Instead I link my fingers through his to gain leverage so that I can start to move. Each time he enters me it feels better than the last as I am quickly building toward my release. Waking up feeling as though I was already on the brink, my entire body tingling all over, I don’t hold back, not that I could if I tried.

  Tyler sits up, bringing his mouth to my breast, dragging his tongue over one hard peek and then moving to the next. “Yes,” I gasp, my orgasm building.

  “Fuck, don’t stop,” he encourages me as I rotate my hips, feeling him hit the very spot deep within me. “Cum with me, Amara, I’m so close baby.”

  My movements quicken, I feel him growing within me and suddenly my lower stomach begins to tingle, and a powerful orgasm rocks through me. My legs tense, and Tyler slams up into me a few more times and then I feel his thighs tense, and his grip on me tightens, his fingers digging into my hips.

  “Fuck me!” Tyler curses, his body trembling. “Now that is the perfect way to wake up.”

  Falling forward I bury my face in the crook of his neck, and try to hold back my laughter. Half of the time I feel like I’m about to lose control. I fall asleep satisfied and wake up feeling like I am hanging on a ledge, seconds from orgasm and so needy I can’t control it.

  I know it's the hormones, but it's also because the man beneath me knows my body so well, and he makes me feel so alive.

  Rolling off to the side, Tyler doesn’t release his hold on me, but rolls with me. Cupping my face in his hand, he drags his thumb over my lips and just lies there watching me.

  “I have never felt this way before,” he confesses, still holding my stare.

  “What way?”

  “Content,” Ty takes in a deep breath, his body settling in beside me. “Like I have everything I could ever want or need right at my fingertips. But also terrified of something taking it away from me.” Moving in a little closer, he kisses me, holding that kiss for a few seconds before pulling back once again. “What I feel for you is something so new for me, but I know that I never want this feeling to go away. I am so in love with you and what we’re building. I’m in awe of the fact that my baby is growing inside of you, that you’re mine, and I am yours.”

  It doesn’t take much anymore to turn me into an emotional mess, but I close my eyes doing my best to hold back.

  “I think we should move in together.” My entire body freezes and my pulse quickens. “And before you think that I’m saying this only because of the baby you should know that I’d be suggesting this if you weren’t pregnant. I don’t like waking up without you and I know when I go back to the station those nights are going to suck, so when I come home I want you by my side. I want to hold you when I can, and yes, I also want to share a home with you and our baby. I don’t want to live apart from either of you.”

  Tyler kisses me before I can argue.

  “Just take some time and think about it, okay?”

  I nod, but if I’m being honest I love the idea of having him here with me as often as possible.

  CHAPTER

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  Tyler

  “Look who finally decided to get off his ass and get back to work.” Fitz walks up to me as I enter the station and pause next to the fire truck. He’s the first to greet me, taking my hand and pulling me in for a side hug.

  “I figure it's time I came back and cleaned up all the messes you created while I was gone.”

  He chuckles and Liam moves in offering the same greeting.

  “Please,” Coleton moves in for his own greeting. “It’s been smooth sailing around here without all your damn winning and bitching on the daily.”

  Harsh, stands back watching us all with a smile on his face. After six weeks of leave I’ve finally been released to return to duty. Though it's light, I’ll be on medical instead of a truck which I don’t mind, I started as an EMT.

  “How's Mar feeling?” Nolan asks crossing his arms over his chest.

  “She’s good,” I can’t help the smile that creeps onto my face. “She’s barely showing, and hasn't really had much morning sickness. If it wasn’t for the sonogram picture to prove she’s carrying my kid it wouldn’t be believable.” She’s really been lucky in that aspect of the pregnancy.

  I pull the sonogram picture we got last week at the doctor and hold it out, each of them passing it around smiling.

  “I can’t believe you’re going to be a dad.” Fitz, stares at the image shaking his head. “King Bachelor himself, having a kid.”

  The idea of that doesn’t even freak me out in the slightest. In fact I can barely wait to meet the little one that Amara and I have made together.

  “Tyler you’ll be with Nolan on the med truck,” Harsh says, stepping in closer to our crowd. “You may be cleared for duty by medical, but you know me, and I’ll want to ensure that for myself.” Harsh is a hard man, he is the type that will make his own evaluation. Mainly it's because he’s like a father to us all, which also means he’s a hard ass.

  Everyone begins to scatter, and I take my picture and tuck it back safely into the pocket of my wallet. Liam must notice how I can’t seem to wipe the smile from my face, and steps in shoving my shoulder regaining my full attention.

  “You two work everything out?”

  “Yeah,” I nod, “we have.”

  “All good, then?”

  “Better than good,” I’m a damn fool, a lovesick fool. “I’m moving into her place, until her lease is up. Then we plan to look for a house with a backyard. It’s real Liam, really fucking real. I’m in this, fully invested, won’t accept it not working out kind of in. I told you I love her, and I meant it. Amara and this baby, they’re my family. The two of them are mine to protect and that means that no matter what, from this day forward they come first.”

  Liam seems pleased with my response.

  “Who knows, we may be attending another wedding soon.”

  “Only this time the groom won’t be a fucking dumbass that doesn’t show.” He nods and I see something pass over his face, a shift as the corner of his mouth tips up in a smile.

  “How’s Audrey doing these days anyway?”

  He looks at me, his smirk changing to a full-on smile, and I think he knows I suspect something. Hell, I’ve suspected he’s had feelings for Audrey long before we all traveled to Florida for a wedding. I never thought Lincoln deserved her, Audrey is too damn good for a guy like Linc. She’d always be second, and with Liam I know that would never be the case.

  “She’s doing good,” He finally offers in reply, and I don’t push for more. But I also know I don’t have to; I have all the answers I need. He’d share more when the time was right.

  I start for the stairs and pull out my phone, sending Amara a message.

  Me: Already miss you. This next twenty-four hours is going to feel like forever.

  Tucking my phone into my pocket I toss my bag on my cot and sit down, lying back against the mattress. Visions of Amara and I in the shower just a few hours ago, saying our goodbyes. Those goodbyes lasted until we were both out of breath, and our skin wrinkled from the water.

  Me holding her against the shower wall, her lips parted, my face buried between her legs. The way she fists my hair and grinds against me. Fuck I have to clear my thought to keep from growing hard.

  The alarm rings and I sit up, hearing the call for Med Truck on scene. Climbing out of the cot, I start for the stairs as Nolan joins me. “You ready?”

  “Let’s hit it,” I tell him, jumping up into the passenger seat and bulking up. He flips the switch, the siren starts, and we are on our way to my first calls in weeks.

  It feels good to be back.

  I can’t wait to see Amara, after twenty-four hours it felt more like a week, and I drove straight to the salon.

  When I step inside and the bell on the door rings, and everyone looks in my direction. Mar is working on a girl, with foil in her hair. All eyes are on me, but all I see is my woman, who is giving me that needy look of hers.

  Stepping up to her side I lean in and kiss her, not caring that we have an audience. “It's been way too long since I did that last.”

  “It's been one day.”

  “Like I said, way too long,” I lean closer, pressing my forehead to hers. “How’s my girl feeling?”

  “Better now,” I notice the smile on her face.

  “The two of you are way too cute,” the girl in her chair interrupts us and I glance down to see her looking back at us. “Where can I find one of him?”

  Amara laughs, “There is only one Tyler.” Reaching out she places her hand against my chest. “And he’s mine.”

  “Are you booked up today?” I ask hoping she will tell me she’ll be free soon.

  “I have back-to-back appointments until three.” Disappointment fills my chest.

  “I’ll see you tonight at home.” I may have not yet moved all my things into her place, but we’ve already made it ours. The morning after I mentioned us moving in together she told me she wanted that to. I haven’t spent a night without her since, besides last night.

  I give her one last kiss and then wave goodbye to the rest of the ladies, hearing a few sighs as I exit the salon.

  I walk along the small shops, looking through the window displays, and something catches my eye in a small boutique a few doors down from the salon. Turning back I enter the shop and an older woman from behind the counter looks up.

  “Good morning,” she smiles at me, rounding the counter. “Is there something I can help you with?”

  Already knowing what I came in for I walk directly to the baby section and pick up the small red onesie I spotted from the window. “My girlfriend is pregnant,” I say looking back at the woman. “We don’t know what we’re having yet, but this could be alright for either right?’

  The onesie looks like it has a pair of suspenders on it and in the middle it says ‘Probie’ on the front.

  “I think it would be cute for a boy or a girl,” she offers me a smile. “Especially if daddy is a firefighter.”

  I look down at my shirt that I am wearing and notice it still says Calloway Fire and Rescue on it.

  “I’ll take it,” I carry it up to the register, my chest feeling tight with emotion; To some it may seem like nothing but for me it's everything. This is the first of many things I’ll buy for my child. A child who I had no idea I even wanted, but now can’t picture my life without.

  CHAPTER

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  Amara

  “Tyler always was a sweet little baby,” his mother sits back down at the table, after gathering a pitcher of sweet tea. “Rarely cried unless he was hungry or dirty. Always smiling and laughing,” She turns to Tyler's father. “Do you remember that sweet little laugh of his?”

  “It was more of an uncontrollable giggle.” His dad adds with his own smile, and it seems the two of them get lost for a few seconds in the memories. I look at Tyler, and he reaches out and takes my hand in his, offering a gentle squeeze.

  On our way over here I was nervous. I wasn’t sure how this dinner would go, but being here, in the place that Tyler grew up in, hearing stories and sharing laughs, it is so welcoming.

  “We found this,” His dad gets up and walks into the hallway coming back carrying what looks like an oversized basket. “It was Tyler’s, but you don’t have to use it.”

  I stand and round the table in awe of the sweet bassinet.

  “It’s beautiful,” old school, but the sweetest possible.

  “It's a Moses basket, and this blue ribbon can be changed out for a pink or even yellow if you’d like. Depending on what you are having.”

  I kneel down on the floor next to it and run my fingers over the soft material lining the inside. “It’s perfect,” I say, feeling my eyes fill with unshed tears. Again with the emotions, I feel like they come at the worst times.

  We spend the next of couple hours at his parents, sharing stories of Tyler growing up. They talked about how adventurous he’s always been. Always on the go, seeking his next adrenaline rush, and terrifying his mother at every turn.

  “Seeing him settle down, happy and completely content feels like the greatest gift. I have no doubt in my mind that he’s going to be an amazing father.” Tyler’s gaze meets his mothers, and they share something I think only the two of them understand. I don’t ask and I won’t, because the moment is theirs.

  Later we end up sitting in the living room his mother and I, while the guys make their way out to the garage. I settle in on the couch and she breaks out the baby photo albums. I get lost in all the sweet images of Tyler from birth until he graduates high school.

  They've obviously loved him and the pride they have can be easily seen in each photo.

  It reminds me of my mother, never wanting to miss a moment of our childhood, so there was always a camera in her hand.

  “Who is this?” I ask, when I find the page with one single photo in the middle. The woman is beautiful, and there is something familiar about her eyes.

  “That is Tyler’s biological mother,” Cheryl settles in at my side. “He doesn’t like to talk about her, and I can’t blame him. She is Matt’s sister, and though I’ve been around for years she is always a touchy subject in their household. Not that they didn’t try to help her, in fact they tried everything they could. But in the end someone like that has to want your help for it to actually make a difference. So eventually they had to face the fact that she didn’t want help.”

  “Where is she now?”

  “No one truly knows,” she stares at the image on the page. “After she gave up Tyler, she walked away, and no one has heard from her since. I like to think that maybe she finally got help and is living a good life somewhere, it helps. I don’t like to think the worst. But what I do know is that no matter what I could never truly hate her, because she made me a mother and for that I will always be grateful.”

  The sound of the back screen door squeezing as it opens and then shuts interrupts Cheryl and my moment.

  “I see we’ve broken out the embarrassing baby photos.” Tyler flops down on the couch next to me. “Promise me, we will never do this to our kid.”

  “Nope, sorry, I can’t do that,” I smile, flipping to the next page of images and finding one of Tyler with a little naked butt. “I’m going to be one of those moms that photographs everything.”

  He cups the back of my neck with his hand, and I look over at him, just as he leans in and kisses the corner of my mouth. Relaxing against him he thumbs through the albums laughing when a memory strikes him. Which of course leads to another story, and I am completely enthralled with each and every one.

  “Hey mom,” I step up behind her and kiss her cheek. “How’s your day?”

  “The girls are fighting again, Your dad ducked out to avoid the drama and I’m two-seconds from muzzling them both and locking them in the closet.”

  I laugh because she’d never do that.

  “What’s the newest issue?”

  “Lauren is getting tired of Leah’s things all over the floor. Leah then decides to toss a few more things around just to piss her off more, so it's never ending. They are both bitching about not having their own room. I swear their number one goal is to drive me crazy.”

  “You said that about me and then about Tucker, though I’m not sure Tucker ever stopped. He’s twenty-one and still a handful.”

  She laughs, but doesn’t deny it, because she knows it's true. My brother is a man child.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “So far so good,” I tell her sitting down at the table as she joins me with two glasses of tea. “I’m still able to wear my pants, so that’s a plus.”

  “You just wait, you're going to go to bed wearing one size and wake up needing another, before you know it. I know with all you kids I felt like I ballooned up overnight.”

  “Great,” I mumble, as I take the tea and lift it to my lips. Nothing is better than my mother’s sweet tea, well maybe her peach pie, but it's a close race.

  “How are things with Tyler?”

  “Going really good,” my mother was the first person I went to when Tyler mentioned moving in together. She is the first person I call when I need reassurance. I remember that day she looked right at me and said, stop questioning that man at every turn, he drove across several states in the middle of the night to tell you he loved you, what more do you need.

  “Did he get everything out of his place?”

  “Yes, their lease is up in eight weeks, but Liam is still there and Ty gave him his portion of the rent through the rest of the agreed term.”

  “I still can’t believe you moved him in with you,” I turned around to see my brother entering the kitchen. “Don’t come crying to me when that backfires.”

  “Tucker,” my mother starts to correct him, but I wave her off.

  “Why does it bother you so much?”

  “It doesn’t,” he shrugs. “I’ve just witnessed him swooping in and making everything sound peachy, until the next morning when he’s finished and no longer has the need for the lady.”

  “Sounds to me like you just described yourself,” I challenge, standing to face off with him. “What exactly is your problem with Tyler?” I step to the left, blocking the path to the doorway. “Because you may think I am stupid enough to believe that this is only you trying to protect me, but I don’t buy it. So what is it?”

  “Nothing,” he places his hands on his hips.

  “Bullshit,” my mom doesn’t attempt to intervene, instead she stands and goes back to the sink, washing the remaining dishes with her back to us. “Tell me.”

  He shakes his head, attempting to sidestep me, only I follow his movements.

  “You aren’t the first person he knocked up,” my brother's words hit me like a brick wall. I hear something bang against the countertop and I swear the ground sways beneath me.

  “Amara,” Tucker shouts my name, then grabs ahold of me, just before I hit the floor.