CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I awoke to soft feather light kisses being trailed up my neck. Kai. Oh how I’d come to love his kisses. I stretched my limbs and shifted my body so I laid flat on my back and looked up into his dark eyes. They were filled with lust, and a shiver shot down my spine at the memory that look triggered from last night.
Kai’s lips quirked to the side, “Good morning Pretty Girl,” his voice came out on a husky whisper.
His pet name that he’d started using when we met had stuck, and now whenever he said it, warmth spread through my chest. I smiled back up at him but didn’t speak, afraid I had morning breath. An issue Kai did not have by the way.
He lifted his hand and swept my fringe away from my eyes, “I have an idea. Are you up for an adventure?” he asked.
This piqued my interest enough for me to forget the potential hazard of morning breath. “What kind of adventure?”
His eyes lit up with excitement, “I was thinking we could go on a date. A breakfast date.”
My brows scrunched together, “Breakfast is an adventure?” I asked sceptically.
Now his smile was as bright as his eyes, then he bounced his brows for effect, “It is with me.”
I burst out laughing, “You’re so sure of yourself.” I said rolling my eyes at him.
“What?” he shot back, “It is. Or so I’ve been told anyway.”
“Uh-huh. And when was the last time you went on a date again?” I asked recalling our conversation about his lack of a love life before we met.
He help up his hands defensively, “Alright, so I might be out of practice, but at the very least I’m sure I can take you on a romantic date if not adventurous.”
A romantic date with Kai? Umm yes please. Sign me up. “Now that I would love to do.”
“Good, then let’s get out of bed and get going then, yeah.” He said happily.
Half an hour later we were in Kai’s SUV and he was taking me on our first date. It was kind of strange, me being pregnant, us living together, hell sleeping together and we were only now going on our first date. “Where are we going?” I asked again, since he hadn’t answered me when I’s asked earlier.
“You’ll see in about five minutes.”
I shuffled in my seat, the anticipation was killing me, I’d never been on a breakfast date before. Moments later the road ahead of us opened up to reveal the bright blues and greens of the ocean. My breath hitched and caught in my throat, it was spectacular.
Kai noticed and watched me from the corner of his eye as he drove, “You like the beach?” he asked.
I nodded, “I love the beach.” I whispered, still too taken by the view to say much more.
It didn’t take long for Kai to find a parking spot then we were out of the car and walking hand in hand to what looked like a shabby takeaway shop on a corner right across from the beach. “I know it doesn’t look like much, but they make great food and you can take it and sit over on the picnic tables on the sand.”
“It looks great.” I told him. I never had been one of those girls who expected much. And this place, although shabby in appearance, had the best view I’d ever seen.
A while later, after I’d stuffed myself full of blueberry pancakes drowned in warm maple syrup and a side of ice cream Kai asked me, “How would you feel about this being our thing?”
“Our thing?” I asked, not quite sure what he meant.
He shrugged, “Yeah, like every Saturday morning we come here for breakfast.”
“Really? I’d love that. I’ve never had a thing with anyone before.” I joked, even though it was true.
He straightened on the bench seat he was sitting on beside me, “Well, I’d be more than happy to provide you with as many things you’ve never had before as I can.”
I leaned into his big body, “I’d really like that.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, “So would I.”
We sat like that, watching the waves break against the sand talking about everything and nothing. The weather was beautiful, the sun was shining bringing out all the gorgeous colours in the water and the breeze blew steadily enough that we didn’t get hot even though we were sitting so close together.
Best. Date. Ever.
Kai and I spent time getting to know each other in the afternoons when we got home from work. Throughout the day we were both too busy to do anything other than cast seductive glances, well Kai would cast the glances and I would blush and choke on my tea or whatever I was attempting to drink to distract myself from his staring at me.
I had successfully gotten through my first week at McLeod Investigations Incorporated without any major stuff ups. I was incredibly proud of myself, and apparently so was Kai because he was taking me on another date tonight to celebrate my first week at work.
“Where are we going?” I asked as he maneuverer his car through the dark streets.
He shrugged, as he did quite often I was noticing. “Somewhere special. This is going to be another one of our things.”
A tingle started low in my belly, I loved the way he treated me. Like I was precious. Like I deserved to be treated to nice nights out, and breakfasts on the beach. This man had made a swooner out of me. I didn’t even know if that was a word, swooner, one who frequently swoons. That’s what I had become.
Kai held my hand as he drove, and it felt nice, it felt natural. Like he’d been holding my hand for years. I waited patiently for us to arrive at our destination, then I realised we were heading for Gabe and Ivy’s place. “Are we going to pick up Gabe and Ivy? Or are they coming with us?” I asked.
Shaking his head Kai said, “Nope.” And kept driving right past the turn off to their house.
Not five minutes later he pulled up on the side of the road and turned off the car. We were at the park. Our park. My eyes filled with tears when I noticed the trees were filled with fairy lights and a small two-person table had been set under them. I turned my gaze back to Kai, “You did all this, for me?”
His expression was unreadable. Then he nodded, “Yeah Mia, I did it for you.”
I threw my upper body across the centre console and wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders. “Thank you.” I whispered as my emotions began to bubble over and tears leaked down my cheeks.
He brought his arms up and held me tight as he stroked my hair down my back with one of his huge palms, “I’m glad you like it. I want this place to be a happy memory for you. Not somewhere you stayed when you had nowhere else to go.”
Violent sobs wracked my body now, he was too good for me, but I couldn’t let him go. I needed him now as much as I needed the air I breathed.
Kai moved his hands to my hips and lifted me over and into his lap then took my tear streaked face in his hands, “Somehow your presence in my life is pushing the darkness that plagues my soul away, I want to do that for you too.” He said, his voice whisper soft then he kissed me and I felt it all the way down to my toes.
FOUR MONTHS LATER.
It was hot. Really, really, really hot. I fanned myself with one of the files I was supposed to be putting away as Ivy entered the main area of McLeod Investigations Inc. “I got you some cold water,” ,she said as she put two pump bottles on the corner of the desk we now shared.
“Thanks, I’m dying. Tell me it’s not just me and that it’s hotter than hell today. Is the air con broken?” I asked.
“The air con is working fine. It’s your hormones.” She laughed softly.
“Ugh, hormones suck,” I complained on my way back to the desk to retrieve the water she had bought in for me.
“You should be drinking more. I restocked the fridge this morning, so there’re a lot more cold drinks in the kitchen for you now,” Ivy told me as she busied herself with her own stack of files.
The boys had been busy the last few weeks. Nothing too big or dramatic, just lots of little cases. Meaning, lots of paperwork. I swallowed down half the bottle in one go. Instantly wishing I’d gone a little slower when Nugget obviously woke up and cracked me one in the ribs for dowsing him with cold water.
“Sorry, baby,” I said as I rubbed the spot he’d just bruised with one hand and patted what I thought was his little butt with the other.
“She beating you up again?” Kai’s voice filled the room, and my heart fluttered.
“HE,” I corrected as I turned around to face him. “Got a fright when I skulled half a bottle of cold water,” I said.
His smile widened. He loved to torment me about the sex of our Nugget. He was definitely a boy since a girl wouldn’t beat their mother from the inside out. That was my theory anyway. The sonographer couldn’t tell us the sex when we went in for my scan the other week, so it was going to be a surprise.
Kai’s arms circled around my waist when he reached me, and he greeted me with a hot kiss. I melted into him, but he pulled away all too quickly for my liking. I was insatiable these days. We had sex at least twice a day— more if I got my way. But Nugget liked to make his presence known at the most inconvenient times lately.
“How you feeling today?” he asked, his forehead leaning against mine.
“Hot,” I told him, and he smirked. I slapped his shoulder. “Not like that, you pervert. Like heat hot. You know, like a burning inferno.”
He bounced his brows. “I have that effect on many women, Pretty Girl.”
I threw my head back with laughter. “You wish,” I said, but he was totally right. I saw the way women watched him when we were out, like they wanted to be right where I was. I still pinched myself some mornings to make sure this really was my life now.
Mia and I had fallen into sync so naturally when we first moved into the unit it proved we were on the right track. That we were meant to find each other, and Nugget was meant to be my baby.
Whenever I looked at her, all I felt was love for her and Nugget.
But lately, I’d been filled with a sense of unease. Like something was lurking, waiting to take them away from me. I couldn’t let that happen. After years of dwelling on the outskirts of the living, I’d finally joined them, and I couldn’t go back. If I lost them, it would ruin me.
Every day, I thought about Kelly. Every night, I dreamt of her. And every second of the day, I missed her. My little sister had been my responsibility, and I’d failed her. I’d also taken Tessa under my protection, and I’d failed her, too. I couldn’t fail Mia. But I feared I would.
The thing with tragedy is it rarely happens when you’re ready for it, or when you’re expecting it. No, it sneaks up like a thief in the night, takes what you hold dear, and rips it from you with no regret and no remorse. It leaves only grief, fear, and guilt in its wake.
You never forget. You’re forced to live with the memories of what once was.
Once, I had a little sister who worshiped the ground I walked on. Who looked up to me and admired me. Once, I was a big brother who was too careless.
Once, I had a dear friend who reminded me of my little sister. Who looked to me to keep her safe when her world was set on its end. Once again, I wasn’t careful enough.
I had failed them both.
Instead of trying to fight the overwhelming sense of doom coming our way, I embraced it. This time, I would be the victor. Tragedy would not destroy my life again.
“What are you thinking about?” Mia’s sweet voice filled my ears and pulled me from the dark place I’d found myself in again.
I shook my head, clearing it. “Nothing you need to worry about.”
“Well, I do worry. You’ve been doing this a lot lately. Zoning out and then acting like nothing’s wrong. Talk to me,” she pleaded.
I closed my eyes. I didn’t want her worrying about me. It was my job to worry about her. I blew air through my nose. “It’s not that anything’s wrong, it’s just that I’ve been getting a bad feeling about something lately, and I can’t put my finger on what it is. It’s nothing to worry about, okay.” It was something to worry about, my gut was never wrong. But Mia didn’t need to know that right now.
She pouted and huffed, “Fine.”
I took her hand in mine and swept my thumb across the back of it. “What’s the matter, baby?” She rarely pouted. She was always upbeat and happy, like all the time. I was waiting for the bitchy hormones to kick in, but it hadn’t happened yet.
She chewed her bottom lip then said, “I’m sick of being horny all the time.”
Laughter tore from my chest, and I pulled her onto my lap. “I’m not,” I said as I began teasing her with gentle, feather-light kisses along the column of her throat. She squirmed in my lap, and I gripped her hips hard, pressing my fingertips deep into her soft flesh. I loved the way her body had changed as the pregnancy progressed giving her ample curves and fuller tits.
I ground her down on my hard cock, and her head fell back with a moan. “Fuck, baby,” I murmured. She could get me so worked up in such little time. “I need inside—now,” I said at the same time as my hand slid up her flowy skirt and into her core. She was wet and hot, and I couldn’t get enough.
Like lightning, I pulled my hand back out and sucked her sweetness from my finger before undoing my pants and shoving them down my hips until my cock sprang free from his confines. Mia lifted up on her knees as I moved the fabric of her underwear aside and then slammed down on my cock.
Both of us groaned with the pleasure of our connection.
“I can’t decide. They’re all so beautiful,” Mia said as we walked down the cot aisle of Baby Barn.
“Which one is your favourite?” I asked her. I really didn’t care too much which one we got as they all looked safe and sturdy. That was all I was concerned with.
Straight away, she pointed to an old-fashioned teak cot and change table set at the end of the row. “That one, but it’s three thousand dollars. That’s ludicrous.”
Nothing in here was cheap, but I wasn’t worried about the cost as long as it ticked the boxes I didn’t care how much it cost. “We’ll get that one, then. You like it, I like it, and the money isn’t an issue, Mia. Besides, it’s good quality so we can keep it for the next one.”
Mia went stock still beside me. “What? Is it the baby? Do you need to sit down? A drink of water? What do you need, baby?” The closer we got to the due date, the more cautious I was about everything.
“Nugget is fine, I’m fine, settle down,” she said, exasperation filling her face.
“Well then, what’s wrong? You froze up on me.”
“You said—” she looked down and gave her rounded belly a rub, “we’ll keep it for the next one.”
My face scrunched up. “Is that a bad thing? You can get a new one for the next one if you really want, but you’re the one concerned about the cost, not me.” I didn’t get what her problem was.
Her gorgeous smile lit up her face as she shook her head at me. “We haven’t talked about having more babies or how many you want or any of that. You just took me by surprise.”
“Oh,” I said. I guess I hadn’t really thought about it. “I’d just assumed we’d have a bunch of babies together.”
Her eyes widened. “A bunch? How many is a bunch? I think we need to have this conversation right now.”
I scratched my head. “I don’t know.” I shrugged “However many you want. I’m not fussed.” She was blinking at me but not speaking. “Mia? You with me on this, Pretty Girl?”
“You, you want to make babies with me?” she asked, her voice so quiet it was only just above a whisper.
I didn’t know why this was such a big issue. I just assumed she knew I was in this for the long haul. We were starting a family and building a life together. How much more serious could we get. “Of course, I do. I want it all with you— the house, the kids, the wedding. All of it.”
Mia went pale and started to sway. “Fuck! Mia, are you okay?” I said as I took her shoulders in my palms and led her towards a chair at the far end of the aisle. Once she was seated, she leaned forward and placed her elbows on her knees while she took deep steadying breaths. “Mia, talk to me baby. What’s going on here?”
She exhaled. “You want to marry me? And make more babies with me? Like…” She blinked back the tears I could see forming in her gorgeous doe like eyes. “Like a real family?”
I crouched down between her legs and looked her dead in the eye. “I. Want. It. All.”
Her tears spilled over her lashes and slid down her cheeks as she sobbed and threw her arms around my shoulders. “Oh Kai, I love you so much.”
I froze. We hadn’t uttered those words to each other yet. I knew she felt it for me, and I sure as hell felt it for her, but we hadn’t said as much. I wrapped my arms around her expanded waist and rested my hands on her lower back. “Pretty Girl,” I murmured as she pulled her face back a fraction to look at me. “I love you, too. So…” I shook my head and closed my eyes for a moment as I was overwhelmed with emotion for this woman. “So damn much, baby.”
Her lush lips slammed against mine in a possessive kiss that told me she felt everything I did just as fiercely. I hadn’t expected this moment to take place in a baby store, but I wouldn’t change it.
When she pulled away, we were both panting and ready to go a round, but we were definitely not in a place where I could make that happen. We’d gotten adventurous a couple of times over the last few months, but not even I would have sex in a baby store.
I stroked her wet cheek with the pad of my thumb. “When we get home, your arse is mine.” I growled and she blushed. “But for now, let’s get the baby a bed.”
With my help, Mia got to her feet, and we found a saleswoman and told her which cot set we wanted. She rang it up and then asked if there was anything else we were interested in. “I don’t think so,” I told the woman behind the counter. Then I turned to Mia, who was gazing over at the swing section. “Mia, you want to get one while we’re here?” I asked her.
Her eyes were still glassy when she turned her attention back to me. “Would that be alright?”
I frowned. “Of course.” I held my finger up for the saleswoman to wait as we walked over to the swings and picked one out. “Anything else you want, baby?”
She chewed that bottom lip that I loved so much. “Maybe. Could we look at the prams while we’re here?”
I took her hand in mine and strolled over to the prams. And holy shit, I didn’t know there would be this many to choose from. I looked around not knowing which one would be the most structurally sound as well as easy for Mia to manoeuvre. I saw one the same as the twins’, but we didn’t need anything like that. There had definitely been only one baby in the first and the last scan we’d had.
Then I saw the model down from the twins’, a Strider Agile, single seat. Perfect. I pointed it out to Mia. “This one should be good. Ivy has it for the twins in the double. And it comes in a few different colours for you to pick from.”
Mia picked the cool red one and back to the counter we went. I was just thinking how this was a lot easier than shopping for the unit when we’d moved in when Mia asked, “What about the cot sheets and that kind of stuff?”
I stiffened. “No, nope, I’m not buying sheets ever again. You can go with Ivy to get them.”
Mia giggled beside me, and I glared at her. “It’s not funny. I still don’t know how you women can spend all fucking day in a shopping centre. In and out, that’s how it should be. None of this day trip shit,” I grumbled.
I arranged to have everything delivered the next morning and paid the bill. Baby shit was expensive. But worth every penny spent just to see that smile on Mia’s face.
I opened the front passenger door to my truck and put my hands on Mia’s hips to help her up when she turned in my arms and said, “You’re off the hook. I can manage without you for the little stuff since you came with me for the big stuff.” She tilted her head up to smile at me, and I bent down to kiss her soft lips.