It had only been six months after Tex and I made things official, after he’d claimed me and told me what he wanted … which was me. Since then, I canceled the lease on my place, moved in with him, and we got engaged. Talk about whiplash. I chuckled at the thought of how we’d gone from then to now, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

I’d known him for years, wanted him for that long, and once he told me what he desired, that he wanted me by his side, as only his, well, how could a girl not accept that fully? This was what I wanted, and I was finally getting it.

But right now wasn’t about any of that. Right now was about me standing in the bathroom, scared out of my mind, and not knowing what the future held.

I was nervous, afraid, excited, and was holding my breath as I stared down at the pregnancy test in my hand. I’d peed on it twenty minutes ago, but the little stick was turned around so I couldn’t actually see the results. My heart was pounding in my chest, the realization that I could very well be pregnant causing the blood to rush through my veins and had my pulse slamming against my throat.

My hands shook as I stared down at that stick, knowing that the result would change my life. It would change our lives.

Here I was, not even a year into our relationship, both of us wanting children, and the worry that I wasn’t pregnant playing over and over again in my mind.

Just turn it over and see what it says.

It wasn’t like we’d ever used any protection, and to be honest, I was surprised I hadn’t gotten pregnant sooner. Tex’s passion was raw and unhinged, was consuming and all for me.

And we both wanted a baby, a family. I’d known that since the moment I realized I loved him, that I wanted him in my life.

I turned the test over and stared at the results.

Pregnant.

I felt a wave of emotions slam into me. Excitement, anxiety, disbelief, fear. But most of all I felt happiness.

And then I heard the sound of our front door opening and closing, and then the sound of Tex calling out for me. I left the bathroom, the pregnancy test still in my hand, my breath coming in and out of me in fast intervals. My stomach felt like a million butterflies were in it, flapping around. I was light-headed, wondering if I’d pass out right in front of him.

“Baby?” he called out. I stepped around the hallway to see him coming out from the kitchen. He had black fatigues on, his “uniform” he wore when working. Brasher Security had been Tex’s dream, his goal. He’d started it from the ground up, and if he hadn’t dedicated his life to it there would be no way the business would have flourished and become as successful as it was. I was immensely proud of him and all the work he did.

But I knew he wanted this baby with fervor. I didn’t want to disappoint him, didn’t want to be the one who couldn’t give him his dream even if he said it wouldn’t matter as long as I was by his side.

“Calissa?” he called out again. “I spoke to Megs and she wants to have dinner with us this week.”

I didn’t respond as I listened to him talk about mundane things. He kept shouting things through the house about his day, about plans for this weekend, and here I was a nervous wreck.

But even if I was anxious, just the sound of his voice had my body instantly reacting.

He rounded the corner and stopped when he saw me, smiling. “Hey.”

“Hi.” My voice sounded shaky even to me. I was trying to relax, to be calm. This was what we both wanted, but I couldn’t help the nerves that wracked me, the uncertainty of his reaction. It’s not like we used protection. It’s not like he didn’t tell me constantly he wanted me pregnant with his baby.

But having that reality here, now, had me anxious.

“Hey, yourself,” he said and grinned, his love clear in his expression.

I took a steadying breath, not about to prolong this, not about to beat around the bush. I exhaled and saw the shift in his expression. His brows dipped low, the confusion evident. He was getting worried, I could tell.

“Everything okay?” He moved closer to me.

I licked my lips and nodded.

“Someone messing with you at school?”

I’d started going back for an advanced degree earlier this year. Of course, my possessive man would think some guy was moving in on his territory. I couldn’t help but smile. “No, Caveman.”

He was in front of me a second later. “Then what’s going on? I can tell something is up.”

I was finding it hard just to say those two words.

I’m pregnant.

“Calissa?” His voice was thick. “I’m starting to get a little fucking freaked out right now.”

“I’m pregnant,” I finally said, just blurting the words out. My throat tightened, my heart raced, and I waited for him to respond, to say something, anything.

“A baby?” He looked me right in the eyes, the shock on his face instant. “A baby?” he asked again, laughing and smiling at the same time. He lowered his gaze to my belly. “Well, fuck, Calissa.”

I instinctively placed my hand on my stomach. I nodded, laughing softly. “Yes. Our baby.”

He had me in his arms a second later, pulling me close to him, keeping me that way. I cupped his cheeks, the scruff under my palms tickling my flesh.

“A baby,” he said and grinned. He slanted his mouth on mine.

I wound my arms around his neck as we kissed, pulling him closer, needing him pressed right to me. He placed his hand on my belly and I could feel his happiness, his love for me and our baby.

“I am devoted to you. Only you. Always. Forever.” He kissed me softly again. “My baby inside of you makes you tethered to me. It makes you mine.” He growled the last part out. He pulled me closer again. “You don’t ever have to worry about anything, baby.” He stroked my hair, slowly, making me feel so very fragile.

He placed a hand back on my belly and I forced myself not to cry, not to break down because I loved this man so much. He was my rock, stood by me no matter what, and had given me all that he was. I’d never believed in soulmates before him.

He looked me in the eyes before leaning down and kissing me on the lips soundly. “You are my life, and this little baby growing inside of you, a piece of you and me, is my world.”

I rested my head on his chest and let him hold me. This was what life was about, what being in love with a real man felt like.