Page 126 of Unleashed

I raised an eyebrow. “What brought this on?”

“Chloe Dupree.”

I blinked. “From accounting?”

“Yeah,” he said, his fingers still tracing patterns on my skin. “She’s on maternity leave, but she stopped by the office the other day with her baby. I just happened to be in the lobby when she came in.”

I could feel him smile against my hair as he added, “Her son, Milo. Beautiful kid. She let me hold him.”

I pulled back slightly to look at him. “And you never said anything?”

Slade shrugged. “I’ve been thinking about it. Would you mind if we had a baby sooner than planned?”

I hesitated, letting the idea settle. I hadn’t expected this conversation tonight, but now that it was out in the open, it didn’t feel as overwhelming as I thought it would. “No,” I answered honestly, meeting his gaze. “I wouldn’t mind. I want to give my parents a grandchild. They’re not getting any younger, as you know.”

Slade nodded. “I’m aware.”

“I think I’d like to have a baby,” I repeated, the weight of my decision solidifying. “I’ll be thirty soon.”

“In like a year and a half,” Slade teased, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

I nudged him playfully before getting serious again. “Pregnancy won’t happen right away when I stop taking my pills. It could take time. A month, maybe six.”

His hand stilled against my skin. “I hope not,” he said, his voice low with anticipation.

I gave a small laugh. “It’ll happen when it happens.”

He was quiet for a moment, then asked, “When will you stop taking them?”

“If we’re on the same page about this,” I said, turning slightly to face him, “then I’ll stop immediately.”

Slade’s grip tightened around me, a certainty in his voice as he said, “We are. I want this. I’m sure.”

“Then I won’t take them starting tomorrow,” I confirmed, feeling a shiver of excitement run through me.

Slade kissed the top of my head, pulling me closer against his chest. I snuggled into the warmth of his body, the thought of becoming a mother settling into my mind, filling me with both excitement and nervous energy. My mother hadn’t experienced motherhood until her forties—I wanted that privilege much earlier. I wanted to have the energy for my children, to be the kind of parent who could run after them, not one who had to sit on the sidelines.

“You’ll make an incredible mother,” Slade whispered, his breath warm against my hair.

“And you’ll be an amazing father,” I replied, closing my eyes and letting the comfort of the moment wash over me. The future stretched out before us, full of possibilities—ones we were now ready to embrace.

CHAPTER 27

Slade’s voice cut through the air like a whip. “Maybe you should go to the fucking doctor!” he yelled, his eyes blazing with frustration.

I recoiled slightly but held my ground. “I told you it would take time.”

“Time?” He scoffed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s been five months. Don’t you think there’s something wrong?”

I clenched my fists, my patience wearing thin. “Yeah, you’re never home when I’m ovulating. What happened to Allan handling all the travel bullshit? You seem to be away more than you're here.”

“I’m building a business,” Slade retorted, his tone clipped as he turned away from me, heading toward the window.

“That’s crap,” I spat. “Your company has a solid reputation, thanks to your father.”

He spun around, his face hardening. “But we’re expanding. And as my wife, I expect you to understand that.”

“Why the fuck should I? You want to blame me for not getting pregnant when you’re hardly ever home?”

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