by V. Vaughn
He entered her, thrusting his hips forward, the joy of being inside her intense. He’d made love to other women, but they paled in comparison to being with his mate. This was so much more, so incredibly much more.
“I love you, Jennifer,” Will whispered as he filled her completely, lying still to enjoy the sensation of her inner walls gripping him.
“I love you, too, William O’Donnell.” She kissed his lips and stroked his face. “So very much.”
He took hold of her left hand and looked at his ring on her finger, wishing her ex-husband had seen it so that he would know she belonged to another man. A man who would never desert her. Will kissed her fingers, and then released Jen’s hand as he began to move inside her. In and out, he pulled out of her before sliding into her heated depths, slowly, taking his time. So often their lovemaking was made up of stolen moments, Jen’s kids took up a lot of her time, but Will didn’t begrudge them.
To a shifter like Will, children were the most important thing in the world. Next to his mate.
He moved, his rhythm growing in intensity as he thought of putting a child, his child, in her womb. It would make their lives complete.
Skin against skin, he slid in and out of her, his orgasm racing toward him. Jen’s soft cries signaled her own impending orgasm, and he cupped her breast in his hand and massaged the soft flesh before claiming her nipple. Jen’s inner muscles clamped around his cock and he gasped, his self-control hanging by a thread.
Jen stroked his back, her hands slipping down lower to cover his butt and she urged him on, deeper, harder. Will obliged, long lunges filling her, harder, faster, until he exploded inside her, filling her with his seed. She cried out, her voice high and needy as her sex pulsed around his hard length. Will thrust into her hard, his body tense as his orgasm slowly faded away, leaving behind a residual heat, a sense of peace, as he lay in the arms of his lover.
“Will you move in with me?” he asked as he held Jen in his arms. The question was sudden, but Will was sure it was time.
“I thought we’d wait until after the wedding,” Jen said, avoiding his eyes.
“Will you marry me tomorrow?” he asked with the ghost of a smile.
“No.” She pushed against his chest with her small hand, which he caught and pressed to his lips.
“I’m serious. I want you and the boys to come live with me.”
Jen shifted in his arms and pulled away from him. “I don’t want them to change schools. They’re happy and settled, which considering the rocky road we’ve had the last year or two, I’d like it to stay that way.”
“So we buy a new house. Somewhere close.” Will sat up and kissed her shoulder as she pulled on a robe. “What’s wrong?”
Jen turned to face him. “People are going to talk, call me a gold digger.”
“So?” Will asked. “I don’t care.”
“But I do. At least I care what the other kids at school say.” Jen's mouth turned down at the corners, a frown creasing her forehead. “I know it should be easy…I don’t want them to get hurt.”
“I know.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her back against him. “You set the pace. I’ve waited this long for you, I can wait a little longer.”
“Thank you.” She kissed his lips, and then stroked his face, their eyes locked together. “You are the best thing that could have happened to us. I wish I could just go with it.”
“But you can’t.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “It’s okay.”
She dragged a hand through her hair. “Even my own mother keeps asking if I’m doing the right thing.”
“Why?” Will asked, letting her go as she got up from the bed and padded across the room.
“First, Calista, now me. She’s worried I feel like a failure over my first marriage and might be rushing into a new relationship because I’m on the rebound.” Jen looked at the ring on her finger. “Although this might make her change her mind.”
“What if we went out to dinner and made the announcement?” He slipped out of bed and pulled on his jeans. “If she saw us together, she’d know it’s the right thing.”
“Would you mind?” Jen asked. “Perhaps if we go to dinner while the boys are away.”
“I’ll book a table for tomorrow.” He grinned widely. “Why waste time?”
“I’ll call my parents to see if they’re free. Somehow, I’ll have to stop myself from telling her I’m engaged. And Calista.” Jen shook her head. “Were you impatient as a child?”
“I was, according to my mother.” He closed the distance between them, wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back toward him, kissing her neck and inhaling her scent. “I expect our children to be equally as impatient.”
She sighed and leaned back against him. “Our children. When Kelvin left, I came to terms with the fact I’d probably be a single mom to two wonderful boys and grow old alone.”
“Are you happy with the way things turned out?” Will asked.
“Very.” Jen pulled away from him. “Now, let’s go down and eat before I drag you back to bed.”
Her smile lit up the room, and warmed his heart. He wanted her in his life and in his bed every day, but if he had to wait for a few weeks, or months, then he would. Jen and the boys were worth waiting for.
3
Jen
“How was work?” Will asked as Jen opened the front door and let him in the following evening.
“Great. But my feet are killing me.” He looked down at her feet, which only minutes before had been strapped into four-inch heels, but now wore a pair of fluffy cat slippers. “Don’t laugh.”
“Why would I? I think you look incredibly sexy.” He kissed her cheek. It wasn’t enough so he pulled her into his arms and kissed her properly, his tongue running along her lower lip.
“Hey, we don’t have time to fool around, the table is booked for six and I need a shower.” She fought against his arms, but gave in when he refused to let her go. Tendrils of desire unfurled in her stomach, wanting to reach out of her body and wrap around Will, and never let go. “I should have made a later reservation, but my mom grows two heads and breathes fire if you don’t feed her early enough.”
He reluctantly let her go and she padded back to the kitchen. “Go shower.”
“I need coffee first,” Jen said.
“I see, so you can resist me, but not coffee? That’s a poor start to the evening.” He grinned as she scowled at him.
“I hope you don’t mind, I asked Thaddeus and Calista to join us, too.” Jen handed a cup of coffee to Will.
“Safety in numbers,” Will stated. “Anyway, Thaddeus is also a fire-breather, so he can take on your mom if the starters are late.”
Jen held her coffee in both hands and blew on it. “She’s not that bad. Just be yourself and she’ll love you. As do I.”
He leaned forward and kissed her. “Have you heard from the boys?”
“I have. They called to say they’ve landed in France.” She looked at her watch. “They should be arriving at their hotel soon. I told them to call whenever they can.”
“Are they having fun?” Will asked, catching the change in her mood. “Or not.”
“They told Kelvin I was marrying you, and he didn’t take it too well, which upset Sally-Ann.” Jen shrugged. “I don’t know why he’d care.”
“Because he finally realized what an awesome woman he let slip through his fingers.” Will slid his arm around her shoulders. “It was bound to be a shock.”
“Yes, I know. When he left me, he was confident I’d be alone, pining for him. Now I’m engaged to a man who’s worth ten of him.” She looked at her beautiful engagement ring. All day she’d been getting congratulations, and more than a few, Oh, I didn’t even know you were dating again, comments. “Make that a million of him.”
“It’ll do him good. A good dent to Kelvin’s ego wouldn’t do him any harm.” Will took a large gulp of his coffee before adding, “Sorry, that was uncalled for.”
“No, it wasn’t. I know exactly what kind of man Kelvin is. I’m pretty sure he thought he’d shack up with Sally-Ann, and still have a dutiful wife at home that he could shag whenever he wanted.” Will stiffened at her words, and placed his coffee mug on the counter.
“Maybe I need to brand you, so he knows you are completely out of bounds.” He turned to her, taking her coffee mug from her hands and putting it down next to his. Lifting her up, he rested her bottom on the counter and eased her thighs apart, his body nestling between them. “You are mine, Jennifer.”
Jen stroked his face, and leaned down and kissed his lips, the heat in her body spreading like wildfire as he fisted her hair and nipped her bottom lip. She’d always been the equal of men, but there was something about the way Will spoke of his ownership of her that turned her on. Of course, if he ever treated her as if she were his property, he’d be spending the rest of his life alone.
But sometimes a woman liked to dream.
Will kissed her fiercely, his body pressed against hers, and his hard length rubbing against her clit. Jen crossed her fluffy slipper-clad feet as she wrapped her legs around him. It would be so easy to let emotions run away with her and beg him to make love to her, here in the kitchen. On the counter where she and Kelvin had prepared meals together and talked about their future. All while he planned his exit from their relationship.
“I have to shower.” She placed her hands on Will’s chest and gently, but firmly, pushed him away. As she slipped down off the counter, she fought with a sudden realization. Was she unwilling to commit to Will?
Despite all his assurances, was she scared of being let down again? That wasn’t fair to Will. And it wasn’t fair to the kids. Hell, it wasn’t fair to herself. She couldn’t hide from her future, a future she wanted more than anything.
Jen was going to find a way to exorcise the demon from inside her head. The demon with the face of Kelvin. The demon who’d betrayed her so cruelly. She couldn’t let his actions hang over her, like a specter in the dark.
“Is there anything you want me to do while you shower?” Will looked around the kitchen, but she’d left it neat and clean.
“Nope, you can watch TV while I shower.” She cocked her head to one side. “Or play Minecraft with the boys.”
A smile spread across his lips. “I’ll duck out to the car and get my iPad.”
Jen shook her head as she went upstairs. He really was a big kid.
Her shower was heavenly and by the time she’d toweled herself dry and put on a simple dress, she was feeling more like herself. Now that she knew what was holding her back from committing to a relationship with Will, she could tackle it head-on.
A spring wedding, she smiled, that would be perfect. Followed by a new baby. Her hand dropped to cover her soft belly, Jen loved being pregnant. The thought of a new life growing inside her filled her with joy. She’d never lost her baby weight, not that Will cared, he loved her just the way she was. Soon, if they were lucky, she would be carrying another child. Their child. So she’d better get that man down the aisle before he changed his mind.
Running downstairs, she found Will in the living room with his iPad on his lap. He looked up as she entered the room, his eyes caressing her body, and she glowed in response.
“Having fun?” Jen asked.
“Yes, the boys are online. They say hi.” Will glanced down at the iPad.
“Are they at the hotel?” Jen asked as she crossed the room and perched on the arm of the chair.
“No, they’ve stopped off for food. Jack said Sally-Ann is still in a bad mood. But they’re eating fries. Real French fries.” He smiled up at her. “Relax, they’re happy and once they get to the hotel, there’ll be stuff for them to do. Sally-Ann will get over it.”
“I hope so.” She kissed his head. “Now, say goodbye, and tell them I love them both. We have to go.” She got up and walked across the room, groaning inwardly at the thought of having to put on heels. Maybe she could wear flats. “Leave the iPad here.”
Will appeared behind her as she left the room. “I have.” He followed her along the hallway. “I thought you were going to wear those adorable fluffy cat slippers.”
“I am tempted.” She decided flats would have to do. “But one pussycat at the table is enough.”
“Meow?” Will said seductively as she balanced on one foot while putting on her shoes. How could her mom not like him? With the looks of a predator, but the charm of a soft cat who liked having his tummy tickled, he was irresistible. And when he purred, he was mesmerizing. “Like what you see?”
Jen nodded. “If you use that soft, velvety voice that rumbles in your chest, I don’t think any woman could resist you.”
“Then I’ll save it for you alone,” Will said, using that exact same voice that melted her insides.
She sighed. “Perhaps just dial the charm up for my mom.”
“As you wish.” He yanked open the front door, and then added, “But I have no power over the attraction I arouse in women when I speak to them in the language of lurve.”
She nearly collapsed in a fit of giggles. “What was that?”
“My French accent. I thought if I coupled it with the purr, women would fall at my feet.” He cocked his head in amusement. “But not with laughter.”
Jen caught his hand and pulled him back toward her. “I love that you make me laugh.”
He kissed her lips. “Come on, before you discover I’m not Mr. Cool.”
“Oh, I have no illusions there. You might have the fortune, and the looks, but the rest of you is as goofy as hell.”
“Shh, don’t tell all my secrets.” He led her by the hand out to his car and opened the door. “Do you want to know another secret?”
Jen looked up at him as she slid into the car. “I don’t know, do I?” she teased.
“I have a surprise for you.” He shut the car door before she could ask him what, and sauntered around to the driver’s side.
“What is it?” Jen asked as he slid behind the wheel.
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret.” His eyes flashed with humor.
“Goodness, now I know how my kids feel at Christmas when they are dying to know what their presents are.” Jen settled back in her seat. “But I have more self-control than two young boys.”
“Are you sure?” Will asked as he pulled out into the traffic and headed for The Prince of Wales, a local pub that had been converted into a beautiful restaurant on the bank of the Thames. In the summer, they would sit in the garden and watched the boats go by. Tonight, with a spring chill in the air, they would have to make do with the large conservatory.
“Absolutely.” He cast a sideways glance her way. “I mean it.” She stared out of the window. “And when will I get my surprise?”
He chuckled. “Tomorrow.”
“Evening or morning?” she asked casually.
“Evening.” Will turned the car into the parking lot.
“I can wait.” Jen told him as she got out of the car and shut the door.
“You don’t even want a hint?” Will asked, leaning on the roof of the car and looking at her.
“Nope.” She strolled around the car to join him. “The question is, can you keep that secret to yourself?”
“Of course.” He took her hand, a familiar spark of recognition coursing through her. His fingers tightened around hers as they entered the restaurant. “I can’t wait to get you home,” he whispered in her ear as they waited to be seated.
Jen blushed, she couldn’t wait either. For a night in Will’s arms, and for whatever surprise he had in store for her. Because knowing Will, she would like it, a lot. He went out of his way to satisfy her every desire.
As they sat down, she fanned herself with the menu while they waited for the others to arrive.
“Hot?” he asked casually.
“For you,” she replied, looking at him directly. It was the truth, and as Jen’s mom and dad, followed by Calista and Tha
ddeus, entered the restaurant, she knew Will was going to have trouble keeping his cool, too.
They would have to let off steam later, when they were all alone.
4
Will
Dinner with her family. Will could think of more pleasurable things he could be doing right now with Jen, but if they had to be sociable, then Calista and Thaddeus were good company. Jen’s mom and dad…he wasn’t so sure of. They eyed him with suspicion, but Will suspected they were only watching out for their daughter and grandchildren. Which he admired.
“Will, you’ve met my mom and dad before.” Jen introduced them anyway, as a way to break the ice.
“Hello, Meg. Tony.” Will stood up and kissed Meg on the cheek, then shook Tony’s hand.
“Will, good to see you again.” Tony grinned. “Don’t worry, Meg is not going to interrogate you on what your intentions are toward our daughter.”
“They are honorable,” Will told him, while Calista and Jen greeted each other.
“Jen, how are you?” Calista asked pointedly, taking in her sister’s flushed face, which made Jen blush even more.
“Good,” Jen said, fiddling with her hair in that adorable way she had when she was nervous.
“Oh my goodness!” Calista sprang up from her seat and went around to Jen. “You got engaged!”
The whole room turned to look at them. “I did.”
“And you didn’t call me?” Calista asked.
“We wanted to tell you in person,” Jen said apologetically.
“I’ll let you off.” Calista grabbed her sister’s hand and looked at the ring. “It’s wonderful.”
Calista backed away, but didn’t let go of Jen’s hand as she thrust it under her mother’s nose. “Congratulations. Both of you.” Meg kissed her daughter and wiped away a tear as she sat down. “I didn’t realize you were so serious about one another—since you’ve just met.”
Jen glanced up at Will, and then reached for his hand. “Will is the man for me, Mom.”
“And you intend to look after her.” It wasn’t a question, Meg’s eyes bored into Will, trying to pierce any shield he might use to hide his true motives for dating Jen.
