Page 114 of Mine to Worship

“I can’t not love you. You own me, every piece of me, in and out, you and Kira,” he says before he drops to his knees and kisses my belly. Like always, she kicks, greeting her daddy and I hiss because her tiny foot is using my kidneys for kicking practice.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s how you feel about her, and she loves it. I am fine.”

“You’re so damn selfless.”

With his palms on either side of my belly, he peers at me and adds, “Getting you pregnant is the one thing I would do again and again, even though I hate how hard it’s been for you. But when I feel her, a part of you and me, it puts me on my knees.”

I caress strands of hairs and tuck them behind his ear.

“I could tolerate even more because the last few months we have become a family, and now it will grow with a mini us.”

We reach my parents’ house, and even though we video call daily, and mom has seen my belly grow, her eyes swim in tears.

“How is my little girl doing?” she coos.

Kira kicks me as if she knows her grandmother is talking to her. I grab Mom’s hand and place it on my stomach.

She squeals. “Oh my God, I can feel her. Paul, come quickly.”

My dad rushes through the doors and comes to a complete halt. Awe, love, and protection shine in his eyes. He gestures for us to come inside.

The scent of baked apples, cinnamon, and caramel fill my nose and I try not to salivate. There is no place like home and getting spoiled by one’s mom.

We eat apple pie and my mother doesn’t blink when I ask for seconds. After we finish, my parents give me a wrapped-up box.

“It’s some of your things from when you were a baby and some new things you’ll need for Kira.”

“Thank you,” I say, emotions lodging in my throat as I carefully unwrap this treasure. Kian’s fingers tremble when I offer him my baby shoes, two inches of snow-white fabric.

“You were the most beautiful baby in the hospital,” my dad says, pride thick in his voice.

Oh, not this again.

“I am sure she was,” Kian says with conviction.

“And my granddaughter will be the most beautiful girl, too.”

“Mom, there is no competition.”

“Of course, she’ll be,” my dad adds and Kian nods, all three of them beaming.

When we retreat for the night, I climb onto the bed and tease him by wiggling my ass in his direction. He groans low in his throat, and scoots next to me. He brushes his nose against my neck, and his breath tickles the sensitive spot there.

“There are other forms of sex we haven’t tried, but if you insist.”

My laughter dies in my throat at the pun while he throws his head back and laughs.

“That’s not funny,” I whisper.

“You actually clenched and pulled your ass away, angel.”

“Kian,” I threaten, but his laughter only increases, and I growl into my pillow.

“Angel, I am taking that too. It’s only a matter of time.”

“But, it’s… I…”

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