Page 106 of Implode

He rolls me to my back and kisses down my exposed neck and bare chest. He lays his head on my stomach and whispers, “Did you hear that, little one? Your mommy is finally coming to her senses. Took her long enough, eh?”

I shake with laughter as Nic continues lower and settles between my thighs. He pulls my glistening lips apart and slips in two fingers. I feel like a blob of nerves and incapable of doing much other than lying back and enjoying the ride.

“I love you, Nic,” I cry out, as I am overcome by all the pleasure he wants to give to me.

“I love you more.”

* * *

I wake up rested and without regrets the next morning, ready to get my best friend married off to the love of her life. I feel different now that I have finally found mine at the same time. It took me long enough to accept the inevitable, but Nic is that for me. He’s my once in a lifetime love.

I turn my head to look at his sleepy face. He is wrapped around me, holding me to him so tightly that if I move a certain way it hurts to breathe. He has a leg draped over my hips and my back is to his front. I can tell he is asleep based on the way he is breathing. We exhausted each other last night, and just when I think he cannot possibly raise the bar, he does.

While there are a lot of things still left to figure out, I know without doubt that I want to go through the fire with Nic by my side.

I trust that he will protect me from Ethan.

I trust that he will be a good daddy to this baby.

Nic starts to stir and nuzzles his face into my hair, breathing in my scent. He murmurs in his sleep how good I smell, and I smile over his inability to let me go—even as I try to wiggle free of his hold.

“Not letting you go ever again,” he murmurs.

“I have to pee.”

“Oh well,” he says slowly, making me laugh.

“Stop making me laugh or I really will pee.”

Nic finally relents and sits up. Before I can even roll out of bed, he scoops me up and carries me off into his attached bathroom. Setting me on the toilet, he leans against the vanity and crosses his arms.

“I can’t pee with you watching,” I say seriously. He places a hand over his eyes, and I can’t help but laugh. “I still can’t.”

“Better get used to it. I am going to see a whole lot more in the delivery room.”

I groan. “Yeah, I am seeing way too many too-much-information posts on some of the first-time mom blogs I am on.” I finish up and flush, joining Nic at the sink.

“There’s no part of you that I won’t love, Claire. I can handle it.”

I look at him in the reflection of the mirror. “I’m slowly starting to believe you.”

“Good. Because the only thing that scares me is losing you again.”

I don’t have words of comfort to offer him. I can only try to include him as much as I can with what is going on in my head. I wash my hands and turn to face Nic. “I am spending the morning with the girls. We are getting glammed up and going to have brunch.”

He nods and kisses my forehead. “I’m doing the same with the guys, minus the glam part. Might even hit up a gun range to shoot some things.”

I make a face. “I hate guns. They scare me.”

“As they should, if you don’t know how to handle one,” he explains, his tone serious. “But being with me means that I do have them. I keep them unloaded and locked up.” He tugs me closer at the hips. “Does that bother you?”

I think about my answer for a few seconds and then shake my head no. “I know that you and Graham have a thing for privacy and security, so I understand that you would want some protection.”

“It’s more than athing, Claire. It’s an obsession.” His eyes darken. “We protect what is ours. And baby? You’re mine now. You always were mine. Even when we were apart, I was always trying to protect you.”

“I’m not like Angie, though, Nic. She accepts the guards and all the protocols to be with Graham. I’m not so sure I can do all of that.”

His eyes soften, but his jaw doesn’t relax. “I can’t let go of my need to keep you safe.”

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