Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
I hadn’t been back to the bank—or gone anywhere else off the Hounds of Hellfire compound—since Pax had brought me here after the fire. Luckily, I had plenty of paid time off saved up since I rarely took a sick or vacation day. And since I’d been so reliable for the past two years, my boss hadn’t questioned me being out. Just wished for a speedy recovery while reassuring me that my shifts would be covered.
“Don’t need to twist my arm to get me to agree to that plan,” he murmured with a heated look in his gray orbs. “Hate the idea of you not being here all the time. Already got used to it.”
“Same.”
“Good because I was hoping you’d like the idea of moving in with me while we figure out something more permanent than my quarters here.”
My eyes widened at his suggestion. “You want me to live with you?”
“Of fucking course,” he growled. “You’re my woman, Courtney. You’ll officially be my old lady as soon as your property patch gets here. I’m also gonna make you my wife and the mother of my kids. Where else would you live?”
“I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be,” I replied with a happy sigh.
“That’s my good girl, giving me exactly what I want and need,” he rasped. “I love you so damn much.”
“I love you, too,” I sniffled.
“You better, baby. Because you’re never getting rid of me. We’re gonna spend every day for the rest of our very long lives together.”
I flashed him a watery smile that quickly turned into a thrilled gasp when King and Stella came through the doors, their newborn nestled in a carrier that he carefully carried in a big fist. Luckily, we were nearest to the entrance, so we beat everyone else to them.
Peering down at the sleeping baby, I sighed. “Oh my gosh. He is so cute.”
“And fucking tiny,” Pax added, sliding his arm around my shoulders as he got a good look at Cadell. “I thought a ten-pound baby would be bigger.”
Stella glared at him. “Trust me, he’s plenty big enough. If he’d weighed even one ounce more, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to give birth to him naturally.”
“You did great, baby,” King praised her with a proud smile.
“You’re just saying that because I threatened to cut off your balls so you’d never be able to knock me up again right after I delivered your giant baby,” she grumbled.
“Nah,” he denied, shaking his head with a laugh. “I said the same thing before that, and you’ve already mentioned him needing another sibling even though he’s only a couple of days old.”
“Whatever.”
We were bumped out of the way as the other Hounds of Hellfire squeezed in to meet their president’s son.
“That will be us soon,” Pax whispered against my ear.
“I hope so.”
The past several days had been a whirlwind, but now that the danger had passed, I was beyond ready to start building a life—and family—with my white knight in black leather.
EPILOGUE
BLAZE
After what felt like the longest nine months of my life—but also the happiest—I was finally a dad. And I was going to be a fuck of a lot better one than mine had been. That was a promise I made to myself, my wife, and our barely-minutes-old son as I stared down at him.
“He’s perfect,” Courtney whispered.
“He is.” Brushing a kiss against her damp brow, I murmured, “And you’ve never been more beautiful.”
“Liar.” She shook her head with a tired laugh.
It’d been a long twenty-five hours giving birth to him, but she’d come through it like a fucking pro. “I’m not lying. Not even a little. I’m in awe of you, baby.”
“As you should be.” She beamed a smile at me, a hint of sass in her exhausted eyes. “I worked hard to give you our little bundle of joy.”
“No denying that.” I cupped the back of his tiny head with my palm. “Hard to believe someone so small could cause so much trouble.”
“You’re telling me.” She snorted and shook her head. “And I can’t even complain too much since he weighs almost three pounds less than Cadell. I have no idea how Stella managed it, but I’m grateful you didn’t give me a giant-headed baby to push out like King did to her.”
I winked at her. “You’re welcome.”
There was a knock on the door, and then the nurse who’d helped during the labor and delivery peeked her head into the room. “Ready for visitors? You have a ton out in the waiting room.”
I turned to Courtney. “Up to you, baby. You did all of the hard work. I was just here to hold your hand.”
“Aw,” the nurse cried, pressing her hand to her chest. “How is it that the toughest-looking ones are always the biggest marshmallows on the inside?”