Page 98

“I love you,” I said, needing her to hear it. “These two years, building our family, watching you create the Phoenix Program, seeing you heal and grow—you’ve made me the luckiest man alive.”

Tears gathered in her eyes. “Don’t make me cry when I’m trying to seduce you.”

“Who says you can’t do both?”

I kissed her again, softer this time, pouring everything I felt into it. Her hands went to my belt again, and this time, I let her, shucking my pants while she wiggled out of hers.

“God, you’re beautiful.” The words came out reverent as I looked at her—my wife, the mother of my children, my everything.

“Come here.” She pulled me down onto the bed, and we came together in a tangle of limbs and breathless laughter when my foot got caught in the sheets.

But the laughter died when skin met skin. When her legs wrapped around my waist and her nails scraped down my back. When she arched beneath me, calling my name.

“Wait.” I pulled back, reaching for the nightstand. “Condom.”

“No.” She caught my hand. “I want another baby. I want to try.”

I froze. “Piper…”

“I know we said we’d wait another year. But I’m ready. The program’s established, the twins are getting more independent, and I… I want our family to grow. If you do.”

Instead of answering with words, I kissed her until we were both gasping. The thought of her pregnant again, of creating another life together—it lit something primal in me.

“Is that a yes?” she managed between kisses.

“That’s a hell yes. And this time, I’m going to be there for the whole pregnancy.”

She laughed, the sound turning to a moan as I moved down her body, determined to worship every inch. Two years, and I still couldn’t get enough of her. The way she responded to my touch, the sounds she made, the way she said my name like a prayer.

“Lachlan, please.” She tangled her fingers in my hair, tugging. “I need you.”

“Soon.” I was enjoying this too much, the way she writhed beneath me, the way her breathing went ragged. “Very soon.”

“Now.” She pulled harder, and I gave in, moving back up her body.

I positioned myself at her entrance, teasing, making us both wait for it. Her hips lifted, seeking, and I had to grip the sheets to keep control.

“Please,” she whispered, and that single word destroyed my restraint.

I slid into her slowly, watching her face as I filled her inch by inch. Her mouth fell open, eyes fluttering closed, and the sight nearly ended me right there. Two years of this, and it still felt like the first time—that perfect grip, the way she opened for me, how we fit together like we’d been made for exactly this.

“God, Piper.” I had to still for a moment, forehead pressed to hers, just breathing her in.

She wrapped her legs around my waist, heels digging into my back, pulling me impossibly deeper. The movement made us both gasp, and she used the leverage to rock against me, taking control of the rhythm.

“You feel so good,” she breathed against my ear. “So perfect. Always so perfect.”

I started to move, slow and deep, wanting to make this last. But she was having none of it, raking her nails down my back, her hips meeting mine with increasing urgency.

“Look at me,” she whispered.

I did, finding her eyes in the dim light from our bathroom. The love I saw there, mixed with desire and trust and forever—it nearly undid me.

We moved together, finding our rhythm, hands clasped above her head. Everything else fell away—the responsibilities, the past, the future. There was just this. Just us.

“I love you,” she gasped, her body tightening around me. “So much.”

“Show me.” I released her hands to touch her where we were joined, and she shattered with a cry she muffled against my shoulder.