Page 243 of Branded
Because Raph trailed his fingers across my jaw. “My fierce defender.”
I scowled.
He kissed me. “Like I said, so freaking fierce.”
“You don’t hurt my man,” I whispered. “Not then. Not now.”
“Considering I feel the same way about you, I’ll let the overprotectiveness slide.” I rolled my eyes, but he simply smiled and tugged at a lock of my hair. “Did I also mention beautiful?”
“That’s you, my love. You’re beautiful here.” I covered his chest, the spot just over his heart, with my palm. Feeling the steady beating, knowing that it was mine, just as my heart was his. “And all mine.”
“Possessive. Beautiful. Fierce. Strong.” A kiss to my forehead, my nose, one cheek, the other, each punctuating a word. “And most important, mine.”
“Who’s possessive now?” I teased.
“Me. Definitely me.” He shifted so that his legs were on either side of mine, arms wrapping around my middle.
“I get much bigger, you won’t be able to do that.”
A kiss to my shoulder, one palm resting on my belly, feeling the babies move, though they’d slowed a bit in recent days, space at an absolute premium.
“Beautiful,” he murmured again, leaning around me, and pressing his mouth to my jaw.
Which happened to be the exact moment that my water broke.
A gush soaking both of our bottoms, dripping along the stones, plinking into the pool.
Turning, my wide eyes hit his, which were equally as wide.
“I’m guessing,” I whispered as amniotic fluid kept dripping into the pool, “that means the pool guy is going to have to come rebalance the chemicals?”
His lips tipped up.
And then we were both laughing.
Laughter that lasted all of a second before a rippling pain trailed through my abdomen. “Holy hell,” I whispered, bending over, gripping Raph’s legs tightly until it passed.
“Right,” he said once it was over. He glanced at his watch, and I knew he was clocking the time, would be tracking my contractions.
Because he was Raph.
Because he’d read books and blogs and watched videos, even though these weren’t his babies.
Because he was going to be there for me every step of the way.
“I’m getting you upstairs for a quick change and to grab your bag”—I’d had it packed for weeks now—“while you call Pru. Then we’re off to the hospital.”
Nerves hit me and did it hard.
“I’m scared,” I whispered.
“I’m here.”
“What if I mess?—”
“I’m here, sugarpie.”
I released a shaky breath.
