Page 32 of Justice

I come apart embarrassingly fast, biting my lip to stay silent. Christopher follows soon after, spilling onto my stomach with a muffled groan.

Panting, I lean against him. "Feeling better?" he asks with a smirk.

I laugh breathlessly. "Much. You?"

"Definitely," he chuckles, kissing my forehead.

Christopher sets me down gently, his release still warm on my skin. He runs his hand over my stomach, a possessive glint in his eye.

"Marking your territory?" I tease, watching his fingers trace patterns on my flesh.

He grins wickedly. "If I thought it'd work, I'd piss on you to keep other guys away."

I swat his chest, laughing. "You're ridiculous." But secretly, I love his possessive streak.

We rinse off quickly and scramble out of the shower, not wanting to raise suspicion. As we dress, I feel refreshed, both from washing off the hospital smell and our little rendezvous.

The aroma of Mason's cooking wafts up, making my stomach growl loudly. Christopher chuckles, patting my belly. "Let's go feed you two before you start gnawing on the furniture."

Christopher's phone chimes, and he glances at the screen. "Meadow's at the gate," he announces, pocketing the device.

As we descend the stairs, Mom's waiting at the bottom, her face lit up. "Oh, honey, you look so much better!" She wraps me in a tight hug, which I eagerly return.

"Mom, you're amazing," I murmur into her shoulder. "I hope I can be half the mother you are someday." Her eyes well up, and she squeezes me tighter.

Dad walks in, taking in the scene with a raised eyebrow. "Everything all right here?"

I break away from Mom and rush to him, throwing my arms around his neck. "Dad, thank you. For everything. I know I haven't made it easy."

He cups my face gently, his eyes soft. "Easy? You've been my greatest joy since the moment I laid eyes on you, kiddo."

"I love you, Daddy."

A smile spreads across his face. "Love you too, sweetheart."

His gaze shifts between Christopher and me, a hint of suspicion creeping in. "Now, why do you two look like you just stepped out of the shower together?"

Christopher clears his throat awkwardly, and I feel my cheeks heat up. Dad's eyes narrow, and I scramble for an explanation that doesn't involve shower shenanigans.

He flashes a cheeky grin that only serves to deepen Dad's scowl. "You're lucky your old man's who he is," Dad grumbles, his eyes narrowing. "Otherwise, we'd be having a very different conversation right now.

Mom sighs, shaking her head. "All right, that's enough. We need to pick up Lawson from football practice," she says, tugging on Dad's arm.

Dad shoots Christopher one last warning look before following Mom out. As soon as they're gone, I can't hold it in anymore. Mason's deep chuckle sets me off, and soon we're both laughing.

Christopher plops down on the couch beside me, still grinning. "You know, I can't even be mad at your dad," he admits. "He loves you, wants to protect you. We're having a baby girl and I'll probably be worse.”

The image of Christopher cradling our daughter, his tattooed arms a stark contrast to her tiny form, makes my heart swell. She's going to be one loved little girl.

I’m interrupted by the sound of tires on gravel. A white SUV pulls up outside the guest house, and I feel a jolt of excitement.

"Mason!" I hiss, trying not to shout. "She's here!"

Mason peeks his head out of the kitchen, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I'll hang back until your appointment's done. Then I'm making my move," he says with a wink before disappearing back into the kitchen.

A knock at the door signals Meadow's arrival. I open it to find her standing there, looking professional in her white coat and lugging a suitcase that seems to weigh a ton.

"Evening! How are you feeling?" she asks, her smile warm and genuine.

---