Chapter 29 #2
I’ll admit, I was a tattletale. I did call his wife, but only after we got word that he was out of surgery. I think knowing that he’s okay helped her not flip out completely, but I can only imagine the shit-talking she gave him when she called.
As I stand here and admire my wife, I think of what he could’ve lost. After years of trying to create a family, he took a bullet. He could’ve ended up dead like Darnell or Lucas, and he would’ve missed out on his child’s life. He risked giving all of that up for me and my family.
“Yeah,” he slurs, and I think he actually spits a little by the sound of it.
“Is she mad?” I grimace.
“Oh, God. She’s so pissed at me… I love it when she’s mad at me.
” He laughs again, and I can’t help but smile, knowing exactly what he means.
“She gets it, though. You know? She knows what we all signed up for…” He takes a deep breath in, and I can almost picture his grin.
“Damn, I’m a lucky man.” His tone is wonderous, almost soft like a hum. “Speaking of lucky men, how’s Ash?”
“Better. We got back from the hospital about an hour ago. She’s been worried about you.”
“Tell her not to. I’m fine. If I can take Zeke’s dick, I can take a bullet.”
My jaw hits the floor. Ashia perks up, lifting her head off the pillow and giving me a look that says exactly what I’m thinking.
What the fuck?
Alex sighs, and I almost hang up.
“I just said that out loud, didn’t I?”
“Yep,” I reply sharply.
“Can we pretend I didn’t?”
I bet he’s wincing right about now—and not from the pain.
“Sure can.”
“Okay, great. I’m going to take a nap now.”
“Yeah, you do that. Call me in the morning.”
“Yep.” He hangs up before I can, and I slowly make my way into the bedroom. Ashia sits up a little more, and her brows pinch together in worry.
“What did he say? Is he okay?”
I think I actually blush.
“Oh, he’s fine—high as fuck.” I swat my hand, making sure she doesn’t worry any more than she already is. She lets out a tired, relaxed giggle and lays her head back down.
When I step up to the bed and pull the blanket back, I’m a little taken aback by the lack of fluff that’s been separating us lately. I smirk and tilt my head as she turns her head to look back at me.
“I turned the pillow the other way. I think it’ll work the same, and that way you can be closer.”
I’m swooning so harshly that my eyes roll.
“Thank fuck.” I smile as wide as I can and practically jump into bed, sinking into her laughter as I wrap my arm around her and cradle her belly.
Her scent rushes up my nose as I bury it in her hair, and I inhale it like I’ve been dying for the hit.
She relaxes against me completely, allowing my strength to support her.
“God, I’ve missed this,” she admits softly.
“Me too, baby.” That’s the understatement of the year. “Are you sure you’re comfortable?”
She nods lightly and pushes back against me, soaking in the touch.
“The most I’ve been in weeks.”
I kiss her temple, then her cheek, and then her jaw, unable to stop myself. As I melt into the mattress, with her weight pressed against me, the heaviness of sleep already threatens to cover me.
“Today was horrible…” she admits quietly, breaking the tiny peace bubble we found ourselves in.
“Yeah, it was…” I admit. Grief threatens to overcome me, but I will it away, knowing that she needs me right now.
“Is it awful of me to be glad you did it the way you did?” she continues.
“Kade said he only did that to lure you away… To distract you while Satori got their men out… Which means he told him you were coming. He knew the whole time… What if you had tried to get him alone?” Her body tenses again.
“He could’ve killed you if you tried to take care of him quietly… ”
I shake my head gently and pull her even closer, as if to shield her from the worry. The last thing she needs is to get worked up again, and I’m not about to let that happen.
“But he didn't. We're okay.” I kiss her temple again. “And that’s not awful at all. I’m glad, too.” She nods back as I rub her belly, and the moment she starts to relax again, my chest deflates.
“We’re getting Daisy back tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, little wolf. First thing in the morning,” I reassure her.
“Eric only kept her while we were at the hospital. We just wanted to make sure you got some rest.” If anyone is going to try to keep that dog from my wife, I’ll have another fight on my hands.
I don’t think they will, though. The guys know how much Daisy adores her, and we’re already able to accommodate her because she was here for so long.
Plus, the companionship will be good for both of them.
Ashia can help her through the grief, and Daisy does help keep her calm—which hopefully means her blood pressure won’t spike again.
“You’re so warm.” She sighs and tilts her head, giving me the opportunity to nuzzle my face against her neck. I hum against her and move my hand over her belly in big circles, admiring how much she's grown.
It won't be too much longer, now. It's insane to think about how long and short the past twenty-eight weeks have felt—how much we’ve endured in such a small time.
It makes me appreciate and admire her power even more.
I knew women were remarkable beings, but the strength, resilience, and growth my wife has shown is extraordinary.
“I don’t think I’m going to go back to work,” she whispers, but she might as well have sung to the angels in heaven. “Not for a long time, anyway.”
I think my heart explodes. Finally, my girl is telling me what she needs. I didn’t have to pry it out of her or try to convince her to take it easy. She’s finally recognizing her own needs and voicing them, allowing me to help her.
“Ashia, you never have to work again.” I turn her head and crash my lips to hers before she has a chance to argue.
Her hand moves up to curl around the back of my neck, pulling me even closer.
“I’ll call…Emmett…in the morning…” I declare between kisses, fawning even harder when her lips spread into a smile against mine.
“You’ve been waiting for a long time to hear that, haven’t you?”
“Damn right, I have.” I kiss her again, deep and rough, wanting to show her how damn happy those few words made me.
“You can spend all day with your feet propped up.” I kiss her again.
“You can go shopping for all of the baby shit you want.” And again.
“Or anything for yourself that you can think of.” And again. “And Daisy. You can spoil Daisy, too.”
She giggles against my lips, heating my chest. I press into her even more and groan as my dick rubs against her perfect ass.
“So, you think I’m just going to sit around the house all day, relaxing and spending our money?”
Our money. She said it. Holy shit. It took seven months, but she actually said it.
I’m so fucking hard right now.
“Abso-fucking-lutely I do.” I attack her.
There’s no other way to put it. My lips collide with hers in a hot, heavy, and desperate movement, and I rut against her.
Electricity shoots down my spine when she whimpers, and then again when I slide my hand into her sleep shorts—instantly finding her clit.
She gasps softly at the contact, only spurring me on. “Your relaxing starts right now.”
I kiss down her neck, leaving little bites on her skin as I push her shorts down. After I practically throw the clothing across the room, I move my hand back to her clit and find her so fucking wet that she coats my fingers.
“God damn, little wolf. You’re so fucking desperate.”
“Yes, I am…” she moans, brewing an urgency in my muscles. I shove my boxers down, kicking them away as fast as humanly possible, and loop her leg over my hip.
“You are going to lay here…” I line myself up with her soaking cunt.
“And you’re going to let me do everything.
” An unholy growl slips from my lips the moment I push into her, mingling with her enchanting moan.
She’s squeezing me so tightly that my spine tingles.
I pull away and slide back in slowly, tensing the moment the static skitters across my entire body.
“Do you think you can let me do that, Mrs. Hartley?”
She nods and lets out another whimper that sounds like an agreement.
“Good girl.” I thrust inside her again. “Such a good fucking girl, letting me take care of you.” I snake my other arm beneath her to reach up and continue playing with her clit, while my now-free hand roams her body.
My fingers graze the skin on her thigh, then trail upward to round over her hip.
Every inch I touch sends fire through my limb, and suddenly, I’m starving.
I’m feening. Ashia has always been my addiction, and I’ve been surviving off only hits of her.
There have been a lot of ‘what-ifs’ standing in our way, but not anymore.
She’s ready for me, and I’m desperate for her.
I’m going to get my fix, and if I’m lucky, I’ll overdose on her.
I’m careful not to move too harshly, not wanting to be too rough. Her strong, yet delicate, perfect little body is still working to accommodate our child. The doctor didn’t advise us against sex, but that doesn’t mean I need to hurt her.
Her nails dig into my scalp when I thrust inside her again, sending more shocks through my body. I pick up the pace, just a little, enough to make her clench around me and moan.
“That’s it, little wolf. Just let go, baby.
” I move my hand down and skitter my fingers across her belly, admiring the bump that I gave her.
My eyes roam over her stomach, down to where we connect, and my fucking balls tighten.
“God damn, you’re so beautiful. Look at you…
” I thrust in a little harder. “Taking me when you’re already so full. ”
Her leg trembles over me and she clenches again, almost taking me out.
“Damien…” she moans again, clearly close to coming, and thank fuck for that, because I was going to feel like a two-pump chump if I blew in the next few minutes.
I press my fingers against her clit, making her gasp and clench.
“Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop. I’m going to—” I thrust in another time and she explodes, clenching around me so tightly she might keep me in place.
She screams my name and claws at my scalp, sending intense pleasure through my veins.
When she pulses around me, I come just as violently, throbbing erratically as I rut into her.
I slow down, working her through until she’s a shivering mess.
Her head falls onto the pillow, and I can’t help but admire her breasts as she heaves up and down.
I move my hand to the middle of her chest, soaking in her racing heart as it beats against my palm, but then I immediately start to worry.
The point was not to get her worked up.
“I’m sorry. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea,” I start to say, but then her grip tightens in my hair.
“If you pull out, I’ll scream.”
Holy fuck.
I take a deep breath and pray to God that I don’t get hard again.
“Baby girl, nothing could pry me away.” I kiss her softly and settle in beside her, keeping one hand on her chest to track her heart.
My other hand rests against her belly, so I can continue to count her kicks throughout the night, but with how warm and fuzzy I’m feeling, I’m not sure I’ll count many.
“I could get used to this relaxing thing,” she huffs humorously. I smirk against her hair and nuzzle my nose in it.
“I could, too.” We both melt into the mattress, and I stay sheathed inside her, just like she wants. Her warmth seeps into my entire body, making me feel weightless. She better understand the monster she’s creating, because I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to sleep without being inside her again.
But at least I’m a monster she adores.
“Thank you for loving me…” I whisper out, unable to help it. She turns her head just slightly enough to meet my gaze, and a soft, sweet grin curls at the corner of her lips.
“What is it you said? Loving you is like breathing?”
I smile back at her and bury my face in her hair, willing to suffocate on her while I sleep.
I don’t know what else is in store for us, but I know that I already feel a hell of a lot better.
She’s actually going to rest. She’s going to let me handle the gory details while she focuses on her health.
If I know she’s okay, then I’m going to be okay as well.
My work is going to be much easier knowing that she’s safe, comfortable, and happy.
We may not be out of the woods yet, but the sailing is only going to get much smoother from here.