Chapter twenty-four #3
I keep one arm secured tightly over my robe, not ready to expose myself just yet. Shane comes up behind me and pulls my thumb away from my teeth. “You look beautiful, Angel. You have nothing to worry about.” His hands trail down to the front of my robe as he slowly begins to pull it open.
“You’re creating a life, Aubrey. Embrace it.
Be proud to show off our little girl. And know that I’ve never found you more beautiful than you are right now.
” He kisses my shoulder as I nod, letting him remove it completely.
He then turns me to face him, looking me up and down.
“Perfection,” he whispers, and his praises slowly ease my mind.
Shane picks up a bottle of sunscreen and squirts a generous amount into his hand.
He starts at my neck, massaging it at the same time as he works his way over my shoulders, my chest, and down my arms. He squats down and does both my legs, then leans in and kisses my belly before standing back up, pouring more sunscreen into his hand to cover my stomach next.
“Turn around,” he instructs me and lathers my entire back, taking extra time to knead my butt until I giggle.
“Shane,” I warn him.
“I can’t help it,” he says seconds before I feel his teeth biting into my bikini bottom.
“Oh God, please don’t do that in front of me!” Greyson groans from the pool with Gracie in his arms, where he apparently has a clear view of Shane biting me.
Noah chuckles beside my brother, while Gabe gives Shane two thumbs up with a wide grin. He then bumps my brother from his other side with his shoulder. “This has got to be awkward for you.” He laughs. “But you do realize he’s done way worse than bite her behind, right?”
Grey glares at him. “Thanks for pointing it out, doofus.”
Shane stands from behind me, chuckling as he reaches at the back of his neck and pulls off his shirt. It has to be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen, the way his muscles strain as he does it. I swear, if I weren’t pregnant already, I’d probably be just by looking at him.
“Damn…” I hear Emma say in a hushed voice. I look over to find her now resting on her elbow with her sunglasses pulled down and checking out Shane.
“I was just thinking the same thing,” Ronnie tells her as she sits up to get a better look.
“How is it that Shane is in better shape than our men?” Em asks next as her eyes rack over my man some more.
I’m not a jealous person, certainly not when it comes to my friends.
I know how they are, and I was expecting these comments at some point.
But I also know they are loyal to a fault when it comes to their men, so we have nothing to worry about.
I’m also pretty used to women checking out Shane by now—he really is hot.
But all I care about is that at the end of the day, I’m the one who gets to take him home.
“He’s been working out twice as much now that I’m constantly feeding him sweets.” I giggle and pick up the sunscreen.
Pouring a big amount into my hand, I begin to rub it into his back first, massaging his right shoulder that was injured. Once I’m done with his back and legs, he turns to face me, and I pour more cream directly on his chest.
“Why am I suddenly jealous of baby Brey?” Em whispers.
“I’m right there with you girl,” Ronnie murmurs back.
I press my lips together, trying not to laugh as my face heats. When I look up at Shane, he’s gazing right back at me with his own blush that matches mine.
“It really is quite the sight.” Cecilia’s voice pulls my attention from the poolside.
“No! Uh-uh. You come back here.” Silas grabs her by the waist while holding his son with his other arm. “Turn around, Minnie. That view is not for your eyes. This is the only one you get to look at.”
Cecilia laughs as she kisses her husband. “Okay, Big Guy. Only you.”
Noah steps out of the water just as I’m finishing up Shane and marches over to Ronnie. “You’ve had enough too, Kitten,” he says before hoisting her up in the air and jumping into the pool with her as she shrieks.
Greyson raises a brow at Emma, and she points a finger at him quickly. “Don’t you dare, Wolf. If you want to keep those balls of yours, I suggest you stay in that water with our daughter.”
My brother shakes his head with a chuckle, then looks over at Shane. “See what I mean?”
Shane only laughs but doesn’t say anything. Clearly, they talked about stuff while they were together. I’m just happy they’re getting along.
Shane takes my hand and brings us over to the pool. We take the steps down into the cool water and walk farther in until it hits my chest. The sensation is strange now that my belly is bigger, but I do enjoy not feeling the extra weight.
I wrap my arms around Shane’s neck as his hands come to my waist and lift me up until my legs circle his hips. He holds me tight against him, my belly stuck between us and continues farther down the pool until the water reaches our shoulders.
His hand comes to my hair, fingers sliding through my wet strands as his eyes watch their movement. “Are you happy, Aubrey?”
I watch him for a moment, unsure where this question is coming from. But I don’t ask that, instead, I tell him the truth.
“I’ve never been happier, Shane.”
Then I seal my lips to his, proving to him just how happy I really am.