Green irises swam as his muscles tensed and his grip twitched in my hand. I saw him swallow before his fingers pulled from mine and clenched at his own powerful thighs. Finally, his gaze broke and turned away, first across the room, then down to his own legs. His chest filled with a great breath before his head swung to meet my gaze again and his hand reached out for mine. His other arm pulled me into his lap to straddle him, his hands thrust in my hair and his lips pressing with bruising force against mine.
I pulled away, my hands at his stubbled cheeks, my lips dusting his. “I was on birth control, but then my prescription ran out, and I wasn’t having sex anyway, so I just thought–” I caught myself falling into that nervous rambling thing I did. “I don’t know what I thought…” I trailed off and looked away. “Please, say something,” I begged, still afraid of the words that may tumble from his luscious lips. His eyes danced and shone with emotion before his lips curved in the smallest of smiles and his eyes cast down to the floor.
With a shake of his head he uttered, “I can’t. You’ve left me completely fucking speechless, Princess.”
“So…” I trailed off, my insides still twisting with anxiety as my heart galloped at a new speed. “It’s okay?” was the only question I could think to ask.
“Okay?” He shook his head and laughed. “It’s fucking incredible.” His grin shone brighter than I’d ever seen. Happier than he was behind the camera, happier than he’d been in the few pictures I’d seen from his childhood. The smile beaming across from me right now looked radiant. “It makes things a little more complicated,” he added as both of his hands slid down my torso and cupped my abdomen, “But we’ll do it. We’ll do this, Erin.” His eyes cast up to me. “I’ll get all three of us out of this.”
“Really? Because it’s only gotten worse. Violence has escalated, I don’t know if…” I broke eye contact as I gnawed on my bottom lip, worry causing my sour stomach. Worry and pregnancy hormones.
“I swear to God, Erin Warner, before this baby is born we’ll be long out of Chicago. Far away, anywhere you wanna go, just as soon as I can manage it.” He rubbed my tummy then brought both his hands to cup my cheeks, running the pads of his thumbs along the arches. “Now what are you doing up so late? A new mom needs a full night’s rest.” He hoisted me into his arms and climbed up my stairs.
“What about the back door?” I shrieked, laughing and clutching at his broad shoulders for support.
“I’ll get it. You don’t have to worry about a thing. From now on, I’m protecting you and this little guy,” Hunter huffed with all the pride of a new dad.
A giggle erupted from my throat. “Think it’s a boy, huh?” I smiled and snuggled into his arms.
“It’s a little dude. I know.” His green eyes glinted and his full lips lifted in a cocky grin before he walked me across the doorway and laid me in my bed.
“Is it dumb that I came here? Your house has better security–”
Hunter’s sigh echoed in the small space as he fluffed pillows and tucked the comforter around me. “JW has proven he can get anywhere he wants to be. I’m not sure we’re any safer there than anywhere else. You with me is the safest bet.”
“You always say that…”
“I always say it because it’s true. Last time you got kidnapped, you’d snuck out on me.” He gave me a pointed glance.
I twisted and smiled impishly. “The last time? Better be the only time,” I grunted then tucked myself into Hunter’s body and sucked in his thick smoky scent that sent my toes curling.
“You know, you have a habit of running — is that something I need to be worried about?” Hunter fixed me with another of his sexy glares.
“Mmm…” I hummed and ran my fingertips across the planes of his etched chest. “Nope. Stuck to you like glue.” I echoed my earlier words with amusement lacing my voice.
“Good. How it should have been in the first place.” A hand landed on my head and pulled it into the hollow of his neck. “Sleep tight, Princess.” He stroked my hair gently. “I’ve got you,” he rumbled before my eyes closed and I drifted into a dream ravaged sleep. There were still more questions to answer, but I felt lighter than I’d been in weeks. Hunter knew, and he wasn’t upset. We were expecting a baby. All things considered, my future looked brighter than it ever had.
