Deadpan, I look at him. He wasn’t kidding when he’d said he was growing out his hair for me. It’s not as long as he wants it to be just yet, but I think it looks sexy. “Ulf and Ulfhild. They’ll absolutely hate us when they get older.”
“No, they won’t. It meanswolf,for fuck’s sake! It’s majestic and powerful!”
“Language.” Rolling my eyes, I pinch his nipple through his shirt. Poor man-baby looks so put out, but seriously. No way, no how. The truck slows down, pulling my attention to the window. “We’re stopping somewhere?”
“Yep. Because I want to buy you something.”
“You’ve bought me lots of somethings.” That fact still doesn’t stop me from eagerly sitting up and scanning over the parking lot. There’s a donut shop that’s closed, a music store, and—my eyes run the sign in front of me as we pull into a parking space. A bookstore!
“Books?” It’s ridiculous how much happiness blooms in my chest at the thought, like a freaking ray of sunshine. Babies and books. Life doesn’t get much better than that. “But I already have all the ones on my e-reader.”
“You can never have too many books. Hold on, little mama. I’ll get it for you,” Connor chuckles, watching me fight my portable obstacle course—aka pregnant belly—to unbuckle the seat belt.
Warmth stirs in my middle. He’s right. That bookshelf that I’d wanted so badly when I first met him? It’s mine now and ready to have its shelves filled.
Finally, I’m free and entering the place that holds one of the world’s greatest treasures—books, books, and more books. God, it smells delicious in here! Tugging his hand, I head towards the romance section. “This way.”
“Oh, no.” He pulls back, wearing a curious look. “I’ve got to get some books of my own, and they’re not gonna be over here.”
“Oh.” And just like that, joy leaks out of me like a deflated balloon. I kinda wanted him with me so we could look together.
“Hey.” He drops a kiss to my forehead. “Get all the ones you want. I’ll come find you soon.”
All of them? He’ll regret that offer. “So, you mean about five?”
His thick lashes hide his brown eyes as they lower down to match his frown. “I mean all of them you want. We’re not leaving here until you have at least twenty books.” With a laugh at my floored expression, he gives me another kiss and a pat on the butt. “I mean it. Go on, now.”
Okay, then. Twenty books, it is. Deciding to let Connor do whatever he’s gonna do, I grab a basket and browse. Aliens are on the menu, for sure. Gray warrior aliens with knotting peens that swell inside their mates and lock them together? Yep.
Taboo stepbrother? Oh, yes.
Guardian fighting his feelings and falling for his ward? Heck, yes.
Captive and captor? Double heck yes!
Thirty minutes later, I’ve got two baskets fully loaded up with books.
Hmm. I eye them dubiously. They’re too heavy for me to awkwardly drag to the checkout, so I’d better go find Connor. I could text him, but I’d rather walk around in case something piques my interest. I push the baskets somewhat out of the way and bid a bittersweet farewell to the romance section.
He’s not in the mystery, thriller, or horror section. Nor is he in the biographies or history. Definitely doesn’t seem like the type of guy to read inspirational fiction, but I check there anyway.
Not there. Where could he be? Just as my fingers reach for my phone, I see him. Or the back of his head, rather. And he’s in the section for young readers—for the littlest of young readers—sitting on the floor with a stack of thin books beside him.
Is he...? Shaky steps bring me closer to him, and then my heart stutters in my chest, skipping beats before it finally settles back into rhythm. A rush of hormones and emotion explode from my brain, all telling me one thing—I do.
Idofreaking love this man. Tears collect in my eyes, my hands moving to cradle the curve of my belly as I watch Connor pick out books for our babies. Board books, soft books, shiny books...
All for our babies.
Hurriedly swiping at my unshed tears, I get myself together. He’s so engrossed in flipping through another small book that I easily sneak up behind him, the carpeted flooring muffling my footsteps. “Having fun?”
“Jesus!” His entire body jumps in surprise as he twists around to look up at me. “I didn’t hear you.”
Obviously. I gesture to the book that looks so out of place in his massive hands. “So, you were in the mood for some light reading, huh?” The tips of his ears turn red. Freaking adorable. No wonder he had that funny expression on his face earlier. “Come on, baby. Let’s go home.”
When we get to the house, I organize my books on my new shelf in our bedroom while Connor cooks one of my favorite lunches ever—rosemary chicken and sweet potatoes. Just like he did for me at my apartment.
With a final look at the pretty books sorted by author, my eyes lock onto the open closet, and I suddenly get the urge to tidy it up. In keeping with his terrible handwriting, his organizational skills here need a bit of work. The floor’s a bit messy there with our shoes all thrown together and a shopping bag in the back corner that has no business being there.
