Slay Bells Ring (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 12) (12 page)

“When can we find out?”

“When we get back to Damascus. I’ll make an appointment.”

“Callen will be thrilled. You’ve given him a huge gift,” Ethan admitted.

“Are you upset we’re done after this?”

He thought about it. “You know, no, I’m not. I look at our family, and it feels complete. I don’t think I’ll mind having that vasectomy. Callen needed this. I have my little girl. I’m good.”

“Really?”

He kissed her on the tip of her freckled nose. “Yes, really. I’m at peace. My life is perfect. I don’t need more. I think the expression is ‘my cup runneth over’.”

She was glad.

“I hear him coming,” Ethan stated. “I’ll lock up and be back in a little while.”

She watched him leave. Now she had to prepare herself for what was coming. Callen would be thrilled, but he might also flip his lid over her being there. Then add in that Ethan knew, and didn't tell him…

This could go bad.

As Callen came out, drying his hair with a towel, he must have noticed the silence.

“Who threw a wet towel on this party?” he asked.

“We need to talk.”

That froze him in his tracks. “I really hate when you say that, and it’s said in that tone. It scares the shit out of me. What’s wrong? Did something happen to our kids?”

She loved how that was always his first worry. Callen Whitefox, despite the odds, had become a damn good father.

“No, they’re fine. Gabe sent me a text telling me they’ve landed and are in protective custody at his place. Wyler looks exhausted, but that isn't shocking. He just traveled on a plane with four small children. The man’s a saint.”

She was stalling.

He could hear it in her voice.

“Just get it over with. I’m a grown man, and I don’t want you coddling me.”

“I have a secret. It’s good and bad.”

He didn't move, even when she moved closer to him.

Callen’s cheek twitched, and she didn't miss it. That was something both men inherited. It was a sign that he was already on the edge.

“You know I love you, and I’d never do anything to intentionally hurt you, right?”

“Yes.” Except, right now, he was pretty sure his feelings were about to take a hit. He was standing there all heated from his shower, they were alone, and she wasn’t pouncing.

That was a very bad sign.

This had to be serious.

“I’ve done something, and it wasn’t intentional. I had every intent to come to you first, but this case got in the way.”

“Okay. Are you ‘divorcing’ me? Kicking me out of the family? Did you send Ethan away so you could break my heart without any witnesses?”

She stared at him. “Cal, we’re never divorcing you. Not now, not ever. Take that off the table. You’re just going to be pissed, and I’m asking that you don’t explode over this. I need you to stay calm, breathe, and be the man who always has my back.”

This was getting worse and worse.

Any second, his heart was going to rupture in his chest. It was pounding so hard that he could hear it in his ears.

This sucked.

Elizabeth went to her purse and dug out the pregnancy test. As she crossed to him, Callen looked freaked out. Gently, she took his hand and placed it in it.

He stared down at the stick.

“Wait. Are we...?”

She nodded, giving him a second for it all to register.

Before he could let himself celebrate, he needed to know what she was so worried about. “Why would I be mad about this? I’m ecstatic. What’s the big secret?”

“I found out today, and I wanted you to be the first to know, but this case popped up. I couldn’t keep it from Ethan. He’s got those anger issues, and he’d see this as me trying to avoid discussing it.”

He thought about it. “Okay, so you told my brother. He’s part of our unit, so that’s not going to piss me off. I’m still not sure what you’re worried about.”

“I went down to the lab to round up the team to come here, and I started crying. Tony and Chris know too. In fact, Chris did blood work on me. He checked my hormone levels. I’m around ten weeks. When we thought we got pregnant the first time, we actually did.”

He still waited.

“I don’t see why I’d be pissed by any of it. They’re doctors. They were helping you out. Really, you think I’m this far gone that I’d lose it?”

Here it went.

“Then there’s this case. Someone is trying to kill me, and I have your baby on board.”

Now he got it.

She was stressing it, and that was why she looked so damn nervous.

“I’m not worried.”

Elizabeth stared at him. “What? Me being in the middle of this mess doesn’t freak you out? What is this? Are you taking medication? Can you give some to Ethan?”

He laughed. “Angel, you’re going to be safe. Yes, I’m scared, but I’m not going to take it out on you. We’ve had this discussion before. I’m part of this, and I can bear the weight. I don’t need you and Ethan protecting me. I can hold my own. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been. I’ve completed therapy, and I see that I’m not breakable. If anything, as a team, we’re indestructible. Nothing can take us down.”

She was impressed. For a long time, Callen let fear motivate him.

Now…fear was his bitch.

“So, back to the main part of this discussion, and possibly the most important part. We’re having a baby?” he asked. When he grinned, the stress on her face dissipated.

“Yes, Callen James, you’re going to be a father—again—and may I add for the last time!”

Those were the most beautiful words he’d ever heard. Once more, his woman was giving him a gift. It helped heal his heart even more. When he told her he needed this, Elizabeth was more than willing to give it to him, despite her reservations.

Now, he had to cherish that gift.

Oh, he was still going to watch over her like a hawk, catering to her every whim, but he wasn’t going to let fear work him up.

This was their last pregnancy.

Callen was going to make the most of it.

“Can we celebrate now or do you have something else to drop on me that’ll take my blood pressure for a ride around
‘Stroke Out’
lane?” he asked.

She laughed, and then ran at him.

It caught him off guard. As she wrapped her legs around his hips, they tumbled onto the couch.

“Oh, Callen,” she muttered, right before her mouth found his.

The lust and love blossomed. With Callen, it was always a mix of both. She wasn’t able to distinguish them apart. As his hands roamed her body, her heart swelled. She could feel the need, but he was being gentle. It was like she was the most fragile of glass.

She couldn’t love him more than she did at that moment. Here was half her heart, and they had created another life. It was one more bond to tie them together for the rest of their lives.

Callen’s brain went fuzzy, but he had enough thought left to know he needed to do this right.

Pushing off the couch, Callen wanted to have more than a sweaty romp on rented furniture. Tonight, finally, the sex wasn’t about creating life, but cementing the two of them even closer together.

He wanted his woman in bed.

Beneath him.

Over him.

All around him.

So, he carried her in there as her mouth made magical things happen to his body. She called to him and like some lure, buried deep within his soul, he was reacting.

Need clawed at him, trying to find its way from his body. Callen struggled not to make this some heated, frenetic romp. There would be time for that. Right now, he wanted a gentle reminder that what they had was beautiful.

As her hands found their way up his torso, across his shoulders, and into his hair, a moan broke free.

This was heaven.

Ten days of not touching her was too long to go between romantic interludes. There should be some rule against that in life. Once you found your other half, you should have to reconnect daily. He missed everything about their joining.

The feel.

The scent.

The way she reacted to his touch
.

As they tumbled onto the bed, the mating of mouths became more heated. Pulling away from her, Callen stared into her eyes. “I will love you forever. You’re my heart, my soul, and the mother of my children. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Lyzee. I’m blessed.”

At that moment, she wanted to weep. She didn't give him enough credit. Here was a calm man who would do the job and keep her safe.

She was grateful. When Callen didn't freak out, it took some of the stress off her shoulders.

He was right.

He had it under control.

“I love you, Callen James. You’re a sexy, sweet, and wonderful man. I’m lucky to have you.”

He kissed her.

When he’d had his fill, Callen rolled, placing her beneath him. When he let his hands run up the length of her torso, they paused over the place on her stomach where their child would be growing.

Her heart skipped as Callen stared down at his hand.

“I love you too,” he admitted. “You’re my salvation. Ethan has Charlie, and I have you.”

“I think it’s going to be a girl,” she offered. “I feel the same as I did when I was carrying Charlie.”

His eyes misted up. “Really?”

Could he dare allow himself to hope she was right? Could the man, whose life was filled with so much pain as he grew up, get this lucky?

Was he finally getting his wish?

“Yes,” she admitted. “I hope it is. I want to always give you everything that puts that exact look on your face. I want you to feel this happy forever.”

Because of her, he would. Even without another child, he was still blessed. He had the love of his brother and a good woman to get him through all the rough patches.

“You’re my days, nights, hours, and seconds. Without you, there’s no point. With you there’s no limit. The day you found me was the day I found myself. I am a better man, father, and lover because of you.”

She loved when he’d spout some little sonnet he’d written for her. It touched her heart, making her feel so happy. Callen was her poet. He was her love.

“I mean it,” he stated. 

Elizabeth loved how the men in her life always treated the life they’d created with so much reverence. Maybe it was because they had brutal jobs, which showed the worst moments in humanity, so they respected it so much more.

Where his hand once was, his mouth now took its place. Gently, he pushed her shirt up to find her bare beneath. “Oh, angel, I’ve missed this.”

And he had.

The feel of her skin was alluring.

“I missed it too, Callen. Make love to me.”

Her wish was his command.

Pulling her up until she was sitting, Callen pulled the shirt from her body. The second it was gone, his mouth was back on hers.

The kiss was a little wilder than before, and it showed Elizabeth what lived in him for her.

Her fingers went to the button on his well-worn jeans. With a flick of her wrist, they were open. Immediately, he popped out.

Someone was going commando, and she loved every second of it. With eager fingers, Elizabeth began stroking him. His heated flesh warmed even more as her palm teased and tormented him.

“Wait.”

The words stopped her dead in her tracks. “What? I don’t know if I really can wait, Callen.”

“I have a secret too.”

She didn't move. From her position on the bed, she stared up at him. She set him free, releasing his erection. Elizabeth couldn’t imagine what he was hiding from her. In fact, she was a little afraid to ask, but she didn't have a choice.

“What is it?”

“I did something.”

Elizabeth never looked away from his eyes. There was no fear there, but instead amusement. It couldn’t be that bad after all.

“If you’re holding out on sex, while I’m pregnant, it better be something huge,” she warned. “If not, you’re going to get hurt.”

Callen laughed. “I wanted to give you something.”

“You did. I’m growing you a child. Now I know what I really want you to give me.” She pointed at his erection.

Callen laughed. “Hold on, hornball. I have something for you. Besides, I didn't know at the time you were pregnant, so I got you the gift that will last my lifetime.”

She wasn’t sure where this was going. “Okay. Let me have it.”

“It’s part of your Christmas gifts, but if I have sex with you, I can’t keep it hidden.”

She stared at his penis. “Well, it’s not a new dick, so you better spill it.”

“I’ll show you.”

With that, Callen pulled the t-shirt from his body.

He knew when she figured it out.

Her eyes drifted lower and down his torso. When they stopped on his ribs, the recognition dawned. There was a tattoo. Immediately, she sat up.