Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 142783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
So fucking pretty.
So fucking right.
I could see the etching of a smile tug at the corner of her mouth while she whipped something in a bowl. “Are you just going to stand there and stare all day?”
Her voice was light, full of wonder and a tease.
My chest panged, and I leaned a shoulder against the wall and stuffed my hands into the pockets of my sweats. “Seems like a pretty good way to spend New Year’s Day to me.”
“Why only look when you can touch?” She tossed it out with a slight shrug, pure seduction and ease.
A rough chuckle scraped up my throat, and I strode that way, every step tightening the muscles in my abdomen, my mouth watering for a taste.
I wound myself around her from behind, loving the way she felt, the way she sank back and let go of a satisfied breath.
“Happy New Years, baby,” I murmured as we began to slowly sway.
“I can’t believe I’m here with you, celebrating the New Year.”
I glanced at her ring that glinted in the rays of morning light. My chest expanded in a possessive beat. I pushed my nose into the hair behind her ear.
Hyacinth and magnolia leaves.
“A hundred more new years where this came from.”
Soft affection rolled from her mouth. “A hundred, huh?”
“A thousand.” A smile fumbled on my lips.
She giggled and sank deeper into my hold. “I’ll take as many as I’m given, just as long as I get to spend them with you.”
“Every day.” My hands splayed over her stomach.
“You’d better be careful, I might get used to this,” she whispered like this entire thing was a dream.
I kissed a path down the side of her neck.
Another giggle. “You’re distracting me.”
“That’s the plan.”
“Can’t you see I’m busy?” It was coy and sweet.
I lapped it up, wrapped myself tighter, and peered down from over her shoulder. “What are you making?”
“Cookies.”
I grunted. “You’re the one who’d better be careful, or else I’m going to be the one getting used to this.”
“What, me barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen?”
My breath caught in my throat. I forced it down. “Don’t tease me, Aster.”
And not about the kitchen thing. Fuck that misogynistic shit. The men who’d held her down. I was going to hold her up.
She stilled, her breaths going shallow as she set aside the bowl and whisk. She placed her hands over mine and pressed me closer to her, and her voice thinned out. “I’m not teasing, Logan. I think I might be pregnant.”
Everything stalled.
Time.
The staccato of my heart.
Before it all raced to catch up.
I rushed to spin her around, and I tipped up her chin so I could take in her sweet, gorgeous face that was held in worry and fear and something bigger than life.
Energy bound the air in a dense knot.
“What are you saying?” My hands trembled as I slipped my palms to either side of her neck. “What are you saying, baby?”
Her eyes were wild and intense. “I think I might be pregnant, Logan. I should have had my period last week, and I thought I was just off with the stress and the worry. I’ve been nauseous, but again, I thought it was just from everything that is happening. But this morning, I vomited, and in that moment, I think I just knew. My shot was due right before I came here, and I missed it, but I thought it would be fine—”
“It’s more than fine.” I cut her off, my voice squeezing on the words. “More than fine. As far as I’m concerned, it’d be a fucking miracle.”
She inhaled a shattered breath.
“I’m scared, Logan. I’m scared that I’m making the same mistakes all over again. That it’s too close and feels too familiar. But if it’s true? I will do everything to protect this child. Everything, Logan.” A fiery oath lit in those agate eyes. The girl a warrior. One who would stand and fight.
“There is nothing I want more than to have a family with you.”
“Are you sure?” She blinked up at me.
“I promise you, Aster Rose. I promise.”
I lifted her hand and kissed her ring, and I leaned in to murmur in her ear, “And I’m going to make sure that becomes Aster Rose Lawson soon. Very soon.”
Aster laughed. She laughed this disbelieving, joyous sound that rang in the air and reverberated from the walls.
A thrill.
Euphoric.
“I can’t believe it,” I murmured.
It felt like I was suffering from a bolt of shock.
The best kind.
“I can’t believe it!” That time, I shouted it, and I picked her up and spun her around.
She squealed and laughed and clung to my shoulders as she flung her head back and let the peals of delight paint the walls of the apartment a new color.
Vibrant.
Beauty.
Light.
“We don’t even know for sure.” She giggled it.
I held her up high, and she looked down at me, smiled that smile that slayed.