Page 39 of Adrian

My husband nuzzles my neck before answering. We can’t stop touching each other. “Mostly because someone came onto this very property over a decade ago and killed my parents by burning down our house. That’s enough to put all of us on edge. Also, my brother Asher is hyperaware of every square foot of this land. Before we got the security system up and running, he stalked the property on protection detail for years.”

“I guess you know who the arsonist is now, since you said he died in an ammunition accident.”

Adrian sobers and holds my gaze, gripping my hips. “The arsonist was the owner of the property you bought. Rebekah and Hannah’s father.”

I gasp. “Oh, shit. That’s awful.”

“Yes. He was very backward. After his wife died, he sold Hannah into domestic slavery and used Rebekah as his own personal punching bag, cook, and maid. Asher found Rebekah snooping around our property and tied her to a chair in the kitchen. That’s where Adam found her. She’d had a sweet spot for Adam as a child. He married her right away. Then, as predicted, her father stormed over here in the night, waving his gun around, intent on getting his maid back. He was a fool, though, and ended up killing himself by accident.”

“Jesus…”

“Yeah.”

“What about Hannah? Is that how she got pregnant? From the man who bought her?”

“No. His son, who was home on leave from the Army. It wasn’t consensual, and he later died in battle. Hannah ran away a few days before delivering. She came here. I saw her approaching on the cameras, Aaric went out to get her, and, well, he married her.”

I’m smiling. “So many love stories. This property must have some sort of effect on you guys. What about Asher? How did he meet Emma?”

Adrian laughs. “He kidnapped her, like he did Rebekah. Found her on the property and went apeshit, thinking she was trespassing. Really, she’s a botanist, and she had permission from Andrew to collect research data about some of the plants on our land. Andrew simply forgot to mention to anyone that he’d made arrangements for Emma to conduct her study.”

“And then he married her.”

“Yep.”

“And Andrew? How did he meet Jaclyn?”

“Jaclyn is an attorney for JNG Enterprises. She found a discrepancy in a few of our contracts, brought them to Andrew’s attention, and came out here to meet with him. Shit happened, and he married her.” Adrian grins.

I place my hand over my heart and sigh. “So sweet.”

“Sure. Not as sweet as you.” He kisses me again. We can’t keep our hands off each other.

“That leaves Cheri,” she prompts.

“Cheri’s a romance novelist and close friend of Jaclyn’s. She followed Jaclyn here, stomping angry that she couldn’t get ahold of her best friend.”

I laugh. “So, Aaron married her, of course.”

Adrian smirks. “Of course.”

I ponder my future, chewing on my lip for a moment. “What will I do around here while you’re keeping everyone safe from unknown enemies?”

Adrian shrugs. “Whatever you want, baby. Rebekah and Hannah have an amazing garden going if you truly want to splice vegetables and create a new variety. I’m sure they would help. I’m just spit-balling. Take some time to find yourself. When did you last take a vacation?”

I tap my lips. “My parents took me to the obligatory amusement park when I was seven.”

“Then I’d say you’re due for a break.” He stands, sets our champagne and chocolate out of the way, and lowers me so I’m lying on the table. With a twinkle in his eyes, he pushes my T-shirt up and kisses my stomach. “You could have our babies and spend your days raising the next generation of scientists.”

I shudder. It’s possible we’ve already made a baby. The thought of a human growing inside me is almost overwhelming on top of everything else.

Adrian pushes my shirt higher, exposing my chest. He nuzzles my breasts. “I can’t wait to watch you nursing our infants,” he mutters.

“What if I don’t want to breastfeed?” I counter, simply to see what he’ll say.

He shrugs. “Then I’ll milk you and feed them myself.”

I gasp. Without blinking, I watch him suckle my nipple. After a few seconds, he lifts his eyes to mine, brows raised. I don’t think he’s kidding.