Page 88 of Unveiled

He turned onto his side, pulling Adalyn against him. Instinctively, she found that sweet spot right between his neck and shoulder and burrowed in, tangling her legs with his. Her chest brushed his as their lungs fought to draw in air, and their pulses gradually returned to normal. For several long minutes, only the sound of their combined breaths filled the air. Then Adalyn spoke.

“Jax?”

He could barely make out the word as she spoke against his chest. “Yeah, babe?”

She drew a deep breath. “I have to tell you something.”

Instantly on guard, he stiffened. “What’s wrong?”

She lifted her head and peered up at him, insecurity and worry swimming in the gray depths. “We haven’t… It’s been…” She trailed off, then started again. “I mean, I know you said…”

She looked so lost that he took pity on her and stopped her rambling by brushing his thumb over her lower lip. “Addy, what’s going on?”

She bit her lip, and her gaze darted away for a moment before returning to his. “I’m late.”

His brows drew together. “Late for what?”

“Late late.” She paused. “Like, two weeks late.”

Understanding slammed into him with the force of a freight train. “You’re sure?”

She shook her head. “I haven’t taken a test yet, but…”

He slipped his hand between them and rested it on her stomach as a smile slowly bloomed over his face. “You’re pregnant.”

“Maybe.” She lifted her shoulders a tiny fraction. “I think so, yeah.”

He dipped his head and kissed her hard, his tongue sliding against hers. It was full of love, passion, gratitude, and everything in between. It was something they both wanted, and nothing made him happier than the idea of having a big family with Adalyn.

Jaclyn’s happy cry from the next room ripped them apart, and he grinned at his wife. “Your turn or mine?”

She smiled and pressed one hand against his chest. “I’ll get her. Take your time.”

After one last lingering kiss, she peeled herself away from him, and he let his hand trail over her back as she climbed from the bed. She pulled on her robe and, with a parting smile, disappeared out the door to collect their daughter.

He collapsed to his back and stared at the ceiling for a minute before launching from the bed and heading into the bathroom. He couldn’t curb the stupid grin that took up residence on his face as he showered and shaved. Adalyn was pregnant; they were having a baby.

“Holy crap.” He caught his reflection in the mirror, stunned but ecstatic nonetheless. He still couldn’t believe it. His grin grew. “A baby.”

Saying the words aloud made it seem all the more real. He thought of her changing every day, growing round with his baby. He barely held back a whoop of joy. He couldn’t wait.

He threw on clothes then bounded down the stairs and into the kitchen. Tossing a glance toward the living room, he saw Jaclyn playing on the floor, babbling quietly to the stuffed elephant she was strapping into a doll-sized stroller. He grinned at the sight, then turned his attention back to Adalyn. His wife.

She stood at the stove, her back to him, and he stepped up behind her, then wound his arms around her waist. She tipped her head to one side, and he kissed the side of her neck. His lips brushed the sensitive skin when he spoke. “Have I told you how happy you’ve made me?”

“In the ten minutes since I last saw you?” She let out a little laugh, then turned to face him and looped her arms around his neck. “I don’t think so.”

One hand tightened around her waist while the other slipped up to cup the back of her neck. “I feel like the luckiest man in the world.”

Her teasing smile slipped away, and moisture gathered in her pretty gray eyes, rife with guilt. “I love you so much. You mean everything to me.”

“No tears, babe.” He dipped his head and leaned his forehead against hers. The past was the past; not a thing mattered but this moment right here. “We’ve got a beautiful little girl and another little one on the way. Nothin’ better than that.”

Her chest lifted on a half-laugh, and he dropped to his knees in front of her, then placed his hands along the curve of her waist. His thumbs traced the still-flat plane of her stomach that housed the tiny form of their baby. “Do you think this one will look like me, too?”

He couldn’t help teasing her, and she gently smacked his shoulder. “I’d better get at least one that looks like me.”

He glanced up at her, a wide smile on his face. “Sounds like a challenge. We’ll just have to keep trying until we get it right.”