Page 63 of Anything For This Love

“That’s good to hear, because I want to see firsthand what happens as a tiny life grows inside you. I want to be at every doctor's appointment and hold your hand as you bring our child into the world. I can’t wait to kiss you and tell you how amazing you are as you hold our precious little one in your arms for the first time. I can’t wait until the day you wear my ring on your finger for all the world to see, for them to know we have a bond that can’t be broken.”

“Jacob…” I whisper.

He holds up a hand. “I know there are a lot of details we have yet to figure out before any of that can happen, but I know we can make it work. I love you. I love our little girl and I want us to be a family. I want us under one roof. I’m tired of these stolen moments with you that never last.”

“So am I,” I confess.

“Someday soon, we’ll have to make a choice. We’ll have to decide where to live and what path our careers will take. We don’t have to have that conversation today or even tomorrow, but soon.”

I nod my agreement, bringing the glass to my lips. Bubbles tickle my nose as I take a sip, trying to clear my throat. It’s so tight I can’t speak. I’m barely breathing. Everything he said is exactly what I’ve been thinking. The conversation he’s referring to is growing nearer every day. At this point, I’d be willing to follow a different career path, but I still don’t know that I can commit to relocating. It’s something I’ll have to think long and hard about. But if it means I’ll get to be with Jacob and Chloe has her father, I’m willing to do just about anything.

With our stomachs full and smiles on our lips, we leave Wolf’s Den Lodge. The evening has been fun and fulfilling. It was nice to hear Jacob’s thoughts on our future and see how much they align with mine. It’s after nine so I’m expecting to head home, but Jacob doesn’t take the road that leads to my house. My eyes shift to him and a smug grin pulls at the corners of his mouth, hinting that he has something else planned. Excitement bubbles in my belly, the mystery and anticipation making me giddy. The low hum of music swirls around us, the smooth voices of 112 promising they can do it anywhere creating a sensual soundtrack for our evening.

Pulling off on a side road, we travel for several minutes before turning onto a gravel drive. Curious, I lean forward in my seat, trying to catch a glimpse of our destination. There are no lights out here and the moon is only half full, so I can’t see too far ahead. Finally we pull up to a tiny house with a tree trunk jutting up through the planks on the porch. Strings of lights hang from the eaves, casting the small building in soft, buttery light.

“What is this?” I ask, somewhat confused.

“This is our humble abode for the night.”

I watch him curiously, looking for any signs that he’s pulling my leg. He doesn’t crack a smile or hesitate to get out of the SUV. I open my door and slip into the chilly air, instantly missing the warmth of his vehicle.

“What do you mean, ‘for the night’? We can’t leave Chloe with my grandma all night!”

“Of course we can,” he assures me, gripping my hands in his. “You heard her earlier. She’s perfectly capable of caring for our daughter. If she wasn’t, I wouldn’t have cleared all this through her two months ago.”

My heart flutters and my lips curve into a grateful smile. “You’ve had this planned that long?”

“Longer, actually. These tiny homes are brand new and as soon as they opened reservations, I booked this one. But I wanted to wait before I asked Ama about keeping Chloe overnight. I wouldn’t want to jeopardize her health, not even to spend a night alone with you.” He drops his lips to mine, kissing me sweetly.

“I appreciate your thoughtfulness and caring so much about her health.”

“She’s a pretty incredible woman. We have to take care of her. I want her to be around for many years to come.”

“Me too.”

“Besides,” he continues, a sly grin forming on his lips, “I’m creative enough that I’d have made your Valentine’s night unforgettable, regardless.”

I giggle. “I have no doubt.”

“Shall we?”

He holds out his hand and I step forward, waiting as he unlocks the door. The small space is already warm, so I shrug off my coat. Jacob grips the lapels as it slides down my arms and hangs it on the hook by the door. He leans in close, his hot breath tickling the side of my neck. “I’m torn between lighting a fire, spreading a blanket out in front of it, and feeding you chocolate covered strawberries, or taking you straight to the loft to make love to you.”

Arousal tightens my thighs as my belly dips and my nipples pucker. His deep, raspy voice sends a shiver down my spine. “How about all of the above?” I reply, wanting every single thing he just mentioned.

“Greedy girl,” he teases, stepping around me. Brushing my hair over my shoulder, he brings his hand up to my face, caressing my cheek as he slides it into my hair. His lips meet mine and his grip on me tightens.

I let out a soft moan of approval, needing more of him. My hands find the buttons on his shirt and I flick them open, then grab the edges and push them apart, shoving the material over his shoulders and down his arms. He quickly pulls the tee shirt he wore underneath his button-up over his head, discarding it on the floor. His bare, sculpted chest beckons me, my fingers itching to brush over the hard ridges. I flatten my palms against his stomach and glide them up and over his pecs, framing his broad shoulders with my small hands.

“I love the way you touch me, looking at me like I’m the only man in the world.”

“To me, you are.” I lean in and press a kiss to the center of his chest, just above his heart before moving to his tattoo. I kiss it too, knowing how much it means to him. His eyes slam shut and his head falls back for a moment while he collects himself. When he opens his eyes again, they flare with desire. Working my way upwards, I feather kisses up his neck, swiping at his skin with my tongue a few times on my way to his jaw. As soon as my lips brush his face, he turns and slams his mouth down on mine, unable to take the torment any longer.

“I need you. Now,” he demands, crouching to grip me by the backs of my thighs. He lifts me into the air and I wrap my legs around his waist, moaning when his hardened length meets my hot center. My legs clamp down on his hips as he carries me toward the loft. He barely squeezes us up the narrow stairway, ducking before we reach the top as the slope of the ceiling closes in on us. He manages to throw me onto the mattress before he makes it to the top of the stairs and crawls over my body.

His hips grind into mine as he kisses me, his erection stroking against my already soaked panties, my dress bunched up around my waist. He pulls away, rocking back on his knees as he studies me under the dim light.

“You’re so fucking beautiful.” His hand slides down my legs and removes my shoes before slowly gliding back up.

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