Page 16 of A Burning Rage

Cooper follows Sam and Ava out the door, closing it quietly behind them, leaving me alone with Beth. I open my arms, and she walks into my embrace. I hold her close, my lips pressed to the top of her head. “It’s going to be all right. We don’t even know if they’ll release him.”

She’s shaking. “We can’t let him get anywhere near our kids.”

“Of course not.” I tighten my hold on her. “We can’t let him get anywhere near you, either.” I pull back to look her in the face. “Maybe you should stay home until we know what’s going on.”

“Nothing will be decided before Thursday, so there’s no reason why I should stay home before then. I can go to work.”

I huff out a breath. I can’t keep her cooped up indefinitely. And she’s right—until he’s actually released, nothing has changed. “Fine. But if Andrew does get released, I’m adding Miguel to your protection duty.”

She smiles at that. “I wouldn’t mind seeing Miguel more often. I’m sure Sam feels the same way.” She takes my hand and pulls me along with her. “Let’s go eat.”

Chapter 6 – Beth

Ava takes longer than usual to fall asleep tonight. I think maybe she’s picking up on my mood. I’m trying hard to hide it from the kids, but they’re both so perceptive.

By the time I walk into our bedroom, Shane’s already in bed, sitting up with his back propped on a stack of pillows resting against the headboard. His chest is bare, and knowing him, the rest of him is, too.

“Everything all right?” he asks as he glances up from his tablet.

“Yes.” I yawn. “Ava had trouble settling down tonight. She’s probably picking up on my anxiety.” I head to our bathroom. “I won’t be long.”

I strip naked and get ready for bed, brushing my hair and teeth. When I’m done, I stand in front of the mirror and study my body, turning to one side, then the other. My body has matured a lot after having two babies. My hips are wider, and my belly is fuller. Right now, since I’m still nursing Ava, my breasts are larger and heavier.

The knowledge that I might be pregnant weighs heavily on me since finding out Andrew might get paroled. It changes everything. Now isn’t the best time for us to have another baby. I almost hope I’m not pregnant. I can’t imagine dealing with a pregnancy and Andrew being out on the streets at the same time.

I turn once more and study my body’s profile. It looks the same as it did yesterday, and the day before that. If I am pregnant, it’s way to soon to be showing. I place my hand against my lower abdomen, right over the spot where my uterus lives, and I wonder if there’s a new tenant in there. I could pee on a stick right now and find out for sure, but I don’t really want to. I guess I’m in denial now that the threat of Andrew is looming over us.

I walk naked into our bedroom, and when Shane takes one look at me, he lays his tablet on his nightstand and pulls the covers back for me. I climb into bed and lay my head on my pillow.

He turns down the light on his side of the bed so there’s just enough illumination to make each other out. He lies down, facing me, and cups my cheek. “You are so beautiful.”

“So are you.” And I mean it. I might be biased, but I think my husband is extremely attractive with his short brown hair and trim beard, those electric blue eyes, and a slightly crooked smile that never fails to melt my heart.

He scoffs. “Hardly. I’m just a man who got extremely lucky. The woman I fell for was kind enough to fall with me.”

I press my palm to his chest, right over his heart. His body is warm, so alive, and so comforting.

Shane is the one who usually initiates sex, but right now I think he’d be hesitant to do that given the strain we’re under. And right now, sex is exactly what I need. I want to forget about Andrew. I want to forget about everything except for us.

I slowly trail my fingertips down his torso, past his abs, to his penis, which is already erect. I wrap my fingers around him and stroke him from root to tip.

He catches my hand with one of his. “Are you sure? We don’t have to.”

“Are you saying you don’t want to?”

He chuckles as he wraps his arm around me and pulls me closer. “Honey, there’s never a moment I don’t want you. But I’m trying to be considerate here.”

“I don’t need considerate right now. I need you.” I lean in to kiss him, nudging his lips open with mine and slipping my tongue into his mouth.

With a groan, he rolls me onto my back and leans over me, bracing his weight on one hand while the other one skims down my body to grab hold of my knee and lift my thigh up against his, opening me up so he can nestle his hips between my legs. He rubs himself against me, sliding through my wetness.

He kisses me then, stealing my breath and my thoughts so the only thing on my mind is this—us.

My husband proceeds to make love to me, slow and steady, long, easy strokes that fill me just right, ramping up my arousal. He reaches between us to stroke my clitoris with the pad of his thumb while he thrusts into me.

My gaze locks onto his, and everything he’s feeling is right there in his eyes.

I love you.