Page 78 of Nigel

She rained kissesover his hair roughened jaw and his nose. “I needed you. Somuch.” She touched her lips to his and his tongue darted intoher mouth. The kiss took on a wildness that had them feeling as if aninferno had exploded.

Ending the kiss, hesimply held her, his long, lean body shuddering. “I am herebaby.”

That reminded her of the news she had for him.

“There isanother reason why I am so weepy.”

“The weddingplans driving you crazy?” he asked her tenderly.

She rolled her eyes.“The wedding planner wants to kill me and my sisters-in-law aresick and tired of my changing things.” She sighed. “Theydon’t seem to understand that I never thought I would begetting married, much less having a baby and all of it is new to me.”

“Of course itis-“ He went still, his hands tightening around her waist.“What did you say?”

“About medriving everyone crazy? I guess I am. I just-“

“Ava. What didyou say about a baby?”

“Oh that?”She gave an impish smile. “It appears that I am – we willbe having a baby. I am pregnant.”

“You are?“His hands moved to grip her face. “When? How? What-“

“Use your wordsdarling,” she said softly, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Thewhen I think is any of the times, we made love. The how you alreadyknow of. The what? I have no idea.”

“Ava.”

“I have beenfeeling off for the past couple of weeks and I thought it was therush of the planning. I felt sick this afternoon and Dahlia and Mariamade me take a look at my calendar.”

“Darling!“The lump was so big that he had to swallow several times. “Weare going to have a baby?”

“I am going tohave to make an appointment with an OBGYN at Kyle’s medicalcenter, but I am more than convinced that we are definitely pregnant.Tell me you are happy.”

“Happy?”He kissed the tip of her nose and then her lips and then her wetcheeks. “There are no words to express what I am feeling.”He peered at her anxiously. “Is it too much for you? I know youwant to be involved in the planning.”

“I am fine.”She touched his face and felt the tears again. “Several monthsago, I just had the job. Yes, there was my family, but they had theirown families.

Lionel has Maria,Kyle has Dahlia and Chloe and Jeffry has Michael. I always felt likethe odd one out. I would see them leaving to go back to their homesand I would feel the loneliness right here.”

She pressed a handover her chest where her heart was beating unsteadily. “I wouldtell myself that it was nothing. I had everything I needed. But thenI met you – Oh God, I met you and it was like my entire lifechanged. I started wanting more and then I met you. I met you Nigeland now I have everything.”

The tears welled andflowed. “I have you, Oh God, I have you and I love you so muchthat I cannot breathe and now – now I am pregnant- I am goingto have our baby.” She buried her face in his chest and wept.

The only thing hecould do was hold her. He was so shaken that he could not find thewords to respond. His throat worked painfully and his heart washammering inside his chest. He had no idea how he had gotten solucky.

He had spent the lasttwo nights twisting and turning in his cold and empty hotel bed andsimply yearned for her.

“Hush baby,”he whispered in her ear. “You are going to make yourself ill.Hush now.”

“Make love tome.” The tears dried up as if by a miracle. Lifting her headshe stared at him, “Now Nigel. I need to feel you inside me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Please.Now.”

Using the pads of histhumbs, he wiped the moisture off. “I am going to take mytime.” He promised. “Even if it kills me to do so, I amgoing to take my time.” He kissed first one wet cheek and thenthe other, before trailing kisses along her neck and then at thesides of her lips.

“I want toenjoy you, my sweet love. I want to taste every inch of yourdelicious body.” He was kissing the hollow of her throat. “Youoverwhelm me.”

He kissed the fleshof her breast. “Your nipples- so damn tasty and soon, our babywill be suckling, but first-“ She cried out when he tugged thetight bud into his mouth and suckled.

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