His eyes move from the items, to me, and back. “What...” he looks to Raven with a grin. “He knock you up again?”
She laughs but doesn’t confirm. “That’s not for us.”
Confused he looks to Cap, his grin widening. “Yeah, brother?”
Cap smiles, wrapping his arms around Victoria as he shakes his head.
Royce’s face falls, his head snapping toward me and I know that look.
My skin heats, boils and his family laughs, all of them making their way out of here, Rolland setting the basketballs on the now vacant chairs.
Royce rushes me, grips my face in his hands and lifts it toward him.
“Say it,” his command is shaky but strong.
“I’m pregnant,” I whisper instantly. “With twins.”
He slams his mouth into mine, owning me with his lips as he does every morning, all day, and each night.
He kisses me hard but soft, slow but ravaging and then we’re on our bed, the walls now soundproofed so my man can forever be his wild, untamed self.
He has my clothes off in seconds, my body laid bare for his eyes only.
He kisses down my neck, breastbone and doesn’t stop until he’s reached my stomach.
His palms flatten there, spreading wide as his fingers glide over my piercings.
“We were meant for this. For two,” he whispers. “We were two lost and lonely souls, we died together, as two, and came back as two, stronger than before.”
Something cold meets my stomach and I look to his hands, where a neckless now hangs.
It’s not dainty, but a thick braided silver to match his only thinner, and there is no heart hanging from it, but a perfect circle, identical to the one that hangs along his neck.
He reaches for me, so I slip my hand in his and he pulls me into a sitting position.
He lays it in my palm, flicking it open to show me the inside, both the right and left sides empty.
“I bought this for you months ago. I wasn’t even sure you’d like it, or why the second I saw it I had to have it. I spent hours, fuckin’ days even, drove my brothers nuts asking them for help and trying to figure out what to put inside, but nothing seemed like enough, and now I know why.” His brown eyes meet mine. “It was meant for them. For twins.” A low laugh leaves him and he swallows, his free hand resting low on my abdomen. He bends, his eyes closing as his forehead falls to my belly button.
“Twins.” He speaks, but not to me. “Not even while you grow strong enough to meet the world, will you be alone.”
My chest swells.
My lonely, lost boy.
Now found, complete, and given exactly what he needed to keep peace inside his heart – affirmation that no matter what, no part of him will ever feel alone.
Not even in the womb.
His eyes hit mine.
My crazed, impatient man.
My rough and ready Brayshaw.
The look in his eyes says he’s about to serve me hard, then tender, and I’m so ready for it, but he surprises me when he lifts his head with an arrogant smirk. “I knew my sperm would be the strongest.”
I laugh and he swallows it with his lips, but the second I try to undo his jeans, he jerks away, frantically searching for his phone and keys.
“What are you doing?” I trail him with a grin.
“Sorry, Tink, no time for dick dazing. Clothes back on.”
I laugh. “Why not, where we going?”
His grin is mischievous, and he tosses a duffel bag onto the bed. “This requires a face-to-face drop in.”
My eyes narrow and his smirk grows wider.
“Royce...”
“Up. Now. I gotta tell the others.”
“Royce!” I shout, and he jerks around.
He rushes me, quickly getting in my face, tilting it up to his.
“Don’t be gettin’ cray, baby girl,” he tells me, fighting a grin. “Wouldn’t wanna blindfold ya again.”
I scoff a laugh. “Liar.”
His eyes soften, his thumb coming up to skim along my temple.
We’ve had four visits with a specialist on the East coast, the best of the best according to Rolland, who went searching the second he learned I had optic nerve damage.
The specialist confirmed for Royce what I already knew, there was no fixing what I had, no outrunning the inevitable, but he did say I had more time with my sight than expected, which was good. And even better, the doctor shared there may be a way to prolong it with experimental medicine, so after the babies, we’ll do what we can to try.
“Didn’t you torture my brother enough last time he was here?”
“Nope. I wanna piss in a fresh cut right now.” He tugs me closer. “Let me.”
He grips my wrist, bringing it to his lips before flipping it over to look at my ring.
He’s remembering the day he tricked me into marrying him.
I walked outside in one of his hoodies and a pair of leggings ready for what was supposed to be movie night to find the entire family, my brother included, sitting on the grass at the edge of Zoey’s garden, Royce and a freaking priest a foot in front of them.