Page 77 of Bad Duke

“We’re okay,” I whisper, feeling an overwhelming love spill over me.

“You're both fine,” Alex promises me and I look back up at him and let a happy laugh release from my mouth.

“You're amazing,” Alex tells me again, slamming his mouth over mine and kissing me so hard it almost hurts. Pulling away, he places his forehead against mine and looks down between us at our child.

“I told you it would be a boy.” He smiles, cleverly.

* * *

I wake up with a start when I feel the presence of someone in the room, and immediately I check the cot beside my bed to see if he’s okay.

“Relax, it’s just us.” Will hobbles forward, wearing a hospital gown while Beatrice steps up to the crib and glances in.

“He’s beautiful.” She smiles down at her nephew, and when Alex gets up from the chair he’s been resting in, he stands beside my bed and places his hand on my shoulder.

“I told you no visitors yet, Olivia needs her rest.”

“Try telling her that.” Will cocks his eyebrow towards his sister.

“Shut up, who was it that said he couldn’t turn away an injured man?” Beatrice slams her fist into Will's shoulder and makes him flinch.

“I honestly don’t mind. It’s good to see you both.” I smile and sit myself up. I can’t help feeling sad when I realise that Beatrice will be the only extended family my little boy has. Of course, he’ll have his honorary uncle Will too, but he’ll never get to meet his uncle Jamie.

“Are you okay?” Alex’s sister looks concerned when she notices my tears.

“I’m fine, it’s just hormones.”

“And the fact you were kidnapped by a complete psycho bitch,” she adds, focusing her attention back on the baby.

“Well, there is that, but it’s over now.” I wonder if I should feel some kind of remorse for taking the woman's life. DSC Winslow stopped by earlier and assured Alex that he would be the lead investigator on the case, which Alex promises me means there will be no repercussions for us.

“Come on, you’ll have plenty of time to see us when we get home.” Alex shoos them both out the door, and once they're out in the corridor he closes it and moves over to the crib.

“I can’t stop looking at him. He’s perfect, isn’t he? The next Duke of Hatherly. I’m so proud of you.” His gaze moves across to me before he lifts him out and places him in my arms, it’s almost as if he can sense that I need him.

“I was so scared,” I admit, stroking our son's cheek with my finger and feeling overwhelmed with love and relief.

“Me too, I swear I had no idea where all that came from. Marina’s always been so…safe.”

“I don’t want to talk about her, now. I just want to take our little boy home and love him.” I laugh when his mouth starts to twitch while he sleeps.

“You really wanted a girl, are you disappointed?” Alex asks and I shake my head, still looking down at my perfect son.

“How could I be?” I feel my eyes swell with tears.

“Well, I’ll ensure the next one is a girl, I promise.” Alex kisses me on the top of my head and when I look up at him he’s grinning.

“The next one?” I laugh.

“Oh, Mrs. Stanley, you do far too good a job of making babies for there to only be one.” He reaches down to kiss me and, with our son in my arms, I feel an overwhelming urge to tell him something.

“I love you.” He pauses and frowns when he hears it.

“Liv, you don’t have to?—”

“I mean it. Alex. I’m in love with you. And not just because of some stupid arrangement we made or because we have him, together. I love you.”

“And when did you figure that out?” He’s smirking at me now.

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