Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
While Julianna was napping, I grabbed a longer shower for myself. I towel-dried my hair and walked down the hall, pausing at the door. Tally was standing over the crib, looking down at Julianna, who was sleeping, the silence blissful. I realized, without a doubt, I couldn’t bear to hear my daughter cry for any reason. Once she was older and figured that out, I was in trouble.
I watched from the door, something stopping me from going into the room. Then I realized that Tally’s shoulders were shaking, and she was covering her mouth to stifle her sobs. I hurried forward, standing behind her.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” I asked, terrified.
Tally shook her head and turned, burying herself against my chest. She wrapped her arms around my waist, sobbing hard but quietly. Julianna was fine, her breathing deep and even, the flush gone from her face. “Hey,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around Tally, noticing how slight she felt. “What’s this? She’s fine, baby. By tomorrow, she’ll be great.”
Tally shook her head, still crying, her voice muffled against my chest. “I know,” she hiccuped. “I was just so scared, Julian. And you were so calm and helped us so much…” She trailed off.
I slid my hands up her arms, sliding them over her neck. I cradled her face in my hands. “I was anything but calm, Tally. Inside, I was terrified. But we worked together, and our girl is going to be fine.”
“You-you’re a good daddy,” she whispered.
I bent and brushed my mouth over hers, tasting her relief in her tears. “You’re an awesome mommy. We got this, yeah?”
Her lips trembled, and a shiver rushed down her body. Our gazes locked, her brilliant blue meeting my hazel. Hundreds of words passed silently in the air. Thousands of whispers and hopes. Fears. An entire lifetime of questions and answers flowed between us. A lifetime of us.
Despite my exhaustion, I felt it. The flare of passion I always had when Tally was close. It didn’t matter if we were too tired to be making decisions. Too drained to think clearly. I wanted her, and the way her eyes grew larger, her pupils dilating, she wanted me too.
With a groan, I captured her mouth, pulling her tight to my chest. She whimpered, her grip around my waist tightening. I slid my tongue inside, tasting her, the feeling of need growing. She tasted as sweet as I recalled—like candy and Tally. Perfect.
I moved back until I was sitting on the bed, Tally on my lap. She moved her arms to my neck, our mouths fused together. She ran her hands through my hair, tugging hard the way I liked. I gripped her hips, pulling her against my erection. She undulated over me, both of us caught in a vortex of long-lost feelings suddenly come to life and pulsating. She felt right in my arms, different, but right. Like her scent, our daughter had changed her curves, and I wanted to explore them all over again. To know if she was still ticklish. If she liked my tongue on her. Wanted my fingers playing with her. My cock buried inside her. I wanted to discover her all over again.
I fisted her hair, wrapping it around my hand, slanting my head to go deeper into her mouth. Our tongues slid together, a sensual dance. I ghosted my hands up under her shirt, her skin a silken treasure I had missed touching.
Then Julianna woke up, letting out a long wail. Tally and I broke apart, our breathing hard. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wide. I cupped her cheek and kissed her again.
“Our daughter is a cockblocker.”
Tally giggled, and I stood, laying her on the bed. “Stay.”
I picked up Julianna, holding her high on my chest. “Hey, my girl.” I carried her to the table and changed her quickly, lifting her back up and carrying her over to Tally. “Ta-da,” I murmured, presenting her to Tally with a flourish.
“You’re getting good at that.”
“Practice.”
I settled Julianna beside Tally, surprised when she flailed her arms, squirming against Tally.
“She wants you, Daddy.”
Delighted, I scooped her up and rounded the bed, climbing onto the mattress with Tally. I settled Julianna on my shoulder and patted my chest. Tally snuggled into my side, her head under my chin and one hand on Julianna. Both my girls fell asleep, and I grinned as I watched them. Contentment and a feeling of home washed over me, and for the first time in my life, I felt truly at peace. Happy.
I let my eyes drift shut, holding my family.
TALLY
I watched Julian with the baby, his frown of concentration somehow only making him sexier. He had always been handsome, but when he was holding our daughter, he became even more so. She loved being in his arms, as if she knew who he was and that she was safe. I could understand that since I always felt the same way in his embrace. I was so confused. The anger I had felt from him when he walked into the room at the airport had dissolved over the past few days. He was gentle and affectionate with Jules. Patient with me. His passionate kisses yesterday showed me the spark that existed between us was still there. It was, in fact, hotter than ever.