Having Jay's Baby (Having His Baby #2)

by Fran Louise

  “Don’t sweetheart me.”

  “Come here,” he said, wrapping a hand possessively around my ass.

  I let him draw me in, still a little reluctant and embarrassed.

  “Look at me,” he said.

  I lifted my eyes. There was a wealth of longing in his expression, but there was nothing sexual about it this time. It was gentler, more open that any expression of his I’d ever seen before. “I love you, too,” he said. “I really do.”

  My eyes welled again.

  “Don’t cry,” he said, laughing again. “Are you going to cry every time I say something nice to you?” He slid his hand up my back, somehow managing to stroke my cheek. “I love you, Stella. You’d better get used to hearing me say that or we’ll have a lifetime of tears to deal with.”

  Still stroking Nina’s soft head, I rested my cheek on his chest. How easily he supported both of us. I could feel the steady, constant beat of his heart under my skin and it regulated the clanging emotions inside of me. Nina, too, was contented and sleepy again, safe in her circle of her father’s arms.

  Jay was silent for a long while. When I summoned up the courage to look at him, his eyes were warm on me, partly amused, but mostly softened by, what I realised, was love. What, I was slowly realising, had been love for a while now. I wasn’t even sure if it was coming from him or whether it was reflection of my own emotions in his eyes.

  “Do you really own on this house?” I asked.

  He grinned. “We own this house.”

  “We’re going to live here, altogether?”

  “I hope so,” he said, his voice gruff.

  I slid upwards, breathing in his scent, now mixed with the faintly powdery perfume from Nina. I touched my lips to his. “Thank you, Jay.”

  He cradled my head, considered me for a moment with a pained expression. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make you and Nina happy, Stella,” he said. You’re my family now. I take that seriously. It means everything to me.”

  There was no doubt in my heart. I traced a finger down his jaw line, across his mouth, revelling in the freedom to touch him.

  “I always thought it would just be me and Nina,” I said eventually. “I couldn’t imagine another life. I was so desperate to get this house back because this is where I saw us living out our lives—it was the best future I could imagine.” My throat tightened, blocking the words. Swallowing, buoyed by his gentle kiss, I added, “I had no idea it could be like this.”

  He stroked a thumb across my cheekbone. “It’s probably not going to be a picnic every day,” he said wryly. “You know that, right?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Of course, I do.”

  “But I’ve never wanted anything more in my life than this,” he said in a low voice. “You, Nina, this house ... I’ve already had everything anybody could ever want. I know what matters now.”

  I kissed him again, my chest bursting with frantic, elated joy.

  “Is she asleep?”

  Easing back, I checked our daughter, seeing that she was, once again, utterly inert. I frowned at her, testing her even breathing. “Yeah,” I said in wonder. “She never usually naps this long.”

  His hips eased against mine, sparking a riot of arousal. “Jay,” I said, chastising.

  “I’ll get her chair, we’ll put her in the en suite for half an hour.” He grinned. “It’s right there. She’s asleep anyway.”

  “Shouldn’t we ... I don’t know, shouldn’t we eat?”

  His brows lifted. “Are you hungry?”

  The pulse between my legs had taken over the rest of my bodily functions and put them on hold.

  Reading my expression, he narrowed his eyes. “We already used my only condom.”

  I watched his guarded expression, unable to repress a smile.

  “Is it too soon?”

  Exhaling, I shook my head.

  “That kitchen could easily fit a table for six,” he said.

  I laughed. “Okay ... let’s just take it one kid at a time, shall we?”

  “Will you marry me?”

  I froze. Staring at him in shock, I searched for words. We hadn’t even tried living together yet. We had no idea how we were going to function as parents. Joking aside, we had to rear Nina for a while before could even think about having other children. We hadn’t even really been a couple until this morning!

  The utter idea of marriage was ludicrous!

  “Yes,” I blurted.

  He flinched. “Yes?”

  “Yes,” I said. He looked as shocked as I felt. “Did you think I would say no?”

  “I don’t know,” he said, laughing. “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  Burying my face into his neck, I relaxed into his warmth. A circle of love hovered around us, sheltering both Nina and me, and drawing Jay close into us. I shut my eyes tightly and offered a small prayer of thanks up to the heavens.

  The End

  We hope you enjoyed Jay and Stella’s story! For more books by Fran Louise, visit her website http://www.franlouise.com.