Big Man’s Claim, Wylder, Penny [accelerated reader books TXT] 📗

belly, she kicks me hard, possibly hitting a kidney.

I swear she's going to be just as stubborn as me. I can feel it.

Holding my lower back, I keep moving. Bran took the time to clear the paths around our house so I don't have to climb over any fallen trees or get caught in overgrown briers.

Looking between the tree line, I can see the cabin only a few hundred feet away. Smoke is pouring out of the chimney, and I can smell the ash in the air.

Bran is outside chopping wood. He’s grunting like a wild man. His voice echoes around me making me smile instantly. I can see Buttercup sitting in the snow beside him, just relaxing in the snow.

Stopping at the edge of the trees, I watch Bran for a moment. He's bundled up slightly because it's cold, but I can still see his hard muscles bulging under his thermal. Despite the chilly air, his skin glistens with a thin layer of sweat.

That's my man. He's all mine. Biting my bottom lip, I nibble it gently.

Emerging into our backyard, Bran looks up and smiles. “Hey there love, how are my ladies this morning?” Resting on his ax, he wipes the sweat off his forehead.

“I know she's good, she's all warm and cozy in there. But my back is killing me, I'm starving, and I think I need a nap.”

He swings the ax and secures it in the stump at his side. Pulling the gloves off his hands, he throws them down and walks to my side.

“Well, let's get you inside then.” Scooping me up, he starts to carry me toward the house.

“Bran,” I say laughing. “I'm too heavy for this. Just put me down, I'll walk.”

He looks down on me and smirks, carrying me anyway. Despite my protest, I actually love this. I love how he still holds me just like he did the first time we met. Protective, secure, and strong.

These last nine months have been amazing. And our little honeymoon baby will make life even better as soon as she decides she's ready. Who knew you could still get pregnant on birth control?

Bran sets me on the couch, pulling my boots off my feet. Massaging my feet, he moves his fingers up my calves and digs into the muscles.

“Does that feel better?” he asks.

“Yes, it feels incredible.”

“Roll onto your side, I'll do your back too.”

“Oh my God, I love you.” Turning over, he slides in behind me, working my shoulders and lower back. I close my eyes and moan because it feels so good.

“You're so beautiful, you know that?”

“Even though I'm as big as a cow?”

His hand smooths over my side, moving across my belly. “This is my baby in there, our baby. This belly on you is so damn sexy. I love the curves, I love seeing this bump, I love knowing that we created this little miracle.”

“Really?” I ask, my eyes tearing up.

I can't help it. I'm so emotional lately, my hormones are going nuts. I cry when I'm happy, I cry when I'm annoyed or angry or frustrated. I cry when I see commercials for diapers and the cute infants are snuggling with their mothers.

It's terrible. A beautiful sunrise draws tears, a loving look from Bran draws tears, I don't have any control over it.

Bran pushes up on his elbow, kissing away the tears. “I love you no matter how you look, Mel. One day we'll both be old and wrinkly. And even then, I'll still see you for how beautiful you are.”

“How did I get so lucky to find you?”

“If I remember right, I found you.” We both laugh out loud, then Bran's eyes pop open wide. “Oh, I wanted to ask you. Do you want to see something I'm working on?”

“Of course I do.”

“Wait right here.” He jumps up from the couch, darting to his workbench. Coming back, he's holding another small statue.

Instantly, I lose it again. This man never ceases to amaze me. Bran holds out the statue in his palm. “What do you think?”

It's almost an exact replica of the first one he made for me, only in this one, I'm pregnant. I'm standing on a leaf, holding my pregnant belly, wrapped in a rose petal.

“I love it.” The words come out broken and ragged between heavy tearful breaths of air. “It's beautiful.” A heavy kick from the baby causes me to groan uncomfortably. “Now if only she would actually come, then we could really all be together.”

Bran sets the statue down on the table and kneels next to the couch. Rubbing my stomach, he kisses me. “I think I know a way we can hurry it along.” He wags his brows, biting the very tip of his tongue and smiling.

Taking both my hands, he helps me off the couch, and pulls me up the stairs to our bedroom. I'm not sure if this trick of his will work or not, but I welcome the distraction.

At the top of the stairs, he spins around, pressing his lips against mine. His kiss is hungry and wild. Splitting my lips apart with his tongue, my head tilts slightly, giving him more room to kiss me deeper.

My body reacts easily. This man does things to me I can't even explain. One touch and I'm melting in his hands.

Bran's hand comes up and holds my neck, his thumb pressing against the underside of my chin. He moves his lips down my neck, his breath hot as he exhales between light kisses. My skin prickles with need instantly.

Grabbing the edge of my shirt, I rip it off. My breasts are swollen and full, spilling over the edge of my bra. Palming my breast, he keeps moving his mouth lower. Between my tits, over my ribs, around my stomach, until he disappears beneath the giant bump and I can't see him anymore.

Bran yanks my pants down. Digging my fingers into his shoulders, I step out of my pants and kick them to the side. Blowing