Claiming Caroline (Claimed 3)

Caroline

"Jared." I run my hand down the side of his handsome face, quietly calling his name. He's asleep at his desk with Hermione passed out on his lap. Despite the fact that he's out cold, he has one arm curled around her, holding her protectively so she doesn't fall. The sight melts my heart.

I never knew love like this existed, but every day of my life with Jared has been a fairytale. He brought so much magic into my life when I found him. Having his babies has brought even more. Hermione, Archer, and Jude are my heart and Jared is my soul. There is nothing I wouldn't do for them.

Jared's lashes flutter.

"Wake up, my handsome prince," I whisper, pressing my lips to his forehead and then to his lips.

"Mm, princess," he sighs, reaching out with his free arm to snag me around the waist. His lips seek mine out again, making me smile. Even half asleep, he is insatiable. I can't count the number of times he's woken up in the middle of the night to make love to me…nor how many I've done the same. After five years, the flame between us has only grown hotter. It burns brighter.

I want him incessantly, and I know he feels the same.

"Hermione is sleeping on your lap," I remind him, kissing all over his face.

"I know." He chuckles softly, his eyes fluttering open. Searing mossy green locks with mine, sending my heart rate into overdrive.

Jared has always been beautiful to me, but he's only gotten more beautiful over the years. Especially since we had kids. There's a glint of satisfaction and pride in his eyes that never diminishes or disappears. The way he loves our babies, protecting and providing for them and for me, is so damn sexy to me. He's an amazing father…and an equally as incredible daddy. We are spoiled with his love, humbled by his devotion, safe with his protection.

"The monsters came back," he says.

"One day, you're going to stop letting her fool you with that," I murmur, brushing his hair back from his forehead. Hermione hasn't believed in monsters since she was two. "She only tells you there are monsters because she knows you'll let her stay in here with you."

"I know." He grins at me. "But it makes her happy when I play along."

"You spoil her," I say, no heat in my voice. He spoils all of us. I think it's adorable how tightly he's wrapped around her little fingers. I know he's going to be wrapped around our next baby's fingers just as tightly. He doesn't know I'm pregnant yet. I didn't even know until a few hours ago. I can't wait to get him alone to tell him. "You should come to bed."

His eyes heat, turning dark. "You need me, princess?"

"Always, daddy."

He groans, his hand tightening on my hip before he releases me. "I'll be there in a minute," he promises, pushing his chair back to stand up. Hermione doesn't even stir as he adjusts his hold on her to carry her to bed.

I kiss her on the cheek and then follow them from his office. When he carries her into her bedroom, I stop across the hall to check on the boys. They're both asleep in Jude's bed again. We tried to put them in their own beds when they graduated to toddler beds, but they never seemed to stay there.

Even if we waited until they were asleep to put them down for the night, when we came to check on them, Archer would have crawled out of his bed and into Jude's, or Jude would be in Archer's. They're happier when they're together. I guess that happens when you share a womb. Eventually, they'll grow out of wanting to be right next to each other when they sleep. Until then, we let them sleep together.

"I love you," I whisper, brushing Jude's hair back from his face. He and his brother already look so much like Jared with their leather-brown hair and green eyes. I tuck him in and then grab Archer's blanket from his bed to tuck him into Jude's.

He stirs slightly and whines, his little lip poking out. Thankfully, he doesn't wake.

"Goodnight, sweet boys." I kiss them both and then double check to make sure their baby monitor is on before I slip back out into the hallway.

Jared is waiting for me when I reach our room. I'm barely over the threshold before he pulls me into his arms, backing me up against the door. His lips find mine, his kiss ravenous. I swear, when we're apart for even a few hours, we crave each other so much. By the time we're alone together, we're both frantic, desperate to be connected physically again.

"Daddy," I moan, tipping my head back against the wall as he attacks my throat with his lips, sliding his hand beneath my shirt at the same time.

"You aren't wearing a bra, princess," he growls, one hand closing over my right breast. He pinches my nipple, making me sob his name, partly because it feels so damn good, partly because my breasts are so tender…which is why I'm not wearing a bra. He gets crazy possessive when I leave the house without one. I don't usually do it unless I intend to rile him up.

As soon as he hears me, he jerks his hand away, his gaze flying to mine. His eyes are dilated with desire that quickly bleeds to concern. He can be rough and dirty, but he's also so incredibly gentle with me. "Did I hurt you, princess?"

"No," I promise.

He narrows his eyes, suspicious. I'm not very good at keeping anything from him. He knows me even better than I know myself, I think. He reads me so easily. He knows my sounds and what they mean. He also knows how much I like it when he gets rough with me, so there's no hiding that something is different this time.

"I have something to tell you."

He watches me steadily, waiting for me to tell him.

I reach for his hand, placing it against my stomach. "You're going to be a daddy again, Jared," I whisper. "I'm pregnant again."

He splays his hand across my belly, emotion flaring in his eyes. "You're serious?" he asks, his voice shaking. "You're pregnant again, princess?"

I nod, tears filling my eyes. "I peed on a stick tonight. We're having another baby."

"God, princess," he breathes, leaning forward to touch his forehead to mine. "Just when I think my life can't get any more perfect, you somehow manage to make it even better. Every day, you make my life better, sweet baby. How did I ever live without you?"

"Daddy," I sob, my tears spilling over to course freely down my cheeks. "I love you so much."