Page 91 of Amor Prohibido

A dismayed and completely humourless laugh fell from my open mouth. “Babe, you’re everythingbuta terrible mother. You single-handedly grew and birthed not one, but two babies, and now you’re feeding them. From where I’m standing, you’re the best mother any baby could wish for. You’re doing fucking amazing, J.”

More sobbing and incoherent words muffled against my chest.

I buried my nose in the pile of dry hair on the top of her head. “Are you done in here, sweetheart?”

I felt her nod. Reaching around her and turning the water off, I took a moment to cup her face again and tilt her head up to meet my eyes. Her dark-brown depths swam with hopelessness. I smoothed at the crease between her eyebrows with my thumbs and gazed at her. She melted me from the inside when she looked at me like this.

“I mean it, J. You’re incredible and I couldn’t be prouder. I love you, baby.”

“I love you, too,” she whispered with a fresh surge of tears spilling down her face.

I flicked them away, kissed her, then stepped out of the shower to retrieve her towel first. She murmured a thank you and wrapped herself up tight while I tied my own around my waist. Hand in hand, I led her back to our bedroom and finished drying the water droplets from her shoulders. I resisted running my fingers across her smooth skin. Instead, I reached for the bedsheet and tugged it back for her.

“In you get, sweetheart. I’ll be back in a second.”

While J settled, I tossed our towels in the laundry and checked on the twins one last time.

Sliding into bed behind Jax was the best feeling in the world. Pressing a kiss to the curve of her exposed shoulder sparked arousal low in my abdomen. I willed my dick not to react. This was definitelynotthe time to have sex for the first time after birth. Fuck Iwantedto, but wouldn’t pressure J, especially this early on as well as during an emotionally rough patch.

“Sorry,” I murmured into her neck when I could no longer hide my erection.

“I’m the one who’s sorry. I can’t even give you sex.”

“Babe!”I cried. “Please don’t beat yourself up. Sex is the least of my worries. Right now, you’re my number one priority.”

She drew in a shuddering breath. “I just feel like I’m letting everyone down.”

I released a frustrated sigh. Exhaustion was really taking its toll on us both.

“C’mere, sweetheart.” I slid my arm under her, turned her to face me, and wrapped her in a hug that she clung to. Peppering kisses along her smooth cheek, I murmured, “We’re going to get through this. You n’ me. One day at a time. I promise.”

EPILOGUE

JAX

Almost four years later.

Rom and Val were driving meinsane!As if getting ready for a wedding at Kath and Kip’s house wasn’t hard enough, throw in a pair of almost four-year-old twins who wouldn’t quit fighting or whining about how hungry they were, even though they literally ate ten minutes ago, and we had chaos in every direction.Plus, I’d hardly slept last night, which wasn’t helping the situation.

“Rom, Val, take that bag of popcorn and go find Papa. He’s out back with Uncie Dee and he’s going to be super excited that you’ve brought him snacks. And share with Emmerson!” I yelled at their retreating backs as my two little hurricanes screamed through their Nan and Pop’s house at breakneck speed, with their little two-year-old cousin trailing in their wake.

Afteryearsof being engaged, it was surreal that our wedding day was finally upon us. It wasn’t going to be big and fancy with a million guests, but small, intimate, and non-traditional—like us.

Mama and Kath flapped around the house, glued at the hip as per usual, making sure the final details were sorted—which, of course, they were. I was also certain they’d already started on the champagne, judging by the way they stopped to chatter and giggle like schoolgirls. It made my heart buoyant to see them like this and I hoped my relationship with Lozza stayed strong for decades to come.

Speaking of Lozza; she sat beside me getting her hair done by our stylist Mandy. Her and Marc got married last year and were still enjoying the ‘DINK’ lifestyle ofdouble income no kids. However, she well and truly made up for it by spoiling our kids rotten.

In stark contrast, Callie grabbed another chip from the bowl resting on the swell of her belly. Her and Darren married three years ago and fell pregnant soon after with Emmerson, and their second little bundle of joy was due in four months’ time.

I swept my long hair from my eyes and tried to ignore the rolling pitch of my stomach. Nerves gnawed deep and clamped in my chest. While I couldn’t wait to marry Jace, a tiny part of me was terrified.

The absence of conversation snapped me from my thoughts to find Lozza and Mandy studying me.

“What?” I asked, feeling self-conscious.

Lozza’s eyes narrowed. “You feeling okay? You look paler than your usual caramel-toned self.”

I snorted and rolled my eyes at her. “Pretty sure I didn’t need reminding of my skin tone, but whatever. And I’m fine—just didn’t get much sleep last night.”

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