Page 121 of The Hotel Room

Noah snorted. “Looks like a rainbow threw up.”

“Noah,” Kate said, her tone mildly reprimanding, though a faint smile tugged at her lips.

James let the moment wash over him, the normalcy of it all grounding him in a way nothing else could.

He didn’t deserve this family, but he was going to fight like hell to be the man they deserved.

As he watched Kate stand and stretch, her hand resting briefly on her belly, he felt the weight of his mistakes crush him anew.

He had been so fucking stupid.

This life, this family—this was his everything. He would spend the rest of his days proving it.

------------------

James lay on his side as Kate climbed into bed. She nestled against him, her body fitting perfectly into his as she settled into the pregnancy spooning position that took the strain off her aching back.

It was a ritual now, one he cherished more than he could say. The simple act of holding her, of being the support she needed, felt like a balm against the wounds he’d inflicted on their marriage.

It was also torture.

Her body was soft and warm against his, the curve of her hips pressing back into him as she adjusted, trying to find the right angle for comfort. James swallowed hard, gritting his teeth as he felt the inevitable response from his own body.

An erection. Of course.

He squeezed his eyes shut, willing it away, but her movements weren’t helping. Every shift, every slight squirm sent a bolt of heat through him, and it felt like all the blood in his body had pooled in one place.For God’s sake, control yourself.

“James,” Kate murmured, her voice pulling him out of his internal battle.

“Hmm?” he managed, his voice tight.

“I was thinking,” she began, her tone casual, “maybe we should rearrange the nursery. The crib could go on the other wall. That way, there’s more space for the rocking chair.”

He tried to focus on her words, he really did. But the way she shifted again, her hips pressing into his groin, made it nearly impossible.Is she doing this on purpose?

“That sounds…good,” he forced out, his voice strained.

Kate paused, craning her neck slightly to glance back at him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he croaked, his jaw tight.

Her brow furrowed, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she were piecing something together. Then she stilled, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

“Oh.”

He groaned softly, dropping his head onto the pillow. “Kate—”

Instead of lying still, though, she shifted again, this time with purpose, her hips pressing back more deliberately.

“Kate,” he hissed, his hands gripping the sheet tightly.

She laughed softly, the sound warm and teasing. “I’m sorry. It’s just…nice to know.”

He let out a low, almost desperate laugh. “Kate, you’re driving me insane. You don’t understand.”

She laughed. “Oh, I understand, James. My hormones have been out of control.”

At first, her words didn’t quite register with him.Hormones?he thought, his mind catching up a beat too late. Then the meaning hit him, and he froze, momentarily blindsided by the realization. She was talking about desire. Her desire. For him.

---