Page 137 of Grace

My heart skips a beat. I press my lips together. Chase stops beside us, casting a shadow over us.

“That’s a butterfly,” I whisper, looking into her eyes. She bites her pink lower lip with her tiny teeth. She’s beaming with happiness. I wipe a streak of saliva from her chin.

“You can’t keep it.”

“But it’s so pretty!”

“I know, honey. But…”

Chase joins us. He traces the line of my spine and gives me a look that tells me to let him handle it. I swallow the rest of my sentence and just watch as he holds his hands out in front of our daughter. Nikky places her small fists in his. They look at each other, and when my daughter opens her tiny palms, they’re empty.

“Make a wish.”

Nikky closes her eyes and makes a wish. The moment their gazes meet, a pleasant shiver runs through me. Chase smiles, and my heart nearly bursts. This man has us eating out of the palm of his hand. He sees right through us.

They nod. Chase opens his palms and lets the captured butterfly go. The insect pauses for a few seconds, gathering its strength, then slowly flutters away. Nikky starts after it again, stumbling on her little legs, but she doesn’t want to catch it this time. She just chases it so it can carry her wishes.

“What did she wish for now?”

“Another baby.”

“And what do I wish for?”

Chase leans down, smiling, and kisses me. His lips are like balm; they taste like sunlight.

“How are you doing it?”

“Doing what?” he asks, wrapping his arms around me from behind. He traces small circles on my belly, resting his chin on my shoulder as we watch our daughter. She’s lying on her stomach in the grass, hunting for interesting bugs.

“You know what I mean. How can you two understand each other without words?”

“I had a lot of practice. With you.”

“You always saw right through me.”

“You’re both wearing your desires on your sleeves.”

“I get how you understand her. But how does she understand you?”

“I think there are things in life that can’t be explained.”

“Then I don’t have to explain to you how much I’m looking forward to her afternoon nap.”

Chase sweeps my hair off my neck and presses his lips to the most sensitive spot. My breasts grow heavy, and my womb contracts with aching desire.

“No,” he whispers into my ear in his deep, resonant voice. “Can you figure out what I want?”

I nod, smiling.

“Honey.”

“Yes,” he agrees, and grabs my breast. Thankfully, our daughter isn’t watching. “I want you to come on my lips.”

Pleasure shudders flashes through me. The place between my legs is throbbing gently.

“You could wear her out,” I whisper, drunk with desire.

“Or you could live your desires out in the open.”