“How's the water?” I look up at one of the pool guys. I think he said his name was Cyrus.
“Still a little cold.”
He bends down, putting his hand in.
“I think you’re just getting used to it. The temperature feels right.” He’s probably right. The first swim is always a little cold. The excitement makes you forget. “Lie in the sun for a bit. Get nice and hot.” He smirks at me. “Hotter and that should do the trick.”
“Good idea.” I begin to make my way out of the water.
“Did you just call my wife hot?” I stop on the stairs to turn and look at Jonas, who is standing behind the man I was talking to. Cyrus looks over his shoulder before he turns around, standing up a little straighter as Jonas approaches him.
“I think we got the pool ready to go for you sir.” Cyrus ignores my husband's question. I make my way up the rest of the stairs and out of the pool.
“I think you should get the fuck off my property.”
“Jonas.” I half hiss his name. It won’t do any good. He’s already worked up and nothing I say is going to calm him down.
“Don’t even look her way,” Jonas barks when Cyrus starts to turn toward me. He stops immediately, turning his attention back to Jonas. “I won’t repeat myself.” The man all but runs off of our property. I have to fight a laugh because Jonas is ridiculous and I don’t want to encourage his behavior.
“Is that suit new?” Jonas asks as his eyes roam all over me. He’s on me before I can answer, his fingertips running along the strap of my bikini top. His touch causes my body to heat up immediately. I lick my lips, suddenly not wanting to swim at all.
“Do you like it?” I do a little spin for him showing him the entire thing and watch as his eyes heat.
“I more than like it. I need a little taste.” He leans down, taking my mouth in a possessive kiss. One I know has a little more edge to it because he thinks the pool guy was hitting on me. He’s being totally ridiculous, but I like it. “I can’t leave for more than a few minutes and someone is hitting on you.”
I roll my eyes. “He was not hitting on me. I’m pregnant with stretch marks.” I point to my belly. I don’t care about the marks. I was proud of them and was more than willing to rock a bikini. It helps that my husband can’t keep his hands off me. He makes me feel like the sexiest thing in the world.
“Trust me. He was hitting on you but you keep on believing he wasn't.” He shakes his head at me. His hand goes to my stomach. He can never get enough of me being pregnant. I don’t mind. He can touch me all he wants. He missed out on Jax. I would never take this experience from him.
“How was the office?” He had to pop in for a few minutes this morning. Jonas mostly works from home but sometimes he has to go in to headquarters here. They have offices all over the world. He can really work anywhere. He took over the company when Grams got voted out by the board. Now she is off at some fancy retirement place far away from us.
“Easy.” His hand dips lower, freezing when our little girl gives a kick. His eyes go big. I smile up at him. I love seeing his face light up; it brings me so much joy. “Darby.” He closes his eyes, his forehead dropping to mine. “I can’t believe you’re giving me another baby. You have no idea what it means to me. I love you so damn much.”
My eyes sting with tears. Jonas really thinks I hung the moon for him sometimes. That I’m the only woman to ever face having a baby and that I do it all for him. I do it for him but for us, too. Growing our family makes me happy.
“You did this for me, too. You said you’d give me the family I never had. You didn't only give me that but you gave me so much more.”
“I’ll give you anything you ever want.” His mouth drops down to mine. I wrap my arms around him, pushing my small bump into him. Life can’t get any better.
“Dad, let her up for air,” I hear Jax say. My eyes fly open. Jonas smiles against my mouth, giving me one last kiss before tucking me into his side. The twins are already pulling on their life jackets to jump right into the deep end. Those boys have no fear.
“Did you get your mom ice cream?” Jonas asks, lifting his eyes from me.
“Of course I did.” Jax holds up a to-go bowl from my favorite ice cream place. He walks over toward me. I only have to lean down a little for him to kiss me on the cheek. He is growing like a weed. Jonas hugs him, kissing him on top of the head before he runs off and jumps into the pool with his brothers. Their laughter will be etched into my memory forever.
It seems like a lifetime ago that I woke up in that hospital bed with no memory. The anger I once felt for the time that was taken from Jonas and me is gone. It led us here to this moment. This family that we have. We fought for it and it is ours. No one can ever take this from us. Our love will never be forgotten.
* * *