Page 123 of It's Always Us

“What?!” My hands slide over her butt. “We wouldn’t know anything about what the babies are doing or what to expect these next months. I sure as hell didn’t know there was such a thing as a doula.”

She releases me and steps away. “Mark.”

I grin, unable to help pushing her buttons. Lex all riled up does funny things to my insides. “What? Hiring someone to be your personal birthing coach sounds pretty nice to me.”

“The only birthing coach I need is you.”

“But don’t you think it would be nice to have someone there who knows what they’re doing? I mean, the book says—”

She places her hands over her ears. “By the time you get done with all of your intricate research, you’ll be able to deliver these babies yourself.”

“I’m a curious creature. I want to be prepared. Those books talk about needing to know what you want so—”

“I want to take those books, shove them in a pressure cooker along with a lit stick of dynamite, and count down until it explodes into a million tiny pieces.”

I rest my hands on my hips. “Well, damn. Do you need to be that dramatic?”

She huffs. “I’ve been living with you too long.”

I step behind her, sliding my arms around her and pulling her against me. “I like it when you get all hot and bothered.” She groans, her head falling back to my chest, but there’s love in it. I rest my chin on the top of her head. “I just want us to be prepared.”

She twists in my arms to face me, her brow furrowed and lips pressed together in determination. I’m tempted to kiss it away, but I refrain.

“Mark. Pay attention. I want to do this the old-fashioned way. I want to go to the hospital and have them inject me with whatever will numb me so that I don’t have to feel a single thing. I don’t want to listen to you read about what will happen or have someone talk to me about techniques and positions or have any clue about what’s going on down there. I’m going to push these babies out, or they’re going to cut them out, and you are going to keep your big, fat mouth shut.”

“But, babe—”

“Mark, you are one word away from losing a testicle that could prevent us from ever doing this again. Now, please let me just be naive when it comes to this part.”

I grin, and her head falls back toward the ceiling. “Have I ever told you that I think it’s incredibly sexy when you get all riled up?” I kiss her exposed neck.

“You’re annoying.”

“You love me.” I work my way up her neck to the sensitive skin below her ear, backing her into the counter as I lower myself to grip her thighs and hoist her onto it. I move to kiss her lips, but she pulls away in tease.

“I’m kind of mad at you right now.”

“Kind of, huh?” I slip my hand under her shirt and spread my hand over her round stomach. “I think I have an idea of how I can make it up to you.”

“Not likely.”

I slide my palm against her cheek so I can see her blue-green eyes. There’s a rare sparkle of mischief in them that I just put there, and I freaking love it. “What’s it going to take?”

She pushes her lips to the side, thinking long and hard. “I want you . . . ” She presses her lips to mine. “To . . . ” She kisses me again, longer this time. “Make me.” Kiss. “That chicken with the sauce again for dinner.”

“Oh, really,” I say against her lips.

She pulls away. “Yep. I’ve been craving it all day.”

“Huh.” My fingers dig into her hip.

“Like right now.” She pushes. “Then, after I’ve eaten, maybe I’ll think about forgiving you.”

“How about I show you how much I love you first?” I lean in again.

“No.” Her tone is firm, and she crosses her arms over her chest, declaring this is serious business.

I laugh. “Fine, but I’m showing you how much I love you later, just to be sure we’re all good.”

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