Page 167 of Tempting Miles
Her voice cracks on Millie’s name, and I close my eyes.
“I know, sugar,” I murmur, rubbing my hand slowly up and down her back. “I know.”
She presses her face harder into my neck like she’s trying to disappear there.
“And I feel like the worst mom in the world for complaining, because she’s fighting so hard already, but fuck, who thought producing milk would be so hard.” A broken laugh slips out of her. “I feel like my body isn’t even mine anymore.”
I press my mouth against her hair, breathing her in while my chest burns so bad it physically hurts.
When I used to think about pain, I thought about losing Dad. I thought nothing could ever touch that kind of grief again.
But this? Watching the two people I love most struggle while I stand here useless?
This is a whole differentkind of hell.
So I just hold her while she cries against me, and after a minute, I realize I’m crying too.
Eventually, her breathing settles, her fingers caressing my back over my shirt.
“I think I need to pump,” she says, calmer now.
“But I’m so comfy here, snuggling with you,” I complain, tightening my arms around her for another second before burying my nose against her neck.
She smells sweet and fruity. And like home.
A tiny laugh leaves her.
“You should’ve thought about all the snuggles we’d lose before deciding to go bare inside me.”
There she is.
My girl.
I pull back enough to look at her and catch that mischievous spark back in her eyes for the first time since Millie was born.
“It’s alright, sugar.” I grin and help her off the bed. “If we have to wait eighteen years for me to fuck your brains out again, I’ll happily wait.”
She gasps as she follows me toward the bathroom. “Would you really wait that long?”
I snort while grabbing the pump pieces from the counter.
“That’s not what I said. We’ll still have sex all the time.” I glance at her over my shoulder. “We’ll just have to be more quiet.”
Her laughter bounces around the room, and I love seeing her happy. Even if it’s for a fraction of a second.
“I love you, Miles. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Good thing you’ll never have to figure that out, boss.”
Chapter 41
Penny
Lately, my days have turned into one endless cycle of pumping, trying to eat, showering, and forcing myself to sleep whenever I can. In no particular order.
Half the time, I don’t even know what day it is anymore.
I never thought my life would look like this.
