Page 86 of What About Now

“They can’t see.”

“What if they have binoculars?” he counters.

He’s always looking out for me. “Fine, we’ll use this.” I grab the blanket I brought out with me because the nights still get cold. “Strip and sit down.” He doesn’t argue as he strips out of his shorts and boxer briefs, and then discards his shirt. He sits down on the lounger, and after I finish stripping, I straddle him, guiding him inside me.

“Home,” I say, rocking my hips. I’ve lost count of the amount of times he’s been inside me, but every single time, it feels like I’m coming home.

“I love you.” He sits up and wraps the blanket over my shoulders and his arms around my waist, his lips trailing wet kisses over my collarbone and up my neck.

“I love you too.” I smile when I think about the fact that he bought me an engagement ring, but I also have plans to give him a gift tonight. I wasn’t sure how to go about giving it to him, but I think this is the perfect moment.

“So sweet,” he says, nipping at my lips. His hands roam over every piece of skin he can reach, and I smile into his kiss.

“I have something for you too.” I rock my hips, and he groans. I bite down on my lip to keep from crying out. Every time is better than the last.

“All I need is you,” he says, lifting his hips.

“Oh, okay, so maybe I should go dig my birth control out of the trash,” I say against his lips.

He freezes. “What?” He pulls back and we both stop moving as he stares into my eyes.

“You only need me, so that means we’re putting making a baby on hold, right? So I should dig my pills out of the trash.”

“You threw them away?”

I nod. “Yeah, I know it won’t happen right away, but I thought maybe we could work on starting our family.”

“You want to make a baby with me?” There are so many emotions and tenderness in his tone, but the one that stands out the most is happiness.

“I do. Do you want to make a baby with me?” I ask, even though I know the answer to that question.

“I do. I really fucking do.” He laughs. “I never thought I could be this happy. I didn’t know this kind of bliss existed until I met you.”

“Did we just repeat our vows?” I tease.

“No. Yes. I don’t know. What I do know is that I’m madly in love with you, and I want lots of babies.”

“How about we start with one?” I chuckle.

“No way. We’re going for twins.” He grips my hips, lifts me the slightest bit, then pulls me back down. “Ride me, beautiful,” he says as his thumb moves to rub over my clit.

I don’t know if it’s the intense conversation, the way he spoke to the night sky, pretending it was my father, the diamond ring he put on my finger, the fact that this very night we could potentially conceive our first baby, or if it’s just him? Just Maddox, my husband. Whatever it is, it has me exploding around him, calling his name out to the night sky, and him quickly falling after me.

We stay connected as I snuggle under the blanket to his chest and watch as the final remnants of today’s sunset disappears over the lake. It’s a beautiful moment, one that I will cherish forever.

“Brogan?”

“Yeah?”

“When can we do that again?” he asks. He’s smiling, and I hear the laughter in his tone. I have a feeling we’re not going to get any rest until I’m knocked up.

“What about now?”

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he moves to the edge of the lounger, stands with me in his arms, and carries me inside. Once we’re in our room, he makes love to me for the second time tonight. He doesn’t leave one area of skin untouched by his lips, and when we finish, we’re both wearing matching grins.

Now.

This is our forever.

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