Page 31 of Connected By Christmas
“That’s because he’s your son in every sense of the word. You don’t need to give birth to him to feel that. You two were just meant to be a family a little later in life when the timing was right to bring us together. He loves you just as much as he loves me. It has nothing to do with blood and everything to do with souls. Look at Ryder. Blood-wise, he’s my cousin, and my mom is his aunt. Soul-wise, he’s as much my brother as Jake and Miles are, and my mom loves him just as much as the ones she gave birth to.”
“You’re right. I know you’re right. I just…” She sighs and fidgets with the hem of her dress. I reach out and take her hand in mine.
“You just what?” She looks up, and her green eyes fill with tears. “Hey…don’t cry.” I swipe a tear away and get an ache in my heart at seeing her get upset. “Tell me what’s bothering you so I can make it better.”
“I just worry sometimes that Max will think I don’t love him as much as his brothers or sisters because I didn’t give birth to him. He means so much to me, and it breaks my heart to think that he may feel that way. Cause I won’t, Travis,” she shakes her head adamantly and squeezes my hand. “I promise I won’t love Max any different when we have other children.”
I stare at her, shocked that she would even think that thought would enter my mind. “Listen to me real carefully,” I place my hands on either side of her face so she has no choice but to look into my eyes and see the truth when I say it. “That thought never once crossed my mind. Ever. And I promise you Max will neverthink that either. Every day, we feel the love that you pour onto us. When we have children together, they will feel your love, too, but it won’t ever take away from the love Max already feels from you.”
I swipe the last of her tears away with my thumbs. “In his heart, you are his mother, and even if we have ten more children, Max would never doubt his place in your heart. The bond you guys have made is unbreakable. If anything, he’s got an upper hand on his future siblings. He was your first child, and trust me, as the oldest in my family, we do get special privileges being the first. Moms never forget their firsts, especially if they are as good-looking as me, which Max is. We can get away with murder and still do no wrong.”
She laughs just like I wanted her to. “I do love to spoil my little guy.”
“See, he has you wrapped around his little finger already.”
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“For what? All I did was speak the truth.”
“For loving me and making me a mom.”
“There’s no one else that Max or I would want to love.” I bring her lips to mine and kiss her softly.
She pulls back and grins. “Ten kids?”
“Well, maybe I overextended on that one, but I will have no problem giving you as many as you want. We have five months to practice because as soon as your IUD comes out, I’m putting a baby in you.”
Sophia and Bella have always had this pact to get pregnant together, just like their moms did. They want their kids to grow up as best friends, so they’ve concocted this plan to get their IUDs removed right before Bella’s wedding in May and let fate take it from there.
“I’m planning on it. I’ve heard the Montgomery sperm are very powerful.”
“Oh yeah,” I laugh. “Where did you hear that from?”
“Eve told me. The first time, the Montgomery sperm made it through the pill, and the second time, it happened on the first night they were together after being apart for three years.”
“I had no clue theMontgomery spermwas the topic of conversation at one of your girl chats,” I chuckle. “I don’t doubt it, though. My sperm is very athletic, and I have every intention of scoring a touchdown on our first try.”
“I have no doubt that you will.”
I pull her closer to me and nibble on her neck. “Maybe we should practice just to be sure.”
“As tempting as that sounds, we are already running late for our reservations, and I need to fix my makeup real quick. I’m sure the tears ruined it.”
She kisses me briefly on the lips and stands up, leaving me wanting so much more. I watch her ass sway in that dress that barely covers it before she disappears into the bathroom. Groaning, I lay back on the bed. It’s going to be hard to get through the night with her in a dress that should be illegal…and I literally meanhardas I glance down at the big bulge in the front of my pants.
Since I can’t have what I really want…yet, I head to the bar in the house. I laugh when I see all the guys standing around it. I guess I’m not the only one who needs to take the edge off. Taking the drink Noah just poured for me, I take a long sip of the burning brown liquid.
“I take it you just saw your wife in her dress?” Noah asks, chuckling.
“Yep.” I take another sip and relish in the burn the bourbon brings.
“God help us all tonight,” Maverick laughs and finishes his drink.
Images of her in that dress and those boots flash across my mind. “Yeah, God help us all,” I murmur before downing the rest of my drink with him.
I grip her hand tightly as we weave through the crowd and follow the group to our table. The place is packed tonight for New Year’s Eve.
“You are squeezing the life out of my hand,” Sophia whispers into my ear.
