“Right there...Cal...”
I angled up. Hit it again. Again.
She clenched. Came hard, walls pulsing, gasping my name. Californiao
I followed. Groaned low into her neck. Spilled deep inside her. Hips jerking until I was empty.
We stayed there. Breathing. Quiet.
I kissed her temple. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For staying.”
She didn’t answer. Just held me closer.
Later, in the dark, her head rested on my chest. My palm spread across her bump.
I felt it again.
That crack in the numbness.
Small.
Real.
And terrifying.
Because if I could feel this much for the baby…
I didn’t know what would happen when I finally felt it for her.
Chapter 24
Hadley
The villa smelled like salt and coconut sunscreen even after the sun dropped. Dinner had been loud, kids shrieking over grilled fish, Lucinda telling stories about Kylie’s preschool drama, Malcolm trying to get Eli to talk more about his redstone builds. Eli managed a few sentences before retreating to his room with his tablet. I didn’t push. He’d done enough today.
Cal stayed quiet through most of it. Not withdrawn, just… observing. His hand found my knee under the table once or twice. Light pressure. Anchor.
After everyone scattered, Eleanor and Lucinda clearing plates, Gina putting the twins down, Malcolm and Kelly at the outdoor bar with beers, I felt the day settle heavy on my shoulders. Backache from the lounge chair. Feet swollen. Heart full in a way that scared me.
Cal found me on the terrace outside our room. Moonlight cut silver across the pool. He stepped behind me, arms sliding around my waist, chin on my shoulder.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Tired. Good tired.”
He pressed a kiss to the side of my neck. “Come inside.”
Our room was dark except for the glow from the bathroom light we’d left on. Sheer curtains moved like ghosts. The king bed looked too big, too white, too clean.
He closed the door. Locked it. Turned to me.
No words at first. Just his hands on my hips, pulling me close. I tilted my head up. He kissed me, slow, careful, like he was asking permission.
I answered by opening my mouth. Letting him in.
