Page 192 of Cruel Steps

There was a bow that wrapped around my breasts, and then the lace was open around my belly, and covered my butt with two strings to pull it to the sides. It wasn’t much more than a few pieces of string, lace, and ribbon, really. Throwing a robe over it, I slid the gift I’d ordered for Holden into the pocket and met Colter in the main room as he opened the door for the food.

Holden exited a minute later, his hair wet, and smelling of his body wash. His eyes traveled over me, taking in the robe. He licked his lips, and my pussy throbbed. The way they could still rile me up with just one look was unreal.

“I’m suddenly in the mood for something else.”

I lifted the lid and wafted the food to him. “Are you sure?”

He inhaled, his stomach growling, and he chuckled. “Okay. Maybe food first.”

“Eat now, and then you can ravish me all you want without stopping.”

“I like that plan.”

We sat at the table, eating together and talking about trivial things. Holden told us the latest locker room gossip, Colter and I shared stories from the last week we hadn’t gotten to tell Holden yet, from the cute dog Colter delivered pups for and the book I finished editing.

“No more pets, Colt. I love you, but we’re running out of room,” Holden teased.

“I know. I know. One day, we’ll have a big farm. Until then, I’ll keep it to a cat and dog.”

“I think you mean three cats. I know about the two street ones you feed.”

Colter mock gasped, making me laugh. He really loved his animals. Holden shook his head at his best friend. He cleared his plate, leveling me with a come hither stare. “Do I get to unwrap my present now?”

“First, I have something else for you.”

Holden rubbed his hands together. “Two presents. I should win the Super Bowl more often.”

Colter cleared the food away and came to sit beside me. I pulled the small package from the pocket and slid it across the table. Holden gave us a quizzical look before picking up the package.

“This could be a contender for one of your favorite moments.”

His eyes held mine, and my heart beat a mile a minute as I waited for him to finally know. He opened the lid and tears pricked my eyelids as he picked up the sonogram. Colter squeezed my hand, his thumb rubbing across my palm.

“Is this…?”

I nodded, tears falling down my cheeks. “I’m thirteen weeks.”

Holden stood up, his chair falling back at the sudden movement. “So… that… you… we’re…” He stood frozen, his hands braced on the table as he stared at me open-mouthed. I stood and walked around the table and picked up the second thing in the box: a newborn jersey with Adler on the back and the number one.

His hands shook as he reached for it. But instead of grabbing it, he snagged my wrist and pulled me into his arms. Holden wept into my hair, lifting his head to reach for Colter and drawing him into our hug.

“We’re gonna be dads, Colt.”

“Unbelievable, isn’t it?”

“I want to be mad at you for not telling me sooner, but I can’t.”

“I know. And I’m sorry for that. But I was too nervous at first after the last few times, and then it was playoffs, and I didn’t want to stress you out. I know it’s a lame excuse, but we figured if we told you tonight, win or lose, you’d have a good memory.”

“The best.” Holden kissed me, and heat spread through my body. It took no time for him to push the robe off, and then both of my husbands gaped at me.

“Holy shit. How did I not notice?”

“I feel like I should take offense to that, but I hid it. I made sure it was dark, and I wore a lot of baggy clothes.”

“Who cares about the past? Let’s focus on the present—this present, to be exact,” Colter said. He reached forward and trailed his fingers over the silk. “This is sexy as hell, Merbear.”

“Colter, take a seat,” Holden ordered.

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