buzzing between us.
Did I fly to New York, hoping for a friendly welcome? Hell, yes.
But I didn’t expect this outcome, and obviously would have never forced it, so it still seems jarring. But in the best possible way.
It doesn't take us long to get to our destination, and I hold open the hotel room door for Harper to walk through.
She whistles. "This is a nice place."
I shrug. "It was close to the doctor."
She gives me a weird look I can't decipher before she looks around the room. It’s a standard suite. Bed, dresser, a small table with two chairs, a couch. Her gaze lingers on the massive bed for a second longer before snapping back to me.
Then she walks to the bed and sits at the end of it, her feet dangling in the air, crossed at the ankles. She tilts her head to the side and stares at me, a soft smile lifting the corners of her beautiful mouth. I could get lost in that mouth.
But wait, isn't there something we’re supposed to do?
Oh shit, her surprise.
“Sorry, one second.” I rush to my bag and pull out the box I packed, holding it in my hand while I walk over to her.
I stop in front of her, my legs lightly brushing against hers, and hold up the box. Her eyes are fixed on my face, going back and forth between my eyes and my mouth.
I bite my cheek to keep from laughing. “You don’t want it?”
“What?”
If I didn’t know better, I’d say she’s in a trance.
I take a step closer, pressing my legs harder against hers.
“Harper?”
“Mmmm?” She leans my way as if she doesn’t have another choice. As if my pull on her is as strong as the one I’m feeling from her.
I lift the box between our bodies and hold it right in front of her face. “Your surprise.”
“Oh.” She blinks a few times before pulling back, sitting up straight. Looking at my hand, she smiles. “Let me see.”
I place the box into her waiting hand and she opens it, sighing heavily as she pulls back the tissue paper. “Look at this. How adorable.” She looks at me with shiny eyes before pulling out one thing after another.
Pregnancy fruit comparison stickers you can stick on your belly for weekly photos. There was no way I could pass on those. A T-shirt for Harper that says It’s the little things in life with a heart and a matching onesie that says little thing. And a necklace with two connected circles. The card it’s attached to says Being a mama means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life, no matter what.
Silent tears stream down Harper’s face, and I sit next to her to wipe them away with my thumbs. “Happy tears?”
She nods and laughs-sniffles. “Thank you so much. I love it.”
“Welcome.” I don’t want to leave her, not even for a second, but I get up and get the tissue box from the nightstand for her.
After taking care of her tears, she places everything back in the box and puts it on the table. When she comes back to me, she doesn’t sit back down on the bed though. Instead, she stands in front of me. I open my legs and she wiggles her way between them.
Keeping her hands by her sides, she looks at me, her eyes and nose both still slightly red. “That was the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given to me. Thank you.”
No smile, no laughter.
All I want to do is wrap my hands around her long hair and pull her down for a scorching kiss.
“It’s nothing.”
She pushes closer. “To me, it is. I love every single piece.”
“I’m glad.” Pride fills my chest that I did right by her.
“Did you get it all yourself?”
I tip my head left and right. “Google helped.”
At that, she laughs, exposing her neck to me. The sound makes me reckless and I touch her throat, trailing one finger from the curve of her jaw all the way down to the top of her shirt.
She watches me, her pupils dilating as she closes the remaining distance between us. Her hands rake through my hair before tugging on the short hair at the base of my neck. “I want you so badly.”
Her words are a soft whisper against my chin, right before she moves away to bite my earlobe.
“Fuck.” I pull her close to me, squeezing her ass cheeks, because I’m helpless around her. “I don’t want