Until Arden

Dash doesn’t even wait for my invitation to barge into the bathroom after my shower.

“Holden—” He kisses my neck. “Is fast asleep.”

I stare at him through the mirror as he explores my neck, taking advantage of the fact that my hair is wrapped up in a towel and out of his way.

“Mmm...” I grip onto his shirt as his lips move to my ear. “What are you doing?”

“Winning the bet you made earlier.” He turns me around and cups my face in his hands. “I love you.”

He reaches out and tugs the towel down, pulling it off my body. “I want to feel you against me.”

“Dash.” I breathe. His words make my knees weak, and suddenly, the ache between my legs becomes a throb. “You’re making this very difficult.”

“Yeah, well.” He grips my hips and grinds against me. “I’m also a selfish bastard, and I want to make love to you on the bathroom counter.”

I wiggle out of his grip. “That sounds incredibly awkward.”

“Then we’ll do it on the floor.”

I know he’s kidding, but every inch of my body shivers, and I sway back on my feet.

I grip onto his shirt and close my eyes as his lips brush across my neck.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“For what?” His hands move to my shoulders.

“For loving me.” I drop my head forward and rest my forehead against his chest. “For being patient with me. For not giving up on me when I pushed you away. And most of all, for loving Holden the way you do.”

He stares down at me, as if at a loss for words. “You’re both my life.”

My heart swells, and I wrap my arms around his neck. “You’re going to be an amazing father.”

“Going to be? Weren’t you just complimenting my stellar Daddy Dash skills?”

“You didn’t let me finish.” Admittedly, I’m having too much fun fucking with him and wouldn’t have finished my statement anyway. “What I intended to say, is that you’re going to be an amazing father when you’re juggling two kids and their pet sharks.”

“What?” He looks from my face to my stomach, as realization sparks in his eyes. “You’re serious?”

My heart races and I can’t find the words to toy with him anymore, so I nod.

“You’re not just screwing with me?”

“No, Dash.” I burst out laughing. “I’m pregnant, but I’m pretty sure screwing is how we got here.”

One minute I’m standing in front of him, and the next I’m in his arms with his lips pressed against mine.

“I love you,” he murmurs between kisses. His fingers trail down my arms and to my abdomen. “I love you.” He pulls away and stares down at me. “But no more pet sharks.”