The Hotel Room: His Broken Vows

Chapter Thirty-Two - Kate

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Kate

The bed was warm, the kind of warm that lured her body into stillness even when her mind refused to follow. Kate lay on her side, one hand supporting the small but noticeable curve of her belly, the other tucked under her pillow. The sheets were soft against her skin, and behind her, James’s body molded perfectly to hers, his arm resting lightly over her waist.

He shifted slightly, pressing closer as his hand adjusted to cradle the curve of her belly. His touch was gentle but grounding, the way it had been every night since they’d started sharing the bed again.

“Comfortable?” he murmured against her hair.

“Mm-hmm,” Kate murmured back, though the ache in her lower back told her otherwise. Still, his warmth was enough to dull the worst of it.

They settled into the quiet rhythm of each other’s breathing, and Kate felt her eyelids grow heavier. Her eyes snapped open as she registered the firm, unmistakable press of his erection against her lower back.

She stiffened slightly, unsure of how to react. After everything—everything—they’d been through, it surprised her that he could even... want her like that.

“James,” she said quietly, not moving.

“Hmm?” His voice was soft, half-asleep.

“Are you...?” She hesitated, her cheeks burning. “Is that...?”

There was a pause before he exhaled deeply. “Ignore it,” he muttered, his voice rough with embarrassment.

Kate turned her head just enough to glance back at him. “James,” she said again, a little more firmly.

“It’s nothing,” he insisted, his hand shifting slightly on her belly. “Just...you know. Ignore it.”

She frowned, still baffled. “How can you...I mean, look at me. I’m four months pregnant, James. This—” she gestured vaguely at herself, “—is not exactly sexy.”

James pulled back just enough to tilt her face toward him, his hand gentle but firm. His dark eyes met hers, warm and unwavering.

“You’re wrong,” he said simply, his voice low and steady.

Kate blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“You’re wrong,” he repeated. His hand slid from her face to rest lightly on her shoulder, his thumb brushing against her collarbone. “You think you’re not sexy? Because you’re carrying my child? That’s the sexiest thing in the world to me, Kate.”

Her lips parted in surprise, but he wasn’t finished.

“You’re beautiful,” he said, his gaze intense. “You’ve always been beautiful. But seeing you like this—knowing our baby is growing inside you—” He stopped, his voice catching slightly before he continued. “It’s...it’s incredible. It’s everything.”

Kate stared at him, her heart thudding heavily in her chest. She wanted to argue, to deflect, but his words left no room for doubt.

“James—”

“No,” he interrupted softly, shaking his head. “You don’t get to argue with me on this. You’re beautiful, Kate. Sexy as hell. And if you think for one second that I don’t want you because you’re pregnant, you’re dead wrong.”

Her cheeks flushed, the sincerity in his voice making her throat tighten.

“I don’t feel sexy,” she admitted quietly, her fingers curling around the edge of the sheet.

He smiled faintly, his hand sliding down to rest over hers. “You don’t have to feel it,” he said. “But it doesn’t make it any less true.”

She turned back onto her side, feeling his warmth envelop her once more as he settled behind her. His hand found its place on her belly again, protective and gentle.

“Go to sleep,” he murmured softly.

Kate shifted slightly, adjusting her position, but in doing so, her hips pressed back against him. James’s sharp intake of breath was unmistakable, and a low groan escaped him, warm against the back of her neck.

“Kate,” he murmured, his voice rough and half a warning. “Do you have to tease me like this?”

A small smile played on her lips, even as her cheeks flushed. “Yes,” she said simply, pushing back again with just enough pressure to make him groan louder.

He buried his face against her neck, his breath hot and uneven. “You’re cruel,” he muttered, though the faint laugh in his voice betrayed him.

They both knew it wasn’t leading to anything—not tonight, not when she was so obviously tired—but that didn’t stop her from enjoying the moment. The physical proof that her husband still found her sexy, even when she didn’t feel it herself.

James’s hand tightened gently on her belly, his thumb brushing against her skin as if to anchor himself. “You’re going to drive me insane,” he murmured, his lips brushing lightly against her shoulder.

Kate smiled, a flicker of mischief sparking through her exhaustion. “Good,” she replied softly.

James exhaled a laugh, low and breathless. “I might not be too tired, but you need the rest,” he said firmly, though his voice had softened.

She hummed, a hint of teasing in her tone. “You’re so noble,” she whispered.

He pressed a kiss to the back of her neck, lingering there for a moment before speaking again. “When you want me,” he said quietly, his voice low and full of promise, “I’ll be right here. I’ll give you all the pleasure you want.”

His words sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt the flush creep higher into her cheeks.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she murmured. She leaned into his warmth as her body relaxed further against his tense one.

James sighed, the sound more content than frustrated now. He pressed one last kiss to her shoulder. “Goodnight, Kate,” he whispered, his voice filled with love.

And this time, when Kate drifted off to sleep, it was with the comfort of knowing she was desired by her husband.

══════════════════

The soft hum of the waiting room was broken only by the occasional rustle of magazines and the murmur of nurses calling names. Kate shifted slightly in her chair, the pressure in her lower back nagging as the pregnancy continued to make its presence known.

Beside her, James sat with his hands resting on his knees, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp, constantly flicking toward her. She could feel his attentiveness like a steady warmth, a presence that had grown over the past months as he tried—really tried—to show up for her and their family.

“You okay?” he asked softly, his voice low enough not to disturb the quiet around them.

She nodded, offering a faint smile. “Just the usual—back pain, restless legs. The glamorous stuff.”

James chuckled lightly, the sound genuine, and it softened something inside her. “You’re handling it better than I would,” he said.

She laughed. That was true. “You’d be complaining constantly if it were you.”

He grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “I’m a wimp with back pain.”

Before she could respond, the nurse called her name. James stood immediately, helping her stand. His hand rested lightly on her lower back as they made their way to the exam room.

Inside, the familiar routine unfolded—the blood pressure cuff, the measurements, the steady rhythm of medical questions. But Kate’s focus shifted to the screen as the ultrasound machine was wheeled closer.

“Everything’s looking great so far,” the doctor said cheerfully. “How are you feeling, Kate?”

“Tired,” she admitted, glancing at James. “But otherwise good.”

The doctor nodded, turning her attention to the ultrasound. “Let’s have a look at this little one, shall we?”

As the cool gel was spread across Kate’s belly, she reached instinctively for James’s hand. He took it without hesitation, his thumb brushing gently against her knuckles.

The screen flickered to life, and there it was—the familiar, grainy image of their baby, moving ever so slightly. Kate’s breath caught, and she felt James’s grip tighten on hers.

“Everything’s developing beautifully,” the doctor said, pointing out the baby’s heartbeat, the tiny limbs. “And you’re right on track for your due date.”

Kate exhaled slowly, relief washing over her. James leaned slightly closer, his gaze fixed on the screen, his expression soft with wonder.

“Do you want to know the sex of the baby?” the doctor asked, glancing between them.

Kate hesitated, looking up at James. His eyes met hers, and for a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the room.

“I don’t know,” Kate said softly. “Do we?”

James thought for a moment, his gaze searching hers. “Do you want to know?”

She shook her head slowly. “I think I’d rather be surprised. We didn’t find out with Noah or Lily, and…I don’t know. It feels right to wait.”

James smiled, a genuine warmth lighting up his face. “Then we wait,” he said simply.

Kate turned back to the doctor. “We’ll wait,” she confirmed.

The doctor nodded, making a note in the chart. “Alright, then. A surprise it is.”

As the appointment wrapped up and they stepped back into the bright sunlight outside, Kate felt lighter. James’s hand lingered at the small of her back as they walked to the car, and she didn’t pull away.

“Thank you,” she said quietly as he opened the passenger door for her.

“For what?” he asked, pausing.

“For being here.”

James’s eyes softened, and he leaned down slightly, his voice low. “It’s where I want to be, Kate. Always.”

══════════════════

The guest room bed had already been dismantled, its frame leaning against the hallway wall, and boxes were stacked haphazardly in the corner. Lily stood in the middle of the room, hands on her hips, surveying the space with the exaggerated seriousness of someone twice her age.

“This is where the crib should go,” Lily declared, pointing to the far wall. “And maybe we can hang stars on the ceiling? Like glow-in-the-dark ones?”

Kate smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she folded the bedding that had been stripped from the mattress earlier. “That’s a good idea, Lils. I think your little brother or sister would like that.”

Lily beamed, clearly pleased with herself, before turning to the stack of paint samples spread across the floor. She crouched down, sifting through the colors with an intensity that made Kate laugh softly.

“Definitely this one,” Lily said, holding up a swatch of soft, buttery yellow. “It’s happy.”

Kate reached for the swatch. “I think you’re right. It’s perfect.”

The sound of footsteps behind them made Kate glance over her shoulder. James stood in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame, his tie loosened and his sleeves rolled up. He smiled as he took in the scene, his gaze softening when it landed on Lily.

“What are my two girls up to?” he asked, stepping into the room.

“We’re turning this boring old room into the best nursery ever,” Lily said proudly, holding up the paint swatch for his inspection. “Do you like it?”

James knelt beside her, taking the swatch and pretending to scrutinize it with exaggerated seriousness. “Hmm…yep. This one’s a winner. You’ve got good taste, Lils.”

Lily giggled, clearly delighted by the praise.

Kate watched them, her heart aching in that complicated way it often did these days. Moments like this reminded her why she had fallen in love with him all those years ago.

He caught her gaze and smiled softly, as if sensing her thoughts. “Need an extra set of hands?” he asked, looking between her and Lily.

Kate raised an eyebrow. “You volunteering?”

“Of course,” he said, standing and rolling his shoulders as if gearing up for a major project. “What’s the plan?”

“We need to move those boxes to the garage,” Kate said, nodding toward the stack in the corner. “And then we can start painting.”

“On it,” James said, striding toward the boxes.

Lily followed him, chattering about her ideas for the room as he picked up the first box. He listened attentively, nodding along and asking questions that made her beam with excitement.

Watching them, Kate felt a pang of something bittersweet. They looked so natural together, so in sync. Despite everything, he was still her kids’ dad. It was hard to reconcile the man who had betrayed her with the man who was so good with their children.

Lily darted back to Kate’s side, her face flushed with excitement. “Mom, can I help paint the walls? Please?”

Kate smiled, brushing a hand over Lily’s hair. “Of course you can. But no climbing ladders.”

Lily groaned. “Fine. But you’re not allowed on the ladder either.”

James returned, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement. “Bossy, isn’t she?” he said to Kate, winking at Lily to take the sting out of the comment.

Kate rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched into a smile despite herself. “She gets it from her dad.”

“Guilty,” James said with a laugh, grabbing another box.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a flurry of activity. By the time they finished clearing the room and prepping the walls for paint, Lily was leaning against James’s side, past ready for bedtime but still clutching the paint swatch in her hand.

“You’re such a big help, Lils,” James said softly, brushing a kiss over her hair.

Kate watched as James took Lily down the hall to her room. When he returned, his expression was softer, quieter, as if the weight of the day had settled over him.

“Thanks for helping today,” Kate said, her voice tentative.

He stepped closer, his hand resting lightly on the doorframe. “Anything for you. For both of you. And the baby.”

She nodded, her gaze dropping to the empty room. It was easier to focus on the nursery than on the tangled emotions she still hadn’t fully untangled.

“We’ll make it work,” James said, his voice steady. “Whatever you want, Kate, we’ll do it.”

She glanced up at him, her lips parting slightly in surprise. He looked at her like he meant it—like he’d do anything to make this right.

Kate’s throat tightened, and she turned back to the room, her hands smoothing over her belly. “Yeah,” she said softly. “We will.”