Page 98 of Unbreakable Thread

“You are not driving our kids when you drive so recklessly. I think you just need a better teacher. I’m your new instructor.” He laughs, the vibration in my ear. I wish he had a hairy chest so I could yank on one of his hairs.

I groan. “Max, that’s not necessary.”

“Oh, it’s not? Have you not noticed how many times you hit the mailbox?”

I frown. It’s really not my fault; the damn thing is in my way. “It was only a tap on the bumper. You act like I completely ran it over.”

He snorts, and I pinch his nipple. “Only? I beg to differ. The damn thing swings side to side, and the flag hangs by a thread. Who do you think goes to the house and fixes it for you every day? And pulls out those small dents on your car.”

“I didn’t…know.” I turn my head slightly to look at him. “What else have you done?”

“Every meal Leo has bought you was from me.”

“Thank you. I wish I could say I’ve noticed. My head has been a mess; you know that.” I scoot to kiss his lips. “Fine. You can be my instructor.” I know it means a lot since that’s how he lost his mom. “You’d make a great passenger princess,” I tease.

“I hope it comes with good perks,” he teases back.

“Oh, nothing but the best. You’ll see.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” Max’s arms wrap around me tightly. “Also, what the hell were you thinking, breaking windows while pregnant? You could have harmed the baby and yourself.”

“I was thinking out of jealousy,” I admit. “I did cover up.”

He exhales. “I know and I’m sorry for that.”

One thing has been on my mind that I haven’t asked.

His eyelids are closing.

“Max,” I whisper.

“What is it?”

“Why did you stop calling me Rainey?”

He pushes back to lift my chin, so our eyes meet. “Because I knew you. Sol is the name given to you at birth. It’s who you are, mi Sol. I knew once you started to find yourself—really find yourself—you’d go by the name that meant more.” Max caresses my face, his long eyelashes fluttering, even in the dark. “You’ll always be my Rainey too. It’ll always be part of you.” He’s quiet. “There is always sun after the rain.” He’s silent. We both are. I wait for him to finish. Then I hear his snores. Well, that was that. I cuddle into his arms and drift to sleep.

The alarm goes off, and I’m already half-awake, listening to the sounds of the house. Birds outside. Something cooking downstairs. Max’s arm reaches over me to silence it. I press my face into the crook of his neck, my leg over his body. I can feel his morning wood poking at me. I moan, inhaling his scent. He rolls over on his back, taking me with him.

“Buenos días, preciosa.” Max’s husky morning voice is hot as hell. Especially the good morning, precious, he said in our native tongue. It’s like butterflies take flight in my belly.

“Buenos días, how did you sleep?” I ask, running my fingers through his hair. He closes his eyes, completely content.

“Good, now that you’re here with me.” His hand finds my hip, sliding lower.

I could use a good butt massage with all the tension going straight to it, and last night didn’t help. I should avoid sex for the next couple of days, but damn, does he make it hard when I can feel him under me, and immediately I’m ready for him again. Sitting up straight, I straddle him. He rubs my small baby bump.

“I can’t believe you really never noticed.”

“I did notice you pulling on your shirt. I thought you just felt uncomfortable.”

My chest finally loosens. The silence after I left the gift on his desk had me convinced that he’d opened it and was furious, or worse, that it was still sitting there untouched. I had no idea what I was going to say when I pulled up to his house, so it caught me off guard when he actually agreed to get in the car.

“I did cover it well, I guess. I just didn’t want you to find out like that. I wanted to sit and talk about it face to face, ya know?”

“I’m sorry. Starting today, we will be glued at the hip.” He laughs when my brows skyrocket. “I mean it.”

“I don’t think that will work out…but we can meet up.”