Protecting Her

Maddie is my little daredevil. She’ll often come over and do experiments with her brother. She’s good at it too; it’s just not her passion right now. I’m not really sure what will grab her attention, but it will have to be grand and definitely full of adventure.

I hear the sensor alarm go off, letting me know that someone has opened the front gate that leads to the house. Max groans from beside me.

“We can do more when we get back.” I smile, loving how much he enjoys this and hates interruptions. He’s my little twin. Once we get focused on something, we want to work at it until we figure it out without interruption.

A few minutes later I hear the front door open and the sounds of little feet running my way.

“Mom!” Maddie comes sliding around the corner, and I see instantly what has her so excited. “I got my orange belt today.” Her whole face lights as she tugs on it.

“Never doubted that you would.” Maddie is persistent. If she wants something or if someone tells her she can’t do something, it only drives her to prove them wrong. Especially if it’s something that the boys are doing. “I’m so proud of you, muffin.” I scoop her up, kissing her cheeks until she giggles.

“I knew you would get it too.” Her brother hops down, grabbing a little box he had on the counter before giving it to her.

“For me?” Even as she asks the question, she’s already opening it. “A frosted chocolate cookie! Did you make it?”

“Yep.”

She lets out a small scream and hugs her brother. Gabe strolls in a beat later with a smile on his face. He drops a quick kiss on my lips. My heart flutters the same way it always has since our first kiss.

“Go eat it at the counter, sweetheart. I’m going to go get cleaned up. We leave in thirty minutes.”

“An hour,” Gabe corrects me. My face warms, and I feel myself get wet knowing what he has in store for me. “I need a shower.” He snags my hand, leading us through the house to the master bedroom.

I love this home so damn much. When I found out I was pregnant Gabe said he was going to build my dream home. He hadn’t been kidding. Not only did he manage to get it done, but he did it in record time. He had the entire thing built and ready to go before the twins got here. Maddox clearly gets her determination from her father.

“I think you know how to shower on your own,” I tease him. He releases his hold on my hands, shutting the bedroom door.

“Is that so?” He starts to strip out of his karategi from karate. I love that he and Maddie get to have that experience together. I’ve never seen a more hands-on father than Gabe. I knew he would be. When Gabe loves, there are no bounds to it. He’ll do anything for his family. My eyes start to sting.

“Are you about to cry?”

“No,” I quickly say. He gives me a look that says he’s not buying it.

“I’m getting naked and you’re about to cry. You’re going to give me a complex.” I giggle. “You think that’s funny, wife?”

“A little,” I admit. He grabs me, throwing me over his shoulder. “Put me down, you brute.” He doesn’t listen to me. Instead he makes his way into the bathroom, turning the shower on. I think he’s going to put me down and undress me, but I thought wrong. He steps right in with me. I let out a small scream as the cold water hits me. He sNathans my ass. I love that he can still surprise me, and I never know what he might do next.

“You going to behave?” He sNathans my ass again, making me moan.

“Yes.” I wiggle against him as he begins sliding me down his big body. He looks as handsome as the day I met him. I’ve gotten more curvy. Especially after the twins. Gabe always tells me there’s more of me to love and for him to hold on to when he’s making love to me. He’s always digging his fingers into my hips and holding me tight.

I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. He gives me what I want, leaning down to meet my lips. His hands tangle into my hair. I love this man so damn much. He’s the only person who has made me feel normal. With him I don’t have any of the small fears that I used to about germs. Before him, my mind would always go off on a tangent about all the things you could get from the simple act of a kiss. He has changed that for me.