“The bed seems like a great start,” she giggled out, sliding her hands over his shoulders and down his back. She wrapped her legs around his strong body, running her heels up and down his calf muscles.
“Fuck, I love when you cling to me, baby.” He growled, pumping harder until they were both panting out their orgasms. His come filled her depths, marking her womb.
They cuddled together a little longer before he brought up the nightmare that had startled them both awake. “It’s been a long time since you dreamed about that day.”
“Maybe it’s that I saw Ignacio Navarro at the store,” she blurted out nervously, forgetting that she hadn’t planned on telling him at all.
He sat up and looked at her with teeth clenching in anger. “What? When was this? And why didn’t you tell me?”
“Yesterday. I…um…I forgot.” Hope didn’t really have a poker face when it came to Gage. Her husband could read her expressions like an open book.
“Don’t fucking lie to me. It was two days ago, and I know all about it. If you think for even one moment that I’d let you go out on your own without someone close by to keep you protected, you’re mistaken.”
“So then why did you need me to tell you? Ugh, Gage. I hate when you do that to me.”
“What? Protect you? You’re pregnant again with our second child.”
“I thought you were done with all that.”
“Hope, I’ll never be done protecting you. I live to see your face.”
The sounds of Johnny’s wail ripped through their baby monitor. “I’ll get him. You need to get some sleep. You’re working on the ranch with the guys today.”
Gage looked at the alarm clock. “Only two in the morning. Fine. Let me know if you need my help.”
She knew that he wasn’t done with their discussion, but he needed sleep. Hope got up and walked to the nursery next to their room and scooped little John out of his crib.
As she cared for her sweet boy, she remembered the encounter with Navarro.
Gage had finally let her go out unprotected, and she felt a sense of freedom coupled with a tinge of fear. She pushed the stroller through Austin and entered an exclusive baby store that catered to higher-end clientele. She only went in because she’d received a gift card from the District Attorney’s office Gage had worked for before retiring.
It was the picture of pure elegance even for the products that were disposable. White shelves lined the place, inviting and enticing shoppers like a fly to a spider’s web. She had begun browsing when her stroller bumped the edge of another stroller. “Oh goodness. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay, Mrs. Gibson.” She looked up and saw a man she didn’t know, but he appeared familiar. “Sorry, I’m afraid we’ve never met in person. I’m Ignacio Navarro.” She gasped, taking a step back. “Please calm yourself. As I explained to your husband, I have no interest, good or bad, in you. I’m a happily married man.”
“Excuse me. Do we have a problem?” His wife approached with a bit of attitude.
“No, princessa. This is Mr. Gibson’s wife, Hope. I was telling her, like I told her husband, that she doesn’t have to fear me.”
“Oh. You’re the one his father wanted. You’re beautiful.”
“Um…thank you. Listen, I’m sorry I bumped your stroller, but you two have a great day.” Hope pushed her son to the other side of the store to check out some new diaper bags. They hadn’t spoken to each other again before she left the store. Hope decided to cut her day out short and took the baby home. She evidently was not ready to go out alone.
“Mommy needs to get her act together. Come on. Let’s settle you back to bed, my little love.” She swaddled Johnathan as best as she could in his blanket, but he was a bit chubby. Sitting in the rocking chair, she breastfed him and then rocked him back to sleep. Once she knew he’d stay asleep, she laid him down and then quietly snuck back into bed. Gage naturally rolled over and cradled his wife in his arms as he slept. She smiled to herself, feeling blessed.
Chapter 2
“Hello, beautiful. How’s my boy?” Gage said over the phone, sending a jolt of pleasure coursing through Hope. She loved hearing his deep voice, especially when he expressed any sweet endearments. From the day she met Gage, she’d been addicted to him. He was her protector, her hero, the love of her life.
Her voice became airy and saccharine whenever he called her out of the blue. “He’s playing with his teether, drooling everywhere.” Their son was five months old, born on a cold night in January, and a blessing for both of them. Little Johnathan Gage Gibson had his father’s looks that made his grandmother shed a tear for the past every time she saw him.