Page 29 of No Regrets

“Cute? Puppies are cute.”

“Are you fishing?”

“Maybe.”

She grinned. “Okay. Cute is too mild. How about pretty?” He glared at her and she laughed. “All right. Handsome. Attractive. Hot. Are those adjectives any better?”

“Now who’s the smart-ass?” he rolled over her laughing body, grabbing another condom from the nightstand.

“You mean to tell me I didn’t wear you out the last time?”

He kissed her shoulder. “Honey, I don’t think you could ever wear me out.”

He opened the packed and handed it to her. She grinned, which he didn’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. She mounted his thighs, rolling the condom on with deft and tempting precision.

“Maybe I should pay you back now,” she said, sliding her finger along the length of his shaft.

“You wouldn’t be that cruel.” Although he knew very well if she wanted to, she would. Look how long it took to get her in bed the first time, and they honestly didn’t even make it to the bed.

Nodding her head, she lifted her pelvis and slid him deep inside her again. “Can I tell you something?”

Kaden gripped her hips and stared up into her eyes. “You know you can tell me anything.”

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes then opened them again, leaning forward to kiss him. “I love you.”

With that she proceeded to drive him out of his mind.

* * * *

Shiloh awoke in the middle of the night screaming her head off. Brianna rolled to the side of the bed, muscles she hadn’t used in a while protesting. Sex was great, but she probably wouldn’t need any more for the next five years.

She yawned as she grabbed a robe and headed for her baby’s room. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Mommy’s here.”

She picked up the small child, rubbing Shiloh’s back as she laid her cheek against Brianna’s shoulder, still crying. She felt hot to the touch, her clothes sticking to her sweaty body. Was she sick?

She carried the whimpering child back to her bedroom where Kaden sat on the edge of the bed half-awake. “I think she’s sick.”

“Sick? What do you mean?”

“She’s hot and she’s all sweaty. I’m going to call the doctor.”

Shiloh whimpered in Brianna’s arms as she reached for the phone. Kaden held his arms out to her. “Come here, sweetie.”

Brianna looked at her child as she waited for someone to answer the phone service for emergencies. Shiloh didn’t budge. Normally she couldn’t keep her out of Kaden’s arms. Now she just stared, not even attempting to move to her father.

“She won’t come to me.” Kaden patted her back, trying to coax her away from Brianna, but she fought him, clinging to her mother’s robe.

Brianna finally got the answering service, left a message for the doctor on call to call her back, and hung up. She sat next to Kaden on the bed and tried to get Shiloh to look at her, but she wouldn’t let go. She started crying even though Brianna still held her.

“Sweetie, what’s wrong?” She rocked her slightly trying to calm her. “She’s never been sick before, Kaden. I don’t know what to do.”

“Calm down. The doctor will call in a second, and he’ll figure out what’s wrong.” He pulled on the boxers lying on the floor. “I’m going to get the thermometer that way we can tell the doctor what her temp is when he calls.”

Brianna nodded, feeling helpless. “Shiloh, it’s okay. Calm down, sweetie.”

Rubbing her baby’s clammy back, Brianna kissed her head. She didn’t feel as hot any more, but whatever caused the fever still hurt her. As soon as Kaden came back, the phone rang, and he picked it up.

“Yes. Well, she’d been fine all day yesterday, but she awoke about thirty minutes ago with a fever and a dull cry.” He looked toward the baby, listening to the doctor. “She’s nine months old.”

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