29 Ryker Tears rolled from her eyes, but she gave me the green light. Teeth clenched, I moved in, focusing on my love for her—yes, f*****g love—and the similar emotions I could see in her wet eyes. I clenched my eyelids shut and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her softness against my chest. A heavy sigh escaped her as she melted against me, arms by her sides, but allowing me to hold her, her cheek against my chest. My sweet, discerning woman simply rested. Submitted. Her sniffles continued as I breathed in the sweetness of watermelon, continuing to focus all my thoughts on her—our baby—rather than the clenching in my gut. I would beat the f*****g fear one day. Rip it from my goddamn head and burn it to a f*****g crisp. It held no authority in my life. I refused to allow it to f**k

