I curb a sarcastic snort. “Please. Who besides Sway and Loco?”
“Too many.”
“Rock, I say this with all sincerity. You’re the only man I’m aware of no matter where I am. We’re like magnets.” I clap my hands together. “All my attention automatically flows in your direction. Always.”
He picks up my hand and kisses the back. “Same, baby doll. Same.”
“Can I tell you something?”
“You can tell me anything.”
“I kinda had this fantasy of poisoning Sway tonight. Even before I talked to him.”
He rumbles with laughter for a solid minute before asking me to elaborate.
“It’s stupid, because I’m secure enough to know how you feel about me. I do. But, oh boy, when I saw Stella on that stage, it hit me that you spent a whole day watching her perfect naked ass having sex.”
“I’m so sorry.” He glances over. “And for the record, I didn’t sit around watching her all day. That was Z.”
“Oh! Gosh, I totally forgot to tell you! Guess what I walked in on when I went to get my book?”
“Please don’t say Z and Stella fucking.”
“Close. It looked more like she was asking him to pull a splinter out of her labia.”
He chokes on a laugh. “Jesus. You kill me, woman.”
“Well, it was weird. She was perched on his desk, stark naked, pussy hanging out. Z looked confused as hell.”
“Stop. Stop.” He’s laughing so hard, a tear runs down his cheek. “I’m trying to drive.”
“Think Z and Sway will fight it out over Stella? My money’s on Z of course.”
“Christ I hope not.”
I lean back and close my eyes again. “That was fun. What’s our next big event? Wrath’s opening, right?”
“Yes, thank fuck. So glad that’s finally happening for him.”
“Wonder what excitement will be in store for us then?”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Hope
I only visited Furious once before it burned down. Except for the black and royal blue color scheme, this new facility bears little resemblance to the old one.
“Wow. Wrath, this is amazing.”
He gives us a full tour of the new space, from separate classrooms to the modern locker rooms.
“Are you going to let me join?” I rub my hand over the spot where Grace just kicked me. “I’ll need the new mom package.”
He grins. “Swan’s gonna teach a couple classes a week here.”
“Aw.” I tap his arm with my fist. “You can’t steal my girl.”
“Well, it’ll give you a reason to come see me.”
Rock chuckles as we head back to the main area to mingle with the other guests.
A cramp steals my breath, and I stop in my tracks, squeezing Rock’s hand.
“You all right?” Rock asks.
“Phew. Wow. Yeah. I’m fine. I’ve been getting those twinges since this morning.”
Rock’s mouth flattens into a grim line. “Twinges or contractions?”
“I’m fine.”
He keeps his hand on my back as we weave through the crowd of people. Although Rock doesn’t stop to talk often, a few guests manage to capture his attention.
The first one surprises me.
“Investigator Keegan Brand.” I squint at the arson investigator who hassled Wrath when the original Furious burned down. “What are you doing here?” My tone comes out more firm than friendly.
“Hello, Attorney Kendall.” He holds out his hand and gives me a polite handshake. Not that afraid-to-shake-a-pregnant-woman’s-hand most men have been giving me since I started showing. Or the leering, creepy looks I get from other guys.
Before answering my question, he exchanges hellos and a handshake with Rock. “Mr. Ramsey invited me. Well,” he laughs, “Mrs. Ramsey extended the invitation.”
“Of course she did.”
He does his own squinty-face. “You know I argued in favor of your friend with the insurance company?”
“Yes, I know.” You’re still kind of a jerk. But I keep that to myself.
Teller joins us and shakes the hand of the guy standing next to Keegan. “Hey, Liam.”
Rock’s gaze slides to Teller. “Is this Sheriff Hollister?”
I’m not sure Liam’s pleased about being on Rock’s radar, but he extends his hand and Teller introduces them.
“It’s actually Officer now. I’m with the Empire PD,” Liam corrects.
Rock nods. “How’s that working out?”
“Not too bad.”
Teller searches the crowd. “I actually invited Bree,” he says with a smirk. “How’d you end up here?”
Charlotte sneaks up behind him and wraps her arms around his middle. “Are you causing trouble?”
“Who me?” Teller smiles down at her and pulls her forward.
Charlotte waves at the officer. “Nice to see you again, Liam.”
“This is fun.” Keegan grins and sweeps his gaze over our little crowd.
“Indeed,” Rock says under his breath.
“Hope.” Wrath’s voice booms over the music and din of conversation. “Have you ever met Jake?”
“Uh, I think so. Are you the one Wrath shot with the pepper spray?”
Jake cracks up. “That’s me.”
“I can only imagine what you said to deserve that.” Keegan rolls his eyes.
“It was purely business,” Wrath assures us. “Testing out some supplies for Sully’s YouTube channel.”
Jake slaps Wrath’s arm. “This asshole enjoyed it a little too much.”
Liam lifts his chin at Wrath. “You need any more testing done, let me know. I’m in.”
Jake flips him off.
“Where’s your brother?” Keegan asks, pretending to search the room. “He knows how to keep Jake in line.”
Jake gestures toward the front of the gym. “Sully and Aubrey just got here.”
Liam’s fiancée joins us next.
Teller makes the introductions. “Bree grew up near my grandmother’s house. She used to watch Heidi sometimes when she was little,” he explains. “Somehow this dude got her to agree to marry him.” Teller shrugs and smirks at Liam.
Ah, now his connection to the officer makes more sense.
Rock shifts me in front of him and curls his arms around me protectively. I don’t think it’s some she’s mine gesture. More of an unconscious protecting what’s mine move.
Bree flashes a wide smile at us. “When are you due?”
“Another week.”
“Oh wow. Close.”
Except for Keegan, Teller, and, of course, my husband, the guys shift back an inch or two as if they’re worried I might spontaneously explode baby water all over the place.
“You must be excited,” Bree continues. “Do you know if you’re having a boy or girl?”
“A girl.”
“Oh, how sweet.” She squeezes her hands together and casts a look towards Liam. “I bet you can’t wait.”
“More like ready for the next phase. I feel like I’ve been pregnant for two hundred years.”
She chuckles and briefly touches her stomach. “I can only imagine.”
“Two hundred and seventy days,” Heidi says behind me. She wraps herself around both Rock and me. “Hi, guys.”
“Heidi,” Teller says. “You remember Brianna?”
“Oh my God. That is not Heidi,” Bree squeals.
The two girls scream and hug each other, talking a mile a minute to catch up.
“I located her by the screaming,” Murphy jokes, coming up next to me. He bumps his elbow against Jake’s arm.
“You’re getting so big!” Jake says to Alexa. “Look at you.”
“Teee,” Alexa calls, holding her arms out for me.
“No,” Murphy says. “Aunt Hope’s—”
“I can hold her, Murphy.”
Rock actually ends up taking Alexa, and she gives me a few snuggle-nose kisses be
fore Heidi whisks her away to introduce her to Bree.
Wrath curls an arm around Murphy’s and Jake’s necks and pulls them in for a few quick words we can’t overhear.
I lean on Rock harder, and his hold on me tightens. “Let’s go sit down,” he says against my ear.
Wrath points to a few tables and chairs set up outside his office. “I set that up for you, Hope. Well, Trinity did. I’ll send her over in a sec.”
“I’m fine. She doesn’t have to—”
But Wrath’s already motioning Trinity over.
“I’m sure we’ll talk again before the end of the party,” Keegan says, giving me another handshake.
Rock keeps his hand on my hip as I waddle my way to one of the closest tables.
“I’m afraid if I sit, I won’t get back up,” I whisper in his ear.
“I’ll pick you up.”
I’d make a joke about how I don’t want him to break his back, but that will only make Rock want to prove that he can pick me up without breaking a sweat. And if he does that, there’s a strong possibility I’ll rub myself against him without giving a damn who gets a show.
“What’s that look?” As he searches my face, his concern transforms into something… else.
“Nothing.” I brush at the wrinkles in my dress. “That was a lot to keep up with.”
He chuckles as he sits down next to me. “Proud of Wrath. He’s a much smoother businessman than he used to be,” he says in a low voice not meant to be overheard.
“What happened to Whisper? He didn’t—”
“Nah, said his new role in the Wolf Knights didn’t leave him time to manage a gym anymore. It’s for the best. They were starting to butt heads a lot toward the end.”
As I consider his words, my gaze drifts to Charlotte and Teller. “What does that do for the relationship between the Lost Kings and Wolf Knights?”
Rock shrugs. “Fewer common business interests. But overall, I think the relationship is fine.” He gives me a crooked smile. “Don’t worry. I keep tabs on everyone and everything.”
“Oh, I know you do.”
“I don’t want to talk business, though.”
“What do you want to talk about?”
“My beautiful wife.”
“What about me?”
“How do you feel about sneaking into one of those changing rooms back there?” He wiggles his eyebrows at me.
I snort and take a sip of water. “Too late. Trinity said they were busy in here last night setting up.” I give him a pointed look. “We won’t be the first.”
“First is overrated.” He stands and holds out both hands to help me up.
“I’m huge, and I look gross. And I can’t even see my feet.”
“I don’t want to fuck your feet,” he whispers in my ear. The earnest note in his voice makes me chuckle at how silly I’m being.
“Let’s go.”
“That’s better.” His palm lands on my ass as he steers me into the locker room.
“Where?” I ask.
“I’m thinking.” He takes my hand and tugs me toward the showers. “You’re delicate, I don’t want to hurt you. I also want some privacy.”
The last shower stall is the largest, and Rock yanks the curtain back, inspecting it before closing us inside. I may have been hesitant when he first asked, but now I’m eager. I strip off his cut and have his shirt halfway off before he even turns around.
“See, this wasn’t a bad idea, was it?”
“Nope.”
He slides his hands up my legs, under my dress, and slowly lifts it over my head, draping it over the hook behind us.
“Hope,” he breathes. So much love shines in his eyes. He leans over and kisses my belly. “Sorry for what I’m about to do to your mom, Grace. You better be sleeping.”
“Talking to the baby does not increase the sexiness,” I warn.
He cups my face between his hands and kisses me. Soft and reverent at first. Then deeper and more eager.
“You’re my everything,” he whispers against my lips.
Then he shows me exactly what he means with his tongue, his lips, his hands all over my body.
“I love you so much.”
He groans and kisses me deeper. “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
That’s all the sweetness I get. Our lips meet again, and it’s explosive. Passionate.
He breaks away and stares down at me with desire burning so hot in his eyes, warmth gathers between my legs. Gently he turns me. “Hands on the wall,” he says, kissing from my shoulder to my neck.
Desire pulses through my veins. Need for my husband has me pressing my hands against the wall and pushing my ass out in the way that drives him crazy.
“Nice.” He hooks his fingers in my underwear and drags them down, tossing them aside.
His lips land on my lower back, moving to my hip, between my shoulder blades. He molds himself to my back, heat searing my skin. Moaning, I push my ass into him. “Give me a second.”
He works his belt loose so close, I feel the whisper of leather against my skin. He caresses my bare back, and I tremble under his touch.
“Rock, please.”
“Shhh.” His skin brushes mine, and finally he slides all the way in, nudging me forward.
Behind me, he stills, gripping my hips tight.
“How’s that?” he asks. “My cock feel good in your pussy?”
“Always.”
He moves faster. “You’re so fucking wet.”
“Rock, all I have to do is smell you and I’m horny. Faster, please.”
“So demanding. I’m going to miss this the most, I think.”
I push back against him, urging him on. “Miss what? We better still do stuff like this after the baby’s here.” Shoot, now I feel like crying.
He grips my chin and turns my head, pressing his lips to mine. “We will,” he promises.
I’ve never felt so absolutely desired and adored.
Somehow Rock’s gentle while he drives me wild. Our bodies crash and slap together. My voice echoes around us in the empty locker room. His fingers find my clit, rubbing in a steady rhythm designed to set me off quickly.
“Oh!”
We come together. Hard. Panting and groaning. Slick with sweat.
His hands roam and caress every inch of me for the longest time afterward. “Let’s clean you up,” he whispers.
I don’t want to strip off my bra and get under the shower spray, but Rock insists. He even locates some clean towels for us.
While he’s soaping me up another cramp shoots through me.
Something much wetter than the shower gushes down my legs.
“Oh my God.”
We both stare.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“I think my water broke.”
“Shit.” He slaps off the water.
“Wait, I’m all soapy.”
“Hope,” he warns.
“I’m sure we have time.”
“Famous last words,” he grumbles, flipping the water back on. When the last suds rinse away, he shuts off the water and towels me off. “How do you feel?”
“Weird. Crampy.”
“Bad weird?”
“I don’t know.” Pain sears me from the inside out, and I double over. “Oh. Ow. Fuck. That hurts.”
He holds my hands as I bend over and try to keep walking. “Breathe, baby doll. Breathe.”
“I am breathing!”
He chuckles and squeezes my hand.
“Phew.” Finally it relents. “God, hurry up and get me dressed. I don’t want to go to the hospital naked.”
More laughter.
“It’s not funny.”
“Come here.”
Rock patiently helps me dress and pulls my hair up into a ponytail before climbing into his own clothes.
He takes my hand. “Come on, let’s go.”
“Rock.” I stop him at the door.
“Another one?”
>
“No.” I lean up on my toes and kiss him. “Thank you. That was perfect.”
“I think I pushed you into labor.” He looks so stressed it squeezes my heart.
“It’s okay. It’s a good thing. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
“I can’t wait to start this next part of our lives together.”
His face softens, and he leans down to kiss my damp forehead. “Me too.”
“Oh!” Another flash of pain steals my breath. I brace my hands against the wall and squeeze my eyes shut, concentrating on breathing.
Floating. I’m floating on soft, puffy clouds.
“Fuck! This hurts.” All the deep breathing, meditation, puffy-clouds bullshit isn’t going to make this pain go away.
“Shhh.” Rock presses his fingers into my lower back, slowly rubbing and releasing some of my tension.
I pant and sob. “I can’t. It hurts.”
“Yes, you can.” Rock’s warm voice calms me better than any breathing trick.
“Keep talking,” I whimper.
“Can you move? Let’s try walking.”
“I don’t want anyone to see me.”
“Do you want to give birth in here?”
The pain recedes, and I open my eyes, glancing around at all the brand new, gleaming tile. “Maybe.”
He wraps a strong, steady arm around me and pulls the door open. “We’re going to take it slow out to the parking lot. No one’s back here. You’re fine.”
Feeling some strength return, I nod. “Let’s do this.”
Outside the door, Trinity’s waiting with an amused expression. “What on Earth were you two up to?” she asks with a knowing smile.
“Rock decided to bang this baby out of me.” I giggle like a lunatic, and they both stare at me.
“Are you in labor?” she asks.
“Think so.” Another bolt of pain steals my breath, and I double over. “Fuck! Ow!”
“Here comes that potty mouth,” Trinity teases. I squeeze her hand, and she lets out her own string of curse words.
“Everything okay?” Keegan rumbles.
I tip my head up and glare. “Does everything look okay?”
“Her water broke,” Rock says. “We’re headed to Empire Med.”
“I’ll drive you,” he offers. “I have my official vehicle, lights and all. I’ve even been trained in delivering babies. Just in case.” He winks at me.
After Glow Page 22
