Page 157 of Kade

A deeper understanding was there.

Sam knew I did something.

I told her that her father was in the clear to come to us, to collect her sister, to continue to be in contact with Samantha. I never told her what I did, and Sam never asked.

Then she did. “Do I need to know?”

She reached for the remote and turned the television off, returning the remote to the bedside stand. She stepped close to me, so close I could feel the heat from her shower still coming off of her skin. Her hand moved to my chest and stayed, her fingers splayed out.

I looked down, seeing the butterfly tattoo on her hand. She had the color retouched recently.

I took her hand, slid my fingers through hers, and gazed where my black and white butterfly tattoo lined up with hers. I tugged her into me, catching her behind her back. “I gavesomeone some information. What they did with the information is on them. That’s all you need to know.”

“Am I going to regret not pushing to know everything?”

I bent before I straightened again, picking her up as I did.

There was no squeak from surprise. Sam knew my move and her eyes darkened, knowing I was going to do it before I did. Her hands went to my shoulders. She kept her body loose, relaxed, and as I picked her up, her legs parted to wind around my waist. She ran her fingers through my hair, a half scoff coming from her mouth when I walked her right back into the bathroom. “I just showered.”

“That’s nice.” I nuzzled her neck, finding her pulse and lingering there. I fucking loved leaving my mark on my woman. My phone was out there, so was hers. I had nothing else on me, so after I turned the water back on and since it didn’t take long to reheat, I simply walked us both inside the shower.

My mouth found hers and I was hot and demanding.

I needed to fuck my wife.

I needed it five minutes ago, yesterday, a month ago. I needed it now. “You’re not going to regret not knowing everything.” I lifted my head, needing her to know the truth of that. My eyes held hers. “I promise.”

She held my gaze before her eyes fell to my mouth. She jerked her head in a nod. “Okay.”

“I love you.” My forehead fell to hers, jerking back so it rested against her softly.

She breathed me in, her body molding against mine on her exhale. “Me too.”

“So goddamn much.”

Her hand tightened around mine. “So goddamn much.”

Months later.

My phone woke us first.

Sam’s was right after.

We both tensed but rolled to answer them.

I got to mine first. “What?”

It was Logan on the other end, half shouting, all the way frantic. “Taylor’s in labor! You need to get to the hospital. Bring—fuck. I don’t know. Bring everything. Her water already broke and we’re going to have our kid in point-zero-too-fucks-early!”

I heard Sam yelp behind me.

We were both scrambling out of bed.

It was three in the morning. Sam ran for the closet. I heard her saying, “Okay. We’ll be in the car soon. We’ll come over and get everything you need. I’ll call Malinda myself. Do you have Sammy with you?”

I pulled on my sweats and grabbed an Orcas's hoodie, tugging it over my head. I asked in the phone, “What do you—”

He snapped, “I don’t fucking know! I was a mess when Sammy was born, and fuck, Mase. I’m a mess this time too. Taylor’s on the phone with someone and she sounds as if she’s planning the agenda for the next PTA meeting. Are you coming to the hospital? You’re coming to the hospital, right?”

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