Page 170 of This Crimson Vow

He hands off the baby and climbs the steps to join me. Positioning himself behind me, he slides his arms around my waist and settles his chin on my shoulder. I lean back into his skin, warm against my bare back.

“You look happy,” he murmurs.

“I am.”

He hums, lips brushing the side of my neck. “Lots of people here.”

I look out at the crowd of people, who on paper shouldn’t mix, but actually get along very well. A handful of Elite operatives chatting with members of the Bratva are intermixed with a handful of billionaires. It’s bizarre but wonderful.

“I know.”

He chuckles, his chest moving against my back. “You love it, don’t you?”

I nod. “Yeah, I really do. It’s our family.”

I glance to where Brady and Elizabeth are talking to Ray and Irina. Things are still awkward occasionally between my father and me, but he’s been trying, and I have to admit I like having him in my life.

“He needs to stop touching my mother,” Liev mutters when Ray puts his hand on Irina’s back again.

“At least she’s age appropriate. That’s new for him.”

He pretends to gag. “You aren’t funny.”

I giggle and turn in his arms to loop my arms around his neck. “I’m hilarious.”

He bends to brush his lips against mine.

“You looked awfully comfy with that baby, Gangster.”

“She’s pretty cute.”

I rise on my toes and kiss him again, deeper this time. “Ours will be cuter,” I say when I pull back.

He jerks back, his wide-eyed gaze dropping to my stomach, before snapping back to my face.

“Are you?—?”

I laugh. “Oh my god! No! I have an IUD, remember? But I think maybe we should start thinking about it, old man.”

“Old man?” Then he groans. “You heard Alex.”

“He has a point. Babies are a lot of work. I worry about your stamina,” I tease.

He squeezes my ass and growls low in his throat. “Keep talking like that, and I’ll drag you inside right now to defend myself.”

I grin. “Promise? It might require a lot of time and practice.”

“I’mverygood at practicing.” He takes my hand and starts dragging me toward the house.

I plant my heels, laughing. “Sorry, we still have the fireworks.”

“I can provide those.” But he doesn’t object when I lead him to the steps to rejoin the party.

Later, as the fireworks burst in the sky above us, my husband’s arms wrap around my waist. I tip my head back to look at him, my heart full. Liev leans so my lips are against his ear, to hear better over the booms.

“Thank you,” I say.

“For what?”

“For being patient with me.” I kiss his ear. “For giving me the family I always wanted.”

His arms tighten around me. “Same,malyshka. But I think we’ve earned it.”

THE END