“Or later when you got down on your knees and begged—”
“You didn’t have to use my dress, and screw up my makeup,” I grumble.
“Is this what we’ve come to now, Beauty?”
“What we’ve come to?” I ask. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, now that we have the boys and now that Axel is almost here, we’re going to be the couple who fucks on a schedule—”
“Can you not say fuck in front of the kids?” I mutter, checking to make sure Connor is still occupied and Ryker’s still sleeping.
Michael takes his eyes off the road for like a nanosecond to flash me that look. The one that says he’s going to say fuck again and I might as well get used to it.
I sigh.
“And you’re going to be the type of woman who, when I get a mind to fuck you, will look at me and say, ‘Don’t mess up my hair,’.”
“I have never told you not to mess my hair up,” I grumble.
“I know,” he says and when I look over at him, my heart stumbles when I take in his smile.
Michael’s beard is more manageable these days. He doesn’t use it to hide behind and I like the change. His hair has been cut to just above his shoulders, still long but it’s gone from mountain-man-could-be-axe-wielding-murderer to panty-melting-hot-as-fuck-ex-biker-deliciousness. Which I love in general, but I probably love more because I can actually see his smile, read his happiness, and with everything he’s been through, that’s a precious gift that I will never take for granted.
“It wouldn’t do any good anyway,” I grumble, because he looks a tad too arrogant.
“I know,” he grins, proving he is extremely cocky.
I roll my eyes and look out the window, but I do it smiling.
“We’ll be there before long,” I murmur, a few minutes later.
Michael reaches over, links our fingers together, before settling our joined hands on his leg.
“It’s going to be fine,” he says, squeezing my hand.
“I know,” I answer, hoping he’s right. It’s important that I’m accepted by his family. I don’t want to disappoint Michael and I know he loves Skull and the others.
“It’s going to be fine, Beauty,” he says again, adding in my nickname.
“I love you, Michael,” I tell him, finally looking at him so he can read my face, see the love I have for him.
“I know, Hayden, but I never get tired of you telling me that,” he says.
“I’ll try to never stop saying it,” I respond.
“That’d be good, baby,” he says and this time I squeeze his hand.
“Whoa,” I gasp, my free hand going to my stomach.
“Something wrong?” he asks, sounding only slightly worried. Still, I rush to reassure him.
“Axel, just making it known he’s running out of room,” I laugh. “Won’t be long now. Soon, I’m going to be surrounded by more testosterone. I’ll be well and truly outnumbered when that happens.”
“Can’t wait to see our little boy, Beauty.”
“So you can spoil him just like you do his brothers?”
“Damn straight,” he laughs. I find myself chuckling along with him. Michael spoils Connor and Ryker constantly. Axel will be one very lucky little boy. I couldn’t have asked for a better dad for my babies.
I lean back against the seat, close my eyes, keeping one hand on my stomach and one in Michael’s grasp, all while trying to calm myself down.
It’s going to be okay. Michael loves me and I love him.
That’s all that truly matters.
Skull
“You’re not going to make Beast get here any sooner by staring out that window, Sweetheart,” Beth murmurs, coming up behind me.
She presses into my back, her hands wrapping around my stomach, holding me tightly. I close my eyes. Even after all this time, she still seeps deep inside of me and stops my breath.
“I know, Mi cielo. Besides, he called and said he was sorry to miss dinner and would be staying the night in a hotel. They may have moved back to North Carolina last year, but it’s still a long drive for a pregnant woman. He didn’t want to force Hayden to travel too long.”
“If you know they aren’t coming tonight, then why are you staring out the window?”
“I’m just… anxious. I want my brother back into the fold,” I tell her, my hand covering hers, lifting it over my heart. I feel her kiss my back, giving me one more squeeze and then stepping back. I let her, before turning to face her, bringing my hand up to hold the side of her face gently.
“You need to face the fact that Beast may not want that, Skull.”
“If we can win his woman over—”
“With her history, do you think that’s possible?”
“We are not like the slime she endured, Beth,” I growl.
“We know that, but I can see how experiencing everything Hayden did…”
“Beth—”
“I’m just saying I can see how it would make her think twice about moving here, Skull. That’s all.”
“Si… I understand, it’s just…”
“There’s one other thing you might not be taking into consideration, Mi amore.”
“What’s that?” I ask, smiling at her use of words. God, I love this woman.
“Beast doesn’t have good memories of his times here. There’s a chance—a very big one—that he doesn’t want to come back.”
“We are his family, Beth.”
“So are Hayden, Connor, Ryker and the baby boy they are expecting, Skull.”
“And we will welcome them,” I continue stubbornly.
“Just prepare yourself, sweetheart. That’s all I’m saying.”
I let my thumb drift back and forth, sweeping it against her cheek and down to her lip.
“What would I do without you, Mi cielo?”
“You never have to find out, Skull. I’m not going anywhere,” she vows.
I bend down to kiss her lips. Sweet as sugar, that’s my Beth. There’s nothing better than the taste of her on my tongue.
“Ti amo, Mi cielo. Ti amo.”
“Mom, Dad! Diego keeps copying me!” Gabby cries from the other room.
“Christo, are you sure you want another child?” I murmur against her lips as we break apart.
“I’m willing to think about it, maybe we can just practice for a bit… while I make up my mind,” she grins, her gray eyes sparkling.
“That I can definitely do,” I grin.
“Mom! Dad!”
Beth sighs as Gabby yells again. “It will have to wait until later tonight, though. Hopefully they will go to bed early,” she mumbles, breaking away.
“If they don’t I’ll punish them and send them to bed,” I growl. As she walks by me, I reach out and smack her ass.
“Ow!” she says, holding her backside and half turning to look at me. “What was that for?”
“Just wanted to give you something to think about until tonight,” I answer with a shrug.
Her face flushes with color, her gray eyes going smoky with hunger.