Page 171 of Sire

He cups my face. “That was months ago, and the least of my worries. It’s my mind and strength I needed to get back because all I worried about wasyou.”

With the shock gone and my tears drying, I can see it in his face, arms, and chest. He’s lost weight and muscle. He was jacked before and still looks amazing now, but a wife knows.

He’s been through hell.

I take his left hand, the one with half a pinky and wearing our wedding band. Pressing it to my belly, I anchor to his eyes. “We had faith. We’re fine. I promise.”

It’s his turn to blink back tears. “You’re everything I fought for, Wren. I swear to God. Every fucking day until I was strong enough to come home to you.”

Looping my arms around his waist, I cling to him and our future. He wraps me in his arms, too. Cupping my head to his chest. Kissing my hair. Murmuring prayers.

I don’t want to let him go, but he sighs, “I have so much to tell you.”

“Not yet,” I insist. “Just take me home and be my greatest gift on Christmas morning.”

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

SIRE

I can’t stop smoothingmy hand over her beautiful belly and making wishes. I can’t stop kissing her soft lips and making her moan. I can’t stop the urge to climb between her legs to get her pregnant with twins.

I know it’s not possible but tell that to my heart. It’s so goddamn alive again beside her.

“God, I missed you so much.” I have her in our bed and trapped in my arms. My legs ensnare her, too.I’ll never let her go.

She lingers her fingertip across the fresh scar, from left of my belly button, down to my pubic hair. It tickles, and I warn, “Angel, keep touching me like that and we’re going for round three.”

“Does it hurt?”

Damn, I missed her voice.

“Not when it’s getting hard again.”

“Be serious.” She props her chin on my chest. “How weak do you feel, and don’t lie to me.”

“Okay.” I sit up a bit. “After months in a hospital bed, a twelve-hour flight, and two rounds of hot sexwith my beautiful wife and queen?” My voice drops an octave. “Angel, I’ll admit…”

She tilts her head like a nurse, ready for my maudlin medical update.

“I got a bad case of a breeding kink. Seeing your belly with my child makes me spike a fever in my dick for you.”

“Uh, Sire.”

She slaps my chest, making me laugh. “It’s the truth, and I’m fine. I swear.”

“You’re still recovering.”

“No, I’m still and will always be so in love with you, Wren Chapel Rutledge, you’re my cure.”

She fights a smile, but I see her fighting tears, too. It kills me to guess how many she’s cried while I was gone.

With my fingertip, I lift her chin higher. “The only thing I feel is my vow to never leave you again. I promise I’ll give you five kids and fourteen grandkids. I saw them in my dreams.”

She beams. “You did?”

“Yeah, they had your curls and my eyes. Our kids will be beautiful.”

Kids.