Page 16

Laken

Six Months Later

“Are you sure you want to know?” Ryker asked.

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. He looked ready to jump out of his skin he was so damn excited. “I’m sure.”

The technician moved the little wand over my belly.

This was our third ultrasound. I’d had a few complications along the way, but so far we’d decided to wait and be surprised with the gender of our baby.

But I knew Ryker really wanted to know, and he was hoping for a boy.

I would be happy either way. As long as my baby arrived healthy, that was all I cared about.

“Let’s see if Baby Storme will cooperate,” the technician said.

My hand tightened on Ryker’s, my wedding band likely cutting into him. He’d bought me an outrageous diamond a month after we got our property tattoos, and we were married the following week. He’d decided he wanted to do things the “right” way, and wanted me to have his name.

“Ah!” The technician smiled broadly. “See that there? Looks like Baby Storme is very well endowed.”

Ryker chuckled and I smacked him with my free hand. Just like a man.

“I hope you have some boy names picked out,” the technician said as she wiped the goo off my stomach.

We did. But there was one I knew was perfect.

“Gabriel Storme,” I said.

“The boy has a little devil and a little angel in him,” Ryker said. “Maybe if he’s named after an angel, he won’t make the mistakes his daddy made.”

“I’m sure baby Gabriel will live up to his name and be a complete little angel for you,” the technician said. “Congratulations, Mommy and Daddy. Dr. Myron will see you at your next scheduled appointment. And as always, call if you have any questions.”

“Thank you,” I said as I sat up.

After the technician left, Ryker helped me get dressed.

I was so round that I felt like a flipped over turtle every time I lay down.

It was impossible to get up on my own. Not that Ryker complained about all the extra weight.

He seemed to be fascinated with my baby bump, and was always rubbing his hands over my belly, or pressing a kiss there. God, but I loved him.

“I don’t know if it was fate or what that put us together that night,” I told him. “But I’m so glad you grabbed my ass.”

Ryker laughed. “Well, it was a pretty irresistible ass. Still is,” he said, giving my ass a smack.

“Careful. You know my hormones are all over the place. You grab my ass right now, I might bend over and beg for more.”

He growled and moved in closer. “Don’t even fucking tempt me, Laken. Truck. Now.”

“And then what?” I asked.

“Then I’m taking you home, and I’m going to make you come until you pass out.”

I waddled a little faster to the truck parked at the curb, and Ryker followed behind me.

I looked over my shoulder and saw his gaze was glued to my ass, and he had that sexy, arrogant smirk in place.

The one I fell for that first night we were together.

Whenever he wore that look, I could see a hint of the devil he’d been named after.

A randy rooster. But he was my Diablo now.

Oh, he was still Hades Abyss, and likely always would be.

But he was my husband, my everything.

And now that I had him, I was never letting go.