Crave (Talon Security #1)(63)

I threw my arms around him burying my face in his neck. “I meant to wait up. I didn’t even realize I’d fallen asleep.”

His hand stroked my back. “That’s okay. It’s late.”

I nodded, still clutching him tight. “Missed you.”

“I missed you, too.” He sighed.

We stayed like that until Trixie nosed her way between us, eager to get a little love from Sid.

He chuckled, tickling her ears before his eyes returned to mine. “Everything okay while I was gone?”

My cheeks grew warm as I bit my lip and nodded.

He looked at me curiously but chose not to press, taking my mouth instead. That suited me just fine. “Shower with me,” he murmured when our lips were raw and swollen from kissing.

After a brief hesitation, I nodded, my breath coming in shallow pants as I clutched his T-shirt.

He bent down, unlacing his heavy work boots before removing his pants and shirt. He looked a bit leaner than when he’d left but no less muscular. My eyes devoured his frame hungrily despite the trepidation I felt.

He cocked his head to the side. “You’re wearing too many clothes.” When I hesitated, his eyes grew wary and concerned. “Sam?”

I offered a shaky smile and stood up lifting my shirt up over my head and sliding my shorts down my thighs. I stood before him fully naked, watching as his gaze tracked my frame hungrily at first before a moment of confusion became clear as his eyes lingered on my heavy breasts.

My body had changed. It was slight, but I’d known he would notice immediately.

I stepped closer, my heart pounding, and took his hand, placing it on my belly that though still mostly flat, had formed a tiny bump below my belly button. “Yours and mine,” I murmured, watching as his eyes widened.

“What?” he breathed. “You mean you’re…? We’re...?”

I nodded. “We’re having a baby.”

His fingers splayed wide against my belly as though he wanted to cradle the unborn baby that grew inside. “Christ, Sam,” he choked out, looking at me with wonder. “How long have you known?”

“I found out right after you left,” I admitted. “I’d been feeling a little tired.”

“I remember,” he murmured.

“I didn’t even think of it until Piper said something. I took a test and then saw a doctor. I’m thirteen weeks. My body’s really changed the last few weeks.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he demanded.

I looked up at him. “Because you were across the world and I didn’t want you to lose focus. There’s nothing you could do except come home early, which wasn’t necessary. I’m fine.” I placed my hand over his. “We’re fine.”

He dropped to his knees, delivering a kiss to my belly before he dug through his pants and produced a Swiss army knife. At first I was confused, then I saw what was attached.

“I’ve been carrying this around with me for three weeks, wondering why the hell I didn’t give it to you before I left,” he murmured, untying the gorgeous diamond ring attached with a ribbon.

It was so Sid to carry my engagement ring around with him attached to a Swiss army knife.

Nestled in a platinum band, the emerald-cut sapphire shone brilliantly between two diamond baguettes. It was a gorgeous ring and very me.

I gasped, my right hand flying to my mouth as he pulled my left hand toward his chest, looking up at me with wonder. “You’re all I see, Sam. I thought I lived before you, but now I know what breathing really feels like. I promise to love you for the rest of my life. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

I looked down into his earnest blue eyes and nodded frantically as he slid the ring onto my finger.

He stood up, enveloping me in his arms and kissing me senseless.

“Did you really just propose naked?” I asked breathlessly.

“Did you really just agree to be mine forever?” he replied without missing a beat.

“I did.” I beamed. “Though I’ve been yours since I set eyes on you. You just didn’t know it yet.”

His hand splayed on my belly again, where I had a feeling it would rest for the remainder of my pregnancy. “Neither did you,” he pointed out with a sly grin.

“Fair enough,” I allowed, smiling as I traced the tattoo Cade had done just before Sid left. The badge lay across his heart, my name as its crest.

The badge we’d both earned.

I’d become stronger since I’d given my heart to Sid. I’d opened myself up in a new way to the friends that had been waiting in the wings all along. I was really living, finally.

Though I knew Sid would always catch me if I fell, I knew now I could catch myself too. I was stronger than I’d ever given myself credit for and that allowed me to love that much deeper.