Inked Babies (Inked Brotherhood 6)

“Maybe I am. Humor me.” We’re both kneeling on the cold tiles of the bathroom, but can’t seem to move from the spot.

“Two. Red. Lines.” I lick my lips. “And that means?”

She punches me in the shoulder. It’s like a kitten pawing at me. “Ash.”

“What?” I grin.

“You know very well what it means.” She starts to laugh, covering her face with her hands, and she sounds kinda hysterical. “Oh my God, Asher Devlin.”

I can’t stop my grin from widening. “We’re having another baby.”

The pregnancy test is positive. I knew it in my gut for weeks now that she was pregnant, and here’s proof. I feel sorta proud, and scared, and happy at the same time.

I whoop and draw her into my arms to kiss her mouth. “I love you, Auds.”

“Love you, too, but…” She trembles a little in the circle of my arms. “So soon? Scott is not even two yet. He’s still breastfeeding, for God’s sake.”

I lower my hand to her still flat tummy. “And he’ll love a brother, or a sister to play with.”

“It will be hard.”

“We’ll be fine. We’ll do this together.” I bite my lip not to laugh at the look she sends me. “Well, I’ll help as much as I can. Rub your feet and all. Rub anything you need rubbed.” I lift my hand to cup one of her breasts, and yeah, I had thought her tits were heavier, and look, I’m right.

“It’s your fault,” she mutters, that mutinous look still flashing in her green eyes. “You and your… your cock.”

“It’s a super cock.” Apparently. I glance down where my dick is starting to rise to the occasion, tenting the front of my briefs. All this talk of baby making and the feel of her breast in my hand are giving it ideas. “Super Cock would like to say hi to Super Mommy.”

“Stop it.” She punches my shoulder again, and I brush my thumb over her hardening nipple, making her gasp.

Wow, her tits are almost spilling out of her fine-laced bra, and all I wanna do is drag her to our bed and sink into her.

Looks like she’ll need some persuading first, though. Her fine brows are knit. “I’ll never finish my studies, not with another baby. Oh God…”

“Hey. Auds.” I put my hand under her chin, tilt her face up until she’s looking at me. “Yes, you will. This baby wasn’t planned, hell, the previous one either, but we’re in this together. I meant it when I said it. I’ll help. We’ll find a way, and you’ll do everything you’ve ever dreamed of, okay? I promise.”

She nods, her eyes filling up, but she’s smiling. “I want your babies, Ash. All your babies. I trust you.”

My girl. I brush my mouth over hers, tasting her sweetness. “I hope I never give you cause to regret it.”

“You won’t.” She smiles at me, and her expression turns dreamy, just like it did the time we found out she was pregnant with Scott. Her hand covers mine over her tummy, and I try to imagine us with another baby.

A sudden stab of panic hits me, and I swallow hard. “Am I… Am I doing this right, Auds? With you and Scott? Am I…?”

“You’re the perfect daddy,” she whispers, calming me down like every time my fears flare up. “You’re amazing, and I’m yours.”

I gather her closer, burying my face in her sweet-smelling hair, and her arms come around my neck, holding me until my pulse slows down.

I’ve come a long way in my confidence since Scott was born. His complete faith in me, his reliance on me, his smiles and rosy face make me feel I can take care of my family and not screw up—but hey, after having had an asshole for a dad, it’s been hard not to worry.

And now another baby.

I pull back and kiss Audrey again, to reassure her I’m okay. I’ve had my moment of insecurity, and now I need to bring on my A game and take care of her, because if anyone’s going to have a hard time of this, it’s her. I saw her with Scott’s pregnancy—the mood swings, the nausea, the changes in her body, and then the birth.

I’m in awe of her, and I’m amazed she didn’t shoot me between the eyes during birth. It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever witnessed. I hate seeing her in pain, and the actual birth scared me half to death, but the fact she smiled afterward, handed me our baby to hold and told me she loved me, that… That was the greatest gift of all.

“I should stock up on thicker condoms,” I whisper to her, lowering my hands to her waist. “It’s the fourth time one has burst in these two years. No matter how much I love feeling our babies in your belly, meeting them and watching them grow up, you can’t put your dreams on hold forever. Two kids are a good number, right?”

She laughs softly and pulls back to look at me. “Ash… I may have panicked a little, too, but listen. I promise you, my one dream ever since you moved into my neighborhood when I was little was to be with you. Back when we climbed trees together, scraped our knees and you put Band-Aids with little animals on them and told me scars are beautiful… I fell for you then.”