Reading Online Novel

Branna(9)



“You don’t sound okay,” he said as he straightened me up and nudged me backwards so he could move in front of me and look down at me. I inhaled and exhaled twice before I replied.

“You’re goin’ to kill me one day,” I joked. “Killer sex. That’d be a good way to go.”

Ryder frowned. “Don’t joke about that.”

My lips twitched. “Sorry.”

He brushed my hair out of my face and simply stared down at me.

I blushed. “What?”

“Your breathing,” he said, his tone firm. “It’s been getting worse. Any sort of activity tires you out almost instantly, and you struggle for your breath.”

His attentiveness was going to give him a panic attack one day.

“I am pregnant, Ry. Breathlessness is normal, and the bigger I get, the more breathless I will become. I’ll be able to tell if it becomes a problem, though, okay? Don’t worry so much.”

“You’re my wife, and you’re pregnant with our child. Worrying is all I’ve done these past three weeks.”

I reached up and pressed my palm against his cheek.

“I’m okay. I promise.”

He sighed. “Okay.”

I winked then bent down to pull my underwear and leggings up, but Ryder beat me to it. When I was decent, I went upstairs to the bathroom to clean myself up. When I exited the bathroom, Ryder was leaning against the wall facing me, and I couldn’t help but laugh at him.

“Did you think I was goin’ to fall down the toilet?”

He snorted. “You’d make anything possible, Sweetness.”

I crossed the landing to him. He leaned his head down and rubbed the tip of his nose over my cheek when I came to a stop before him. I smiled wider when I felt his hands touch my stomach.

“I feel like there’s something between us,” he joked as he ran his hands over my growing baby bump.

My lips curved upward. “Just your active child.”

I felt the baby kick at that moment. It was if he or she knew they were the topic of conversation. Ryder smiled when a second thump came from my womb. He ran this thumb over the exact spot and said, “I can’t wait until you’re big enough that I can see the baby move in your belly.”

I cringed. “I can wait because that has always and will always freak me out.”

Ryder chuckled and kissed my forehead. “I love you.”

He told me that at least ten times a day since we made up a few months ago. He said he was making up for all the days he didn’t tell me when we hit our rough patch, making sure that every day forward I knew just how deep his love ran for me.

“I love you, too,” I replied, meaning the words with every fibre of my being.

He gave me a squeeze then said, “Dominic is worried about Bronagh.”

Sickness churned in my gut.

“I know.” I swallowed. “She will be a little depressed for a while if Georgie is truly weanin’. She tried to smile and act like she didn’t feel so deeply about it, but I could see how close she was to breakin’ down when they were leavin’ earlier.”

“Dominic called while you were in the restroom and said he brought Georgie to Gravity with him and Damien just to give Bee some time to herself. He said she keeps crying when she looks at the baby.”

My heart hurt.

“I’m goin’ to go over there and spend a couple of hours with ‘er just so she’s not alone. I have the time since we’re here for another night. I don’t know how she feels, but I know it’s not somethin’ she should deal with alone. She’ll send Dominic away so she doesn’t worry ‘im but not me.”

“I’ll drive you.”

I gave Ryder a stern look. “I’ll drive meself since I’m not big enough yet to need assistance.”

Thank God.

My husband’s lips thinned to a line, showcasing his disappointment.

I place my hands on my already expanding hips. “Say whatever it is you want to say.”

He didn’t hesitate.

“I don’t feel comfortable with you—”

“Drivin’?” I finished. “I don’t understand why.”

“You’re pregnant, Branna.”

Very perceptive of you.

“I’m aware of that, honey, but it doesn’t mean I can’t drive. I’m not goin’ to stress and worry about everythin’ that could happen durin’ this pregnancy, okay? I refuse to live me life in fear.”

I lived like that once, and I vowed never to spend another minute lost in the darkness of that kind of dread.

Ryder still wasn’t happy that I clung to my independence so quickly after the horrid things I had endured a few months ago. I think he preferred when I didn’t want to go out by myself, but luckily, he relented and nodded once, accepting my decision. I leaned up on my tiptoes and pecked his lips to show my appreciation for him dropping the matter even though I knew it was hard for him to lighten up on the ‘Branna protection detail’.