“Always.”
“Fine. Once more, but then we have to go dance.”
I don’t waste another second getting inside of her.
***
The return to our wedding reception is met with knowing eyes, more than one slap on the back, and a couple of winks.
Hayden and I dance and eat and have a blast, and every second that ticks by is another chance for me to fall in love with her all over again. And I do, over and over and over.
I’m smiling like a fool, my hands locked at my own elbows as I hold her up to me while we dance. It’s the only way to kiss her and promise her the world without having to bend in two.
“People are staring at us,” she says against my lips.
“They’re supposed to,” I remind her. “It’s our wedding day.”
I hear, “Oh shit!” and I spin us around to the other couple dancing beside us.
I’ve been trapped in Hayden’s gaze all night, but I’m still very much aware of what’s going around us. I’ve vowed to keep this woman safe, and I plan to keep that promise.
Deacon is staring at the floor in shock. Anna’s fingers are gripping the front of his jacket.
“Holy crap, Hayden. I’m so sorry,” my boss’s wife says as she looks up at us.
“For going into labor?” Hayden smiles wide. “Best wedding gift ever.”
“We need to go,” Deacon whispers. “The umm… to the umm…”
“Hospital,” Jude says as he walks up. “How far apart are the contractions?”
“Don’t know,” Anna says. “I’ve been feeling a little weird all day, but no real pain yet.”
“Well, the breaking of the amniotic sac puts everything in high gear. Have you been doing the perineal massage? This could be bad if not.”
“I will hang your corpse from the office ceiling,” Deacon growls, finally out of his trance and glaring at my best friend.
“There he is,” Jude says with a wink. “Let’s go have a baby.”