“Maybe you can spare a little while.”
“Easy boy. I don’t know how you can still want me when I’m so pregnant.”
“Darling, you can carry a thousand babies in that lovely stomach of yours and I’ll still want to fuck you senseless.”
I make a face. “A thousand babies?”
“I’m exaggerating for effect.”
“Right, well, I still have to go to work.” I kiss him and slip past, heading inside. “Have you heard anything? You know, from back home?”
I ask as casually as I can, but I practically hear him scowling behind me. He slides the back door shut and locks it with a loud click.
“Nothing new. The war’s still raging, and your brothers are still doing their best to keep the world from falling apart. And like I say every time you ask, none of it matters.”
“I know you’re right.” I dump out the rest of the coffee and face him with my arms wrapped around myself. “But I still worry.”
“Don’t.” He comes to me and kisses me, holding me tight. “Soon we’re going to have a family. You’ve got a good job at a law firm, and I’m picking up more hours every week. Things are perfect.”
“I just worry about Callum and Nolan.”
“They can handle themselves.”
“And I’m scared the Turks will follow us out here. Emin isn’t the sort of man to let things slide.”
“Your family is dealing with them.” He leans down and tilts my chin up to stare into my eyes. “Listen to me, Daley. We live across the country. The Turks have no power here and no way to hurt us. We’re hidden, living under different names. We’re thriving while everyone back in Delco are killing each other. This is our paradise. We struggled for this and bled for it. We deserve this. You deserve it.”
I take a breath and nod slowly. “I know. You’re right.”
“I love you. I’ll do anything to give you what you want and to make you happy. But this is home for us.”
“Just keep making sure my stupid brothers don’t get themselves killed, okay?”
“Okay.” He kisses me one more time. “Now, really, go to work. Enjoy it while you can. Maternity leave is fast approaching.”
“Why are you so good to me?”
“Because there was a time when I had nothing and the whole world saw me as nothing more than a murderer. Now we know the truth, and it’s like I have my life back. I’ll do anything to keep it.”
I stand on my toes and kiss him. “If you keep talking like that, you just might convince me to have a little spare time before I leave.”
He grins, pulling me against him. “Oh yeah? I can do incredible things in just a few minutes.”
“How romantic.”
“Pragmatic. Practical. Also talented.”
“Tell me more.”
“I’m a show-not-tell sort of guy.” He kisses me, slower and deeper. “Now come on, princess. Let me show you exactly how much I love you.”
He takes my hand, and even though I’m going to be late for work, I follow him up the stairs, and yes, it’s definitely worth it.