Chapter 19 - Rowen
Her eyes were open when I rolled over, staring at me, her cheek half-buried in the pillow, breathing softly.
I blinked, giving my vision a moment to adjust to the morning light filtering in through unfamiliar curtains.
Our new house.
Our new bedroom.
Last night came rushing back. The shocked gasp when I pulled into the driveway. The way her hands trembled when we opened the front door. The silence that settled as she walked inside.
The way she broke open for me in our bed.
I’d been ready with the new mattress and waterproof sheets.
Best investment ever.
And like the good girl she was, she soaked the sheets, screaming my name until her voice broke.
I laid her back down on the bed after replacing the sheets, but by the time I’d returned from tossing them in the wash, she was out cold, so I crawled in beside her and fell asleep to the sound of her deep breaths.
Her eyes traced my face like she was trying to memorize it. I couldn't tell whether she wanted to kiss me or cry.
My confession during sex had startled her, even if she did clench around my cock the moment I told her my ultimate goal. When she’d brought it up after, I tried my best to cover it up, claiming I was just caught up in the moment, that there was time to discuss such things.
That seemed to be enough for her, but I almost felt bad for lying.
“Are you okay?” Her brows were scrunched with concern.
My hand found her waist, brushing my thumb over the curve of her hip. “Of course, baby. Are you okay?”
She took a second before nodding slowly. Her lips parted like she was about to say something, but nothing came out.
“Avery, you’re looking at me like I scared you.” I kissed her forehead and pulled her into my body. “Or like you want to start planning the wedding. I honestly can’t tell which.”
She giggled, but it was half-hearted. “Last night was just…a lot.”
I waited for more.
“I wasn’t expecting you to… I didn’t know you…” She squeezed me like I was her lifeline. “Did you mean what you said?”
“I said a lot of things.”
She sighed. “About getting me…pregnant.”
I tucked my fingers under her chin and lifted until she was looking at me. “Every fucking word.”
Her breath hitched, and I could see the moisture pooling in her eyes.
I wasn’t sure I was going to give her a choice in the matter, but I still wondered what went through her head when she thought about having a baby with the stepbrother she used to despise. I was too afraid to ask, though, afraid to know the truth—that she might not want that, want me, at all.
For me, I couldn’t wait to see Avery pregnant, holding a baby, singing soft lullabies to our children as they fell asleep.
Our perfect little family.
A single tear fell from her eye, but I didn’t try to catch it as it cascaded down her cheek and onto my chest.
“We don’t have to talk about anything until you’re ready,” I assured her.
She nodded and tucked herself back against me, placing her hand over my heart like she wanted to reach in and take it.
I’d let her. Avery owned my entire being. She didn’t understand the lengths I’d go to keep everything perfect for us, to keep us together.
But I couldn’t risk scaring her off now, when nothing was tying us together. Even just the thought of losing Avery made my heart ache.
“How does breakfast sound?” I asked her, needing to get out of bed, needing something to focus my energy on.
“I could eat,” she offered.
Once downstairs, Avery started looking around the house, opening doors and walking through the rooms while I busied myself in the kitchen.
“This house is amazing,” she said once she finished her tour.
“So it has your approval?”
She rolled her eyes. I put my hands on her hips and dragged her body to mine.
“Come on, baby,” I murmured against her lips, teasing her, enjoying the way she chased me. “Just admit you love the house so we can move on.”
“You shou—”
“Next time, I’ll ask you before I do anything crazy like this, okay? I promise.”
Her eyes searched mine, looking for something. “Fine,” she finally admitted. “I do like the house.”
“Just like?” I asked as I dug my fingers into her ribs, making her laugh. “I spent all this money on a house you like?”
She tried to talk, but she was laughing too hard to get any words out. When I let up, she said, “I love it. It’s unbelievable, but I love it. It’s everything I dreamed about.”
“It’s all yours, Av,” I said before dipping to press our mouths together.
She accepted me instantly, parting her lips so my tongue could slip inside. I grabbed the backs of her thighs, her flesh yielding to my grip, and lifted her onto the counter so I could properly consume her.
I refused to let her come up for air, kissing her until she pushed on my chest, begging to breathe. After a few more seconds, I backed away, watching her gasp before diving into her again.
Avery was a drug I couldn’t get enough of. She was all I needed to be happy and whole. As long as I had her, nothing could touch me.