Page 70 of Nova

I burst with laughter. "I can't help the way I look, babe." Tucking her lace threads in my pocket, I stand at her side, lean down and kiss her lips. "I work with what God gave me. I can't help the way my body reacts around you no more than you can when you are near me."

There's a knock, followed by a new voice. "Ready?" An older woman steps into the room. "My name is Beverly, and I'll be performing the ultrasound today."

I smile down at Promise, who takes hold of my hand.

Beverly takes a seat, placing herself at the end of the exam table. "This will be a bit uncomfortable," she tells Promise.

My woman stares at the ceiling, a small twinge of discomfort appearing on her face as Beverly performs the ultrasound. My gaze shifts to the monitor screen, not knowing what I'm actually staring at.

"There." Beverly breaks the silence that had fallen in the room. After tapping on the keyboard, she then points to the image in the screen. "I would say you look to be around six weeks."

Six weeks?

I think back. That would have been around the night Promise walked into my life. Dropping my head, I look at my woman whose eyes are fixed on the screen, tears falling down her cheeks.

"That little blip is our baby? We created a human," Promise whispers in awe.

Suddenly the room fills with a rhythmic whooshing. "And that is the baby's heartbeat. It's steady and strong." Beverly says.

Everything around me fades, all but my woman, and the sounds of the baby she carries in her womb. I can't take my eyes off Promise as she continues to stare at the first images of the life we made. How did I get so fucking lucky? "I love you," I repeat those three words, finding satisfaction in the way it makes me feel.

Her watery eyes connect with mine. "Thank you."

"Babe," I swallow the lump of emotions stuck in my throat because I know why she said what she said.

"I finally have everything I ever wanted. I love you too, Cain."

Night has fallenby the time Promise is given the all-clear to leave the hospital, and we finally make it back to the clubhouse. As I'm helping her from the truck, she asks, "Did Sadie and London stick around?"

"Yeah, babe. Riggs texted me at the hospital, while I was bringing the truck around. They're both here."

"Good. I think I'll sleep better knowing they are close." Promise falls quiet for a minute as we walk to the entrance, tucked in close to my side. "And the biker?" she waits for my reply.

"You and Piper don't have to worry about him ever again." Opening the door and stepping inside, we find the place quiet, with a few of the guys lingering by the bar.

"It's unusually quiet here," I remark as Promise and I stop by the bar.

"Everyone turned in early. Rough day for a few of them." Riggs lifts his whiskey filled glass taking a sip. "Why don't the two of you join us for a drink? You could use it after the day we've had."

Promise, and I share a look, and my eyes fall to her stomach. "I think we'll call it an early night ourselves." I clasp my brother on the shoulder, before walking away from him and the others. "Catch ya in the mornin'," I call over my shoulder as we climb the stairs to the second floor.

"Can we stop and check on Piper?" Promise whispers just outside her bedroom door.

"Yeah, babe." Turning the handle, we peek inside, finding her asleep in her bed with her earbuds in her ears. I close the door quietly. "Come on." I guide Promise down the hall to my room.

Stripping her of her clothes, I slip one of my shirts over her head. "I have clothes I can go and get, Cain."

"Don't care, Sugar. You're not leavin' my sight. Besides, I like seeing you in my shirt."

"I have to admit, I like the smell of you against my skin." She smells the shirt then slides into bed, yawning.

I strip, slipping into bed beside my woman, pulling her close. Promise drapes her leg over mine, tucking her thigh between my legs, and rests her casted arm on my torso. Almost instantly, her breathing becomes heavy as her exhausted body finally relaxes.

As soon as I think about it, I say it. "Marry me."

"What?" her sleep-filled voice asks.

"Marry me." Promise is silent for a moment, and I start to think I've spooked her.

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