Page 88 of Irreplaceable

We both knew what she wasn’t saying—it could be your last. Every time I went to a doctor’s appointment, I was reminded that I was considered high-risk just by virtue of my age. Medically speaking, I was “of advanced maternal age.” But I felt fortunate to be pregnant at all. And maybe my friends were right.

“Olivia’s last gender reveal was super fun,” Juliana said. “The guys even said so.”

I laughed, thinking of Connor at a gender reveal. He was a former navy SEAL and a beast of a man, but when it came to Olivia and their kids, he turned into a giant teddy bear. It was so sweet.

Lauren frowned. “Shouldn’t it technically be called a sex reveal since gender is a social construct?”

“Yeah, but a ‘sex reveal,’” Juliana said with air quotes, “doesn’t have quite the same ring, does it?”

“No, but it does sound a hell of a lot more fun. I’d go to a sex reveal, especially if it meant sex toys as favors.”

I laughed. Leave it to Lauren to turn it into something sexual.

“I’d love to get together and do something fun, but we’re still living at the hotel, and Enzo’s consumed with soccer.” And with both of us traveling soon for work, I wanted to soak up every minute together.

I had a few projects going on, so I was managing those and researching locations for a future film. I had another trip planned, but I was surprised by my lack of enthusiasm. I blamed it on busyness and exhaustion.

“What if I host it for you?” Juliana asked.

“Don’t the parents-to-be typically host it? I mean, this is all so last minute.”

“Who cares,” Lauren said. “It’s a party. I say if you want to do it, let’s do it!”

I laughed. “You’re just saying that so you can fangirl all over Enzo, aren’t you?”

“She’ll have to get in line behind Harrison,” Juliana said. “He’s been bugging me about when we’d get to hang out.”

I shook my head. “Okay. Let’s do this. But I want to keep it small. Intimate.”

“Absolutely,” Juliana said, and we started working on the plans. I only hoped Enzo wouldn’t mind.

That evening, I returned to the hotel suite to find Enzo finishing up some stretching. He stood and gave me a kiss. “I was about to shower. Want to join me?”

I pulled my lower lip into my mouth and nodded, allowing him to lead me to the bathroom. He switched on the faucet, and my mouth went dry as he removed his shorts and kicked them aside. He was gorgeous. An Adonis who checked every box and exceeded all the attributes I could’ve hoped for on my wish list. Handsome, confident, philanthropic. How had I gotten so lucky?

He helped me out of my clothes, and I sighed with happiness the moment my bra was unhooked. And then we stepped into the shower together. He eyed me hungrily, water sluicing down the hard planes of his chest before trailing over his erection. I licked my lips, and he stepped closer, placing his hands on my hips before pulling me under the warm spray.

“Gorgeous,” he husked, and desire pooled in my belly. “Absolutely gorgeous.”

He smoothed his hands up my hips, over my back, pulling me closer. And then, to my surprise, he held me. I didn’t know how long we stood there. Skin to skin, heart to heart, we exhaled the secrets of our past and embraced the promises of our future.

Eventually, he stepped back and grabbed a washcloth, lathering it with soap. He took great care, washing every inch of me. I’d never felt so treasured or adored. He spent extra time on my breasts, driving me crazy with his touch.

“Spread,” he said, when he reached the apex of my thighs. He lifted one of my feet onto the shower seat, then proceeded to lick and suck my clit until I was screaming his name.

My legs were shaking, my limbs loose, and it felt as if all my cares, my worries, my fears had washed down the drain with the soap. Who cared about anything else when this amazing man absolutely adored me?

I smiled what had to be a dopey smile, and he cupped the back of my neck, pulling me in for a searing kiss. I reached for his hard-on, sliding my hand around the shaft, but then stilled when my stomach cramped. I frowned and held a hand there.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah.” I forced a smile. “I’m sure it’s nothing. I imagine some cramping after sex is normal.”

“But you haven’t had cramps before, have you?”

I shook my head. “No, but—” He immediately got out of the shower and started toweling off. “What are you doing?”

“Getting dressed to take you to the doctor,” he said as if the answer were obvious.

---