#FinishLine (GearShark #5)

by Cambria Hebert

  “Wow,” Josie said, barely inside the room.

  Candles were lit around the space as well, their flames casting shadows over the pristine white walls.

  Our bags were against the wall, having been delivered earlier, and from here I could see the darkened bathroom through the open doorway on the other side of the room.

  “What’s the card say?” she asked.

  I slid it out of a sturdy white envelope and smiled. “Ivy and Rimmel.”

  “They’re the best,” she murmured, taking the card and tossing it on the floor.

  “You guys have become really good friends, huh?” I asked.

  “Uh-huh.” She agreed, taking the bottle and glasses, setting them on the first available space. “I think we’re going to be friends a long time.”

  “I’ve been waiting to get you alone all day,” I confessed, pulling her into me.

  “You’re not the only one.” Her hands slid beneath my jacket, pushing it off my shoulders and down my arms.

  The fabric pooled behind me, and I started pulling at the tie, the vest, and all the other clothes that went with this monkey suit. Once I was down to just the pants, Josie’s hands glided up my bare chest. I leaned down to claim her mouth, but she spun abruptly, putting her back to me.

  I made a frustrated sound, and she smiled, looking over her shoulder with those wicked green eyes. “Help me get out of this gown? It’s so beautiful. I don’t want to rip it.”

  “Patience is not my strong suit tonight, baby.”

  “Once it’s off, you don’t have to be patient.” She promised.

  The gown unzipped all the way down to her ass. The white, heavy fabric fell open, exposing a huge section of her back. She wasn’t wearing any panties. And from what I could tell, no bra either.

  “Are you naked under that gown?” I partially choked, running a single finger down the center of her newly exposed back.

  Her should shrugged dantily. “Only way to guarantee there would be no lines.” Slowly, Josie spun, her arms crossed over her chest, holding the gown in place. Reaching out, I grasped the fabric at her shoulders, and she dropped her arms.

  The weight of the gown helped it slide right down, revealing every inch of her perfect body from the waist up. The fabric still clung to the curve of her hips, requiring a gentle tug for me to slide it the rest of the way down.

  Once she was free of the dress, she took it and sashayed her fine naked ass to the closet, where I assumed she hung it up. All I knew was I enjoyed the shit out of the view when she walked toward me for the second time today.

  She was completely naked, completely bare, and completely mine.

  Closing her fingers around the button, she freed my already hard and ready dick from the pants and boxer briefs.

  Suddenly, I was the glad the room was all done up in romance because I wanted her right then. I didn’t want to be romantic. I just wanted to bury myself inside her.

  Her body wrapped around mine when I lifted her off her feet. The warmth of her core brushed over me, and I closed my eyes briefly. The brush of her lips brought me back, and I gave in with a moan.

  As we kissed, she rubbed her naked breasts against my chest like she was a cat and I was a ray of sun. Her tongue was gentle but persistent inside my mouth, and my hands were filled with her lucious bare ass.

  We tumbled on the bed, my body pressing her into the rose petals. Abandoning her mouth, my lips traveled over her cheek to her ear and then slowly down to lick up the curve of her neck.

  Her body arched into me, her nails digging into my back.

  Leaving a trail of hot desire as I moved down to her supple breasts, she whispered my name. I replied incoherently and kept on kissing, flicking my tongue over her already erect nipple.

  “Jace,” she said a little firmer this time.

  “What?” my voice rumbled.

  She shoved my shoulder a little, and I tipped my head, gazing up her body into glittery, green eyes. “I want to give you something first.”

  “I got all I need right here, baby,” I murmured, closing my lips around her breast.

  Josie moaned, filled her hands with my hair, and tugged me closer. “Deeper, Jace.” She panted.

  I obliged, sucking her flesh deeper into my mouth with the amount of pressure I knew would made her center throb.

  “Oh, yes,” she murmured, arching up into me.

  I moved to the other breast, because I’m an equal opportunity kind of lover, and latched on without restraint.

  Josie’s legs wound around my waist and her hips began moving against me. She was already slick, already dripping with desire. And I knew just how sweet her desire tasted across my tongue.

  Leaving her breast and licking down her stomach, I felt her body quiver beneath me. Pushing her thighs wide, I dropped onto my knees in front of the bed. Her ass was just a little too far away, so I pulled her down the mattress by her legs.

  Rose petals rained off the edge of the bed around my knees, but I barely noticed because she was on full display. The already plump clit stood out at the top of her folds, and I practically salivated.

  I dove right in, licking with one long stroke right up the center of her body. Josie shuddered and cried my name. I was beyond playing, beyond teasing. I just wanted her.

  Spearing her with one thick finger, my tongue found her clit and began moving. Her hands hit the bed on both sides of her, crushing the petals between her fingers as the small of her back arched.

  “Oh, Jace,” she moaned.

  I licked and sucked, pumping my finger in and out of her slick body. She tasted so incredibly sweet, but the way she whimpered my name was sweetest of all.

  I knew when she was close because her knees started trembling. With one final push, I sank my finger deep and crooked it toward me, gliding it over her most sensitive spot.

  Her breathing increased and a low moan built in her chest. Keeping up the added pressure with my mouth, I sucked her deep, and she exloded right across my tongue.

  I drank her in deep, not licking, not removing my finger until she was totally silent and spent against the mattress.

  Withdrawing carefully from her body, I stood and gazed down at her body lying limp across the bed. “You have rose petals in your hair,” I said, my voice husky.

  Josie’s eyes slid down my body. Her pink tongue jutted out to lick over her lower lip. All of a sudden, she pushed up so I was standing between her legs and she was sitting on the foot of the bed.

  Her hand wrapped around my rigid cock and her other cupped my balls. For long, blissful moments, Josie worked my dick with both hands. She had the skill of a magician.

  My balls were drawn against my body when her mouth slid over my length. Fisting a hand in her hair, I held on as she worked my cock, bobbing her head up and down, pausing long enough to lick it from the base all the way to the tip like it was the biggest and best ice cream cone she’d ever had.

  Eventually, raw need took over. My hips began moving, thrusting into her warm, wet mouth. Josie wrapped her hands around my ass, her nails digging into my cheeks as she urged me to fuck her harder and deeper.

  I did, but only for a moment. I couldn’t take much of her deep-throating because I knew I’d never last. Abruptly, I yanked free, my dick standing between us glistening from her mouth. Placing my hands beneath her arms, I lifted her up the mattress, settling her back in the center, among the roses.

  She spread her legs wide when I came over her, brushing her hands lightly down my arms.

  “I love you, Jace,” she whispered, holding my stare.

  “Ah, baby.” I vowed, “I love you just as much.”

  With one long stroke, I went deep, filling her body and making us both groan. Josie started moving first, rotating her hips, teasing my cock until I pushed up onto my hands and began to pump.

  “Harder, Jace,” she begged, sinking her nails into my biceps.

  I picked up the pace, and she literally purred. My body was shuddering, beggi
ng for release, but I held it off as long as I could. Until I felt her straining beneath me, asking for the same release my body was desperate for.

  With one last push, I went deep inside her, wrapping both my arms around her body, holding her against me as my dick pulsed and released inside her.

  She welcomed my orgasm with her own. Our bodies milked each other as we lay there tangled in each other’s arms, spent.

  I didn’t know how much time passed before she patted my shoulder. I rolled sideways, onto the bed, pulling her along with me.

  “You smell like roses,” she murmured, inhaling deep against my chest.

  “So do you.”

  We lay together a while longer before I carefuly slid out from beneath her. “You want some champagne, baby?”

  “Not right now,” she answered, sitting up.

  “No?” I asked, setting aside the bottle and turning toward her.

  In response, she climbed off the bed, padding to where our bags sat untouched. In seconds, she had her suitcase opened and pulled out a box with a white bow. “I have a wedding present for you.”

  “We said no gifts, Josie,” I grumped. I hadn’t gotten her anything because the agreement was to do some shopping once we got to Paris.

  “But this one is special.” She cajoled. “And I don’t want to wait to give it to you.” Her lower lip stuck out, and I caved.

  “What is it?”

  With a gleeful smile, she bounced back onto the bed, sitting naked in the center. Her cheeks were still flushed from the sex, but her eyes were alert.

  “Come here.” She beckoned, patting the space beside her.

  Far be it from me to deny my sexy, naked wife.

  As I joined her on the bed, she held out the box excitedly. Shaking my head, I took it, untied the bow, and lifted the lid. Josie was looking at me with wide, expectant eyes, a wave of nervousness flickering behind them.

  Glancing back down, I pushed the tissue paper away and glanced in. The bottom fell out of my stomach. Looking between her and the item inside the box, my heart stuttered.

  “Josie…” I began. She nodded and bounced a little on the mattress. Reaching in, I grabbed the small wand thing and lifted it up, gazing down at the two definitive lines. “Are you pregnant?”

  “I’m pregnant.” She confirmed.

  Shock and awe rippled through my brain, robbing me of speech. After a long moment, Josie touched my hand. “Jace?”

  My eyes went to her bare midsection instantly. “My baby is in there.” I pointed.

  She nodded, a smile playing on her lips.

  Tossing the stick over my shoulder, I heard it clatter somehwere on the floor. I tackled her, and she laughed.

  “You’re having my baby?” I said, staring down into her beautiful face.

  “Yes, Jace, I’m having your baby.”

  Fusing our mouths together, I kissed her long and deep. When finally I pulled back, I took her face in my hands and pressed our foreheads together. “You’re pregnant.”

  “Are you happy?” she asked.

  I laughed. “Are you fucking kidding me? I’m delirious.”

  Josie hugged me tight, joy bursting around her. “I found out a couple days ago. It was so hard not to say anything. I almost did a few times. But I wanted to wait ‘til tonight.”

  Brushing the hair out of her face, I smiled down at her. “I’m never gonna be able to top this present.”

  She laughed. “I don’t know. Paris is pretty good.”

  My eyes rounded. “You can’t fly across the world in your condition!” I was straddling her body. My God, I cold crush her and the baby!

  Literally vaulting off her, I bounced onto the side of the bed, giving her ample space to breathe.

  She laughed. “You’re being crazy!”

  “Woman, don’t you laugh at me. That’s my kid in there,” I ground out, pointing to her belly.

  Josie’s eyes softened. Reaching for my hand, she placed it on her stomach, resting hers over mine. “I already saw my doctor. I wanted to confirm it before I told you. I told him about our honeymoon, and he said it was perfectly fine to go to Paris. It’s still very early in the pregnancy. I just can’t travel when I’m further along.”

  “You’re sure?” I questioned.

  “I promise.” She swore. “We better enjoy this vacation, because I have a feeling we won’t be getting another one for a long time.”

  “A baby,” I mused. The surprise was finally beginning to sink in.

  “Yeah, a baby,” she whispered, cuddling into my side.

  So I became a husband and a father on the very same day. Seemed as if I didn’t do anything without doing it all the way.

  “Today has been a good fucking day,” I announced.

  Josie laughed. “I’ll second that.”

  Glancing down, I pressed my lips against her forehead. “Stick with me, baby. I’ll take you on one hell of a lifetime ride.” Pausing and thinking of the baby growing inside her, I added, “With seat belts.”

  I felt her smile against me. “Now that’s an offer I can’t refuse.”

  Damn right it was.

  Nine months later…

  I didn’t want to find out if I was having a girl or a boy. It didn’t matter, and I spent far too much time in my life feeling I wasn’t good enough because I wasn’t a boy.

  I would not do that to this child. No one else would either.

  I knew it was a not-so-subtle message when I announced we wouldn’t know if this new member of our family was a girl or a boy until he or she came out. I wasn’t into subtle messages anyway. I was always stubborn and mostly defiant… Pregnancy seemed to exaggerate those qualities.

  Jace was amused by it (which did not amuse me), often saying it was my momma bear mode. He was probably right. Being pregnant made me extremely protective over this baby and my body.

  He wasn’t any better, though. If people thought he was an asshole before, now they thought he was an outright bastard.

  Personally, I thought it was sexy. I was picking up the protective vibes he was throwing down. Suffice it to say, our sex life was not hindered by my pregnancy. If anything, it kicked it up a notch… Something I didn’t even know was possible.

  So since I refused to find out the sex, we had a lot of neutral-colored clothes and maybe a lot of clothes that were more gender specific. I never thought I was a pink person until I walked into a baby boutique and saw it all. Ruffles, bows… sparkles.

  You’d have to be a coldhearted dead fish to not think baby clothes were absolutely adorable. Even Jace’s eyes would soften when I dragged him around the shops, holding his hand.

  Half the clothes wouldn’t even get worn. Maybe I’d save them, you know, in case we did this again.

  I loved being pregnant, everything about it. In some ways, it made the fact I was a woman even more empowering. I fully realized pregnancy didn’t always have that effect on women. For me, though—a girl who fought against being what I was born as and trying to prove I was stronger than—being pregnant was oddly humbling.

  I’d been wrong all those years. Wrong to let anyone make me feel I wasn’t enough. Men and women weren’t created equal. We just weren’t. But we were created to be equally amazing, sometimes for the same reasons and sometimes for gender specific ones. I was okay with that now.

  Another contraction squeezed my midsection, and I sucked in a deep breath. Jace was half on the bed, leaning as close as possible, his hand gripping mine.

  “Getting much closer,” the nurse said, reading the machines beside me. “I think it may be time to push.”

  I nodded enthusiastically, and she went in search of the doctor.

  “Next time you tell me you want to have a baby, I’m going to have to think long and hard about this shit, Josie,” Jace demanded. His voice was harsh, but his eyes… they were worried.

  “I’m fine, Jace.” I assured him. After a few deep breaths, the contraction began to ebb. “I got this.”

  “You�
��re in pain.”

  “Well, I didn’t expect pushing out a baby to be pain free.”

  His hand covered my large, round belly. I liked being pregnant, but I would also enjoy seeing my feet again. “I don’t like seeing you hurt.”

  “Will you like seeing me with your baby in my arms?”

  With a soft sound, he leaned forward and kissed my stomach. “Oh yeah.” His chocolate eyes found mine. “Maybe try and push him out real fast.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” I muttered dryly.

  “I love you,” he told me.

  “I love you, too.” Right after, another contraction ripped through my stomach, and I winced, grabbing my belly.

  “Josie!” he bellowed, shoving up out of his chair. It slid across the room, hitting the wall. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m fine,” I told him through deep breaths. “But… I really want to… push.”

  Racing to the door, Jace nearly ripped it from the hinges and launched out into the hall. “Someone better get me a goddamn doctor or I’m delivering this kid myself!” he shouted.

  I giggled through the pain.

  “‘Bout damn time!” he hollered a few seconds later. “Were you on vacation?”

  “Jace,” I said, my voice not carrying as strongly as I wanted.

  It didn’t matter, though. He heard and came racing back into the room. “What is it, baby? What’s wrong?”

  “Stop being mean to the doctor.”

  He gave me a dark look, but I only held out my hand so he would take it.

  “I hear it’s time to have a baby.” My doctor came striding in like he wasn’t even bothered my husband was acting like a caveman. “Let’s make sure,” he said, lifting the blanket over my legs.

  Beside me, Jace stiffened. He hated when doctors touched me. He hated it even more when they had to look between my legs.

  He was an idiot.

  Another contraction tightened my muscles, and I squeezed Jace’s hand until he glanced at the doctor for help.

  “All right, give me a nice, big push,” the doctor said. Beside him, the nurse was there to assist.

  I’d been in labor for almost twelve hours. Twelve long hours. I was tired, uncomfortable, and everyone was sitting in the waiting room, ready to come back and see the new baby.