Chapter Fourteen

“What are you thinking about, baby?” King asked as he slid his hand up and down her arm that was wrapped around their son.

Her gaze flew to his. “I … I’m thinking about our move here.”

“Are you happy so far?”

“Yes, very much, and I think this will be good for Corey.”

“And will it be good for you, too?” he asked.

“I … yes, I think it will. This place is overwhelming, and I feel like an imposter or something.”

He squeezed her shoulder. “Please don’t. You have just as much right to be here as I do.”

“I also have a fear of something happening to take you away from me—us again.”

“Nothing will happen, baby. I promise. Just let me take care of you guys.”

“I am, and I’m trying not to dwell on what happened before, but it was the darkest time in my life, and I’m amazed that I survived.”

The pain of losing her to death made his heart pound in his chest and his stomach twist in despair. “God, I can’t imagine…” He swallowed a few times. “I can’t imagine a world without you in it. I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe because my world would come to an end without you.”

She reached for him. “Don’t say that.”

“I just need you to be careful all the time.”

“I will, but you have to do the same thing,” she said.

He smiled. “Oh, there’s no way I’m taking a chance when I know you’re waiting for me at home.”

“Good.”

“Get some rest. When we wake up, I’d like us to go on the internet to find things for his room.”

Her eyes closed. “That’s fine.”

He watched her sleep for a long time before his lack of rest made him close his own eyes.

When he opened them, he saw that two hours had passed, and Cat and Corey were starting to rouse.

A smile crossed his face when Corey cuddled against her breast.

“Hey,” she said when she opened her eyes and saw him. “Did you sleep?”

“Yes,” King said. “Does he want to breastfeed right now?”

“Yes, he usually likes it after his nap and before bedtime.”

“Can I watch?” he asked and then saw her blush.

“Yeah…” She pulled off her t-shirt and unsnapped her bra.

“Jesus, baby, you’re so beautiful.” He could see slight changes. Her breasts looked fuller, and her nipples a little darker. There were also pale striations on the sides of her breasts, and he reached out after Corey started to drink and smoothed a finger over them. “What are these?”

She glanced down. “Stretch marks. I have them on my breast and abdomen.”

“I want to see them.”