Remi’s lips quivered and her eyes flooded with unshed tears just waiting to spill over. She was my everything. I kissed her lips gently, pressing mine to hers, and her hands cupped my head, pulling me deeper to her. Nails scoured the fine hairs on my scalp and still my eyes never left her fluttering jade orbs.
“It’s all right. You can let go, my love.” Remi released a shuddering breath against my lips along with the cry she’d been hording all this time. I brushed her tears away. We held each other, rocking together. I set the pace, forcing her to slow down and accept me, accept that I had her one hundred percent. Her orgasm finally hit and she wailed, unable to let me make love to her quietly. It was emotional. It was everything and more. I wrapped her in my arms and rolled us into the sheets, kissing the top of her head and cradling her close against my chest.
We dozed for a while, at least until the sun edged the window pane and morning came. Ethan started to chuff little cries into the baby monitor and Remi moved to get up.
“Stay, sweetheart.” I tucked her into the bedding.
“But the baby.”
“I’ll get him his breakfast.” I winked at her. “And then I’m coming back for mine.”
Remi rolled her eyes. “What about me?”
I leaned over the bed and kissed her. “I’ll feed you, but you know how I get when I haven’t had a taste of my favorite muffin in the morning.” I made snuffling sounds like I was eating her up.
Remi laughed like I hoped she would at my crude joke, shaking her head. “Umm, I don’t think that means what you think it does, Evan Rooney.”
“Just stay in the bed.” My tone was serious. I wasn’t nearly finished with her. “I’ll be back for breakfast, and after breakfast, we’ll eat.” I gave her my casual smirk and earned a pillow thrown after me as I stepped into my sweats to go make Ethan his bottle.
37
Remi
Everyone would be there shortly for the party. I sent Hunter out back to help Evan. Taylor was already there helping since we had set the kids up in Evan’s room as a nap and changing place. I had been running around all day, feeling queasy and praying I wasn’t coming down with the virus that was going around Ethan’s daycare.
“Remi,” Evan called from the backyard. I peered out the window to see him stringing up crepe paper and balloons while Hunter held the ladder. He had gone a little overboard in decorating, wanting Ethan to have a memorable day. Lia was coming to take pictures we would have forever. I stopped in the hallway to catch my breath when the ringing doorbell distracted me.
“Evan, I’ll be right out. I have to grab the door.”
Rushing, I opened the door and stepped back, bumping into the entryway side table. I rubbed my hip wincing at the pain as I looked up in shock.
“I didn’t think you’d answer the door, Red.”
That voice froze me in my spot and sent coldness through me.
“Ryder.” I glared into his defined face, still pretty even with the beatings he took on the field as a star player. In the driveway, I noticed his shiny car blocking in Hunter’s truck and Evan’s SUV.
He cocked his head, looking at me up and down and asked, “Can I come in?”
“I’m shocked you’re asking.” I hadn’t seen him since he left town and accused me of getting pregnant on purpose. Except for Sports Center, I would have no idea what he was doing or who he was doing in his new life.
“Awe, come on, Red.” He brushed off my disdain like a bad taste of food easily washed away. Except, I wasn’t forgiving with him. I couldn’t forgive him abandoning Ethan. I didn’t care how he treated me; that was long over, but an innocent baby suffered because of it.
“Don’t call me that,” I gritted out, my jaw clenched and my temper boiling.
“I want to see my son.”
I stood back from the door, giving him the space his oversized body needed to walk in. I felt like I was betraying the sanctity of our home by letting him into the house. He was my son’s father, but he wasn’t his dad as far as I was concerned, and he had no place here.
“Remi, look who’s awake. Oh, I didn’t realize he was...coming.” Taylor came out of the nursery, holding my happy boy. He pumped his arms for me to hold him, and I grabbed him, snuggling him close.
“Hey, buddy.” Ryder stepped forward. I stepped back. I wasn’t scared, but this was an unusual situation for me. Ethan, my perceptive child, cuddled closer, burying his head in my neck and whimpering. I felt his baby lips against my neck, mouthing momma.
&nbs
p; “Can I hold him?” he asked.
I was afraid he might make off with him in his huge arms and held him tighter. “He’s not a football you can pass around when you feel like it,” I ground out.