“You’re my fucking queen, Tully Cage.”
I can’t resist him any longer.
I push myself up onto my tippy toes and throw my arms around his neck while pulling him down to meet mine. My lips press against his and for the first time in seven months, I’m finally home.
I’ve been terrified of telling him about this baby. Most guys would have freaked out. They need time to comprehend this kind of shit and I was scared that he was going to run…well, not permanently, but at least for a few days trying to wrap his head around it, but he didn’t. He accepted this baby just as easily as he accepted me back into his life seven months ago.
I knew he wouldn’t hold it against me for not saying anything as we have a pretty unordinary situation, but I couldn’t stop that feeling that told me that he’d be upset. That he’d think I was hiding this baby from him and that I was purposefully keeping him in the dark, but truth be told, I wanted him focused.
I didn’t want him worrying about me throwing up in the middle of the night or suffering from cramps and heartburn. I needed him to concentrate on the mission. I needed his head in the game because being out on the field like the way he has been is life or death. He’s not playing out there and because of that, I knew it was safer to ask for forgiveness and let him come to terms with the fact that he was going to be a daddy when he returned.
Besides, there’s nothing quite like seeing the look on his face that still hasn’t disappeared. He’s absolutely elated and I realize that I had nothing to fear. He trusts me completely and knows that no matter what, I would have made the right decision for our child.
His hands circle my waist and he holds me tightly, not for one second letting me slip even an inch away. When he releases my lips and pulls back, my body wants to scream out for more. “How are you feeling?” he questions, studying my face.
“I’ve never been better.”
He grins wide and gently skims his lips over mine. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
I laugh as I watch him still coming to terms with it. “I’ve been fine. There have been a few rough moments, but nothing that I haven’t been able to handle. I didn’t want you missing out on anything so I‘ve been taking lots of photos as my belly grew and documenting everything that the doctor has been telling me. I’ve been really good, Rivers. Eating healthy and exercising as much as I’m allowed.”
“I don’t doubt that,” he murmurs, dropping his gaze down to my stomach once again. “You’re going to make an incredible mother.”
My eyes fill with tears and I curse the stupid hormones coursing through my body that have turned me into this constant state of unstable emotions. “You really think so?”
“I fucking know so,” he tells me before grabbing the hem of my shirt and slowly sliding it up over my stomach. “Let me get a good look at you.”
I raise my hands so he can slip the shirt over my head and not a moment later, it’s dropped to the floor and his hands are instantly cradling my stomach. “Fuck, Tullz,” he says, taking me in with my protruding stomach and swelling breasts. “Pregnancy suits you.”
I smile as he drops to his knees before me, placing him directly in line with my stomach. He leans in and presses a kiss to our baby before looking up at me with nothing but pride. “This is really happening.”
“It is.”
His hands roam over my stomach, caressing it with the utmost care and despite feeling like a cow for the past few months, I’ve never felt so beautiful. “Have you found out the sex yet?”
I shake my head. “No, the doctor asked, but it didn’t feel right without you. I wanted to wait until you were back. I thought we should do that together or maybe wait until I give birth.”
“I think we should wait,” he agrees. “But what’s your gut telling you? Boy or girl?”
I scrunch up my face, thinking about it for the millionth time. “Up until last week, I was thinking it was a little girl, but now I can’t help this feeling that’s telling me it’s a little boy just like his daddy.”
Rivers pushes back up to his feet and cradles my face. “No, I think you were right. It’s definitely a little girl. Stubborn like her mommy, but when it comes down to it, as long as the baby is healthy and has two parents who love it unconditionally, then it really doesn’t matter.”
My bottom lip pouts out and I instantly turn into a blubbering mess. “Stop it. You’re making me cry,” I tell him, fanning my face to try and control the tears. “I’ve been an emotional wreck.”