“She’s her mother’s daughter through and through, which means you’ve got a lifetime of staying on your toes. Get ready.”
“That’s a challenge I accepted a long time ago.”
“I can’t speak to experience with having sons, considering Claire is my only child, but I suspect Shaw would agree with me. Having a daughter is a different kind of love. Even though Claire has been grown a long time, she will always be that little baby they placed in my arms. I promised to love, protect, and cherish her the best I could.”
“Now, you’re not alone.”
“I expect you to take care of her, give her the world.”
“Consider it done.”
He stares at me for a moment, silence in the air, but his eyes say it all. He is giving me his blessing.
An unexpected warmth sweeps through me. I hadn’t realized how much his approval meant until now.
I quietly strip out of my clothes, drop my pants at the end of the bed, and crawl in behind Claire, wrapping my arms around her. She stirs, turning partially into me and placing her hands on mine.
“Hey, sweetie,” she murmurs blearily. “I tried to wait for you to come home, but I fell asleep.”
“It’s over. The man who confessed to stealing the drugs is in DEA custody. The bad news is that drugs are gone. Last I heard, he’s not talking. However, the hospital is no longer under code three. The missing supplies are still in question.”
“Did the guy say why he did it?”
“Not sure of any details. Dr. Andrews will work with new protocols.”
She snuggles closer. “Glad it’s taken care of.”
“Claire?”
After last night and this morning, I made a decision. No more of this shit. I reach back, switching on a lamp. “Claire?” I repeat.
“Hmmm?” she hums.
I roll her to her back, shift my hips, and slide between her legs. She blinks a few times until her eyes are clear.
“Are you okay?”
“No.” I hunch back on my knees, lifting her with me and curling her body around mine. Like most of the time when she sleeps, she’s wearing one of my old shirts and nothing else. I pull it over her head, tossing it to the side.
Her body goes solid, and I lean in, brushing my mouth along her collarbone, her neck, and stopping when I feel her pulse against my lips. “I love you.”
Her heartbeat accelerates and she reaches to bring my face to hers, scraping her nails through my hair. “I love you, too.”
“You are the only woman I’ve ever loved. One look and I knew I was ruined. One night and I knew there would never be anyone else. I want to kick my own ass for all the time I wasted. Saying I love you will never properly explain how deep my obsession goes. You’ve given me much more than I deserve, and I’ll never take advantage of that.”
My hand skims up her back, stopping in the middle and pressing her until our chests are touching. “Last night, I went to see Mitch and Kelly.”
“Why?”
“I had this all planned out, but I’m done fucking around. It’s time I give you something.” I shift us slightly, reaching into my pants behind me, and then pull her hand from my head. Her breath hitches, and I watch as understanding washes over her face. She nibbles on her bottom lip, her eyes brightening. Slowly, I slide the ring onto her finger, holding her stare. “On July twenty-seventh, I’m going to give you the wedding of your dreams. The people we love most in this world are going to witness me finally doing something I should have done years ago. ”
“July twenty-seventh?” she barely whispers.
“Yes, your mom has strict instructions. I don’t have many stipulations, but I’ve made it clear that you get everything you want.”
“Everything I want,” she repeats.
“Without stress,” I add.
“I won’t stress.”
“Nurse Evie has a request sitting on her desk requesting three weeks off, starting July twenty-second.”
A small smile plays on her mouth. “Of course, she does.”
I dip my face, running my lips along hers. “I swear to God, I’m going to work every day to give you a lifetime of happiness.”
“That’s a huge responsibility, considering you already do.”
“You’re going to be my wife?” The statement comes out more like a question and she picks up on it.
“I didn’t realize it was a multiple choice question.”
“It’s not.”
“I’ll say yes anyway.”
That same warmth sweeps through me as when her father gave me his approval. Her tongue darts out, tracing my lips at the same time she wiggles her hips, rolling against my already hard cock, her wetness now coating my length.
“You haven’t looked at your ring.”
“I want something else right this second.”
“Gladly.” I grip her hips, aligning us, and sink in one thrust.
She gasps, her muscles clenching tight, and I throb inside her. “You are fucking perfect.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.”
She rocks leisurely, keeping her mouth on mine, torturing me with her slow movements. My hands glide down to her ass. Desire, craving, and need scorch through my veins. I fight for control, letting her set our rhythm until we’re moving in sync. Our sex life has always been explosive, each time memorable and off the charts. This morning is no exception. Making love to her, feeling every inch of her flesh wrapped around mine, and knowing she’s finally wearing the symbol of my promise takes on a whole new meaning. I surge forward, gently laying her back. Our lips remain touching, and in this position, I can see her eyes clearly. They’re bright blue, glowing with love, and I know in my soul this moment will burn inside me forever.
“Tell me you love me.”
“You are the only man I’ve ever loved. One look and I knew I was ruined. One night and I knew there would never be anyone else. I want to kick my own ass for all the time I wasted. Saying I love you will never properly explain how deep my obsession goes. You’ve given me much more than I deserve, and I’ll never take advantage of that.” She repeats my exact sentiments from earlier, ending with a small kiss.
Something inside me erupts, and primal instinct takes over. I move faster, thrusting into her until she breaks eye contact, arching her back and moaning sharply. The sound fuels me, my hands shifting her hips, my mouth dropping to her throat.
Her ankles lock at my back, and her hands fist in my hair. The room fills with our heavy breathing. The trembling of her thighs tells me she close. I decrease my speed, rotating my hips with each withdraw, knowing the exact spot to hit. She writhes under me, panting. I remove my arms from under her, bracing on my elbows to watch. She arches her body and back, crying out as she flies apart.
My dick aches, growing thicker at the vision.
“Fucking gorgeous. Next time you come with me.” I try to remember my quest to take it slower, draw this out, spend hours worshipping her body wearing nothing but my ring. But a savage ferocity takes over. I drive faster, each stroke hitting as deep as possible.
She tugs my head forward, crushing her mouth to mine. Our tongues tangle, and my heart thunders in my chest when my own panting begins. I tear my mouth from hers, laying open-mouth kisses along her jawline until I reach her ear. The pressure builds, my dick swelling and straining for release.
“Baby, I need you—”
“Oh my God…” she shrieks, clenching her pussy so tight I explode with her, momentarily seeing spots as the orgasm rips through me. My chest tightens, and the adrenaline rush boils in my bloodstream with the most powerful energy I’ve ever experienced.
With the rest of my strength, I twist, going to my back and pulling her on top of me, staying connected. She’s trembling. Her face falls to my chest, our hearts are racing together. We stay like this until we regain our breath and she sighs loudly.
“I’m pretty sure we’ve been doing that a while, and you’ve been holding out on me.” She speaks i
nto my skin.
I can’t help the laughter that vibrates in my chest as I wrap my arms around her. “Are you complaining?”
“Not at all. How am I supposed to work tonight?”
“You better rest up. We have all day to recreate that.”
She rises, pressing her hands to my chest in a semi-sitting position. Her face is flushed, cheeks stained pink, lips swollen, and eyes glassy. I get a quick look before something grabs her attention, and her eyes fall, growing wide, and her jaw drops.
“Mathis! Holy shit!”
Satisfaction hits, knowing she’s spotted her hand. I didn’t fuck around. Finally, after sneaking around for weeks, I met my diamond broker one morning and found the perfect stone. Then the real search began to find a jeweler able to put my vision together. It’s over the top, ostentatious, and worthy of royalty—perfect for Claire.
“You like?”
She raises her left hand, the diamonds on the ring sparkling, but the center stone is radiant. Her eyes glimmer and shine. Then I know as it happens; the right hand against my chest trembles, her wrist pressing down and her pulse racing.
Racing in a way I’ve come to know well… she’s about to lose it.
I knife up, curving around her as the sobs roar through the air. She mutters incoherently into my skin, her own body going crazy.
She claws at my chest to get space and inhales sharply to get air. I move back an inch and try to catch my own breath at the expression on her face. She’s beaming. Even through tears, she’s glowing so bright, I swallow hard to control the emotions spreading through me.
“You like,” I say more as a statement.
She tries to regain her composure, nodding until the tears stop flowing. “It’s incredible.”
“You’re incredible.”
“You have to stop this from happening to me. I can’t be this soft, squishy, weepy girl. Make it stop.”
“Never.” I move my lips over hers.
“You know you’re still inside me right? I can cut you off if you don’t agree to fix me.”
“I’m well aware I’m inside you.”
“Fix me.”
“Why would I fix perfection?”
This brings a fresh round of sniffles, and she nuzzles into my neck. “You’re going to have a hell of a time topping this,” she teases, her voice hoarse and thick with emotion.
“Dare accepted.”
Chapter 17
Claire
“I’m going to kill you both if you don’t stop!” I throw a wad of paper napkins at Grace.
“I can’t help it! It’s huge, and gorgeous, and taking every prism of light from this patio to blind people.” She falls back dramatically, her now huge belly bobbing.
Bizzy doesn’t notice, keeping her gaze on my hand in front of her. “He did well.”
“Meh, it’ll do for my first husband,” I joke, trying to take the awe out of the air. “Grandpa Roy texted that he’s seen better.”
Grace bursts out laughing, Bizzy joining in at my joke as I take a few more seconds to enjoy looking at my ring. Brilliant, incredible—astounding, it’s all of it. But to me, it’s more than I can describe. My girlfriends know this.
“So, we’re all set? You picked your styles in the same shade of teal?”
They nod, still giggling.
“Champagne shoes?”
They nod again.
“Brinley and Brayden will be okay?”
They nod before I finish the question, and I know I’ve been beaten.
“My mom already called you.” I surmise.
“Of course, she did!” Bizzy squeals, doubling over. “And Maria, and Sharon… And get this—Grandpa Roy has someone close to the Christleys making him a specialized tux!”
It’s my turn to fall back in my chair, the last hour wasted on these two. Apparently, after my call to my mom Sunday evening, at Mathis’s insistence, she was already busy talking to people. She was pissed we got ‘officially engaged’ on Saturday morning, and I didn’t inform her right away. Then she took it upon herself to herd the crowd.
“Neither of you wanted to tell me, while I went through this spiel,” I motion to the wedding notebook Mom created for me, “that you already knew everything?”
“Hell no, you needed to tell us yourself.” Bizzy straightens, her eyes dancing. “We’d never take that away from you.”
“Poor best friend decision. I could have saved a lot of time, and maybe been recovering from my night of wild sex-without the pressure to meet you two!” I say a little too loudly, neither of them fazed.
“Hell no, you two have been holed up, celebrating without us for days! I tried twice to sneak away, come to your place and barge in, only to be stopped by Shaw.”
“I tried twice, too,” Grace rubs her belly, “but then Nick told me he’d handcuff me to the bed. Which, by the way, wasn’t unpleasant, but then he brought in Doni. I had a security guard.”
“Besides, if we’d have told you we already knew the plans, you’d have canceled lunch,” Bizzy pipes in. “We’d have missed the happy glow.”
I flinch, pretending to be horrified. “I don’t have a happy glow. I have a fresh out of sex marathon glow.”
This sets them in another round of giggles. I try to hide my own smile, sliding my to-do list back in the planner.
The waitress refills our glasses, and I’m about to thank her when I notice she’s staring over my shoulder with her jaw dropped. My head twists that way, and I clench my own jaw from hanging open. Mathis and Clint are crossing the street, both in scrubs and looking incredibly hot. Their smiles are wide and eyes aimed at me.
“Is that Dr. Delicious?” the waitress asks dreamily to no one in particular.
“In the flesh,” I reply. “Also known as Heartthrob Hottie to the nursing staff.”
“I hope he’s coming here.”
“My guess is yes, considering his fiancée is sitting at this table,” Grace tells her.
The girl has waited on us the entire time and commented on my wedding planner earlier. Now, her eyes fly to my hand and then back to me. “You’re marrying Dr. Delicious?” she practically squeals.
“I am.”
Her eyes dart around the table, lighting up in excitement. “Does that mean you three are the hashtag Bennett babes?”
“We are,” I confirm.
“Oh my God, oh my God!” She bounces in place, the water from her pitcher sloshing out. “I can’t wait to tell my friends I waited on celebrities today. They are never going to believe it!”
“Believe what?” Mathis’s hand curls around my neck, and he leans down to kiss my cheek. “Hey, baby.”
“This may be the coolest thing that has ever happened to me,” she continues to gush.
“Want to fill me in?” he quirks an eyebrow.
“She’s got a thing for Dr. Delicious and discovered we’re the hashtag Bennett babes.” I sum it up for him.
He rolls his eyes, sliding in the open chair next to me and scooting it closer. Bizzy and Grace are back to cackling, and Clint seems to be enjoying this as much as them.
“Are you his sidekick?” she has no shame in asking Clint.
“For today I am,” he shoots back.
“Are y’all going to be eating here?”
“Actually, we’re getting take-out. Can we see a few menus?” Mathis answers.
“Of course.” She takes another glance between them, her eyes now glazed with excitement, and rushes away.
“Grace, Bizzy, do you remember Clint?” Mathis does a semi-reintroduction.
“I remember. Hi, Clint.” Grace gives an enthusiastic half-wave.
Bizzy does the same, her wave more like a hand flick. I explained that he had taken a turn from complete dick territory, but she’s seemingly skeptical.
“Ladies,” he greets back.
“What are you doing here?” I turn in my seat to face Mathis.
“I have news so great, it had to be delivered in person. Clint was on r
ounds, so I invited him.”
My heart swells, knowing what he’s going to tell me immediately. “Josh is going home.”
“He’s going home.”
Bizzy and Grace suck in an audible breath.
“There’s a very excited young man waiting to be discharged that’s asking to see his favorite nurse before he goes.”
“Absolutely, we’re almost finished here.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Bizzy and Grace exchange a glance. Mathis catches it, too.
“Something wrong?” I swing my attention to them.
“Nope, not at all,” Bizzy replies a bit too chirpy.
“Grace?”
“No.” Her response is unconvincing.
“Son of a bitch.” Mathis slaps his hand on the table. “I totally fucking forgot.”
“Forgot what?” Now, I’m confused.
“We had a little surprise after lunch. We were going to take you to register and then had an appointment at the bridal boutique. That dress you love was delivered this morning in your size.”
All the breath leaves my lungs. That dress was on a six-week back delay. The saleslady was apologetic she couldn’t rush order it. With the wedding timeline and the customizations I wanted to make, I’d given up hope and settled on finding something else. One look at Grace’s face and I know she had something to do with getting it here this soon.
I stare between them, trying to communicate without words how much it means to me. The waitress chooses this moment to return with the menus. They order quickly, and she bounces away, clearly riding the high of serving celebrities.
“We can go tomorrow,” Grace breaks into the silence.
Mathis reaches for my hand, linking his finger with mine and tugging gently, bringing my attention to him. “Baby, the discharge probably will take a few hours. Go with the girls. I’ll text you updates.”
“But I may miss him,” I whisper lightly.
“I don’t mean to intrude, but I have an idea,” Clint breaks in. “Why don’t we all go? Give the boy a send-off he’ll never forget.”
“That’s a great idea,” Bizzy agrees.
“I’ll call the bridal shop and re-arrange our appointment time. It won’t be a problem,” Grace adds, grabbing her phone. The truth is, for most customers it would be a huge problem to change the appointment. But not for Nick Bennett’s wife.
Heartthrob (Bennett Brothers Series) Page 18
