Page 48 of Unexpectedly You

A loud scream pierces the night and brings me comfort. Arianna’s awake and Haden is probably panicking to get everything ready so she doesn’t wake the whole neighbourhood.

I’ve taken up the habit of coming out of my room and staying in the kitchen every time Arianna wakes up. Their room is so close to mine that I hear her as soon as she’s awake… and even if it wasn’t, her loud screaming would wake me up. To be honest, my fears and memories keep me awake more than she does.

I usually wait until Haden has prepared her bottle to leave my room, and I eavesdrop on them just to make sure Haden doesn’t need me to help.

The darkness is full of his soft clean swearing when he’s having trouble doing something, and his sighs of relief when he finally manages to sort them out. Usually it’s picking her up that makes him sweat, and makes me chuckle.

I like the way he talks to her, until I hear the sound of Arianna sucking on the bottle.

Haden learns quickly. Even if I think he’s doing a great job, like every dad, he wants to be perfect.

Arianna really is a princess, and she has both of us wrapped around her little fingers. Sometimes she’s fussy with Haden and she prefers resting in my arms. While I’m sorry for Haden, I’m happy she wants me close. I’m glad that with them, I’m judged for what I give and not for my past.

Tonight there’s a full moon, and the kitchen is cast in a soft light that makes everything feel like a dream.

Haden walks in, rubbing his eyes. He looks exhausted and those dark circles talk of sleepless nights, but that’s what having a baby does to you.

I’d jump in if he asked, but he loves tending to her. They’re bonding so beautifully.

“Hey,” I say, from my spot against the sink, to make sure he knows I’m here. I don’t want Haden getting scared at finding me here in the dark.

Every loud sound could lead to Arianna waking up, and to hours of rocking her to sleep.

I don’t usually wait until he’s done, because I don’t want him thinking I don’t trust him. But today, lost in my thoughts of them, I’ve lost track of time.

“What are you doing here?” His voice is rough, but I don’t take it personally. I’m sure it’s because he’s exhausted.

Haden’s so close that his breath caresses my skin as if it were his hands, and goosebumps rise in reply to the phantom touch.

He scratches his chest, and in doing so he grazes my shoulder, burning my skin with his touch.

I can’t shift my gaze away from him, or from the expanse of his chest, or from those tattoos playing hide and seek in the poorly lit room. I want to walk those few steps and turn the lights on to admire his body in all its glory, but that would mean losing the closeness we have now.

When hair tickles my hand resting against my leg, it hits me that he’s only wearing boxers.

My brain goes up in flames… lust and desire filling me up like a glass of water under an open tap.

He’s the one who turns on the light, and it takes me a few seconds to become accustomed to it, but when I do, I nearly swallow my tongue.

Haden’s gorgeous, with broad shoulders and a slimmer waist, and those boxers embracing his strong legs, outlining his cock, and making my mouth water with the need to taste him. His muscles are well defined, and his chest is hairy and tempting.

Unconsciously, when he’s once again closer to me, I lean in until my mouth touches his skin, and my lips tingle at the contact.

“Hey.” His voice now full of desire, and that spurs my own. His hand comes under my chin, and two fingers rest there.

In trepidation, I wait for him to push my head back so that our eyes meet, but instead, a kiss lands on my forehead. It doesn’t do anything to extinguish the need I have for him.

A warmth I’ve never felt before spreads inside me, so intense and so different from the craving I felt just a moment ago. This warmth talks of care, desire, and protection, all things I haven’t had in a while. It tastes like home.

Haden tastes like safety, passion, and heaven, all in one beautiful grumpy man.

I want more of this, more of him… and in a moment of blind selfishness I take it. I rise onto my tiptoes, inviting Haden to take my lips in a demanding kiss.

His arms go around my waist and I thread my fingers in his beard to pull him down towards me. He crashes me against his chest, and all my nerves tingle in joy. I want to rip my T-shirt off, so I can enjoy the touch of his skin on mine and finally understand how soft or coarse the hair on his chest is.

But then his other hand wraps around my hair and pulls my head backwards, and that display of strength has my cock filling up. Haden leans in and licks the cords of my neck, and I whimper in need.

I wrap my arms around him, anchoring myself for the storm his touch will cause inside me, and for how wrecked I’ll be, in the best possible ways, once he has his way with me.