“No, ma’am. I’m there for you and the baby twenty-four seven.”
“Aww!” I curl my finger at him and pucker, just begging to give him an on-air kiss, but Seth catches my hand and kisses it instead. Seth has been stealth in avoiding the camera, and I think it’s adorable. My viewers have come to reference him as The Voice in the comments. And it’s been duly noted by all that it is indeed a damn sexy voice, too. “You really are going to make a great daddy.” I forget all about the camera for a second and lose myself in those deep marine-colored eyes. “I can’t wait to make you a—”
A horrible pain shoots through my abdomen, like a belt tightening at the speed of light, and my cheeks burn with heat as a fire rips through my body.
“Sunday?” That sexy grin Seth was sporting a moment ago has morphed into a wild look of concern. “Your face is bright pink. What’s going on? Talk to me.”
And just like that, the feeling subsides, and I take a quick breath, fanning myself with my fingers. “I’m fine. Just lost track of what I was about to say, that’s all.” I glance back at the camera and clear my throat. “So you see”—I give the rattle in my hand a good shake—“you don’t have to wait until you’re nine months pregnant to purchase one of these. I’m sure many of you have a man that could use one today. And, if not, you might want to pick one up for yourself because it’s a great way to get some serious aggression out.” I give the rattle a few good shakes, and the distinct feeling of something loosening goes off deep inside me. My pants flood with liquid, and my mouth falls open as my maternity jeans stain dark all the way to my knees—the only part of my nether regions I can see past this beach ball of a belly I’ve acquired.
Shit! Did I just piss myself on air? Honest to God, I should have listened to Serena when she said I should sign off until after the baby was born, but I didn’t have the heart to leave my peeps in the dark. I’ve worked hard to cultivate a personal relationship—albeit one-sided—with my viewers. I can’t just go dark during the most important event of my life.
“Sunday.” Seth’s voice is low and caustic as it becomes painfully clear I didn’t piss anything.
“Oh my God, my water just broke.” I look to Seth in a panic before glancing back to the camera. “Did you hear that? My water just broke!”
Seth jumps to his feet, bolts to the bedroom and emerges within seconds with the bag I packed months ago for this very moment.
“We can’t leave yet!” I shout over at him as a ripe panic swells within me. “We don’t have the car seat installed. Grab the car seat!” I shout as I waddle over to my phone and hold it out at an arm’s length. “It’s happening, bellas! I’m off to the maternity ward to—to”—the world stops for a moment as the reality of what’s about to happen hits me. “To shoot a watermelon out of my lady parts. Oh shit.” I look to my phone in a panic. “There’s no way out of this, is there? I’m trapped in this body, and I can’t get out. I have to do this. I have to squeeze a live human being from a part of my body that normally doesn’t even care for a tampon!”
“TMI,” Seth shouts as he proceeds to wade his way through the countless boxes cluttering our tiny living space. “Quick, which one is the car seat?” he roars as boxes fall in every direction, making a virtual maze to get to the door.
“I don’t know. It’s a seat of some kind. It’s probably small like the baby. Check the gift bags.” I stare back into my phone. “I’m so dizzy with grief over the fact I’m going to have to spread ’em and hope for the best that I couldn’t identify a giraffe if one strode into the living room.” Another pang hits me as that phantom belt tightens around my belly as if a giant were cinching it with all his might, and this time I let out a hearty howl that sends Seth to my side in a blind panic. Boxes fly as he kicks us a path to the door, and before I know it, we’re in his truck and in the parking lot of Hollow Brook General.
“This is it, bellas,” I pant into the phone as Seth garners a wheelchair and whisks me to the maternity ward. “I’m going to have a baby. Oh my God, I have to call my brothers! I have to call Lex, Serena, and Trixie! Somebody help me!” I scream into the screen as if I were being kidnapped.
And just like that, my phone lights up, giving off one ping after another as an entire barrage of texts go off, but before I can respond to any of them, Seth is helping me into a room, out of my clothes, and into a bed. It’s happening. It’s all becoming a harsh reality now. Up until this moment, Little Fish was more of a cool concept than anything tangible, and soon enough he or she will be exactly that, tangible, in my arms, my lips pressed to its tiny cheek as Seth and I welcome our first baby into the world.
The next several hours blink by in a blur of pain and meds, needles, and nurses, friends and family come in and out of the room as I struggle to keep from beating myself senseless until I mercifully pass out. Seth does his best to help me breathe through the brutal contractions, and eventually, I chew everyone out around me until it’s just Seth in the room with me and the cussing, screaming, roaring beast I’ve become. Soon, my worst nightmare is realized, and it’s time to push. The room converts into what looks like a movie set—what with all the lights, camera, action—and much to my relief, I only have to push twice before our beautiful Little Fish is brought into the world.
Seth leans over with wonder on his gorgeous face. “It’s a girl!”
“A girl!” I give his hand a hard squeeze as the warm little red-faced babe is set screaming over my chest. “Oh, she’s beautiful!” I cry as I take in the capful of dark hair she’s wearing, just like her daddy. Her cries are no louder than the bleating of a lamb, and I pull her in close and kiss her downy soft cheek just the way I had envisioned.
Seth blesses us both with a kiss in turn. “My two favorite girls. Welcome to the world, Little Fish.”
And just like that, our family expands by one.
After the hustle and bustle, the cleanup that ensues around my thighs, the cleanup of the baby, our precious princess is back in our arms, and I hold our precious angel with Seth by my side as our loved ones stream into the room.
Rush is ever the proud uncle and is the first to hold her, followed by Trixie. Nolan and Misty are beside themselves with joy, not to mention the tears in their eyes knowing they’ll be parents before long.
Serena and Lex burst into the room with an entire bouquet of pink Mylar balloons, the first of many pink explosions, I’m sure. I can hardly wait to dress my tiny tot in all things fabulous. I’m pretty sure my little princess will have far more followers eager to see what she’s donned for the day than I ever did.
“I can’t believe you did it. Congratulations to the both of you.” Rush blesses her with a kiss to her forehead as he lands her safe in my arms. “So, what’s her name?”
“Yes!” Serena pipes up. “I can’t call her Little Fish for another second.”
I glance up at Seth, biting down on my lip as I try to contain the answer.
“Go ahead,” he whispers, his thumb brushing up over my cheek with love.
I look down at the peach little angel with a nose no bigger than a button on a dress shirt, her beautiful dark brows framing those curious eyes. “We decided to name her after Mom.” I look to Nolan and Rush. “Her name is Priscilla Rose Baker. We’re going to call her Rissy for short.”
Nolan bucks with emotion before offering a tearful nod of approval. I look to Rush as big alligator tears glide down his face.
“I love it,” he says as he bends over and kisses the top of my head, his hot tears baptizing me with a blessing. “And I love you and Rissy, too. I promise I’ll protect you both as long as I have breath in my body.”
Seth lands the palm of his hand over Rissy’s precious head. “And I’ll be doing the same.”
Nolan chuckles. “Count me in on that.”
Lex leans in and brushes her finger over the baby’s tiny brow. “You will be the most loved and protected baby ever. You already know I’ve got your back.”
“Ditto.” Serena gives
a teary wink.
“You hear that, Rissy?” I land a kiss to the tip of her perfect nose. “We already have it all. We’re loved by all the important people.”
Seth and I hold our precious bundle long after the crowd goes home, and we can’t seem to stop marveling at her.
This angel God has gifted us will be forever cherished.
Seth brushes the hair from my forehead and offers a smile that melts me to my core. “We did it.”
“With you by my side, I never doubted we could.”
Seth leans in and offers a kiss that says I love you far more proficiently than any verbal proclamation—on this, the night we’ve officially expanded our family.
Deep down, I’ve always known our love couldn’t be tempered. I’ve known it from the beginning, whether or not I was willing to admit it back then. I’d like to think that destiny has always had us on the trajectory toward our forever, and here, in this moment, I can honestly say we’ve arrived.
Rissy gives a little kick between us, and we share a warm, tear-filled laugh.
We have most definitely arrived in hot pink style.
A Note from the Author
Thank you for reading Reckless Kisses (3:AM Kisses 16). If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review at your point of purchase. Even a sentence or two makes a difference to an author. Thank you so very much in advance! Your effort is very much appreciated.
Look for Hot Honey Kisses (3:AM Kisses 17), Serena and Shep’s story coming up next!
Books by Addison Moore
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Romance
3:AM Kisses (3:AM Kisses 1)
Winter Kisses (3:AM Kisses 2)
Sugar Kisses (3:AM Kisses 3)
Whiskey Kisses (3:AM Kisses 4)
Rock Candy Kisses (3:AM Kisses 5)
Velvet Kisses (3:AM Kisses 6)
Wild Kisses (3:AM Kisses 7)
Country Kisses (3:AM Kisses 8)
Forbidden Kisses (3:AM Kisses 9)
Dirty Kisses (3:AM Kisses 10)
Stolen Kisses (3:AM Kisses 11)
Lucky Kisses (3:AM Kisses 12)
Tender Kisses (3:AM Kisses 13)
Revenge Kisses (3:AM Kisses 14)
Red Hot Kisses (3:AM Kisses 15)
Reckless Kisses (3:AM Kisses 16)
Hot Honey Kisses (3:AM Kisses 17)
Shameless Kisses (3:AM Kisses 18)
Value 3:AM Kisses Boxed Sets
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 1-3
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 4-6
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 7-9
3:AM Kisses Boxed Set 10-12
The Social Experiment (The Social Experiment 1)
Bitter Exes (The Social Experiment 2)
Chemical Attraction (The Social Experiment 3)
FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Low Down & Dirty (3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook1)
Dirty Disaster (3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook 2)
Dirty Deeds (3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook 3)
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Naughty By Nature
FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Burning Through Gravity (Burning Through Gravity 1)
A Thousand Starry Nights (Burning Through Gravity 2)
Fire in an Amber Sky (Burning Through Gravity 3)
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Beautiful Oblivion (Lake Loveless 1)
Beautiful Illusions (Lake Loveless 2)
Beautiful Elixir (Lake Loveless 3)
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The Solitude of Passion
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Someone to Love (Someone to Love 1)
Someone Like You (Someone to Love 2)
Someone For Me (Someone to Love 3)
BOXED SETS
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Bad Boys Boxed Set
Burning Through Gravity (Books 1-3)
Beautiful Oblivion (Books 1-3)
A Totally ‘80s Romance (Books 1-3)
3:AM Kisses, Hollow Brook (Books 1-3)
3:AM KISSES (Books 1-3)
Young Adult Romance
FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Melt With You (A Totally ’80s Romance 1)
Tainted Love (A Totally ’80s Romance 2)
Hold Me Now (A Totally ’80s Romance 3)
Paranormal Romance
(Celestra Book World in Order)
Ethereal (Celestra Series Book 1)
Tremble (Celestra Series Book 2)
Burn (Celestra Series Book 3)
Wicked (Celestra Series Book 4)
Vex (Celestra Series Book 5)
Expel (Celestra Series Book 6)
Toxic Part One (Celestra Series Book 7)
Toxic Part Two (Celestra Series Book 8)
Elysian (Celestra Series Book 9)
Perfect Love (A Celestra Novella)
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Ephemeral (The Countenance Trilogy 1)
Evanescent (The Countenance Trilogy 2)
Entropy (The Countenance Trilogy 3)
Ethereal Knights (Celestra Knights)
Season of the Witch (A Celestra Companion)
Celestra Forever After (Celestra Forever After 1)
The Dragon and the Rose (Celestra Forever After 2)
The Serpentine Butterfly (Celestra Forever After 3)
Crown of Ashes (Celestra Forever After 4)
Throne of Fire (Celestra Forever After 5) Soon!
About the Author
Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who writes contemporary and paranormal romance. Her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine. Previously she worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children, and two dogs where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she's not writing, she's reading. Addison’s Celestra Series has been optioned for film by 20th Century Fox.
Feel free to visit her on Instagram.
*Be sure to subscribe to Addison’s mailing list for sneak peeks and updates on all upcoming releases!
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WEBSITE http://addisonmoore.com
Contents
Books by Addison Moore
1. The Gift that Keeps on Giving
2. Seth
3. Knocked Up and Taken Down a Notch
4. Seth
5. Harboring a Fugitive
6. Seth
7. Expecting Everything
8. Seth
9. Baby Bump in the Road
10. Seth
11. The Parent Hood
12. Seth
13. Reckless Kisses BONUS scene!
A Note from the Author
Books by Addison Moore
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
Thank YOU for reading RECKLESS KISSES. I hope you enjoyed this baby bump of a ride. Out of all the 3:AM Kisses books, this one has a special place in my heart.
A huge thank you to my early readers, Lisa Markson, Tabby Coots, and Jodie Tarleton for taking the time to read it and offer feedback. You guys rock!
A shouty thank you to both Kaila Eilee
n Turingan-Ramos and Kathryn Jacoby for going through it with those laser beam eyes. I appreciate you both!
And a HUGE thank you to the fabulous Paige Maroney Smith for blessing me with your ninja editing skillz. I love you so much.
And last, but never least, thank you to Him who sits on the throne. Worthy is the Lamb! Glory and honor and power are yours. I owe you everything.
Addison Moore, Reckless Kisses
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