“You’re so damn stubborn.” He shakes his head but looks at me lovingly.

“You’re not?” I smile, looking up into his eyes. “July said you ordered pizza?”

“I did. Devon went to pick it up.” His hands hold my face and he kisses me.

“I’m starving,” I say against his lips.

“You should have eaten earlier,” he scolds, running his fingers through my hair.

“I did, but I want to eat again. I always want to eat,” I tell him. He knows this because he does at least one late-night grocery run every week.

“My boys are going to be strong.”

“I’m not even going to argue with you. As you know, they could be girls. Two girls,” I taunt him.

“You’re only allowed to give me one girl.”

“Really? You’re going to allow me to give you one girl?”

“Yep. Just one,” he says, smiling.

“All right, but don’t come crying to me if these are both girls,” I say with a smirk and rub my belly.

“If you’re all healthy at the end of the day, I don’t really care what they are,” he confesses softly.

“Good answer.” I go up on my tiptoes while pulling his mouth down for a kiss.

“Ewww! Gross,” I hear from behind me. I turn my head to see Jax looking at us. “Pizza’s here,” he says before running off. I giggle, turning back to face Nico.

“He can’t wait until Cobi gets big. He hates being the only boy old enough to voice his opinion on how gross girls are,” Nico says.

“I can’t wait to remind him about how gross girls are in about fifteen years.”

“You and me both. Now, do I need to give you something to help you sleep?”

“What do you have in mind?” I question innocently, getting as close as my belly will allow.

“When is everyone leaving?” he growls, nipping my neck.

“I don’t know. How much longer until we’re all moved?” I tilt my head while grabbing a handful of his hair.

“We have one more load.” He licks up my neck, kissing below my ear. “I need everyone gone so I can be inside you.”

It still surprises me that he wants me as much as he does, even with how pregnant I am. He never makes me feel like I’m unattractive; if anything, I feel like he wants me even more.

“I need you,” I moan, shoving my face into his chest, my hands fisting his shirt.

His hands go to mine, pulling them away before leaving me standing there, watching as he walks to the door. Then he shuts and locks it before coming back to me and helping me up on the desk. When he’s done with me, I’m starving and ready for a nap.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I look at the giant dog Nico just brought home.

Daisy’s excited about him, and he seems like he’s tolerating Daisy, but I’m not so sure. He’s huge; his head comes up to my waist when he’s on all fours. I have never been afraid of dogs, but he puts some fear in me.

“Danes are good dogs. They’re loyal and very smart,” he says from where he sits on the couch.

“Where did you even get him from?” I back up when the dog starts to come towards me.

“Baby, do you honestly think I would ever bring a dog into our home if I didn’t know for certain you and our babies would be safe with him around?” Nico asks, watching me and the dog closely.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you… It’s just… He’s so big that my head can fit in his mouth. Daisy can fit in his mouth! I love Daisy. I don’t want to look for her one day then a couple hours later have him go outside to do his business and his business is a ball of fur that was once my Daisy.”

He laughs, and the dog takes another step towards me, forcing me to take another step back. “Baby, he isn’t going to eat Daisy. He doesn’t even notice her.”

“You say that now, but what happens when we’re not home and they’re alone together?” I ask, watching as Daisy runs in and out from between the big dog’s legs then jumps up and down, trying to get him to play with her. “Okay, so maybe they’ll be okay, but I just don’t know.”

“Come here, Sophie.” Nico holds out his hand in my direction. I scoot around the dog before taking his hand so he can pull me onto his lap.

“I think I’m getting too big to sit on your lap,” I tell him.

“Never.” He kisses the side of my head. “Now come here, Goose.”

“Goose?” I repeat quietly, watching the dog come towards us. “What kind of name is Goose?”

“Goose is his name because he’s as white as a goose.”

He is white—pure white, with one black ear, a pink nose, and blue eyes. Nico holds my hand out for him to smell. I have been around Asher and November’s Beast a few times. He’s a nice dog, great with all the kids, and very protective. He’s just so big. I always try to avoid him.

“Relax, babe. He’s a good dog.”

I un-ball my fist, cautiously holding my hand out to him. His cold, wet nose touches my palm, and then his tongue runs over my skin. Daisy jumps on the couch so she can get closer to Goose, and once she’s in front of him, she starts licking his face and barking, trying jump on him. He pushes her out of the way with his head, forcing her to the side so he can lay his head on my lap. His nose goes to my stomach, and I wonder if he smells the babies. Daisy’s still going crazy trying to get his attention, but he just ignores her, pressing himself even closer to me so I’ll pet him.

“The best part is he’s already house broken, and he’s full grown.”

“Where did he come from?” I ask, starting to relax and enjoy the comforting feeling of his big, warm head against me.

“A friend of mine who’s in the military is getting ready to go overseas and can’t take him with him.”

“So we’re going to have to give him back in a couple years?” I wonder out loud, not liking the idea of getting attached to him and then having him taken away in a few years when his owner comes back.

“No, babe. He’s ours permanently,” Nico assures me.

I laugh as he rubs his big head against my stomach, wanting me to pay attention to him. “Okay, so he’s kinda cute,” I finally agree.

“He’s well trained. That’s what’s important.”

“You’re not still worried, are you?” I ask. Since moving, I never even think about what happened at my old house.