Right Next Door - A.J. Pryor Page 0,111
hand.
“Is she gone?” Addison is peering around the corner.
“You left me on purpose, didn’t you?” I ask as I begin to walk in her direction.
She shrugs and starts walking backwards. “I had to pee really badly,” pointing down at her beautiful round belly; she looks me in the eyes. “Your daughter likes to sit on my bladder.”
Shaking my head, I begin to move quicker in her direction. She’s laughing, and picks up her pace. There’s no way she can outrun me. When I’m right in front of her, I pull her into my arms, my hand resting against her belly and my heart soaring knowing the little girl in there is one we created together, a piece of each of us.
I run my nose along her jaw, her scent surrounding me, the feel of her in my arms never losing its effect on my body.
“We’re alone,” I point out.
She nods.
Leaning down I gently kiss her.
“It’s hard to find alone time when ten people live in this house,” I say.
“What are you suggesting, Damian?” Her hands run through my hair and gently scratch my scalp. Like clockwork, I shiver and close my eyes, feeling the need to be inside her and needing it soon.
Lowering my lips to her ear, I whisper, “Would you rather christen my childhood bed, or the shower?”
Her green eyes meet mine. “Bed,” she whispers.
I begin to walk her towards the stairs.
“Would you rather I rub your feet, or your back?” I ask as I lead her up each step.
“Start at my feet and move . . . up.”
We get to the door of my bedroom, and I stare deeply into her eyes, my heart quickening, and my body lighting up. Leaning down I kiss her before we enter the room. She wraps her arms around me and meets my lips. A small moan escapes her mouth and something moves against my stomach. I run my hands down the sides of her body and rest them on her swollen belly, feeling my daughter . . . our daughter do a slight dance inside her mother.
I lower myself to the floor before her and lift her shirt, gently kissing where our daughter is comfortably growing. Looking up into Addison’s adoring eyes, I do what I should have twelve months ago.
“Love me forever, Addison. Marry me.”
Her eyes widen, and her breath catches. She bends down and throws her arms around me. “Yes Damian. Yes, of course I’ll marry you. There’s nothing else in this world I’d rather do.”
Read other books by A. J. Pryor
Right Next Door was all over the place until I got it in the hands of my editor Chelsea Kuhel. Thank you for all your suggestions, your commitment to making this story the best it could be and for the numerous re-reads I made you endure. The weeks of synopsis writing - why is that so hard? I loved every second of working with you.
My beta team is amazing! Claire from Bare Naked Words, Marion from Making Manuscripts, Coral, Debra, Denise, Donna, Erica, Erica, Meg, Stephanie and Tammy, thank you for always telling me when I can do better and for sometimes reading multiple versions of the same story. You guys rock and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all of you.
Thank you, Emily Hansen, for your beta comments, your synopsis help and all of your advice. I hope one day we get to meet in person and I can’t wait to read your work.
Jenny, you live too far away and I wish you’d come back to California, but I love you anyway. Thank you for always taking a last look for me. You put my mind at ease.
Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations for always creating a cover I love. I’m picky and never know what I’m looking for, but you never fail to get it right. Thank you.
Nazarea at InkSlinger PR for helping me spread the word. Your advice and hard work are forever appreciated.
Emily at E.M. Tippetts book designs for formatting this exactly the way I wanted. Thank you!
Mom, Dad, and Aunt Kate, thank you for always supporting me! Love you guys.
And of course my amazing husband and our beautiful children for allowing me to pursue this passion and always supporting me. Love you.
A.J. Pryor lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two daughters. After realizing she preferred reading over cooking and cleaning, A.J. decided to try and make a career out of her passion and started writing. Three novels later and her fingers won’t stop tapping away at the keys.
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