CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Kamden
M
y eyes crack open, and the first thing I feel is the warmth of her hand against my stomach… then lower. She’s gentle but purposeful, and when I glance down, Avery’s eyes are already on mine—bright, mischievous, and well-rested.
“Sunshine—” I groan, my voice still thick with sleep. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”
Her soft laugh brushes against my chest as she presses a kiss to my ribs. Her legs curl around mine, her belly resting lightly against me as she shifts closer. “Waking you up the best way I know how,” she murmurs, her voice a mix of teasing and need. “I’ve missed this—missed you . And now that I’m home, I don’t want to waste another second.”
Damn.
Every protective, possessive part of me flares to life. She’s home. She’s safe. And she’s in my arms. It hits me in waves—gratitude, hunger, love.
“You should be resting,” I say, even though my hands are already on her waist, guiding her closer.
“I’ve done nothing but rest,” she pouts, lips full and tempting, and for a second, I forget how to breathe. “I want to feel alive again, Kam. I want you .”
I’m done resisting. I slide my hand behind her neck, bringing her face close until our foreheads touch. “Sunshine, if you keep looking at me like that, you’re going to stay barefoot and pregnant forever.”
Her laugh is low and wicked, and the sparkle in her eye tells me she’s not opposed to the idea in the slightest.
“I could get used to that,” she whispers, running her fingers through my hair.
Her words hit me like a lightning strike—hot, direct, impossible to ignore. A surge of heat rushes through me, low and intense, catching me off guard. I’m stunned for half a second, trying to rein in my reaction before I embarrass myself like some teenage boy.
I kiss her then—slow and deep—letting everything I can’t say yet pour into it. We don’t rush. We savor. It’s not about hunger or release. It’s about coming back to life… together.
And then, while I’m distracted, she slides out of her shirt.
My breath catches. Her body has changed—fuller, rounder, more beautiful than ever. Her breasts rise and fall with each breath, soft and flushed, her skin catching the early morning light that spills across the bed. I swallow hard, the sight of her undoing every ounce of control I’m trying to hold onto.
Leaning in slowly, I brush my lips against hers in a featherlight kiss. “Are you sure?” I whisper, cupping her cheek. “I don’t want to push anything or hurt you.”
Her eyes shimmer, and she nods, her voice barely above a breath. “I’m perfect. The doctor said as long as I’m comfortable, it’s okay. I just want to be close to you… I’ve missed you so much.”
One hand slides into my hair, gently guiding me closer. Our lips meet again—this time deeper, slower. Like we’re rediscovering each other, matching the pace of our hearts. I savor her, every sigh and subtle shift, letting it center me.
I trail kisses from her mouth down to her jaw, then lower, until my lips find the soft skin of her neck. She lets out a quiet gasp, arching slightly into me as my hand finds her waist and draws her against me.
There’s urgency between us now, not from lust alone, but from longing. From all the days stolen from us. The quiet desperation to reclaim this closeness we were robbed of.
My hand glides along her curves, feeling the heat of her skin under my fingertips, while my forehead rests against hers. I take a deep breath, letting it ground me.
“I missed this,” I murmur. “I missed you. ”
Her lips lift into a soft smile, and she whispers, “Then take your time. We’ve got all morning.”
My lips meet hers, slow and hungry, like I’ve been starved of this exact taste—of her —for far too long. It’s everything I remember and more. Like rediscovering your favorite comfort, the one thing that makes the world quiet down and feel right again.
She whimpers softly, and it lights a fuse in my chest. I trail kisses along her jaw, then down her neck, zeroing in on that sweet spot just below her ear—the one that always makes her melt. The way her breath hitches confirms I still know her body like the back of my hand.
My hand slides down the curve of her side, slow and reverent, until it finds the roundness of her ass, cupping her gently. I pull her closer, guiding her body to rest more fully against my cock, feeling her warmth, her need. Her growing belly presses softly between us, and I adjust without hesitation, cradling her like she’s made of stardust.
“You okay?” I murmur, brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek, searching her eyes.
She nods, eyes glassy with emotion, fingers curling around the back of my neck. “I’m more than okay,” she breathes.
The way she looks at me—like I hung the moon—hits me square in the soul.
I lean in again, lips brushing hers as my heart pounds against my ribs. “I’m right here, Sunshine.”
And in this moment, nothing else matters but her.
I tighten my grip on her ass, using the hold to guide her over the length of my cock. The friction is delicious—just the right pressure to have her breath hitching. Her body responds instinctively, undulating against me like a tide pulled by the moon.
She’s warm, soft, and goddamn perfect.
Then I lean in, lips parting around one of her peaked nipples, and suck gently—drawing the tight bud into my mouth while swirling my tongue over it. The combination of touch, heat, and pressure has her crying out in seconds.
“Yes!” she shouts, voice drenched in pleasure.
Her body trembles as she rides the high, and I hold her steady through every ripple of it, worshiping her the only way I know how. When the waves finally calm, she exhales, sinking against me with a wide, blissed-out smile that knocks the air right out of my lungs.
“Damn, baby,” I whisper, brushing a kiss over the swell of her breast, then up to her jaw.
She giggles, breath still uneven as she keeps gliding over me, slower now. “Super sensitive,” she mutters with a teasing pout, but the way her body presses against mine says she’s far from done.
And neither am I.
My lips press against hers, slow and deliberate, savoring the taste I’ve craved for months. She melts into me, her fingers threading into my hair, grounding us both in this moment that feels almost too good to be real. When I trail kisses down her neck, she sighs, arching slightly—already sensitive, already needing.
Sliding my hand down her side, I grip her hip and guide her gently over my arousal, just enough pressure to make her gasp and grind. Her soft moans are like a balm, easing the ache I’ve been carrying since the day we lost her.
I pull back, sitting up just enough to hook my hands behind her knees and draw her down toward me. Her belly rounds between us, the physical proof of the miracle she carried through hell. I brush my lips across the curve just above her belly button. “You keeping our little one safe in there, Mama?”
Her breath hitches as she nods, eyes glassy and full of emotion. She threads her fingers through my hair again, gentler this time, like she doesn’t want to let go.
Carefully, I peel away the last of her clothes, drinking in the sight of her. She shifts under the intensity of my gaze, self-conscious, maybe uncertain. But to me? She’s breathtaking.
“Don’t hide from me, baby,” I murmur, cupping her knees and guiding her back down between my legs. “You’re everything.”
Her laugh breaks through the thick emotion in the air. “Even now?”
I kiss her inner thigh. “Especially now.”
Her body relaxes under my hands, her trust written in every slow exhale. I lower myself over her, wrapping her in warmth, safety, and the kind of love that doesn’t ask for anything but everything at once.
We’re completely tangled up from where we started—Jaxton’s feet hanging off one side of the bed, Liam's draped over the other. The twins are definitely awake. I can feel their energy, quiet but present, giving us space for this moment. It doesn’t surprise me. They’ve always respected connection when it matters.
Jaxton, on the other hand, sleeps like the dead. He probably won’t budge for a while.
Avery shifts under me, her body warm and relaxed, but the second my hand trails lower—slow, reverent—her breath catches. She’s beautiful like this: vulnerable, safe, glowing with the kind of softness that only comes from trust.
I press a tender kiss to the curve of her belly, just above where my hand rests, and feel her shiver beneath me—not from fear, but from need. Her skin hums with electricity, every breath hitching as I trail my mouth lower. Each kiss is slower, more intentional, like I’m spelling promises across her body. The tension coils tight between us, a fuse lit and burning fast.
“Kam…” she whispers, her voice low and filled with heat. Her fingers drift into my hair, curling gently.
“I’ve missed you,” I say, trailing my lips lower. “Every inch of you.”
She’s spread out before me like a gift I never want to stop unwrapping. And right now, I plan to savor her—slow and sweet—until every memory of pain is replaced by nothing but pleasure.
As my tongue glides down her slick center, she hums in pure appreciation, her fingers tightening in the sheets. “Damn, baby,” I murmur against her heat, voice thick with hunger. “You’re dripping for me.” When I glance up, her eyes are molten, blazing with need and amusement. “Not into the whole daddy thing, huh? But you sure love it when I talk filthy.”
"Kam, fuck me. Don’t make me beg."
“But you beg so damn pretty, baby.”
She nods eagerly, a soft, needy hum slipping past her lips as she squirms lower on the bed, desperate to close the distance and press her body flush against mine.
My briefs are still on—because the second I feel her skin against mine, it might be game over. When I finally shimmy out of them, I’m already lining myself up, heart pounding like a drum.
“Still okay without a condom, baby?” I ask, voice low and thick with need.
“Yes,” she breathes, almost incoherent with desire. Her hands flail for something to hold onto before finally twisting into the comforter, knuckles white, body ready.
Reaching between us, I guide my cock through her slick warmth, savoring the anticipation building between us. “If anything feels uncomfortable, you need to tell me, alright?” My voice is firm—not because I doubt her, but because I won’t take any chances with her or the baby.
She gives a shaky nod, her fingers fisting the sheets, eyes locked on mine and full of trust.
“Words, Sunshine,” I remind her gently, brushing her hair from her face. “I need to hear you say it.”
“Yes,” she breathes, voice trembling with need. “I’m good. I want this… I want you.”
That’s all I need to hear.
With careful hands, I lift her hips slightly, sliding a pillow underneath for support. Her body molds to mine like it was made for this—for us—and I ease forward slowly, holding her gaze the entire time.
“Perfect,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to her temple, my dick weeping as I notch myself at her entrance. “Ready?” Before she answers, I sink to the hilt. “ Fuck , baby. You’re so fucking tight.” My hands trail down her thighs, gripping her hips tightly, as I surge forward again and again.
“ Yes! Yes! ” Her chants get louder with each breath. “Harder! Harder!”
“Jesus, baby. I missed you. Fuck, I love you. I love you so much.” Lost in undulations, confessions come easily. “You’re never leaving my sight again. We’re moving in with you. You’re going to marry us.” Reaching between us, my thumb glides through her wetness until I press down hard. “Answer me, Sunshine. Say you agree.” I order, increasing the pressure.
She’s locking down like a vice, seconds from detonating. “Yes. Yes, please.” She begs for my approval.
“Good, girl.” I groan, slipping through her tightness, hitting the end of her, and come. “ Fuck! ” Pinching her clit, she screams another release, milking every drop I have to give her. “Shit… if you weren’t already pregnant, you would be now.”
She playfully swats at my chest, laughter spilling from her lips as I lean in to steal a kiss. “You’re absolutely ridiculous,” she says, though the smile tugging at her mouth tells me she loves every second of it.
Liam stretches lazily from the other side of the bed, a smug grin on his face as he props himself up on one elbow. “That was one hell of a morning show, Bee,” he says, voice thick with appreciation and heat. “Gotta say… I could get used to waking up like that.”
Lennox chuckles beside him, already reaching out to trace lazy circles along her hip. “You okay, Honeybee?”
Their concern is genuine, and I love them for it. We might all be vibrating with energy and desire, but none of us would ever put our pleasure over her comfort.
Avery’s cheeks are flushed, her body relaxed and glowing in the aftermath. She looks like every dream I’ve ever had wrapped in soft skin and messy hair. She stretches beneath me, a satisfied little hum slipping from her lips as her eyes flick between us.
“Overwhelmed?” I ask softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Because we’re good just holding you too. Whatever you need, we’re here for it.”
Her smile is slow, sleepy, and full of mischief. “I’m not overwhelmed,” she says, voice low and teasing. “I’m insatiable.”
Lennox groans, and Liam laughs like he’s just won the lottery.
“Careful what you wish for, baby,” I murmur against her ear. “We’ve got all day.”
We do, in fact, spend most of the morning tangled between the sheets—wrapped up in each other and in her, the love of our lives. Every kiss, every touch, every whispered word is a declaration of just how much she means to us. It’s not about sex, not entirely. It’s about showing her—proving to her—that she’s safe, cherished, worshipped.
We take our time. No rushing, no pressure. Just connection.
The twins are next. Lennox and Liam have always had their own rhythm, their own way of syncing up without needing words. Watching them with her, seeing the way she melts beneath their shared affection, is a kind of magic I never get tired of. They switch between teasing and tenderness with ease, touching her in ways only they know. Apart or together, they know how to unravel her and stitch her back up with nothing but their hands and hearts.
Eventually, Jaxton wakes up—grumbling, of course. We toss a few jokes his way about sleeping through a marathon-level morning, but the second his eyes land on her, all that bravado melts. His touch is different than ours—more reverent, like he’s seeing her for the first time again. The way he worships her body is slow and soft, and she returns it tenfold, guiding him with featherlight hands and lips full of love. They don’t need to speak for us to see what they’re saying to each other.
When she finally curls up next to him, spent and glowing, a peaceful silence settles over the room. A short nap follows—one we all join in on, limbs draped over each other like we’re afraid to let her out of our reach. By the time lunchtime rolls around, the day feels like something out of a dream. Sunlight spills across the bed, laughter drifts from the kitchen, and she’s right here in the center of it all.
Exactly where she belongs.
Laughter floats between bites as we pass plates, all of us making sure Avery has more food options than a buffet line. I’ve whipped up a spread—protein, carbs, fresh fruit, comfort food—and every single dish is placed with care in front of her like an offering to a queen. Because that’s exactly what she is. Our queen. Our everything.
She hums in appreciation, sampling a few things while propped up between me and Jaxton. It’s the first time I’ve seen that kind of ease in her shoulders, and I want to bottle it.
The conversation shifts to her cravings—how they’ve changed, what she misses most—and Jaxton’s voice softens as he sets down his fork. “I’m sorry we weren’t there when you found out you were pregnant,” he says, his tone raw and full of regret. “I always pictured us finding out together. Being there from the start. And it kills me that we weren’t.” Her expression softens, eyes glimmering with emotion, but before she can speak, he adds, “The only way we can make it right is by making sure we’re there for all the others.”
Avery blinks. “All the others?” Her voice carries a mix of amusement and disbelief.
Jaxton smirks, that arrogant, playful glint flashing in his eyes—the one we all seem to mirror because, yeah, we’ve had this conversation more than once. “You didn’t think this was the only baby we were fucking into you, did you?”
Liam chuckles, nudging her gently. “Oh, Bee, we’re talking big family. Loud holidays. Matching pajamas. Chaos. All of it.”
Her eyes widen, then roll as she shakes her head with a laugh. “You guys are insane.”
“Insanely in love with you,” Lennox chimes in with a wink, reaching across to steal a piece of fruit from her plate. “And ready to make up for lost time.”
“Alright, alright,” I cut in before we derail the moment completely, sliding a plate in front of her with a little bit of everything on it. “Less talk about future babies, more focus on feeding the one that’s already cooking in there.”
She snorts a laugh, but the way she leans into my shoulder tells me she’s soaking up every second of this. Of us. And I swear right then, I’ll make sure she never goes another day without knowing how deeply she’s loved.