Gab touched the baby’s soft skin. “Every baby is a small miracle,” he whispered, and he stared straight into Grace’s brown eyes.
This man was an ever-changing mystery. When he’d touched the baby, a new warmth rushed through her body. She licked her dry lips, and his eyes filled with a fierce longing.
The baby broke the spell when he started to cry. “Hand Danny to me,” Gina told Gab.
“Graham?” Gab looked at him helplessly.
Graham grinned. “He won’t break. Pick him up. Just support his head.” Graham stood close to Gab and directed him.
When Gab got Danny in his arms, he relaxed slightly. The baby stopped crying, and they stared at each other. Then the baby smiled.
“Don’t get excited. He’s not smiling at you. They tell me it’s gas.” Graham took his son and placed him in Gina’s arms.
“We’ll go out while you nurse him.” Grace pushed Gab toward the door. “I may go home to rest for a while. See you later today.”
“Thanks for all the help,” Gina called out as they left.
“Let’s walk out this way,” Grace said to Gab. “The nursery is down here. I like to see the babies.”
Gab followed her direction. They turned a corner and at the end of the hall they could see a few babies in the nursery window.
“Most of the mothers have them in their rooms, but if the mother needs to rest, they bring them back here.” Grace talked while staring at the tiny infants. “They’re all so beautiful.”
“I want a son and a daughter. Holding Graham’s son made me realize I do have a deep hunger for a family, not just a wife.”
His soft words amazed and shook her. He was not the young man who’d left her. In his face, she saw the man he’d become.
“I want us to have a baby.” Gab’s deep voice simmered with passion and longing, and his eyes glistened with a fierce fervor. “I love you. You can take all the time you need to learn to trust me. I’m not going anywhere, and I don’t want anyone else. Without you, my life is empty.”
Her breath caught in her lungs, and her heart pounded. He grabbed her and held her tight against his hard body. “Please try to forgive me.”
The tenderness and anguish in his voice broke completely through the wall she’d built around herself. Her arms went around his neck. Grace tipped her head and looked up.
Gab kissed her with a fierceness. His tongue tangled with hers, and licked the soft interior. She’d know him if she was blindfolded, by his special fresh air, musky scent, and the feel and taste of his sensuous mouth.
He pulled back and asked, “Will you let me take you home and make love to you?”
Her throat was tight with emotion. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to cry or smile. She nodded her head yes. He scooped her into his arms and carried her on the elevator and to the cubicle where his father waited.
“Put me down. Your father will think we’re crazy.”
Gab only grinned. “Dad, why don’t you call Mom and have her come get you? You can invite her to have a late breakfast at Millie’s.”
Mr. Forrester’s eyes twinkled at Grace. “She likes to eat out. I’ll call her. You two go on to whatever you have planned.”
Grace knew her face was flaming red. As soon as they left the cubicle, she punched Gab in the shoulder. “He knows what we’re planning to do. I’m so embarrassed.”
“Honey”—Gab looked down at her—“he was young once and he’s not easily shocked. How do you think I got here?”
“Men. Nothing embarrasses you all.”
“You should know, darlin’. You grew up with five brothers.”
He tenderly placed her in the truck. Then he went around to the driver’s side. “We’ll christen our new bed. I would have slept well last night, but I kept turning into the empty spot beside me.”
“Your fault. But I’m glad I was at the cabin to drive Gina to the hospital.” She told him about Graham being at Rand’s.
“I’m sorry I confused you yesterday,” Gab took her hand and kissed her palm. “I confused myself.”
“Promise me next time we’ll talk it out, and we won’t go off in different directions.”
“It’s an easy promise to make and keep. I was miserable.” Gab started the truck and drove toward his home.
At the house, Gab carried her into the bedroom.
“You have to let me walk sometime.”
“I know. But I hate to give up holding you in my arms.” He put her feet down.
“Still no curtains. I’m ordering some today, special delivery.”
Gab nuzzled her neck from behind. “Whatever you want, darlin’.”
She walked away from him to the windows. “I like this view of the prairie and the mountains. It’s a wonderful house built in a lovely setting.”
“But not as lovely as my scenery.” Gab stood where she’d left him. His gaze moved over her slowly in a lazy appraisal. “My only problem is that, from my outlook, there are too many clothes obstructing the best aspects.”
“What are you going to do about it, cowboy?”
He stalked across the room toward her. Although she doubted he’d ever lose the hint of a slight arrogance in his walk, his manner pleased her.
When he stopped in front of her, he unbuttoned her blouse. His touch sent a dizzying current through her body.
He leaned down and took a deep breath. “If my eyes were closed, I’d know you by your special scent.”
Once her buttons were undone, he slid the blouse off.
Her body craved his intimate touch. But he took his time removing each article of clothing with care and placing them on the end of the bed. Finally, she stood in her green bra and thong panties.
He stepped backward and let his gaze roam across her body. “A much better view, but it can be improved.” His fingers flipped open the front clasp of her bra. He removed it, and he slid her panties off. Gab stoked a fire of hot desire everywhere his gaze touched.
“Do you see something you like, cowboy?” She purred the words at him.
“I’m assessing where to start. Which delectable place shall I choose?”
His eyes sparkled with love and mischief. He started to take a condom out of his jeans pocket. He stopped and asked, “Are you on birth control?”
“Yes. You can leave the condom off.”
“I’m healthy.”
“So am I.”
He reached for her and pulled her body against his.
“We have a little problem.” Grace smiled. “You aren’t nude.”
Gab removed his clothes in record time. “Is this better?” he asked and drew her close.
“Much.” She buried her face in the soft hair on his chest and took a deep breath. “I love your scent.”
“I hope there are others qualities you like about me.”
“Oh, yes. Shall I list them?”
“Please do.”
Grace started at the top of his head. Her fingers ran through the silky strands of shiny, black hair. “I especially like your hair when it’s a little damp and tries to curl.”
Gab groaned, but said, “Go on.”
The tips of her fingers traced the outline of his ears. “You have nice ears. They aren’t unusually big.” She bit the tip of his earlobe, and then turned her attention to his face.
“Your eyebrows are expressive. You can say more by moving your brow than most people.” His left brow rose a fraction. Grace grinned. “The blue in your eyes reminds me of a summer sky or a field of blue bonnets like I saw when I vacationed in Texas.”
Her thumb stroked across his bottom lip, and she saw a nerve quiver in his jaw. “You have sexy lips. There’re firm and well shaped.” She kissed and tasted his mouth. Then her lips slid to his jaw where she scraped her teeth along the edge. “Your strong jaw makes me feel protected.”
Grace’s exploration continued. Her mouth moved to his neck and stopped where his heartbeat hammered against her lips. “I think you’re a wee bit excited.”
>
“Damn it, woman, if you don’t hurry I’m going to explode without you.”
“Such language. Where is all that mighty control you men like to brag about?”
“About to tear apart, and you’ll reap the consequences.”
“I certainly hope so. Let’s see, where did I leave off?”
She stepped back from him and let her gaze roam across his good-looking body. Her own reacted strongly to the sight of him.
Reaching out, she brushed her hands across his chest and rubbed his nipples. He hissed through his teeth. Then she dropped to her knees and cupped his sac in her hands.
His large, hard cock jerked, and his knees bent slightly. She grasped his cock and took the crown into her mouth. He gripped her hair.
“Darlin’, that feels so good. You almost knocked me off my feet.”
She licked and kissed the top and sides of his shaft, while her hands carefully moved his balls. The satin touch of his skin surrounding his hard cock always surprised her. Before she could finish, he stopped her.
“I’m on the edge, and I want to fuck your sweet pussy before I come.” He lifted her onto the king-size bed and spread her legs wide.
His mouth licked from her clit to the opening of her pussy.
“I had to have a taste, but I can’t wait for more.” He surged inside her to the hilt. For a moment they lay still as her pussy trembled around his cock, and his heart beat like a locomotive going uphill.
The very air snapped with electricity. A hum of desire swirled in her veins. His eyes were dark and mysterious as he stared at her. A slender, delicate cord formed between them. Her heart opened to him and all the old doubts flowed out. The love she saw in his eyes rushed in to fill the empty spaces.
Gab lifted her hips and plunged in deeper. He moved fast but in a steady rhythm that built into a dazzling assault on her senses.
Leaning forward, his mouth closed around her rosy nipple. She screamed as a rush of ecstatic pleasure filled her whole body. Gab continued to thrust inside her pussy as the hardest orgasm she’d ever had made her tremble like a leaf.
* * * *
He held her close as his release sent an almost painful bolt of joy up his spine. He gasped for breath as her pussy rippled around his cock. Gab stared into her eyes as they drifted back to the present.
“Wow, what happened?” Grace asked.
“I’m not sure. Let’s try it again.” Gab rolled and carried her with him. She lay across his chest. “Although, maybe we’ll wait. Too much of that lovin’, and I may die from pleasure.”
Their skin shone with perspiration. Gab brushed her damp hair off her face. “How do you like the bed? I think it works well.”
“We’ll never get rid of it.” She kissed his tantalizing mouth.
He saw her expression change. “What are you thinking?”
“The last two times we’ve made love I felt like we bonded. But then you withdrew. Was today different?”
“Yes. The first time I opened myself to you, I became vulnerable. In case you don’t know, vulnerability is scary for a guy.” He took a deep breath. “The next your memory of our past interfered with the present.” He put out his hand. “Not that I’m blaming you. But this time nothing stood in either of our ways.
He got off the bed and sat her up on the side. “Stay there.” Gab went to one of the closets and reached in a coat pocket. Then he returned and knelt at her feet.
“I hope this isn’t too soon. Grace, will you marry me, and when we’re ready have our baby?” His large hand cupped the side of her face and held it gently. “After seeing Danny, I can’t wait to hold our child in my arms.”
“When I saw you holding Graham’s son, I knew I was in love with you and tired of denying it. Your large hands gently touched the baby, and my heart melted. The past is gone.
“After thinking about our time together that summer I realized you never made promises. The dreams were all in my head. I’ve matured now, and I’ve never stopped loving you.”
“Is that a yes?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
She threw herself into his arms. “Yes, yes, and yes.” He fell onto the floor with her on top.
“I’m possibly the only woman proposed to in the nude,” she teased him.
He rolled her under him. “I have a ring for you. It’s in the box,” he nodded toward the little white case he’d retrieved from his coat. “But it can wait. Let’s not waste this position.”
Grace started laughing. “I love you, Gabriel Forrester.”
Later, after Grace had slept a few hours, Gab woke her with the white jewelry box in his hand. “I want to see this on your finger.”
She grinned, sat up in bed, and opened the box. A large, square diamond twinkled in the light from the window. “It’s beautiful.”
“If you want something different, we can exchange it.”
“No, you won’t.” She handed Gab the ring to slide on her finger. “I love it, and that you picked it out for me makes the ring more special.”
Gab kissed her. “Get dressed. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
When she joined him, Gab had the refrigerator door open.
“Nothing much in here. I’ll take you out to dinner. Where would you like to go?”
“Shall we order pizza? We have to make plans.”
“A woman after my own heart. Pizza and beer.” Gab punched in a number on his phone.
“You have the local pizza restaurant on your speed dial?”
“Doesn’t every man?”
Grace shook her head. “Probably. Leave the hot peppers off my side.”
“I remember. You call Gina. Tell her we’ll see them tomorrow.”
She walked out to the living room to make her call. “Hi, Gina. How are you?”
“I’m great. I’ve had a few hours of sleep, and your mom is back with me. Graham went home to rest.”
“I’m calling because Gab and I won’t get back to the hospital tonight. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
“With any luck I’ll be home by then. Call first. You can come by the house.”
“I will. Take care of yourself and your beautiful baby.”
“Before you cut me off, I wanted to tell you to push Gab. I saw the looks you gave him. You love him, and after seeing him hold my baby, it’s obvious he’s ready to have a family.”
“Think so?”
“I do. This is the time to strike.”
“I may take your advice.” Grace smiled as she clicked off the call.
Gab walked behind her and put his arms around her waist. “The pizza will be here in thirty minutes. What do we need to talk about?”
“Lots. When do you want to get married?”
“Being a man I’d prefer to go to the Justice of the Peace tomorrow. But your mother and mine would be very upset.”
“So would I. This is my only wedding.”
“It had better be.” He growled playfully in her ear.
“I have my dress designed. I did it years ago. While it’s being made, my mom and yours can plan all the trimmings.”
Gab looked worried. “How long will this take?”
“About as long as it’ll take me to finish decorating our home.”
“And that is?”
“I’d say six weeks.”
“I’ll give you a month before I carry you to the courthouse.”
“A month it is. You were easy. Actually I thought we might be able to do it in three weeks. But this means I won’t be crazy by my wedding day.”
He bit the edge of her shoulder.
“Ouch.”
“You deserved it. You tricked me.”
“So I did. Get used to it.” She walked toward the master bedroom. “I’m going to shower. We have twenty-five minutes. Are you up to joining me?”
Grace laughed when he ran to her, grabbed her into his arms, and headed toward the master bath.
Chapter Fourteen
Grace’s mom had arranged a Sunday dinner for all the f
amily to meet and see the newest addition to the Brodie clan. Grace and Gab had decided to wait and announce their engagement at the dinner.
Early Sunday morning Grace sat on the rug in the master bedroom, emptying a box of her personal items into the bottom chest of drawers. She’d been busy buying curtains and furniture all week. She glanced around the room. She liked the bluish green curtains and the dark green chairs by the corner fireplace.
“Good morning, darlin’.” Gab handed her a second cup of coffee. “I thought you might be ready for this.”
“I am. Thanks.” She took a swallow as Gab reached into her box.
“This is my birthday present to you. You never opened it.”
“Actually, I’d forgotten where I packed it. But I didn’t open it earlier because I was trying desperately not to fall in love with you, again.”
“You admitted you’ve always loved me.”
“And it’s gone to your head,” she teased. “I should never have told you.”
He sat on the floor behind her and pulled her between his legs. She settled back in his arms, enjoying the feel and scent of his body surrounding her.
Then he leaned his chin on her shoulder. “Open it.”
The small box had been wrapped in silver paper with a red bow. “It must be jewelry.”
“No fair guessing.”
“I’m right.” Grace carefully slipped the bow off and undid the paper.”
“Women. Tear into it.”
“Men are so impatient.” She opened the box and pulled out a white jeweler’s box. A gold pendent, shaped like a heart with a ruby set left of the center, lay on a bed of satin. Grace ran her fingers over the necklace. The heart was attached to a fine gold chain. “It’s lovely, but I’m glad I didn’t open it at the party.”
“I had pretty words all planned to tell you how it represented my heart, and I was giving my heart to you. Then you accepted Fred’s proposal and stunned me.”
Grace turned her head and kissed his cheek. “I’m glad I waited until now to open your gift. I sensed whatever it was would cause more confusion inside me. Previous to our engagement, I probably would not have appreciated the thought or the gift.” She held up the chain. “Fasten it on me.” The slightest brush of his fingers against her neck had a flicker of desire stirring in her core.
Enticed by the Billionaire Cowboy [Wives for the Western Billionaires 9] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 12
