“New rule,” I told him with a grin, loving the way his eyes tracked my every move as I slathered body butter all over myself. “Shower time is alone time during the week and when I’m on call.”
His deep laugh drew closer and he wrapped his arms around me, inhaling the scent of my hair. Behind my neck. “I’ll try my best.”
That worked for me because there was no way on earth I could possibly resist an opportunity to get soapy and slick with this fine male specimen. “Good. Now put on some pants for the next surprise.” We headed downstairs and back to the kitchen where a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne chilled in a bucket. I’d even sprung for the good stuff.
“Damn babe what smells so good?”
“That would be pizza and buffalo wings.” I was going for a theme though I doubted he would pick up on it until it was staring at him right in the face.
His strong hand plucked up the bottle and glanced at the label, because though my man was still a Navy SEAL and a hometown Chicago boy, he was also a wealthy CEO, which meant his tastes had grown a bit more discerning over the years.
“Interesting choice.”
“Yep.” That’s all I said because the timer beeped and I pulled the food from the oven and put it all on huge platters. “Have a seat,” I told him and put on some old-school R&B before bringing the food to the table.
“You’re doing it up big time baby. I can’t wait to hear the surprise.” His gaze took in the food. Miniature pizzas and buffalo drumettes. “Okay.”
I took a seat and brushed my hair behind me with my fingers. “I love you Colt and we’re moving forward to the next phase of our lives. I hope you’ll be happy about what I’m about to tell you because I’ve been trying to find a way to say this all week.” The last time this happened it turned my life upside down. It caused a deep chasm I’d been sure was irreversible. “Colt,” I paused again, unable to get the words out.
“You’re pregnant,” he grinned, all cocky and leaning back in his chair, fingers woven behind his head.
“You knew? Or you guessed?”
“Seriously? We’ve been having nonstop sex for almost a year. Never mind the fact that most of it was unprotected, damn you feel so good skin on skin,” he smiled and got lost in memories for a few moments. “I also know that you haven’t had a period in at least two months.”
“Well damn. I thought I was surprising you. I guess all this was for nothing.”
“Not for nothin’ sweetheart.” He bit into a mini pizza, taking half in just one bite. “I love that you went through all this to tell me we’re having another baby. But I don’t love that you weren’t sure of my reaction.”
“Well we hadn’t planned on children yet, and we only technically started living together today.”
“Babe we’ve been living together since August.”
True. “Okay so…we’re having a baby!”
His smile beamed so bright I might have gotten a tan. “Either that or you’re on a diet and we’re only eating tiny foods.”
“Smart ass.”
He smiled with a mouthful of chicken. “You love me.”
“I really, really do.”
“Right back atcha Jay-Jay.”
Colt
Later that night
Jaya kind of stole my thunder earlier today, but damn I can’t bring myself to be upset about it. The fact that Jaya had not only gone all in on our relationship, but initiated the next step, was sexy as hell. It only made me love her more. The past few months have been the best of my life, even better than the first time we were together.
The conversation was better now with years of experience and pursuing our own interests. We both laughed easier now because we knew how hard finding happiness could be. We both knew we had to grab happiness where we found it which meant we spent a lot of time just having fun. And the sex, good god it was the best sex I ever had and it kept getting better and better. Jaya had the body of a woman, muscular and strong enough to take all of me, everything I gave her. And curvy enough to make it all fun. Yeah, I loved her and now it was my turn for a little surprise.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
I looked up and Jaya stood wearing the sexiest scrap of lace that must have been created by the devil.
“Damn.” It wasn’t the smoothest thing I could have said, but shit I think I swallowed my tongue because a grunt came out and I had to adjust my cock in my jeans. “You look…fuck.”
She tipped her head back and laughed, the sound beautiful and husky. And all I could focus on was the way her tits jiggled in sexy white cups that made her nipples look rosy and hard. And delicious.
“Thank you. This isn’t part of your surprise but I did buy it for this occasion.”
Fuck. How in the hell did I get so damn lucky? “That outfit is perfect. Absolutely fucking perfect.” I stood, walked to her and traced a finger over the swell of her breasts.
“Yeah? Perfect for what,” she asked with her hands on her hips, looking sassy as hell with a defiant glint in her eyes.
Ah, shit. I was missing one important prop. “Hold that thought.” I took the stairs two, maybe three, at a time and rifled through my work bag where I’d kept the ring box for the past three months. Waiting. Hoping. Until Jaya was ready. For this. For us.
“I’m getting a little lonely down here,” she called but I could hear the smile in her voice.
“Well then let me fix that for you,” I told her as I ran down the stairs wearing a big smile. “Come here.” I sat her on the sofa and took the seat beside her, holding her hands in mine.
“Okay I like this.” She snuggled closer, smiling like a little nymph in sexy lace. “What’s up?”
“You are babe, always.” Jaya’s smile distracted me from the fact that her hands now stroked over my growing erection. “Jaya,” I groaned and stilled her hands. “I love you and now that we’re moving forward there’s something very important I want to ask you.” Damn this was harder than I thought it would be.
“Yes Colt. I will blow you during the Super Bowl.”
I groaned. “I’m gonna hold you to that, but that’s not the question.” Damn with that kind of offer on the table I’m going to make her my wife tomorrow. “This is what I’ve wanted since I first saw you in that red and white striped bikini when you were fifteen. All arms and legs with just enough boobs to make me look twice. Okay three times.” She giggled at that memory, gasping as I pulled out the ring box. “Jaya Martinson, my beautiful badass future baby mama, will you promise to be by my side changing diapers, planning ops and making sweet love to me whenever the mood strikes? Will you marry me?”
She nodded as tears pooled in her eyes. “I don’t want to cry, not tonight. Not while I’m feeling so happy.” Her arms wrapped around my neck and she sat in my lap, right up against where I wanted her and soon, would be buried. Deep. “My sweet former SEAL.”
“Always a SEAL.”
She laughed and rolled her eyes. “Colt I want nothing more in this world than to be your wife.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded, her smile turning wicked. “Oh yeah. And guess what?”
“What?”
“This thing has buttons in the perfect spot.” It took a moment for her words to register, but when they did my hand snaked between her legs and pulled.
“Fuck. Me.”
“Oh, I fully intend to. How else are we going to fill that big house you think I don’t know you’ve been thinking about buying with children?”
“Damn I love you Jaya.”
“I know and I love you too. Now Colt, please, for the love of deep dish pizza and frogmen, take off your pants!”
“Did you say frogmen?”
“I sure did,” she grinned and lifted just enough so I could shove my pants down.
But I had other ideas. “I’m not sure if I can love you more than I do right now.”
“Maybe not, but you can sure try.”
I did more than try. I loved her until we were b
oth dehydrated, numb from the waist down and deliriously happy.
“Do or don’t do baby, there is no try.”
“Did you just quote Star Wars to me?”
“Damn right I did.”
She laughed and tightened her grip on me. “Now I’m going to have to love you until the rest of us is numb.”
She did.
We were.
This was going to be fun.
THE END
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Safeguarded: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance
Keane
“Those assholes set me up Keane. You were right, I never should have trusted the Red Shamrocks.” I watched my friend and leader pace frantically from side to side, his shock of black hair standing on edge. “Now I’ve got the Feds on my ass, chomping at the bit to finally have something on the mighty Seamus O’Malley.”
I sat back in my chair, a glass of Jameson in my hand as my oldest friend’s world crumbled around him. “Do we have proof or do you need me to get it?” I couldn’t deny that I’d love nothing more than to take a few of those Red ‘Rock bastards to the basement of some building set for demolition and make them cry for their mamas. My role in Seamus’s organization, Cearul, was part confidant, part advisor and part hatchet man. The latter part of my job I enjoyed the most.
“No.” Seamus stopped pacing and set dark blue eyes on me. “What I need from you is more important than those fuckers. Besides,” he smiled and poured himself a healthy amount of whiskey, “I plan to deal with them myself.”
I didn’t know how I felt about Seamus going about this on his own. He was more than capable of handling the wet work if he needed to, but he didn’t need to. “What do you need me to do boss?”
“I need you to take care of Fiona. Keep her safe because Callahan and his thugs will use her to get to me and I can’t let that happen.”
Ah, shit. Fiona O’Malley. A gorgeous redhead with the kind of curves that made men forget to be gentlemen. The kind of mouth that begged to be kissed. And she was Seamus’ daughter. Completely fucking off limits. Had been since the day I met her, but back then she’d been a kid. Now that she was a grown woman with curves, lips and tits, it was much harder. Hell, everything was much harder when she was around. “You got it.” I stood. “Where is she?”
Seamus checked his watch. “She should be on her way home from class now.” Yeah, she was also twenty-one fucking years old and nearly done with college. I’m an old man as far as she’s concerned but I wanted her. Fuck, I wanted her bad.
“Right. And where will you be?”
“I’ll figure it out Keane. You just keep my Fiona alive.” Guzzling his drink and slamming the glass down he frowned. “I never wanted any of this shit to touch her. Naïve I know, but I thought I could do it. Now I need you to do it Keane. You’re the only person I can trust to keep her safe”
Grabbing the black leather coat that was my constant companion against the temperamental Boston weather, I nodded my agreement. “I’ll go get her now. Stay here until I get back with a bag for you.”
“Keane goddammit, I don’t—,”
“I’m not asking boss. You’re my best friend, hell my only friend and I’ll make sure you have what you need out there on your own.” I didn’t wait for Seamus to respond because he didn’t need to. We’d grown up together in this city, ran the streets when we should have been in school and learning shit. Instead we looked out for one another all our lives except the years Seamus got married and I went into the service. Hell, I should see Fiona as a daughter but I couldn’t. I didn’t. She wasn’t even my fucking type, all innocent and virginal looking but I knew passion hid beneath the surface because it called to me. I couldn’t explain it and I couldn’t act on it, so I’d kept my distance.
Now I couldn’t. Thanks to the Red ‘Rocks.
Slamming my foot on the gas, weaving through late afternoon traffic I felt an urgency coursing through me to get to Fiona and I followed it. Years as an army sniper had told me one thing, never fucking ignore my instincts and right now they screamed that Fi needed me. Because we’d made the mistake of doing business with the Red Shamrocks, a smaller gang looking to join the Cearul Network, I knew they would attack Fiona first.
My ride came to a screeching halt outside her swanky Beacon Hill apartment building and my legs ate up the concrete. Inside the lobby I found the doorman on the floor. I crouched beside him checking for a pulse. Alive. Running on instinct and adrenaline, I pulled the emergency lever on the elevator and ducked into the stairwell. If someone was here to harm Fiona they wouldn’t escape without running into me first.
Scanning the corridor, I noticed one man outside Fiona’s door. A red shamrock tattooed on his neck. He held a nine millimeter in his hand but the man wasn’t ready to use it, his posture was too relaxed and his grip too loose. I crept up on the asshole easily, he should have been keeping better watch. My good luck. I would have killed the bastard but I didn’t have time for a body dump, so I wrapped an arm around his neck and squeezed until his lights went out. I dropped him silently and pulled out my gun before heading inside Fiona’s place.
“Get your paws off me you goon!” She was a sassy thing, with her father’s mouth. But I could hear the struggle in her voice, the fear, and I moved in to see what I was up against.
“Don’t worry Red, me and my boys are going to have our paws all over you. Inside you.” I recognized the gravelly voice as one of Callahan’s men and I knew his reputation. He’d left more than a few working girls bruised, broken and unable to work.
I would kill that bastard if he touched Fiona. And I would fucking enjoy it.
“Probably the only way someone like you could get laid. But I guess rape is how you shamrock boys get down. Must be all that prison time,” she taunted.
I had to smile. Despite her sheltered upbringing, Fiona wasn’t like the other mob princesses. She was down to earth. Smart. And that smart mouth would get her harmed.
“It ain’t rape if you want it. And Red I know you’re dripping for me.” He laughed and grabbed her neck and that’s when I went in for the attack.
“One of you will be dripping, but I doubt it’ll be her.” Two punches to the kidney and he was on the ground, my foot on his neck. He squirmed and I applied pressure. “you okay Fi?”
“I am now. Thanks Keane.” She flashed that wholesome girl-next-door smile that made me want to kiss her until she was wet and trembling for me.
Instead I winked. “Anytime. Pack a bag. No questions.”
That lush pink mouth opened then snapped shut at my command.
Obedient, nice. “Get up asshole.” I had plans for this guy. One last job before I dedicate myself to keeping Fiona safe and sound.
Like I promised.
Fiona
Most people think the worst part of my father’s world is the potential for violence or arrest, and that is a concern. But my biggest issue is that no one tells me a damn thing. About anything. Like when your dad’s hot as shit second in command shows up to rescue you and busts down two Red ‘Rocks before dropping you off and taking one of them God knows where. I had a clue what fate that douchebag would meet at Keane’s hand, but I preferred not to think about it. It’s how I survived, and I would use it for as long as it worked.
“Dad what the hell is going on?” I rushed into his house and stepped into his arms.
“My beautiful Fi. It’s nothing for you to worry about. Keane is going to look after you for a while.”
I wanted to argue, to tell him I could look after myself, but even with self-defense classes I couldn’t hold my own against a bunch of angry gangsters. Then again, maybe dealing with mobsters might be easier than fighting my attraction for Keane.
“Keane?” I couldn’t do that. Keane scared me and it had nothing to do with what he did for my dad and his “company” Cearul. No, he scared me in
an entirely different way. Just one look and I felt my panties go damp, my boobs felt heavy and tender and my mind kind of shut down. I knew it was attraction, arousal. Of course I did, but Keane was literally old enough to be my father. As hot as he was, his relationship with my dad meant I would forever be off limits. More importantly he would be off limits to me. If I were bold enough to chase him.
I wasn’t.
“Of course. He’s the only one I trust to keep my little girl safe.” He patted my cheek like the seven-year-old I swear he still saw when he looked at me.
“I’m not a little girl Dad. What’s going on?” I was grateful he’d tried his best to give me a normal life, to shield me from his businesses that weren’t exactly legal. But now that my life of independence was in jeopardy, he owed me some answers.
“Nothing for you to worry about Fiona. I made a deal I shouldn’t have and they fucked me. Now I have to un-fuck myself and fuck them harder.” He stood, buttoning his jacket over his expanded middle. “I need you to stay close to Keane, lovey.”
Closing my eyes, I let out a calming breath. Whenever Dad called me lovey things were dire. I knew he loved me but he so rarely used non-possessive terms that it caught me off guard.
“Are you in danger of prison or death?”
“Possibly both but I’m handling it. Knowing you’re safe will allow me to deal with it better.”
And there was the guilt trip, as though it’s my fault he’s got gangsters and Feds after him. “Right. By all means go do what you have to do.” Frustrated I poured a couple fingers of whiskey, Irish of course, and knocked it back to keep my hands from trembling. Angry and frustrated, I knew voicing either emotion wouldn’t be helpful. Or welcome. “Where is Keane anyway?” The man couldn’t very well keep me safe if he wasn’t around.
“I’m right here.” That deep voice sounded right behind me, the man moved like a panther. Or a ninja. “What do you need?” Stepping close enough that I could smell the intoxicating scent of his cologne, his deep green eyes raked over my face and stared into my eyes as though he could see every thought, every emotion. I knew I was being foolish. Keane wasn’t a mind reader. He was just a man. A beautiful man with a great body, but still.
His Takeover: An Enemies to Lovers Romance Page 20
