30. Locke
LOCKE
Iheld Isla’s hand as we walked through the front door of the Deerhound, and it truly felt like coming home. I took a deep breath, letting reality settle into my bones. I was where I belonged, with the people I adored and the family I loved.
Isla locked the door behind us, giving me a soft smile, and I stroked her cheek, reveling in the feel of her skin, in the fact that I could touch her again, hold her, whisper sweet things against the top of her head.
“What is it?” she giggled.
“Nothing,” I said. “I’m just happy.” I knew there was still work to do to repair the damage I’d done, to prove that she could trust me beyond a doubt, but showing up and committing to stay was the first step. And I planned to do that every day for the rest of my life.
We shed and hung up our coats and other outerwear, then she took my hand and pulled me further into the lobby.
I planned on holding her for the rest of the day, but as soon as he caught wind of us, Ranger launched himself off the couch, and I needed both hands to brace myself against his weight.
He barked excitedly as he pounced at me, getting up on his hind legs for maximum reach.
“Ranger, down,” Isla said, laughing. He sat obediently, looking up at me, tongue lolling out of his mouth as he panted heavily. The last time I’d seen him this excited, I was trying to wrangle him down the slide at the playground.
“Hey, buddy.” I crouched to give him a good scratch behind the ears. Ranger barked again, tail wagging so fast it dusted the magazines from the edge of the coffee table.
“He’s missed you,” Isla said. I leaned against her leg to help me balance, and she feathered her hands through my hair.
“He’s missed waking me up at the crack of dawn to go for a wee,” I countered.
Isla chuckled. “That’s your bonding time.”
I got to my feet after a few moments, and Ranger took himself back to the couch, flopping down with a contented huff.
“It always amazes me how quickly he falls asleep,” Isla noted.
I wound my arm around her shoulders. “He’s going to need those skills once the baby comes. We’ll be up and down all night, and he’ll probably be confused.”
“Ranger, do you know you’re going to be a big brother?” Isla said to him.
He woofed softly.
“This is why your bonding time is so important,” she said, patting my arm. “We’re going to need to give him extra attention so he doesn’t get jealous of the baby. Speaking of the baby,” she continued, catching her lip between her teeth, “do you want to see the nursery?”
“Do I want—Of course I want to see it!” I said, catching her face between my hands and pecking her on the lips. “I’m so excited to see what you’ve done.”
She beamed up at me like she still couldn’t believe I was actually here.
“Okay, but no judging. It’s still a work in progress.
” She tugged me across the lobby and down the hall.
We walked past her room to a door I’d never been through before.
She turned the knob slowly at first, then all at once. “Ta-da!”
I stepped inside, and my jaw dropped. My eyes flicked from the incredible foliage painted along the walls, to the plush blue carpet that had been rolled out along the middle of the floor like a small pond, to the various pieces of furniture with lovely dark wood stains that were covered in an assortment of stuffed animals.
“What do you mean a work in progress?” I said, turning in a slow circle. “It looks amazing in here.”
“I went with a forest-y theme, as you can see,” she said, drumming her fingers against her chin.
“I wanted it to be more than just blue, you know? I mean, I know we’re having a boy, but I also wanted it to feel a little fun and creative.
Something he could grow with for a while.
And I wanted to bring a bit of my mom to the room.
” She gestured to the far wall which was very reminiscent of one of Aileen’s landscape paintings.
“It’s not perfect, but…” She trailed off, glancing at me.
“If you hate the theme, we can talk about changing some things up.”
“No, don’t change a single thing. It’s perfect. The walls look incredible. And to think you told me you couldn’t paint.”
Her lips twisted in amusement. “That’s what stencils are for. Plus, I had help from some of the ladies in town. And Cat! She spent forever helping me get the walls just right.”
A pang flared in my chest. I should have been here to help her with all of that. My face fell briefly, and she frowned, darting to my side.
“What’s wrong?”
I caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help you myself.”
“You’re here now,” she said, voice soft as she curled her hand against my cheek. I leaned into the touch. “And that’s all that matters. Plus, the room still needs some bits and bobs.” She turned, hand waving. “You know, the personal touches. Like building the crib.”
I noted the box leaning against the closet door and grinned at her.
Obviously, she hadn’t deliberately saved the task for me, but I was sure glad it had worked out that way.
My eyes caught on the collapsed mobile that was set on top of the dresser.
It was strung with an array of small woodland creatures. “Is that to hang over the crib?”
She nodded. “Jo gave it to me. Apparently, my mom made it for her when her first grandson was born. She wanted us to have it for the baby.”
“That’s really sweet,” I said, a little in awe as I walked over, inspecting the tiny animals more closely.
Each one looked hand-carved and painted.
I imagined Aileen working for days to make it.
Isla had probably been touched to receive a gift like that, and I wished I’d been here to see the look on her face.
“Feels a little like your mum is looking out for the baby, doesn’t it? ”
Isla’s breath caught. “Yeah, it really does.” She stepped closer and wound her arms around my waist, pressing up to kiss me. I caught her lips with mine, the two of us stumbling until my legs bumped the edge of a chair. I twisted, grinning.
“I’m glad this survived nursery renovations.” I plopped down in the E-Z Rocker we’d bought all those months ago.
“It’s still the comfiest chair I’ve ever sat in,” Isla said.
I carefully pulled her into my lap, conscious of her belly. My hand grazed over the bump as she curled into me, and—not for the first time today—I marveled at how much she’d grown in our time apart. I’d missed so much of her pregnancy, but no more.
“What is it?” Isla asked, stroking her hand through my hair. “You look thoughtful.”
“Just thinking about how much you’ve changed since I’ve been away.”
Her fingers scratched at my jaw. “You’ve changed too. Your beard is shorter.”
I huffed a laugh. “I don’t think that’s nearly as interesting.”
“I like it,” she mused. “And I like this.” We rocked gently. “You and me. Together.”
“Together,” I said as I caught her lips in another kiss.
It was soft, gentle, but then Isla’s hand snaked up the front of my jumper, her fingers sliding against my skin, and heat coiled into my chest. It spiraled through my veins, dialing my senses up to eleven, and suddenly I couldn’t pull her close enough.
I kissed her like she was a feast set before a starving man, reacquainting myself with every inch of her mouth. Isla tilted her head, deepening the kiss, and my arms locked around her, fingers tracing her spine like a ladder. She groaned as one of my hands moved to cup her backside, squeezing.
“I want you,” Isla murmured into my mouth.
“I want you too.” I kissed my way across her jaw and down her neck. “But not here.”
She pulled back slightly, a curious look on her face.
“I mean, not in our son’s room.”
She giggled. “He’s not even born yet.”
“We can’t do it on his chair,” I said flatly. I could feel her silent laughter as I stole another kiss. “That’s like…sacrilegious. Are there guests here right now?”
“I have no one booked in for the next two days,” she said. “We have the inn all to ourselves.”
“Good.” I locked my grip as I stood. Isla yelped, clinging to me as I set her on her feet gently, holding firm until I was sure she wasn’t dizzy. “Then let me take you to bed, woman.”
She shot me a cheeky grin. “Thought you’d never ask.” She grabbed my hand and tugged me out the door and down the hall to her room. I closed the door behind us. Isla turned a lamp on in the corner, bathing the room in soft yellow light.
“There are adjustments we’ll have to make. It’s going to be a little trickier than it’s been before,” she admitted, hands rolling over her belly.
“We better get to practicing then,” I said, giving her a teasing grin as I crossed the room.
I reached around to pull the tie out of her hair, letting her long blonde waves cascade down her back.
I pressed a kiss to her forehead as my hands drifted across her shoulders and down her sides, my thumbs tugging up the bottom of her jumper. Isla helped me tug it over her head.
I tossed the jumper to the floor. Her T-shirt went next, then her bra, and when I stroked her breasts, she closed her eyes and moaned.
They were larger than they’d been last time we’d done this, and deliciously sensitive.
She gasped as I caressed her nipples, leaning into the touch like she was aching for it.
“You’re gorgeous,” I told her as my hands dropped to cradle her stomach.
She laughed softly. “I’m huge.”
“You’ve never looked more beautiful.” I leaned in to kiss her again, and I couldn’t help getting lost in the sounds she made as I stroked her everywhere I could reach.
She tugged on my jumper impatiently, and I pulled it over my head before stripping off my pants.
Isla shimmied out of hers, and I knelt down to give her some help with the maternity leggings.
I kissed my way back up her thigh, and her hand tightened in my hair. “Please.”
“Lie back,” I said, grinning up at her.
She did, shifting onto the bed. We found the right combination of pillows to position under her hips so she was comfortable, then I crawled between her legs, pressing a kiss to the underside of her belly.
“I can’t even see you down there,” she laughed.
“That’s okay,” I growled. “All you need to do is feel.” When I pressed my tongue to her clit, she gasped.
I lapped at the sensitive bud, remembering exactly what she liked.
I stroked and sucked, dancing my tongue to the tune of her breathing, feeling her squirm.
As she started to come, I eased off. The sound of her orgasm was the sweetest music I’d ever heard.
“Oh, God!” Isla gasped as I crawled alongside her body. She pressed her hand to her forehead, laughing. “I’ve missed this.”
I kissed her shoulder, lying on my side next to her. I stroked her stomach, her breasts, her hip, simply taking her in as she came down from the high. Slowly, her hand inched across my stomach, fingers trailing lower before wrapping around my cock. She stroked it enticingly, and I groaned.
“I want you,” I growled into her ear, clamping down on my control as a tremor of bliss shivered through me.
“Then help me with these pillows,” she said, giving me a cheeky grin as she turned her back to my chest.
Together, we rearranged the pillows again, getting the right support under her belly and between her knees. “Ready?” I asked, stroking my hand along her backside.
“Yes,” she hissed as my cock pressed against her.
She reached back, helping guide me into position.
I sank in slowly—partly to make sure she was comfortable, but also so I didn’t embarrass myself.
She felt so good, and I’d missed this so much.
She groaned as I pulled out and sank back in, moving in that way that told me she wanted more.
I wrapped my hand around her hip and timed my movements, meeting each of her jerks with a thrust of my own. She started to moan, her entire body trembling as I rocked into her.
“Yes, yes, yes!” she murmured on repeat.
“Tell me what you want.”
“More of that,” she said, reaching back for the hand I had on her hip. “More of you.” She brought my hand around to the space between her legs. I found her clit again and rubbed it in concentrated circles, listening to her sharp inhales as I thrusted.
Pressure coiled at the base of my spine, and as Isla cried out, coherent thought left my head. The world exploded, and I grunted, colors shifting behind my eyelids as my orgasm overtook me. Isla trembled against me, moaning as she rode out her second high.
I wrapped myself around her as I caught my breath. “I love you,” I whispered into her neck.
“I love you more.”
“Not possible,” I said, settling contentedly into our new forever. “And I’m going to spend the rest of our lives proving it to you.”