her hands free. To do what, she didn’t know yet. “Ethan, what are you doing here?”
A small smile came to his face and she breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn’t angry. His eyes finally left her face and stared at her stomach. Cupping either side of her belly, his smile grew wider. “I needed to be with my wife and family.”
“It’s three in the morning.”
“I know. I’m feeling it.”
“Come on.” Jumping off the counter, she took his hand and they walked up the stairs to their bedroom side by side. He shut the door and stopped at the bed. Turning on the lights, her husband returned to her and bent down, taking a hold of her nightgown. She briefly closed her eyes while taking a steadying breath. He started to slowly pull the garment over her hips and then her protruding belly. She smiled at the soft groan that came from him as the fabric went over her breasts. Yep, he liked the larger breasts. She lifted her arms to assist and then he tossed the nightgown aside. He knelt down before her and kissed her belly. So many emotions went through her pregnant mind—joy, sadness, and … rightness. They may not have had the earlier months of this pregnancy together, but they had now.
“Get in bed,” he said, leading her over to her side. She did as he ordered and leaned back against the pillows and watched as her husband began to remove his clothes, starting with his tie, before continuing on to his dress shirt. His hands went to his waist and unfastened his pants, letting them fall to the ground, leaving him in only his boxers, and holy hell, was he beautiful.
“Did you leave right after the game?” she asked as the boxers fell to the ground too.
He nodded and climbed into bed next to her. “I felt compelled to be with you tonight. I had something important to say.”
“You’re pregnant too?” she joked. It was the first time that the elephant in the room had been actually addressed. Her eyes filled with tears as she watched the tears of joy fall from her husband’s eyes.
“No,” he said with a small laugh. He opened and closed his mouth as he attempted to get the words out. On an exhale, he spoke the words. “I’m so sorry, Mia.”
She caressed his hair, gazing into his eyes. “I know, Ethan. I am too.” She could have said more, but those three words were enough.
He moved to lay between her legs. “It’ll never happen again. I swear to you.”
“I trust you, Ethan.” And God! She meant it. She took the leap of faith and it felt so right.
“You sure you want me back?”
She chuckled softly. “Very sure.”
“Lay back,” he ordered. He cupped her belly with his two large hands and then rested his head gently on it. “Hi, baby. It’s Daddy,” he said. She told herself not to get emotional, but there was her husband, talking to the baby, tears falling from his eyes. She couldn’t stop the flow of her own. “I just wanted you to know how excited I am for you to be a part of my life. Your mommy made me the happiest man alive tonight when she told me about you.”
He kissed her belly and rested his head back down upon it. She couldn’t resist running her fingers through his hair, stroking it softly.
Home.
“Just one, right?”
She laughed. “Just one.”
“One,” he said, smiling at her belly. He sat up and pulled her so she was facing him. “How are you?”
“I’m good.”
“Your blood pressure?”
“Excellent so far.”
And she could tell that bit of news was a huge relief to him.
“Boy or girl?”
“We may be able to find out on Wednesday.”
He grinned at her use of “we” and she couldn’t wait for that appointment … to have him there for that. Though she was sure he’d probably ask a million questions, but she was completely fine with that. She’d have her husband by her side.
“You’re okay? Really okay?” The fear he felt crept into his voice. She grabbed his face and swallowed.
“Yes. I’m really okay. I feel great. Hungry all the damn time.”
A smile covered his face as tears fell from his eyes. She wiped them away and kissed his lips before leaning back and looking into his eyes and saying the words she’d been fighting for way too long. “I love you, Ethan.”
“I love you too, Mia.”
She couldn’t help kissing him again. They loved each other and