Page 82 of Burden to Bear

His brows shot up, questioning me. “Yeah? You want me to stay?”

Nodding, I answered, “Even more than I want ice cream.”

He grinned.

I smiled back.

And after he kissed me once more, Brock exited the bed, pulled on his jeans, and moved toward the door. He looked back at me in the bed, and something warm stole over his expression. Brock held my gaze for several beats before he walked out of the room and downstairs to lock up the house.

I stayed right where I was and pinched myself. This felt like it had been the best day of my whole life.

And it only got better when Brock returned with ice cream for the both of us.

TWENTY-THREE

Mia

I got it.

I fully understood the look Brock had sent my way last night when he stood in the doorway to my bedroom before heading down to lock up the house and get the ice cream for us.

When I opened my eyes only a few minutes ago, I had wanted to stay precisely where I was. Because I was on my side in my bed, and Brock was spooning me. Having felt so alone for so long, it was unbelievably comforting to have Brock here with me, especially since we’d both shared our feelings for one another.

But being so far along in my pregnancy—I was thirty-two weeks along now—ignoring the pressure in my bladder was no longer an option. So, I had to slip out of Brock’s protective hold in order to get up and relieve myself.

I crossed the room, stood at the entrance to the bathroom, and looked back at the man in my bed.

That’s when it hit me.

That’s when I grasped the meaning behind the look Brock had given me last night before he went downstairs.

Or, at least, I thought I did. I couldn’t be sure if Brock felt the same as I did, but when I saw him there in my bed, a wave of gratitude, love, and contentment moved through me.

What made it even better was that Brock’s eyes were open, focused on me, and there was a hint of a smile playing at his lips. The urge I’d had to use the bathroom had dissipated a touch as I wanted those few extra seconds to soak up all that this moment was making me feel. Because even now, Brock was communicating so much to me without saying a single word. He was looking at me like he believed I was something precious, something to be treasured.

“Everything okay?” Brock asked, his voice hoarse from sleep.

I dipped my chin slightly. “The baby is resting right on my bladder.”

Brock chuckled. “Okay. Are you coming back?”

Grinning, I promised, “Absolutely.”

Not wanting to delay myself the opportunity to get back into bed with him any longer, I stepped fully into the bathroom and closed the door behind me. After relieving myself and washing my hands, I opened the door and took two steps toward the bed, where Brock was waiting, before I stopped myself.

I turned around and moved back into the bathroom. I intended to kiss Brock this morning, and if I was going to do that, brushing my teeth was a must.

As soon as the brush was in my mouth, I glanced down at the sink and noticed the spare toothbrush sitting there. Last night, after ice cream and before we went to bed, I’d given Brock a toothbrush to use. Seeing it now, I felt a bit of a thrill move through me. I didn’t think I’d ever see the day that I’d give Brock a toothbrush to use at my place, so he could spend the night with me.

I was in the middle of getting my teeth brushed when I felt a presence beside me. I looked up from the counter and saw Brock had entered the room. He looked positively delicious, wearing nothing but a pair of boxer briefs, and a wave of appreciation washed over me.

Brock didn’t say a single word before he stepped close, drove his fingers into my hair, and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Good morning.”

Wow.

Wow, I loved the sound of his deep, gravelly voice this early in the morning.

If I hadn’t already been planning to kiss him, that would have certainly convinced me I needed to reconsider.

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