Keeping 13 (Boys of Tommen, #2)

by Chloe Walsh

“My Joey,” she whispered, cupping his cheek in her hand. “My baby.” A shudder rolled through him and he tightened his hold on the pillow, feet twitching sporadically. Leaning her face close to his, she gently nuzzled him with her nose. “Come on back to me,” she coaxed, whispering in his ear as she smoothed her hand over his hair and then his cheek and jaw. “Because I’m not giving you up.” He shook harder, limbs spasming, as a pained groan tore from his throat. My eyes widened in shock. It was the first noise he had made in days. “I know,” Aoife continued to whisper as she touched him and petted him like he was a small child. “You’re in there, aren’t you? Hmm?” She pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “I see you, Joey Lynch.” She stroked her nose against his and whispered, “You can’t hide from me.” His hand shot out then, moving straight to her abdomen. “That’s it,” she encouraged, pulling his head onto her lap and cradling him there. “Come on back to me, baby.” Another pained noise tore from his throat and he buried his face in her abdomen, shaking violently. “It’s okay,” she whispered, leaning over his broad shoulders to hold him close. “You can’t scare me away.” Her blond hair pillowed around them as she whispered, “You’re mine, remember?”