I closed the picture book and looked down at Dylan, whose eyes were already closing. Carefully, I extricated myself from the bed, put the book on his bedside table, kissed his forehead, whispered good night, and walked over to the door.
Marco gave me a loving look from his place in the doorway and then strode inside to say good night to his son. I left them, giving them their time, as I had tried to a lot over the past few months. I didn’t spend every day of their alternative weekend arrangement with them because I felt it would be an easier transition for Dylan if he at least got his dad to himself sometimes. That was hard for me, not just because I missed Marco whenever he wasn’t around, but because those alternate weekends were the highlight of my month. I missed Dylan when he wasn’t with us, so I knew Marco must miss him a million times more.
This summer, however, we were getting him for two full weeks while Marco was on holiday. We’d booked into a holiday park in Cornwall, so we were praying for some of the sunny weather it was known for. I couldn’t wait to spend so much time with two of my favorite guys in the world.
I was in the sitting room, pushing my feet into my shoes, when strong arms wrapped around my waist and I found myself pulled back against Marco’s chest. “Where are you going?” his gravelly voice rumbled sexily in my ear.
A shiver chased down my spine, but I knew I had to ignore it. “Time for me to go home.” Not once had I remained overnight when Dylan was staying with Marco. We wanted to take things slow when it came to introducing me into Dylan’s life.
Marco kissed my neck as his hand coasted up my side, and over my ribs until he was cupping my left breast.
I sighed in pleasure, arching my back. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to get my girl to wrap those long fantastic legs of hers around me.”
Reluctantly, I broke the embrace to turn to look at him in question. “But Dylan —”
“We’ll be quiet,” Marco murmured hungrily against my mouth. “And I think we’re good to start introducing you as a permanent feature to his weekends with me.” His lips brushed over mine. Mine tingled in answer. Like always.
“Do you think he’ll be okay with that?” I panted, my hands already roaming over his strong chest.
“You make those great pancakes of yours in the morning, he’ll be fine.” He reached for another kiss, but I grinned, stalling it momentarily.
“Pancakes I can do.”
“Good,” he growled, crushing me against him. “Now do me.”
EPILOGUE
October
B
reathe, Hannah.
Breathe.
I sucked in a giant gulp of air and almost choked on it.
My whole body was shaking and no matter how much I tried to push back the fear, it kept surging forth, attempting to wrap its clawed hand around my throat. My gaze bored into the door to my flat as I waited for Marco to come home.
We’d finally decided it made more sense for him to move in with me, and thankfully Dylan had been okay with that, particularly because he had fun picking out all the stuff for his new room. That had only been six weeks ago, the weekend before I started back at school.
It was fast. We knew that. We’d been together less than a year, but considering our history and the fact that we loved each other to pieces, it was the right move for us.
It didn’t feel fast.
This… this was fast.
And this… this was…
Terrifying.
I didn’t know if I could do it.
The key turned in the lock.
Marco walked in, his head came up, and as soon as he saw me standing there, with the petrified expression on my face, he closed the door. “What’s going on?” he asked, his eyes dark with concern.
I was so close to upchucking where I stood.
Pale, feeling the tingles of nausea on my cheeks, I fought for some control. “My period is really late.” I held up the pregnancy test, my hand visibly shaking.
Marco’s eyes flew from the test to my face, and then suddenly I was in his arms. He could feel me trembling hard and his muscles tightened around me. “It’s going to be okay,” he told me in his quiet, controlled voice. “Baby, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I fought the burn of tears in my throat. “It must have been when I went off the pill to take those tablets for the sickness bug I caught on holiday. I knew we shouldn’t have had sex when I was feeling better,” I murmured absentmindedly.
“We don’t know anything yet, right?” He pulled back to look into my face, and what he saw there made his features taut. “Hannah, don’t look like that. It kills me.”
My lips quivered as I tried to smile. I didn’t pull it off. “I’m scared. I’m trying not to be.”
He cupped my face in his hands. “It’s understandable, but I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. You know that.”
Nodding my head again, I clutched him more tightly. “I should take the test so we know for sure.”