Page 160 of X's and O's

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My heart constricted so hard I was instantly sure I was having a heart attack. My hands turned clammy, and sweat broke out along my spine.

Everyone was staring at me with huge smiles on their faces, while I suddenly wanted to throw up.

Unlike Rebel, I couldn’t use morning sickness as an excuse. It definitely wasn’t that. I was three babies down, Ridge only a couple months old, and I definitely was not doing that again.

No, the sick feeling suddenly curdling in my stomach was something else altogether.

I gave my girls a weak smile. “In a minute. I’ve had too much champagne. Nature calls.”

Lacey, Kara, and Mae all nodded and went back to fawning over the flower arrangements.

Rebel knew me better and mouthed, “Are you okay?”

I nodded quickly, but I really did need to get out of this room. It suddenly felt very warm and like the air was too thick.

I tried not to run for the bathroom, not wanting to alarm anyone, but it was a pretty fast power walk that had me in there, the door closing behind me with a soft click as I leaned back against it and closed my eyes.

“Bliss?”

My eyes sprang open, and my hand flew up to cover my heart that felt like it had just been delivered a dose of adrenaline straight to it. I stared at Vincent. “Holy shit, how did you get in here?”

He shrugged a shoulder. “You left the window open.”

“We’re on the second floor!”

“Balconies are easily scalable. You know that.”

I did. Because he was obsessed with security. Or more accurately, he was obsessed with my and our children’s security. It didn’t surprise me at all that he’d noticed a lack in it and had used it to his advantage.

My heart slowed at his steady, familiar face, and I found myself smiling. “I can’t believe you climbed up here in a suit.”

“I tried to take the stairs, but your wedding planner refused to let me in.” His eyes darkened.

I noticed instantly. “Don’t kill her.”

I’d been sort of joking, but he nodded seriously. “If that’s what you want.”

My lips flickered at the corners. God, I loved this man, both his crazy, impulsive wild side, when Scythe was in control. And his sweeter, more serious side when Vincent was at the helm. His dissociative disorder, or split personality, had never been a problem for me.

I loved every part of him equally.

Even when I did have to remind him not to kill anyone on our wedding day.

“You seem troubled,” he said quietly, leaning against the bathroom sink.

I tried to smile at him reassuringly. “Just a little overwhelmed.”

He stepped forward and pulled me into his arms, holding me tight against his warm chest.

I melted instantly, his embrace familiar, his scent filling my nose and calming the racing blood that pounded inside me.

He had always been my safe place. War would have kissed me stupid, Nash would have looked for a way to organize and fix my problems, while Scythe would have made stupid jokes, trying to make me laugh. Vincent had always just held me and listened.

I could practically feel my nervous system resetting itself as he held me tight and the two of us just breathed.

Eventually, when my breaths matched his and the terror inside me had gone off on its merry way to infect someone else, I lifted my head. “I love you.”

He brushed his warm lips over mine. “I don’t like being the center of attention.”