Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
But I chicken out. Again.
Instead, I just soak up the moment, letting him stroke my hair while I try very hard not to vomit all over his chest.
He must feel the way my body goes tense. His hand goes still. “You okay?” Oliver’s voice is tender, but there’s a thread of concern that makes my heart tumble right over.
God, he’s perfect. I almost burst out laughing, but then my stomach lurches again.
“No, I’m good. Just… a little queasy. I—” I hop up and race to the bathroom while my stomach takes control of the situation. I barely make it in time before I lose my dignity over the porcelain throne. My stomach cramps, then holy hell—I’m puking up everything but my soul. Not exactly the romantic, candle-lit morning I pictured after moving in with my alpha boyfriend.
Oliver’s there before I even finish, crouched beside me with that worried look that both melts me and makes me want to groan. He grabs a cool washcloth, presses it to the back of my neck, and gently pushes my wild hair out of the way. “What the fuck? I’m calling a doctor.” His voice is filled with panic. This is the man who’s ready to call in a medevac if I so much as sneeze twice.
I force a shaky smile and take the wet cloth, dabbing under my eyes. “That isn’t necessary. I just have a little… morning sickness.” The words are barely out before Oliver’s head snaps up. I swear his pupils dilate on the spot. Heat slams into his gaze, shock shifting instantly to this wild, feral glee that nearly knocks me off the toilet.
“Wait—” He’s on his knees next to me faster than I can blink, hands bracketing my face, voice shaking. “Are you telling me you’re pregnant?”
My heart launches itself up my throat, and my cheeks go nuclear. It’s the first time I’ve said it out loud. I nod, but my whole body is trembling. “Yeah. I found out yesterday. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t want to freak you out, and then I kept chickening out.”
“I’ve never been happier, sweetheart,” Oliver rumbles, his hands still bracketing my cheeks like he’s holding the most precious thing in the universe. His eyes are wild, unguarded, and I swear I see a full kaleidoscope of emotions blast across his face before he finally settles on pure, unfiltered joy. “This is the best fucking news I’ve ever heard.”
I can barely breathe. My hair is a mess, there’s drool on my chin, and I literally just hurled up my soul, but Oliver’s looking at me like I just handed him the meaning of life on a silver platter.
“You’re… not mad I didn’t say something sooner?” My voice is all wobbly, but he just laughs—a real, deep belly laugh that makes him sound like the happiest man alive.
“Mad? Hell no. I’m too fucking excited to be mad.” There’s a crazy light in his eyes, like he just won the jackpot. Oliver’s hands are shaking, but his grip is gentle as he hauls me up off the floor and straight into his lap. He’s laughing and half-crying at the same time, running his big palms down my back, like he needs to feel every inch of me to believe it’s real.
“I can’t believe it,” he breathes, burying his face in my neck. “We’re having a baby. You and me. Holy fucking hell, Cydney. I love you so damn much.”
I want to cry, but mostly, I want to laugh because this is so not how I pictured breaking the news. But honestly? It’s perfect. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than in his arms, right here, right now. He rushes to the bedroom and comes back with a little blue ring box. “I’ve been waiting for the right moment to give this to you.” He takes out the biggest freaking diamond I’ve ever seen and slips it on my finger. “Will you marry me?”
“Hell freaking yes.” I don’t care if my stomach is still sore; I throw my arms around his neck and snuggle in. “I can’t wait to be your wife.”
“Mine.” Oliver places a soft kiss on my forehead then helps me brush my teeth. It’s embarrassing and sweet at the same time. After I wrangle myself into one of his t-shirts and a pair of soft pajama pants, he scoops me up and carries me right back to the living room.
We settle on the big sofa, my body curled against his side, his arm clamped tight around me like he’s never letting go. I could get used to this. Actually, I already am.
I stare down at the huge diamond on my finger as Oliver presses a kiss to my temple, his lips lingering against my skin, warm and soft. He takes a deep breath. "I have a secret too, sweetheart," he murmurs, voice low and rough like gravel wrapped in velvet.