Page 141 of Hard Hitter

“Either way,” he continued, “I always picture it on the beach. Maybe it’s because that’s where we met. Whenever I think of you I think summer and sunshine and waves. California is going to look great on you, baby.”

“Yeah, I think I’ll adjust.” She turned her head toward the window where the ocean was turning pink against the glow of the sunset. “Just look at that view...I want to go jump in.”

Quinn laughed under his breath. “You do that, I’ll stand on shore and watch.”

“What?”Raelyn exclaimed. “Are you afraid of the ocean?”

“I’m not saying I won’t pee on you if you get stung by a jellyfish, but I don’t know that I’d fight a shark if I see a fin pop up out of the water,” he replied, and his body gave an exaggerated shudder.

“You would let me get eaten?” Raelyn asked, incredulous. “I seriously doubt that.”

“Even Superman has kryptonite, babydoll.”

“Noted,” Raelyn giggled quietly into his chest and placed a kiss there.

A few more quiet beats passed and Quinn inhaled before asking, “So...how many?”

“How many what? Wedding guests? You want small and in-”

“No, not that,” he interrupted, then paused. His voice shook slightly as he continued, “How many...kids...do you want?”

“Oh,” Raelyn paused. She realized they had never talked about having a family. Creating a family. Quinn never talked about kids or wanting them, wanting more than just her. It wasn’t something she had given much thought to either, to be perfectly honest. She wasn’t filled with any sort of need to reproduce and spend her days raising miniature humans who would talk back and make messes for her to clean up.

Now, however, she was hit with the idea that their kids would be half her and half him. Obviously, that’s how that whole thing worked. It was just the realization of how fun it would be to raise a version of herself that had Quinn’s edge, or a little boy with both their athletic abilities, wit, and charm. She thought about her dad as a grandfather, like he was to Camille’s children, and how he would absolutely love the shit out of anyone who looked or acted remotely like a miniature Quinn.

“I have four other bedrooms in my house,” Quinn said, “but we could always upgrade if we needed. It’s not like-”

“Four?” Raelyn repeated the number. “You want four kids? Or more?”

Quinn shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind filling you up more than a few times.”

“You canfill me upwithout the babies, you know,” she replied, nearly laughing, but not sure how serious he was.

“Yeah, but seeing you like that, knowingIdid that. Knowing part of me is actually a part of you…I don’t know that I could get enough of that.”

“You do realize that eventually the baby belly goes away and there’s an actual living breathing human with a self-destruct button on the top of its head and it’s our responsibility to keep it living and breathingand to absolutelynotmess with the self-destruct button, right?” This of course came out far more panicky than she had meant.

His laugh rumbled through his belly and into his chest, “Oh my God, Rae...you’reafraid of babies!”

“I’m notafraidof babies,” Raelyn scoffed defensively.

“Sure, give me shit for not wanting to be eaten by a shark, but here you are terrified of an infant.”

“They’re so tiny and fragile!” Raelyn argued through a laugh. “I’m not afraid of them, but the concept is a bit daunting.”

“So...no babies?” Quinn asked, and she could hear the disappointment in his voice that he was trying to mask.

“I didn’t say no babies,” she corrected. “I said the idea of taking care of them is a bit scary, but I have to admit we would make some adorable children. And they’d be sassy and a little edgy, and way cooler than anyone else’s kids. So maybe let’s start with one and see how that goes.”

“Half me, half you,” Quinn sighed. “The world won’t know what hit it.”

Raelyn’s hand slid back down his abs until she grasped him, massaging gently and feeling him grow again in her hand. “You know, I’m still on the pill, but we can always practice making babies, if that’s something you think you’re interested in.”

The satisfied growl inside his chest started a fire between her legs and she pressed her hips into his thigh.

“Practice makes perfect,” Quinn said, his voice low and gravelly, “and that’s not something you want to get wrong, so I think we’re going to needa lotof practice.” He dipped his head to catch his mouth on hers, groaning into her lips, sliding his tongue inside to meet her own.

“Well then, how do you want me?” Raelyn bit playfully at his lip, sucking it into her mouth.

Quinn flipped her onto her back and rolled on top of her in one swift and well-practiced movement. “Let’s start with the basics: You, on your back. Me, moving inside you. I’ll hold you down, and I’ll know how good it feels when you scream my name. Got it?”

“Got it, Coach.”

“I love you, Raelyn DeRose,” Quinn said, voice and eyes softening briefly.

“I love you, too, Quinn Casey.” She smiled back up at him before his grin turned wicked and he got ready to claim her once again.

She thought of all their history, their connection, their friendship, the miracle of finding each other again, and all that lost time in between. Already they shared so much; love, hope, countless memories, maybe some regret. But he was hers forever now, and she knew this was just the beginning.