Page 96 of Gracefully Yours

We’d finally agreed to go home after I’d practically fallen asleep in Daniel’s lap watching another Christmas movie. I was so intently focused on his fingers caressing the skin on the inside of my thighs that I couldn’t even remember what we watched. My panties were absolutely soaked, and I was so turned on I could barely see straight.

Sighing, I nuzzled my face against the puppy’s. Desperate to have the ache between my legs filled.

“Darling.”

“Mmm?” A set of brown eyes were staring into mine when I opened them. My husband leaned over, practically pinning me in place between his arms.

“Did you have a good day?”

I could still feel the flush of my cheeks from the wine I’d consumed, but even sleepy and drowsy, that smile hadn’t left my face. “The best.” Brownie had also apparently had a good day, because he was fast asleep in my arms, letting me cradle him like a baby.

Daniel traced my cheekbones, tucking a lock of blonde hair behind my ear.

“W-what?”

He smiled. “What? Can’t I touch my wife?”

I blushed. Damn, I needed to stop doing that. Get my face under control. “Well…” I looked at the sleeping bundle in my arms. “You’ll wake the baby.”

“Let’s make one.”

“Now?” I blinked. We hadn’t talked about it lately, not since the wedding.

Cupping the back of my neck with his palm, Daniel rested his forehead against mine. “Yes. Unless you think it’s too soon?”

“No.” I shook my head, fully awake now. “I don’t want to wait.”

“Mmm. Good.” Turning my head to look at his expression, the focus in his face was single-handedly on me. I wasn’t sure if I’d remembered to breathe.

I burrowed my head into his chest so he couldn’t see my expression. The longing on my face. How much I wanted this. Wanted him. “I’ve always wanted to have kids before I turned thirty. And I’m not getting any younger,” I laughed.

“True.” Daniel wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his lap, Brownie still cuddled between us.

“And youwantto do it the normal way? With me?” He looked so vulnerable that I wanted to cry. This man constantly exceeded every expectation of mine.

A laugh escaped from my lips as I moved to straddle his legs, my hands moving up his chest. “It’s not like we haven’t had sex before.”

“But this is different.”

“Is it?”

“This is where we have to admit it’s notjust sexanymore, Charlotte.”

I stifled a laugh. Had it ever really been just about sex? Ever since Angelina’s wedding, it felt like I lit up from just a single glimpse from him. And now, the heat in his eyes, the way he ran his tongue over his lips as he bored his eyes into mine…

I drew circles on top of his shirt with my fingers. “I’m not on birth control anymore, you know.”

I’d never really needed it, but it helped to regulate my periods, and it helped with hormone control and keeping me acne free. Honestly, I hadn’t even worried about it even when we started sleeping together. Even if we’d had anoopsbaby, it would have been the best blessing of my life just to do this with him. It always would be.

“So…” I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth.

“So, I think it’s time that this little one goes in his crate,” Daniel said, rubbing a finger over Brownie’s snout.

I giggled. “You’re not letting him sleep on the bed with us?”

My husband shook his head. “Not tonight. Tonight is about me and you. Showing you how much I want this. Wantyou.”

In one swift motion, he gathered both Brownie and me into his arms and carried us up the stairs, my head cradled against his chest. He carefully placed me on the bed, treating me as if I were the most valuable thing he had ever carried. Daniel carried Brownie to his cozy crate filled with blankets and toys before standing in front of me.

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