Chapter 125 #125
Chapter 125
~Dwayne’s POV~
Her hand flew to her stomach so fast it startled me.
“Shailyn?”
She didn’t answer. She just froze, eyes wide, breath caught somewhere in her chest.
My heart slammed painfully against my ribs. Every worst-case scenario flashed through my head in rapid succession. Pain. Complications. Something wrong with the babies.
“Shailyn,” I said again, sharper now. “What’s wrong?”
For a split second, fear still owned her face. Then I watched it disappear melt away like it had never been there at all replaced by something radiant. Awe. Joy. Wonder so pure it almost hurt to look at.
“They kicked,” she whispered.
“What?”
Her lips curved into a trembling smile as she looked down at herself, both hands pressed protectively to her stomach. “The babies. They kicked. Really kicked.” She lifted her gaze to me, eyes shining with tears she didn’t bother wiping away. “Not just moving. Actually kicking.”
Relief hit me so hard my knees almost buckled. I sucked in a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and let out a shaky laugh.
“You scared the hell out of me.”
“I’m sorry,” she said softly, laughing a little herself. “I just… it was so sudden. So strong.” Her fingers spread over her stomach like she was trying to hold onto the moment. “They’ve never done that before.”
“Are they still—” My voice dropped, cautious.
“Yes. Here.” She reached for my hand without hesitation. “Feel.”
I hesitated, my hand hovering inches from her. Something about this felt… sacred. Like crossing an invisible line.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Please,” she said, meeting my eyes. “I want you to feel them.”
I let her guide my hand down, placing it gently against her stomach.
Right there.
Where the babies were.
My babies.
The realization hit harder than I expected. I went completely still, barely breathing, afraid even the smallest movement might make the moment disappear.
Then I felt it.
A small, unmistakable thump against my palm.
Then another.
“Oh my God,” I whispered.
Shailyn laughed, the sound bright and breathless. “Right? It’s incredible.”
Another kick followed, stronger this time, more confident. Like they knew we were paying attention.
“They’re really going at it,” I said, awe thick in my voice.
“They’ve been so active today,” she replied. “But this… this is different. This is real.”
I couldn’t look away from where my hand rested on her stomach. Couldn’t stop imagining them tiny, growing, alive. Strong.
Something tight and hot built in my chest, swelling until it felt like it might crack me open.
“Are you okay?” she asked quietly.
“Yeah.” I swallowed. “I just—” My voice broke, betraying me. “This is beautiful.”
“It is.”
Another kick, and my vision blurred.
I blinked hard, forcing myself to pull it together. No. Not now. Crying would raise questions I wasn’t ready to answer.
“Does it hurt?” I asked, grounding myself in practicality.
“No. Just pressure. Like they’re stretching.” She smiled softly. “It’s kind of amazing.”
“Good,” I murmured. “That’s good.”
We stayed like that, my hand still on her stomach, sharing the quiet miracle of feeling our children move.
Time seemed to slow, stretching thin around us. The world narrowed until it was just this room, her warmth, and the steady proof of life beneath my palm.
Perfect. Complete.
When I finally looked up, I found her watching me.
Really watching me.
Her face was closer than I’d realized. Too close. Close enough that I could see the fine freckles across her nose, the way her lashes trembled slightly when she blinked.
We were standing on a cliff.
I should’ve stepped back. Created distance. Done the right thing.
Instead, I shifted forward.
I towered over her now, my body instinctively closing the space between us.
Her breathing changed immediately, faster, shallower. I felt it like a spark against my skin.
And seeing her like this flushed, vulnerable, lips parted just slightly—
I got hard.
Instantly. Painfully.
She noticed. I saw it in her eyes, the way they widened just a fraction, the way heat rushed into her cheeks.
“Dwayne—”
“I want you,” I said quietly, the words ripping out of me before I could stop them.
“What?”
“I want you, Shailyn.” My voice was rough now, stripped bare. “God, I want you so badly I can barely think straight.”
“We can’t—”
“I know.” I moved closer anyway. “But that doesn’t change how I feel.” I dipped my head, my voice dropping. “Do you know what I think about? Late at night when I can’t sleep?”
She shook her head, barely breathing.
“You,” I said. “Always you. I imagine stripping that dress off. Kissing every inch of your skin. Tasting you until you’re begging me to stop.”
“Dwayne—”
“I imagine burying myself inside you,” I continued, unable to stop. “Feeling you clench around me. Hearing you scream my name.”
Her breath hitched, sharp and undeniable.
“I’m done,” I said roughly. “Done pretending. Done playing the brother-in-law. Done acting like I don’t want to claim you as mine.”
“This is crazy—”
“Maybe. But I don’t care.” I leaned closer. “Tell me you don’t want it too. Tell me you don’t think about me the same way.”
She didn’t answer.
She couldn’t.
We both knew the truth.
“Shailyn,” I whispered. One hand stayed on her stomach. The other rose to cup her face. “I need you.”
“This is wrong—”
“Nothing about this feels wrong.”
“Dante—”
“Isn’t here,” I cut in. “And even if he was, I wouldn’t care.” My thumb brushed her cheek. “You’re mine. You’ve always been mine.”
Her eyes searched mine, vulnerable and unsure. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I’m in love with you,” I said. “Completely. Desperately. And I’m done hiding it.”
I didn’t wait for her reply.
I kissed her.
Her lips were soft, warm, perfect. She tasted like strawberries, sweet and familiar, like something I’d been craving my whole life without realizing it.
Her hair brushed my face, lavender filling my senses as I deepened the kiss. She made a small sound, barely more than a breath and then she was kissing me back.
Her hands fisted in my shirt.
I poured everything into that kiss. Every buried feeling. Every forbidden want. Every aching, desperate need.
It was slow. Tender. A confession without words.
She melted into me, and I wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer, careful of her stomach. Always careful.
But God, she felt right.
Like this was always how it was supposed to be.
Her lips parted, and I took the invitation, tasting her deeper. She whimpered softly, the sound going straight through me.
I wanted more. Needed more.
My hand slid to her neck, thumb brushing her jaw. She arched into me—
The door opened.
Someone cleared their throat.
Loudly.
We broke apart instantly.
Both breathing hard. Both flushed.
And we were both staring at the figure standing in the doorway, arms crossed, eyebrow raised.