Ash laughs. “I think you better listen, she looks like she’s about to rip his clothes off. You look hot, by the way,” she says to Maddox.

Krypt glares at her.

“Oh stop it. No one is as hot as you. Come on.”

He shakes his head, and he and Mack walk past me. Mack leans in as he goes past and whispers, “Take it easy on him, tiger.”

Then they’re all gone.

I don’t hesitate; I walk forward, climbing onto the bed. I lean over Maddox and I kiss him. I kiss him so hard and so deep his breathing quickly turns ragged and feral little hisses leave his throat. He kisses me right back, just as hard and just as sweet. Mmmmmm. I pull back after a few minutes and whisper, “You’re so fucking hot.”

He laughs and curls his hand around the back of my neck. “If you look at me like that for the rest of my life, I’ll die a happy fuckin’ man.”

“If you look like this for the rest of your life, there’ll be no problem with me doing that.”

He chuckles and pulls me into his side.

“It was the best fuckin’ day of my life when I found you, Santana.”

My heart thuds and I snuggle in closer. “For me, too.”

“I’m gonna marry you when this shit is over, then I’m gonna put a baby inside you...”

“So romantic,” I giggle.

He runs a finger down my arm. “I’m goin’ to be fuckin’ you real slow when I put a baby in you, that’s romantic.”

I flush. “Slow?”

“Real slow.”

“Mmmmm.”

“Tana?”

“Yeah?”

He pulls me closer. “Best fuckin’ day...you hear me?”

“Yeah, handsome.”

“Want to know what else you need to hear?”

I nod into his chest.

“I love you.”

Shit. There goes my heart.

“Jesus,” I whisper. “I love you, too.”

“Then nothin’ else fuckin’ matters.”

He’s right about that. Nothing else does matter.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Two weeks later

“You have to tell him,” Ash says, pacing the bedroom.

“He’ll flip,” I panic, rocking on the bed. “We just spent a few days burying people he loves, it’s not the right time.”

“He’ll understand,” Pippa says, rubbing my back. “It’ll help him...trust me.”

“No,” I croak. “He won’t. He said after this shit is over...after...not before.”

“He’ll understand,” she repeats.

“Your sister is right,” Ash soothes. “Come on, you have to tell him.”

“Can’t...oh God...”

“He’s at the club, why don’t we take you over and you can talk to him?” Ash suggests.

“No way!”

“Santana,” she warns. “I’m puttin’ it down to you in a way I don’t want to have to. You go and fucking tell him, or I will.”

I jerk my head up. “Seriously?”

She crosses her arms. “Hell yes.”

“I hate you.”

“Oh you so don’t.”

Pippa giggles from behind me.

“It’s not funny,” I snap.

“It kind of is.”

I can’t help but soften at the sound of my sister’s giggles. It’s a sound I’m still relishing. She’s been doing so well, and seeing her happy makes it all worthwhile. She spends two days a week with counselors, which really seems to help. The other few days she spends with me at home, just adjusting to her new life.

“Fine,” I say, dropping my head into my hands. “But he’s going to flip.”

Ash helps me off the bed and I stare down at the positive pregnancy tests lying all over it.

Boy am I in trouble.

~*~*~*~

“Ohhhh Maddox!” Ash calls as soon as we enter the club.

“Stop it,” I say, shoving her.

She turns and shoves me back. “You stop it. Brat.”

“Bitch.”

“Preggers.”

I gape at her and she bursts out laughing.

“You’ll pay for that,” I growl.

“What are you going to do?”

I shove her again. She shoves me back. Both of us trying not to laugh. Pippa stares between us, shaking her head with her own ghost of a smile.

“Ladies?”

We both turn to see Maddox, Mack and Krypt standing at the bar.

Ash shoves me forward. “Santana has something to tell you, Maddox.”

He turns to me, a piece of his new short hair dropping down over his forehead. Sheesh he’s good looking. He’s up and about now, though he’s not really meant to be riding. He still sneaks one here and there. His eyes flicker to me and he tilts his head to the side, trying no doubt, to guess what I’m about to drop on him.

“You’re going to pay for this,” I snap at Ash as I edge closer to Maddox.

He’s still watching me, his expression showing his confusion.

“Can we...ah...talk?”

He nods, taking my hand and turning, leading me down the hall to his office. When we’re in, he closes the door and pulls me to the couch, where we sit. I don’t look at him; instead I pull my hand from his and place them in my lap.

“Santana...”

I swallow. God. He’s going to flip.