Page 5 of Another Ryan Christmas

“They’re spirited,” Jessie says trying to muster a scowl, even as the corners of her mouth twitch in a smile.

“Like their mother,” Shane agrees before he kisses her forehead. “Chester can handle them. I told him we’d be out all afternoon.”

Conor frowns. “You did?”

Our oldest brother shrugs, his eyes still trained firmly on our wife. “I thought we could go grab some food and celebrate.”

Mikey’s grin widens further. “Celebrate? You booked a hotel room, bro?”

“Not that kind of celebrating,” Shane replies diverting his attention from our pregnant wife long enough to give Mikey a soft slap on the back of his head.

“Oh?” Jessie’s bottom lip juts out a little and Shane’s eyes immediately dart back to her.

“I thought you’d be needing something to eat. You usually get sick around this time of the day.”

“Oh yeah,” she groans and places a hand on her stomach. “And then it lasts for eight hours.”

“Exactly, sweetheart.”

Conor winks at her. “And carbs are the only thing that seem to help.”

“I know.” She sits up and jumps off the bed and rubs a hand over her gently rounded stomach. “I’m gonna get soooo fat with this one.”

Shane gives her a soft swat on the ass. “Enough!”

She flutters her eyelashes at him and then glances at the door. “You know Dr. Wilcox won’t come back in here, right?” she says with a devious chuckle. “We could celebrate before food?”

Shane wraps an arm around her waist. “If we startcelebratingnow, sweetheart, we won’t fucking stop. So food and then we can all fuck you into a coma tonight once your nausea has passed.”

Mikey arches an eyebrow at her. “And you’re not mainlining bread rolls.”

I put a hand over my mouth to stop the laugh that wants to bubble out. Conor shakes his head and Shane blows out a breath.

“Mikey Ryan, I do not mainline bread rolls,” Jessie protests. But then her bottom lip trembles. “Do I?”

“Aw, Red.” Mikey wraps her in his arms and kisses her forehead. “I was just playing with you, baby.”

She sniffs, burying her head in his chest. “You can joke around but you’ll be sorry when this giant Ryan baby makes my ass super fat.”

Mikey burrows his face into her neck. “Just more to hold onto while I’m fucking it.”

Conor rounds the bed, pulling Mikey from Jessie’s arms and into his. “I love you, angel, but you make one more comment about getting fat, and I’ll edge you for a fucking week.”

Her cheeks flush pink as she stares up into his eyes. “Your brothers won’t though.”

“Yes we fucking will,” Shane snaps.

She glances at me for support, but as much as I love making her come, I’m in full agreement. “I agree, baby. No more bullshit about getting fat. You will eat and do whatever you need to do to keep you and our baby healthy and safe. Okay?”

She rolls her eyes.

“And no morejokingfrom you either, fuck-knuckle,” Conor warns Mikey.

My twin winces. “My bad. I’m sorry, Red.”

She nestles into his chest again. “It was kinda funny.”

Chapter4

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