Page 13 of Holly Jolly Rebel

“How you held out on falling in love with me for so long is still one of life’s greatest unsolved mysteries.”

She barked out a laugh. “But the times since? I really enjoyed it. Except it’s been years since the twins. Jordan said this would be a geriatric pregnancy.”

I growled. “Stupid journo with her fancy vocab. If this is the real deal and it’s what you want, it’s going to be aperfectpregnancy. Finally, we can get it right with this kid.”

“Theo!” Elle laughed, which was my intention in casting aspersions on our current, perfect brood. “We did okay with this lot.”

“Yeah, we did,” I said softly. “I love you so much, Ellie.”

She looked a touch misty-eyed. “And I love you, Kershaw. So much. But a fifth kid? At our age?”

“We’re not old! We’re only the hottest parents of four teens-slash-young adults ever. And when the guys hear that my ultra-powerful swimmersstillmanaged to knock you up even after the snip? Hell, the Kershaw sperm will enter into the annals of legend.”

While I was pretty sure it was already unofficially there, being formally inducted into the Shoot Your Shot Hall of Fame was an honor I was happy to accept.

This time her laugh bordered on hysterical. I wrapped her in my arms and touched my lips to her forehead.

“You’ve got to laugh, right? And if this is not what you want, we can sort that out. We have choices and your mental and physical well-being mean more to me than bragging rights for my genetically superior sperm.”

“Oh, God.” She swiped at a tear. “It just reminds me of the first time, how terrified I was, how much I wanted to resist you because I was so scared of relying on you. On anyone. And we’ve built this amazing life. We’ve been so blessed, haven’t we?”

I nodded, a little unsure of where she was going.

“And just when you think things are settled and your life is going one way, here comes that puck over the plexi right intoyour noggin. I was worried it was getting a bit boring there.” She chuckled. “As if that was possible.”

“Like I said, we can stay boring. Boring is good. Boring is perfect. Whatever you want, Ellie.”

“I’ve never wanted perfect, Theo. I’ve only ever wanted you.”

I dropped a soft kiss on her lips, thrilled when she returned it with interest.Thiswas perfect.Shewas perfect, even if she claimed not to want it.

But I knew what she meant. Our start was bumpy and as our family expanded it had evened out, but never to the point of apathy or a rut. We were incredibly fortunate.

Could we handle even more blessings?

“Can I be honest?”

She smiled. “Always.”

“We’re at our best when we’re parents. It just brings out the essence of us. I think any baby born into this family would be incredibly lucky to have us guiding them to adulthood. I’d love to share that journey with you again, but only if you think it’s right because I recognize that this will be hardest on you.”

Her gaze grew watery. “Oh, Theo, that night you got locked out of your apartment, wearing nothing but a towel and a smile, was the luckiest night of my life.”

“Ourlives, Ellie.” I kissed her again, this time deepening the connection. My heart was thumping a hundred miles a minute. She still excited me, like no other woman.

But as much as I wanted to have a little fun, Iprobablyshouldn’t start any sexy trouble in the laundry room at my boss’s house during the office Christmas party.

Tell that to my hot wife.

“What are you doing?”

News flash: she’s unzipping your pants and slipping that small, greedy hand inside to cop a feel.

“If after twenty plus years you don’t know, then I’m not sure I can help you.”

I groaned as she applied exactly the right amount of pleasure. The perfect amount, and here I was just letting her do all the work. Not right, that, especially as I had two perfectly good hands that knew exactly how to score.

Gripping the hem of her dress, I pulled it up a few inches, then a few more. Slipping my fingers past the lacy border of her panties was the work of a moment. Finding her wet shouldn’t have surprised me. Our chemistry had never been an issue and years of familiarity had failed to bank the fires.

---