LOGINLaura stood in the doorway, face pale and eyes wide with worry. She looked so small, swallowed up by one of my hoodies. Trina and Becky were behind her, their expressions tense but supportive, though they hung back to give her space. Her blonde hair was a mess, with strands clinging to her tear-streaked face. Her eyes locked on mine, and for a second, the room seemed to dissolve around us.
I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in my shoulder forced me back down. “Angel,” I said, my voice rough, but softer now, just for her.
In an instant, she was at my side, her hands hovering over me like she was afraid to touch me but couldn’t stand not to. Her fingers brushed against my arm, feather-light, and then she sank into the chair Jake had vacated silently as he left the room to talk with Trina and Becky in the hall.
“You’re okay,” she whispere
When I woke the next morning, the bed beside me was empty and cold.I sat up slowly, the sheets pooling around my waist as I glanced around the room. The faint scent of coffee lingered in the air, and I could hear the soft hum of movement downstairs. My hand instinctively went to my belly, feeling Scarlett’s gentle kicks as if she were reminding me she was still there, still safe.I swung my legs over the side of the bed, wincing at the ache in my lower back. Pregnancy had a way of making even the simplest movements feel like a workout. Grabbing Talon’s hoodie from the chair by the bed, I slipped it on, the fabric still carrying his scent — leather, soap, and something uniquely him. It wrapped around me like a shield as I padded downstairs.The kitchen was bathed in soft morning light, and Talon stood at the counter, his back to me as he poured coffee into a mug. He was a
The doorbell rang just as we were drying off, and Talon grabbed a pair of sweatpants from the dresser before heading downstairs to answer it. I wrapped myself in my favorite fuzzy bathrobe and followed him, my stomach growling at the thought of pizza.When I entered the living room, he was setting two large boxes on the coffee table and reaching for the remote. “What should we watch?”I shrugged, sinking onto the couch and tucking my legs beneath me. “Something mindless,” I said, reaching for a slice of pizza. The cheese stretched as I pulled it from the box, and I blew on it before taking a bite. “Maybe one of those cheesy action movies you love so much.”Talon smirked, flipping through the streaming services until he landed on an old Bruce Willis flick. “Perfect,” he said, grabbing a slice for himself and settling beside m
Talon smirked, his eyes dark with promise as he followed me into the house. The sound of the garage door closing behind us echoed through the quiet space. He caught up to me in the kitchen, his hands sliding around my waist as he pulled me against him. His lips found mine in a kiss that was slow and deep, his tongue sweeping into my mouth with a hunger that made my knees weak.“Pizza,” I murmured against his lips, my hands sliding up to his chest and shoving him playfully backward. “Please.”He chuckled, low and warm, the sound rumbling through his chest and into mine. “Alright, angel. Pizza it is.” He released me reluctantly, his hands lingering on my hips for a second before pulling his phone from his pocket.I watched him for a moment, the way his fingers moved with practiced ease as he pulled up the app to place the order. His brow
When I woke, the sun was setting behind the tree line. It was a bit of a struggle to climb off of the bed, but I did it. I slipped on a pair of flip-flops, making my way downstairs and out the garage to find Talon.The garage was dimly lit, the fading sunlight filtering through the dusty windows. Talon stood at his workbench with his back to me, his hands busy with some project I couldn’t quite make out. The sound of metal clinking against metal filled the space, and the faint scent of oil and sawdust hung in the air. He was shirtless, his tattoos on full display, and I couldn’t help but admire the way his muscles moved as he worked.I leaned against the doorframe, watching him for a few minutes before clearing my throat softly. He turned immediately, his green eyes locking onto mine. A slow smile spread across his face as he set down whatever he was working on and wiped his hands on a ra
The following weeks were spent preparing for Scarlett’s arrival. My belly was growing bigger, and her kicks were growing stronger, more insistent, as if she was reminding us that her due date was just around the corner.I spent my days nesting, organizing the nursery and folding tiny clothes. Talon would watch me from the doorway, a soft smile playing on his lips as I arranged stuffed animals on the shelves or debated over which blanket to use in the crib.“You’re gonna wear yourself out, angel,” he said one afternoon, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.I turned to him, holding up a tiny onesie with a sheepish smile. “I can’t help it. I just want everything to be perfect for her.”He pushed off the wall and walked over to me, his hand resting on my now enormous belly. “It alread
The room was bathed in moonlight when he set me down on the bed. His eyes were dark with hunger as he stepped back and shrugged out of his cut. He unbuttoned his shirt, the fabric falling open to reveal the tattoos that covered his chest.I watched him, my breath catching as he kicked off his trousers and boxer briefs. He stepped closer, his hands sliding up my thighs, pushing my dress higher as he knelt on the bed.“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his voice rough with need. His fingers traced the lace trim of my panties, sending heat curling into my core.“And all yours,” I murmured back. I reached for him, pulling him down to me. His mouth crashed into mine, hot and desperate, as he fumbled with the straps of my dress. He tugged it over my head, leaving me in just my white silky lingerie. His hands roamed over my body, his touch firm but







