Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 22917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
“Are you saying I need a babysitter?” I laugh.
Yeah, since I’ve gotten knocked up, the tables have really turned. It’s rather adorable actually. River can be so calm and soothing until he’s not. I seem to be the only thing that can really shake his steely exterior, and I’d be a damn liar if I didn’t admit that I love that. That only I can shake this man.
River’s eyes narrow, and I know he’s thinking about someone watching me at all times. “They could just be around. You could call out if you needed them and they could do random checks. They wouldn't need to hover.” Again, the security comes to mind, but I keep that to myself.
“No, not hover. That’s your job,” I tease.
River clears the rest of the space between us, easily plucking me up off the floor even though I’m already seven months pregnant. The only reason he’d even gone out to see Cillian is because I’d pushed and he took a freaking helicopter, making the trip in forty-five minutes.
“You’re pushing it,” he says before he claims my mouth in a deep kiss. His fingers sink into my hair, and I grip the front of his shirt. Damn, I missed him too. Years together and still I can’t get enough of him.
Sometimes I think I was so unsteady and unsure of life not only because of my accident as a child but because I knew something was missing inside of me. There was a part that I needed to be whole and to steady me.
“Pushing it? I thought you liked it when I pulled it.” I nip his bottom lip making him groan. “Or better yet, sucked it.” I lick my lips.
“Don’t even.” His hand wraps around my waist and tightens so I can’t try and go to my knees.
“Are you telling me no?” I puff out my bottom lip and stare up at him through my lashes.
“God, I love you. You could tempt anyone.”
“I don’t want to tempt anyone. Only my husband.”
“We can’t.” He closes his eyes, taking a long, deep breath. That was not the response I thought I’d get. I was sure my feet were about to leave the floor and he’d carry me back to our bedroom.
“But I’m all…” That’s all he needs to hear before his hand is up my dress and his fingers hit all the spots I need. The man gets me off in less than a minute, and I gasp in his arms. “I loved that but—”
“I’ll do better later. For now, we have guests.”
“A surprise?” I whisper as a smile spreads across my face. He nods. Surprises were another thing I used to dislike. Not anymore. It’s so inspiring how someone can make you look at the world so differently. “My baby shower?”
We’re terrible at secrets. At least keeping them from each other. I love that we keep nothing between us, and I adore how close my family is, but I relish the fact that with River I have something even deeper.
He nods and then offers me his hand. “Shall we?” He lifts our joined hands and kisses the back of mine. “One more thing,” he says before we step out of the nursery. “She’s here.”
“Really?” I am a bit surprised but only because I’m guessing a lot of people will be here. Normally it’s her and me or River that will visit together. His mom isn’t big on mingling with everyone because I think she still carries some guilt.
Over the last two years, I’ve made small connections with River’s mother through emails and texts. I don’t know what it was, but something inside of me felt a connection of understanding with her. There was a fear that she let drive her, and slowly over time she’s gotten closer and even comes for visits. The more space she put between River’s father, the more she seemed to heal. Not all abuse is physical, and I think River’s father is a creation of his own alcoholic father. It was a chain that’s now been broken.
I did a bit of the same with his father. Sometimes I thought I made progress but other times he’d fall off for a bit. I think when you grow up a certain way, you have to see that things can be done differently. That’s when I think River’s parents realized they didn’t have to stay married. They could go on and find love and be happy. Their lives turned to only power and money because they felt there was nothing else out there anymore. They didn’t think they could have a person who loves you by your side, or even just stand on their own two feet.
“Then we should get down there. I don't want her to feel alone.” I want River’s mom to feel very welcome here.