Page 119 of Hendrix

“He’s so small,” I whispered.

“But perfect, baby. He was in the incubator for twelve hours, but Bones is happy with his progress.”

My stare cut to his. “Incubator?”

“He was seven weeks early. It was just a precaution, and it’s okay, baby, I stayed with him the whole time. I held his hand and talked to him. He was never alone. I knew it was what you would’ve wanted.”

Relief made my shoulders slump, and my eyes lifted from my son’s face to look at Hendrix. “Tell me what happened? Is Charlie okay?”

“He’s fine. His GSW’s healing. The bullet went straight through and didn’t hit anything major. He’s got a room on the first floor for however long he wants it. Dunno if he’ll stay, but there’s a place for him here. I owe him big.”

“How did he know I was there?” I asked. “What happened?”

Hendrix gently smoothed his hand over the baby’s head. “Charlie’s tent is pitched close to the house where you were kept, near the river. He was foraging when he saw Tweety leaving and went up to investigate. It was my aunt's house, the one I told you about. Daisy had been holed up there on and off since I threw her out of the club. Charlie knew somethin’ was amiss, so he walked the perimeter and heard Daisy talking on the phone about killing you and knew he needed to get you outta there quickly. He wanted to come to me first but was worried it would be too late by the time we got to you, so he went for it. He told me you shot Daisy, baby, but I honestly dunno if she’s dead. Ace came for her before we got there. Saw ‘em speeding away. Boys went after the fuckers but came across some cops, so they had to turn back.”

My eyelids began to droop. “Where’s Tweety?”

“Dad caught him trying to hotwire a car. He won’t be a problem anymore.”

I knew I’d have to ask for the details at some point, but I wasn’t sure my brain could handle it right then. I was feeling so groggy and exhausted.

“Take the baby, please, honey. I’m not gonna stay awake much longer.” My eyes closed, and I felt my son being lifted from my arms. “Thanks for looking after him,” I whispered, wincing at the pain pulling at my stomach as I moved to try and get more comfortable.

“You don’t need to thank me for looking after my boy,” Hendrix told me, his tone full of reverence. “I’ve claimed you both. You’re mine, and so’s he. Loved him from the moment I saw him on the screen when I brought you here. Every day since that love grew bigger. Then yesterday, he opened his eyes and stared into mine, and that was when I fell hook, line, and sinker. He’s changed me already, Anna. I feel calmer. You settle me, but so does he, and I wanna do right by you both.”

I smiled at the beauty in his words.

Hendrix had come a long way from the cocky commitment-phobe I had (what I thought was) a one-night stand with after meeting in a back road bar all those years before. If somebody had told me then that he’d be reading baby manuals and doing skin-to-skin contact with my son, I would’ve laughed myself sick.

It was funny how life turned out.

Six WeeksLater

Intense blue eyesstared down at me, and Jamie whispered, “You feel like mine.”

My heart fluttered.

He dipped his head and caught a nipple in his mouth, kissing it gently before moving to the other.

My back arched from the bed, and I whimpered, my fingers clasping the back of his head to anchor him to me.

I closed my eyes, losing myself to the sensation of Hendrix’s lips, his beard, his warm breath whispering across my skin and sending delicious little shivers down my spine.

Today, I’d been for my post-pregnancy check-up and had been given the all-clear. All it took was for me to walk into our suite and beam a smile Hendrix’s way before he backed me up against the wall and kissed me dizzy.

“Missed this,” he murmured, his teeth nipping the sensitive underside of my breasts. “Missed you.”

I made a strangled noise of agreement, my mind blanking from sexual overload as Hendrix’s lips dipped lower. His hands came to my hipster panties and began to tug them down, and my heart jolted nervously.

“Don’t,” I murmured.

His beautiful blue eyes lifted to mine, confusion filling them as he stared at me. “What?”

“I’m not the same anymore,” I whispered. “I haven’t bounced back into shape. My skin’s loose, and I’ve got stretch marks, and my scar?—”

He shifted back up the bed until our heads were level and looked at me like I was crazy. “There isn’t a universe that exists where I don’t think you’re anything short of perfect. Have I ever given you the impression I don’t find you sexy as all fuck?”

I shook my head. “It’s not you. It’s me.”

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