. I gave her an apologetic smile. I had no fucking clue what it tasted like, but it didn’t look pleasant. “Gross! What was that?”

“Lane made it for you,” I replied. That unhappy look she gave me was unexpected—granted, I had told her not to trust him. “He said it’ll make sure there are no complications this time around.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“No, no.” Genevieve shook her head. Those pretty eyes were quick to fill with tears at the words. “Say it again. I need you to say it again, Ian.”

“Lane said that gross thing I just tossed in your mouth will make sure there are no complications with this pregnancy,” I repeated. She stared at me like I’d lost my fucking mind. “Baby girl, you’re going to be a mom.”

At that, she burst into tears. I dragged her into my arms, squeezing her as tight as I could while she wore that damn sling. She buried her face in my chest, and I rested my chin on the top of her head. Somehow, it didn’t quite hit until that moment—like my brain hadn’t wrapped around the thought wholly. A myriad of emotions clenched my heart in a fucking vice grip, and I drew in an unsteady breath.

“Say it again, please,” she whispered into my shirt.

“You’re going to be a mom, Genevieve,” I whispered. I smoothed a hand over her hair and kissed her once more. “We’re going to be parents.”

“We’re going to be parents.” The words sounded so goddamn weird and incredible to hear out loud.

“Do you want the other news he told me?” I hoped to hell she said yes because that was one secret I didn’t want to keep. She stepped back, doing her best to wipe away all the tears with one sleeve. I cradled her face and brushed away what she missed with my thumbs. When she nodded, I said, “We’re having girls.”

To my surprise, Genevieve burst out laughing. And kept laughing until she was wheezing and needed to sit down. Even then, she couldn’t get a hold of herself. I crouched down in front of her and waited.

“Oh,” she blew out an unsteady breath, “oh, you’re fucked, Ian. Forget a college fund. We’re going to need bail money.”

“You know me so well.” I chuckled.

“They’ll be in kindergarten and you’ll be threatening their playground crushes!”

“No!” I exclaimed. “No crushes. Not until I teach them how to hit a guy and do some damage.”

“Ian! You can’t do that in kindergarten!” she replied.

“Damn straight I will,” I told her. “My girls will know how to take a guy out by the knees, how to break a nose, and when to kick them in the balls before school starts. I don’t fucking trust boys. I was a boy. I know how boys think.”

“And if they like girls?” she challenged.

“Kick a girl hard enough between the legs and it’ll still fucking bring them to their knees. I know for a fact that some little girls can be jerks.” I stared at her pointedly, and Genevieve smiled shamelessly.

“You happen to like this jerk,” she reminded me. Careful of her sling, I grabbed her around the waist and laid her back on the bed, kissing her.

“I happen to fucking love my favorite jerk,” I whispered against her mouth. She groaned and wiggled in response. Her knees hooked around my hips, and fuck it if my cock didn’t jump to life at the invitation. I ate up the sexy little moan she let out as I flexed my hips. I wanted to strip her fucking bare and ravish every inch of her until she forgot all the crap that had happened to her. But that fucking sling pressing against my chest stopped me as a stark reminder of how she was hurt. “We should fucking stop. Your shoulder—”

“I’ll keep my arm down,” she said. Her head tipped back as my mouth drifted along her jaw. “Please?”

“No games, princess,” I replied. I ran my tongue over her fluttering pulse, enjoying her gasp. “No crazy shit. Not for a long fucking time, understand me?”

“Yes…”

“I want all your fucking words, baby girl.” Pushing up on my knees, I was gentle as I helped her out of the sling and her shirt. Was it the sexiest fucking thing I’d ever done? Not a goddamn chance. But there was no way in hell I was rushing through anything and hurting her in the process. I ran my hands over her bare thighs and her hips. “I want every single one of your words, princess. You understand me?”

She nodded, words catching in her throat as my thumb brushed ever so slightly over her clit.

“Good girl,” I murmured and watched her squirm to get closer to me. Meeting her silent request, I pressed my thumb to her clit in tantalizingly slow circles as I spoke. “If you want something from me, tell me. If you start to hurt, tell me. Do you understand me?”

“Yes…” Genevieve breathed out. Her hips rose against my hand as I stopped. Before I could settle between her legs, she said, “Shirt off. Please?”

“Anything your pretty little heart desires.” I dragged my shirt over my head and tossed it aside as I made myself comfortable between her thighs. I kissed every inch of her skin. When my lips hovered over her stomach, I whispered, “I’m going to do this right this time. I promise you that. I’m going to take care of you in every fucking way possible, princess.”

Without another word, I ran my tongue through her wetness. Her fingers gripped my hair as her head fell back with a loud moan. I traced the curve of her piercing and teased it with my teeth. Her hands tightened, and I growled, the sound vibrating through both of us.

“Oh, God…” Her hips arched off the bed. “Don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t stop.”

Not a chance in hell. Licking, sucking, nibbling. Her heels dug into my back as she writhed against my face. Her breath came faster, my name fell off her lips in a growing chant, and I quickened my pace until she fell apart for me.

“So fucking gorgeous, princess,” I whispered. I sank my teeth into her trembling thigh just as I dipped two fingers in her pussy. Her muscles clenched around me, drawing my fingers deeper. Her desperate cry was music to my fucking ears as teetered on the line of coming a second time.

“Ian!” She gasped.

“Yes, princess?” I stroked that spot guaranteed to make her fall apart for me. Her words vanished in a scream she muffled in a pillow as she came a second time. “Give me your words, Genevieve. Tell me what I can give you.”

“Please,” she panted, “I need you inside me. Please!”

“Anything for you, baby girl,” I said. Sliding off the bed, I made fast work of stripping off my pants. When she reached for me, I scolded, “Keep that shoulder down, baby girl. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

I kissed the curve of her hip and made my way up her body. The little ways she wiggled with impatient anticipation made my dick harder. I loved her like this. My groan matched hers as I sank into her wet heat. I stilled while I adjusted her positioning, being careful to bear my entire weight. She squirmed. Her hips rose against mine, seeking out friction against her clit.

Reaching between us, I gave her what she needed. I circled her clit as I thrust into her. Slow and deep—meticulous and exact. I lost myself in every moan, gasp, and whimper she gave me. Her nails scraped against my skin as she clung to me.

Even the ache from my bruises where she touched me added to the raging sensations rolling through me. I dragged my tongue along the curve of her neck. The racing of her pulse was an indescribable aphrodisiac that tested my fucking resolve to go easy.

I gave her piercing a tiny tug—one that sent her spiraling and chanting my name. Her muscles spasmed around my cock as she came apart for me all over again. I didn’t last long after. The pressure and heat in my lower spine became too much to hold back. My forehead tipped against hers as I buried my cock deep inside her, coming hard.

Her lips drifted along my cheek, and she nipped my jaw while her fingers ran tracks up and down my back. The comforting gesture made me shudder.

“I love you,” Genevieve whispered in my ear. When I tried to separate from her, she wrapped her arms around me and held me close. “Not yet, please.”

“Whatever you want, princess,” I said. But there was no way in hell I was staying on top of her. Sliding my arm under her, I rolled us both carefully and hiked a blanket up around us. I kissed her forehead while she settled against my side. “Whatever you want.”

I fucking meant every goddamn word of that. If she wanted the fucking moon, I’d find a way to give it to her. It didn’t matter what it was. I’d find a way to make it happen. A second chance with her was the fucking dream, and I wasn’t letting her go. Never again.