“Ah yes, but now it’s official.” He runs his fingertips through my hair, cupping my ear, and leaning down to press his lips to mine. “Did you know that even after all this time, I’m still as in love with you as day one?”
“Onlyasin love? Not more?” There’s a teasing tone in my voice.
“I’m not sure more is possible. I love you with everything I have, everything I am, my entire being, my entire existence.”
“That’s an awful lot.” I slide my fingertips along his shoulders.
“It is.”
“It weighs a lot too. I know, because that’s how much I love you.” The weight of it is both heavy and light. It’s a terribly confusing thing, where it feels like a boulder, but one that’s easy to carry, easy to manage and lift and maneuver.
“Ireallywant to take you out of here right now.” The grit in his voice tells me exactly what he’s thinking.
“Mm, that would be nice.”
“How are you feeling?” It’s his biggest concern lately, and he asks me at least a dozen times a day.
“Tired.”
Placing a long kiss on my forehead, Lochlyn pulls my head into his chest and rubs his hand down my hair. It’s lulling and makes it hard for my eyes to stay open.
“If you keep doing that, I’m going to fall asleep right here on the dance floor.” I shake as he laughs.
“Well, why don't we sit for a little, then?” Taking my hand, he spins me around, holding my waist as he presses against my back and directs me off the dance floor. Sitting in his chair, he slides me onto his lap and glides my head to rest against his shoulder.
His fingertips make big slow circles along my back as I fight to keep my eyes open. I smile every time his lips touch my forehead.
“Maybe I should take you upstairs for a nap.” It doesn’t matter that it’s the middle of our wedding celebration. He’d absolutely do it and not care what anybody thought we were doing.
“Maybe you should take me upstairs and wedon'tnap.” I adjust on his lap and kiss along his jaw.
He flicks out his watch, the one that’s ever present and that is so much a part of him. “How about this. In a little bit, we’ll go upstairs, you’ll take a nap, and then we can not sleep for a while?”
Pushing against his chest, I lean back and smile at him. “I accept your counteroffer, attorney.”
“Not for much longer.”
“Always. You’ll always be an attorney, Lochlyn. And I’ll always be proud of you for it. This past year may have been hard, but I’ve always been proud of you and everything you’ve worked for and all you’ve accomplished. It’s not a small feat to do what you’ve done. Any of it. Don’t let the negatives shade your view of all you’ve done.” Every word is true. I’m proud of him and always will be.
“My actions are what make me not as proud. I let the job take over, take control of me. And because of that, I almost lost the only important thing in the world to me.” With one hand, he tucks some curls behind my ear.
I don’t want to argue and tell him he didn’t almost lose me. It would be empty platitudes. Because he came close. That night at Chelsea’s, I wondered if I could handle his absence for the rest of my life.
“But you changed, and we’re better than ever.”
“It never should have come to that. I shouldn’t have had to almost lose you. But that’s in the past, and now we have a new future ahead of us.” He runs his hand over my stomach, leaving it resting there. We’ve had a few discussions about the baby and what it means for our future, which is still a weird thought by itself.
There’s a baby growing inside me. A little bit of Lochlyn, a little bit of me.
“We’re having a baby.” My voice is just above a whisper, but only Lochlyn can hear me.
A wide smile stretches his mouth. “We’re having a baby.”
Before I have a chance to dwell on it too much, Wes comes over, one hand behind his back and the other outstretched, bent at the elbow, as he bows in front of me. “May I have this dance, milady?”
Wes is always good at making me laugh. Lochlyn tightens his grip around me, but I rest a hand on his chest and stand from his lap.
“Of course.” I let Wes lead me to the dance floor.