Chapter Seventeen
Andrew let out sigh of frustration. He opened his eyes to the dark room. Light flashed from the television. Lying next to him on her side was the woman his heart yearned to be with forever. She slept so peacefully, naked and beautiful with her hand resting on his biceps. They’d celebrated the purchase of the house by going out to dinner as a family. After the meal, Matt went to a movie theatre and Andrew celebrated more by making hot love to his wife. Pregnancy hadn’t changed her need for sex, at least not yet, and he was always willing to please Emily.
Smiling, he fought the urge to touch her belly. The baby had grown quite a bit in the last few weeks. He could imagine how much bigger it would get in the next couple of months. His heart gained extra beats every time he thought about being with her in a delivery room and holding the newborn. He couldn’t wait to hold the precious gift he helped create. The life growing inside her was a miracle, which was why he didn’t want her to go to San Antonio.
He ran his fingers through his hair and then left his arm above his head on the pillow. He couldn’t think of any way to convince her to stay in Utah. The only idea he’d come up with was to leave and ask Matt to keep watch over her. Even then, he feared she’d drop everything and drive to Texas. The option sucked for two reasons. One, he’d piss her off by heading off on his own. Secondly, he didn’t want her on the road for nineteen hours by herself. No matter what he said or did, his determined wife was going to help him destroy the demon. But he still had to try to talk her out of it.
He considered another option. Matt had informed him about the demon while Andrew had been resting and recovering in Arizona. The man’s alias was on a national watch list. One of Matt’s friends worked with the federal government. He’d made a few inquiries and learned Ahmed Zahara’s name had been in chatter several times in the Middle East and America the last few months. Matt’s buddy had said Ahmed’s tax records looked clean and his bank accounts had a steady stream of income. Nothing looked out of the ordinary in the systems they’d checked. Like Matt, Andrew believed Ahmed was hiding something. He was a demon after all.
Andrew hadn’t shared the information with Emily. He didn’t want to increase her level of stress. But maybe he should tell her so she’d realize the danger she would be getting involved with if she left with him for San Antonio. He had a feeling in his gut if he told her, she would grow more concerned and still demand to go with him, especially after what happened to him in DC. He couldn’t risk raising her anxiety to the point it would harm the baby.
The beating he’d received from fighting the enforcer had been bad. It had to have pained her to look at him. Still, she’d helped him get better and had made a great nurse, too good of one. She insisted on staying at his side and caring for him. Her love for him gave him strength and helped him get through those rough days. He understood her devotion as he felt the same for her.
Although the flesh wounds had healed, the mental ones hadn’t. Andrew regretted killing Steven and for making her feel responsible. No matter how many times he apologized, he sensed she still felt guilty. He needed to redeem his actions, but he wasn’t sure how. He figured destroying the demon inked on his arm would bring him a small step closer to salvation.
Emily inhaled deeply and moved her head on the pillow. Her fingers twitched on his arm. She lifted her lids and licked her lips. “Do you have some water?”
He sat up and claimed the bottle on the nightstand. Since he’d learned of her pregnancy, he always kept a drink near the bed. He removed the cap before he handed the bottle to her.
She leaned on her elbow and poured the fluid into her mouth. Her round breasts held his gaze. Before the pregnancy he’d found her attractive, but now her curves seemed more defined, she had fuller tits, and her cute plump ass called to his hands. She’d gained some weight as most women did, but it looked damn good on her.
She handed the water back to him. He twisted the lid on and then set the bottle back on the stand.
“What’s wrong? Can’t sleep?” she asked as he lay back down.
He slid her bangs off her forehead. Her roots showed more since she hadn’t dyed her hair in a several months.
“I’d rather watch you sleep,” he said.
She covered her mouth while she yawned. “What’s bothering you?”
“Nothing new. Go back to sleep.” He reached for the cover near their feet and then tugged it up to cover her.
“Are you worrying about me going to San Antonio?”
“Of course I am. You know how much I want to protect you and the baby.”
She caressed his cheek. “It’s funny, we’re different in many ways, yet we’re also alike. We want to do the right thing, but we don’t want to see the other get hurt.”
“You’re a woman carrying my baby.”
“Don’t be sexist. And I’m not handicapped because I’m pregnant. This is the twenty-first century. And besides, I want to preserve the life inside me as much as you do, so I’m going to be extra careful in my actions.”
How easily he forgot about her strong will. He swallowed and looked up at the ceiling.
“Hey.” She propped herself up on her elbow. “Don’t think for a second about leaving on your own. Do you want to create chaos with my emotions, which could cause enough stress for me to lose the baby? I don’t think you want to see how distressed I can be. And don’t forget, I’d fucking hunt your ass down. And you know I can, so don’t even think about ditching me.”
The sharp tone of her voice suggested she was angry and he hadn’t even done anything. A woman’s hormones during pregnancy were crazy.
“I’m not going to leave you,” he said.
“But you thought about it for a minute. Didn’t you?”
He hesitated to answer.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” she said.
“I won’t hurt you like that.”
“You fucking better not.” She punched his arm and then rolled onto her back.
“Ouch. Why are you hitting me? And could you stop cursing?” Of course, her hit didn’t really hurt. In fact, his cock came alive. Her response was yet another sign of how much she loved him.
She tucked the covers around her body as she brought her arms down to her sides. “I’m mad because you thought about it. How could you? After everything we’ve been through…”
He rolled over to face her. “Protecting you and the baby is top priority to me. I had to consider all options. But it’s off the table. It was only a passing thought.”
“It better have passed,” she grumbled.
He dragged his fingers down her arm.
She pushed his hand away. “Stop.”
His erection strengthened. He grazed his digits under her neck.
She swatted at his hand. “Don’t.”
He brushed aside the hair from her forehead.
She jerked her head away. “Stop it.” She pressed her lips together, but it looked as if she were fighting a grin.
His hard-on demanded he continue. He hooked a finger on the covers near one of her breasts and tried to peek.
She smacked his hand. “Andrew, stop.” Her voice held a hint of laugher while her lips curved.
His sweet wife was such a treasure. He could never resist her. And he could never hurt her emotionally or physically.
He snuck his hand under the blanket and squeezed her tit. She instantly burst with laughter. He pinched her nipple.
“Stop.” She giggled.
He crawled between her legs and then stood on all fours over her. The cover slid down his back and rear. Smiling, she bent her legs and spread them. His thick erection jutted forward, seeking to dive into her moist depths.
“I love you. I would never leave. I mean it,” he said, staring into her blue eyes.
She scooted back and upright before she claimed his lips. She flicked at his tongue, and longing shot straight to his groin. Then she broke the kiss and said, “We go together. End of debate.”
“Agreed.” He leaned in to kiss her, but she backed away.
“You’ll stop thinking about it.”
Dear Lord, he needed to be inside her. Couldn’t she see how hard his length was?
He sat back on his knees. “I’ve already stopped. Can’t you tell?”
Grinning, she glanced down. “Where were we? Oh, right.”
She sat up and merged her mouth to his. All the worries disappeared from his head. Judging from the way she stroked his tongue, it seemed her concerns had vanished from her mind too. Love was the answer to everything. And they had plenty to share.