Page 71 of Unholy Nights

"Speaking of presents..." He reaches behind the tree and pulls out a small wrapped box.

"Cohen." I narrow my eyes. "We said no gifts for each other this year."

His smile is pure sin. "When have I ever followed rules about giving you things?"

"Give Mama!" Ember bounces in my lap, more excited about the gift than I am. Though knowing Cohen, it's probably something ridiculously extravagant that will make me cry.

He hands me the box, but his fingers linger against mine longer than necessary. Even these tiny touches between us stillfeel electric, like that first night in the chapel. If anything, our need for each other grows stronger every day.

"Open it," he says, that dangerous smile playing at his lips. "Before Ember decides to help."

The paper falls away to reveal a long velvet box. Inside, nestled in black silk, is a delicate gold chain with two tiny flames—one in rose gold, one in yellow gold.

"One for each of our children," Cohen murmurs, his voice dropping to that tone that still makes my skin tingle. "Though we'll need to add more soon."

My eyes snap to his. "More? I'm not even done cooking this one yet."

"You know I want a whole army of babies with you." His hand slides up my leg to rest on my stomach, and my body responds instantly to his touch, to his words. Heat floods through my veins and settles between my legs. I love being pregnant with his children, love how possessive he gets, how incredible it feels to carry a piece of him inside me. Pregnancy hormones aren't helping and neither is the glint in his eye as he watches me.

"Dada baby?" Ember pats my belly, completely unaware of the heat building between her parents.

"That's right, little flame." Cohen's voice is gentle with her even as his eyes promise wickedly ungentle things to me later. "You're getting a baby brother soon."

I touch the necklace with trembling fingers. Two years ago, I never could have imagined this—being cherished, being free, being so completely and utterly loved.

"Thank you," I whisper, though it's for so much more than just the gift. It's for everything he's given me. Everything we've built together.

"Let me put it on you." He moves behind my chair, and I lift the hair that’s fallen out of my messy bun out of the way. Hisfingers brush my neck as he fastens the chain, and that simple touch makes my nipples tighten.

"Pretty!" Ember claps, then immediately slides off my lap and gets distracted by more presents under the tree.

Cohen's lips find that spot behind my ear that he knows drives me crazy. "I love watching you with her," he murmurs. "Seeing you be the mother I always knew you could be. Carrying my son. Being everything I ever wanted."

"Cohen," I breathe his name as his teeth graze my skin. But Ember's delighted shriek as she discovers another present breaks through the heat building between us. She's already created a war zone of wrapping paper and bows in here.

"More!" She demands, brandishing an empty box like a trophy.

"Breakfast first," Cohen says, scooping her up onto his shoulders. He navigates through the sea of destroyed wrapping paper while I follow them to the kitchen, already craving his chocolate chip pancakes. Some traditions are worth keeping.

"Cakes!" Ember declares from up on Cohen's shoulders as we make our way to the kitchen. "Chips!"

"Like father, like daughter," I laugh, remembering that first time Cohen made me chocolate chip pancakes. The day he told me he loved me for the first time.

The kitchen is warm and bright, nothing like the sterile showcase of a house my mother maintained. Ember's artwork covers the fridge, bright crayon scribbles that Cohen treats like masterpieces. There are still half-decorated cookies waiting on the counter from yesterday’s attempt at baking.

It's messy and imperfect and completely ours.

"What are you thinking about?" Cohen asks as he settles Ember in her high chair. His tilts my chin up so he can look into my eyes and brushes some of my messy hair out of the way.

"How different everything is now." I lean into him, watching our daughter systematically destroy a banana. "How happy we are."

His arm goes around my waist and tighten, pulling me into his body. "Happier every day." His other hand spreads over my belly. "Though I still want to hunt down anyone who ever made you doubt you deserved this."

"No one can hurt me anymore." I turn in his arms, pressing closer despite my enormous stomach between us. "You made sure of that."

His eyes darken with that possessive heat that always makes my knees weak. "Always will. You and our children are everything to me. My whole world."

"Dada help!" Ember interrupts, holding up her mangled banana with sticky hands.

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