Page 60 of The Biker and the Professor

“Hey, Eric,” I say in greeting to the newest person he’s allowed into his life. Something that doesn’t happen a lot—if ever. Before Eric, I was the last new person he allowed into his life.

Eric flashes me his signature charming smile. He’s a few inches shorter than Nero, clean-cut, Asian-American, and noticeably handsome. “Gorgeous Toni. Even at nine months pregnant you’re glowing.”

“Stop flirting with my woman,” Nero growls at him.

Unphased and completely immune to Nero’s growly badass side, Eric chuckles good-naturedly. “I can’t help it, man. I’m jealous of you.”

Nero, looking like he doesn’t know what to do with himself, reaches down and sweeps his fingers through my hair, before bending to press a kiss to my forehead. I know what hereallywants to do is scoop me up and take me home, tuck me in bed, rub my feet.

He’s anxious because he doesn’t like to beoutof control, and right now he is, seeing as I did the opposite of what I told him I’d do this morning.

Crouching down in front of me, he plants another kiss to my belly, then looks up at me through soft, tender, rueful eyes. “I love you. I love you so fucking much, Toni. You understand that?”

“I know you do,” I admit. “And I’m sorry I lied. But you don’t make it easy for me to tell you the truth—you want to keep me chained to the bed. It’s also not cool to shout at me every time you get anxious.”

“I just…” He trails off and blows out a stressful breath. “I just want you to be okay. I want our sonto be okay.”

“Weare, and we’ll continue to be.” A smile tugs at my lips and I touch his face and say, “Wejust wantyouto stop freaking out on us.”

“I love you,” he says again, closing his eyes and leaning into my touch. “I love you.”

Taking a deep, steadying breath, I say, “Good. Because I think your son is ready to meet you.”

His eyes snap open. “What?”

“Whoa,” Onyx utters. “Either this place’s got plumbing problems or…”

Nero jumps to his feet. The knees of his jeans are soaked. “Holy shit,” he whispers. Then louder, “Holy shit! You’re—it’s time?”

I’m strangely not experiencing any pain beyond some light, sporadic cramping, but judging from all the signals my body is sending off, I’m ninety-nine percent positive I’m in labor. With a tiny, nervous but excited giggle, I reply, “It’s time.”

That’s when all hell breaks loose.

~