Page 42 of Best Things in Life

“You going to undress or do you want me to do the honors?”

“No—I’ll do it. I can’t afford for you to rip any more of my clothes,” she laughs.

“Come on—you know that last time was an accident.” I smirk because I used more force than those lacy little panties could handle and she didn’t mind at all at the time.

“You’re so wild, you hunky man,” she says in her wiseass voice.

“You love it.” I lie on top of her, pushing my knee between her legs and rubbing her where she wants it, watching her eyes glass over with sensual need.

“I love you,” she says, “and whatever comes with you.”

“You’re going to come—” she slaps my arm and then reaches down to my stiff dick.

“I’m serious,” she says. “Don’t ruin my moment.” She squeezes and I suck in a breath.

“I’m serious too,” my voice deepens. “I’m so in love with you I would do anything for you, for us.” I nuzzle her earlobe, licking and sucking the delicate nub into my mouth. It reminds me of the other nub of pleasure she has between her thighs.

“Oh my god, Nate…I…”

“Tell me Cookie. Tell me everything.”

“I would do anything for us. I would trust you with my life, and even more.”

“More?” I slide my mouth down her neck to where the edge of her silky top begins and nudge it aside, pulling it lower to find the creamy mound of her breast, tasting her. “I’ll give you more.”

“No, I mean yes, no I mean—Nate, stop. I have something to tell you.”

Something in her voice forces me to stop, makes me forget where I was going and I shift to stare straight into her eyes.

“What is it, Sarina?” My heart hammers because I can’t imagine what it is, we’ve covered everything, taken care of all our business, got the blessing from her mother and my family, even my brother who told me to focus on hockey.

“It’s …” she flutters her lashes and since she’s the bravest person I know I can’t imagine why she’s stalling.

“Whatever it is, it’ll be okay. I promise you.”

“Even if it’s a baby?”

Boom. My world explodes and my arms shake and I collapse onto her.

“Oh fuck, you’re serious, aren’t you?” my stomach is in my throat and my heart wants out of my chest it’s banging so hard.

She nods her head and I see the start of tears gathering at the corners of her eyes, so I kiss them away. But a baby isn’t the kind of thing you can kiss away.

“Don’t cry, Cookie. Don’t be sad—”

“I’m not sad. I’m happy. I just wanted you to be happy too—” I laugh and then I gather my arms around her and squeeze tight, kissing her eyes and her nose and everywhere on her face.

“I am happy. Because it’s our baby. Fuck it’s a shock because we’re just getting started. How did this happen?” A laugh bursts from her at that.

“You know what I mean—I know how …” I laugh.

“I might have forgotten to take a pill,” she says. “Don’t be mad. I wasn’t used to it, out of my routine with the move. Oh, hell, Nate, what difference does it make. It happened and I wouldn’t have it any other way now.”

I kiss her, soft and thorough and say into her mouth, “I wouldn’t have it any other way either. He or she will be the start of our own little hockey team. Because we’ll have more—”

She laughs and I slide down to her belly, lift her shirt and study the smooth perfect flesh, kissing her navel, tickling her.

“You hear that little Garino baby? You’re going to be a hockey player.” I look up at her laughing face, glowing like I’ve never seen before. “And a cook. You’re going to be a cook too.”

“I love you so much, my big Garino,” she says, caressing my face. “How about if you let me show you have much?” She moves her hips and I slide down.

“How about if I show you first?”

“You want to make it a contest?” She snorts.

“The best kind. We’re both guaranteed to win.” She yanks me by the hair and I don’t resist as she pulls my face into her hands and then kisses me. I get the message loud and clear. It speaks of forever and putting us first, making a family and a home and making each other happy no matter what. It speaks of utter trust that we’ll always have each other’s back.

“Forever,” I say into her mouth. Then she turns out the light and the room is lit only by the blinking lights of the city out the window and the glow in our hearts and souls.

# THE END #