Page 46 of Love in Times of Contempt

LIAM WOKE UP DUE to a tingling arm. Nothing but dull pain would have interrupted his deep sleep. They'd gone to bed late, after fully making up from their first proper fight.

Sometime during the early morning, he'd rolled to spoon Ana, and she'd rested her head on his bicep. Its weight caused the pins and needles running through his skin, but he didn't rush to fix the situation. He pulled her closer with the arm curled around her, and with a firm hand on her soft belly.

"Hm?" The noise came from deep in her throat.

"Come closer," he whispered in the dark room.

"Hm."

She burrowed into him; he sighed. He emptied his mind of thoughts, trying to call sleep back to him, but he failed. His mind raced, going over the events of the previous day, looking for options regarding his brother.

"I can feel you thinking," she said, entwining her hand with his over her navel. "Can't sleep?"

"No." His voice sounded raspy with sleep, just like hers had seemed, both speaking low in the dark.

"What time is it?"

"My watch is next to your eye. I don't want to move my other hand."

She lifted her head to check the time on his wrist, head hovering for several seconds as she likely struggled to see the faint clock hands on its face.

She groaned and dropped her head back onto his arm. "My alarm is about to go off in a few minutes."

"Bloody morning show."

She chuckled against him. "Bloody? How was England, mate?"

"Cheeky wench," he teased, tickling her with the tips of his fingers.

"Don't." She fought his attack by flattening his hand with hers on her body. "I'm too tired. I don't know how you do this all the time."

He rubbed the pliant skin of her tummy. "It'll slow down. It already is."

"Yeah, it is." She sighed.

"So I've noticed something. You haven't been checking reviews and things."

She turned in the bed and faced him. She placed a hand on his chest, eyes still closed. "I learned not to after my second film. I wait for a couple of days before I dive into that."

"How come?"

"I want there to be a bunch so I can have a general idea instead of getting stuck in the details. The first time I refreshed reviews on a loop and made myself sick."

"You're a wise one." He kissed her. "Sometimes."

She opened one eye, its eyebrow high on her forehead. "Ha. Very funny. In any case, Becca is coming to tell us about the first impressions, right? While we're having breakfast."

"Yeah. Nervous?"

"A little." She blinked several times, making an effort to awaken fully.

"Don't be. We'll figure it out, no matter what happens."

Her eyes clear, she smiled at him. She gave him a soft, slow kiss. "I believe that."

Ana and Liam waited behind a rolling wall, producers and assistants milling around in the wings. She could hear Marie introduce them to the audience in the studio and those watching at home.

"Ready?" Liam asked. He took her hand in his.