Decidedly With Baby (By the Bay Book 2)

by Stina Lindenblatt

  Well, someone was extremely happy to greet me.

  A smile grew on my face and I pulled away from Josh’s lips. “Did you miss me?”

  “Very much,” he said in what almost sounded like a moan.

  “I guess I need to give you something to remember me by, for while you’re away.”

  Now it was his turn to smile, his face a breath away from mine. “That would be greatly appreciated.”

  I chuckled and pushed his jeans past his hips and down his legs. He stepped out of them—then in a swift move, he had me on the bed, my legs over the side, Josh lying next to me, kissing me.

  His hand returned to my aching core and he traced his fingers between my folds. “Someone’s hot, wet, and ready.”

  Think my neighbors heard my moan?

  Who needed pay per view when you had Josh and me to liven up the building?

  “If you’re referring to me,” I said, “then you’ve got that right. I’m more than ready for you.”

  “Did you miss me?” he asked, echoing my earlier question. Only in this case, he circled my clit with his finger.

  I moaned—louder than before. “Very much.”

  “Good.”

  And that was the end of the conversation.

  It didn’t take long before we got back into the old rhythm—in the same way you never forgot how to ride a bike. We explored each other’s bodies, knowing what the other person liked. Knowing how to get the desired reaction, to the point where neither of us would last much longer.

  Josh looked down at me, and I nodded at the burning question in his eyes. I was more than ready for him. I wanted him inside me. Now.

  He positioned himself at my entrance and slowly entered me. “Christ, I missed being inside you,” he moaned, then gave me a deep and thorough kiss. Oh God, I wouldn’t last much longer.

  “I missed that too,” I said.

  He flexed his hips, burrowing himself deeper.

  Yep, definitely missed him being inside me.

  “Oh, God,” I groaned as an intense climax crashed through me, pulling me under—causing me to gasp for air.

  Wow. Just. Wow.

  Josh collapsed beside me, and once the euphoria had subsided for us both—and awareness had returned—he knotted his limbs with mine.

  “That memory will definitely keep me going for the next few weeks.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “Unless…”

  “Unless, what?”

  “Since you’re on mat leave anyway, why don’t you and Lily stay in Montreal with me until the season’s over?” Possibility glowed in his eyes.

  In case you didn’t get it, he meant the hockey season, not winter.

  One was doable—there were only ten days left until Spring.

  The other?

  “It’s not that easy,” I said, always the planner, never the spontaneous one. But have you tried being spontaneous when you had a baby? “And it might affect my immigration status, which means I might be sent back to Australia because of that. Plus all my friends are here.” I stroked my fingers against his jaw and his one-day scruff. “If I go to Montreal, Lily and I will be on our own while you’re away. I won’t have the same support system I have here.”

  I gave him a sad smile. “So as much as I would love to be there with you, it won’t work. I’m sorry.” Plus I needed to begin searching for a nanny soon. D-day—also known as my first day back to work—was two months and counting.

  A small part of me shuddered at the idea of returning to work. It wasn’t the job I was dreading. Remember? I loved my job. It was the idea of being away from Lily during the day, along with balancing motherhood and my career that made me feel unsettled.

  Seriously—how had my mum managed to go back to work when my brothers and I were little? Or had we driven her crazy enough that she couldn’t wait to get back to her career?

  That was always a possibility. A very good possibility.

  Josh pressed his lips together, and let out a heavy breath. “What’s going to happen, Holly, if I’m offered a contract with another team? Yes, maybe it will be with L.A. or San Jose or Anaheim, but the odds of that aren’t great. And even then we still won’t see much of each other, other than on Skype.”

  “What do you expect me to do? Give up my job and marry you?”

  He pushed himself up to sit. “Why not? You’re smart, have a great degree and work experience. You’ll find another job.”

  Did you notice what he didn’t say?

  Once upon a time, a young maiden lived in the kingdom of kangaroos and koalas. Like her mother before her, she was expected to marry for convenience—not for love. And we all knew how that story went, didn’t we?

  Yes, I got that he loved me and was trying to come up with a way for Lily and me to be in his life, but it all felt off-kilter. He never said he longed to marry me because he loved me and he couldn’t imagine spending another moment without me in his life.

  Wasn’t that what most girls dreamed of hearing from the man they love?

  Because what girl wanted her happily ever after to sound like a business proposal?

  I sat up, the sheet held against my chest. “Never mind that I don’t want another job,” I said a little harsher than I had intended. “Never mind that I don’t want to get married just so Lily and I can be with you. What happens if the only contract you’re offered is in Canada? Then what?”

  He didn’t argue I was wrong. He couldn’t. Like me, he knew it was a strong possibility the only team who would offer him a contract once he became a free agent was a Canadian team.

  And then I was expected to give up everything just to be with him, and so his daughter could be with him.

  You want to know the truth? Being an adult sucked the big one.

  There, I’d said it. Disney needed to turn my life into a princess movie.

  I was positive it would be the next blockbuster.

  Except in real life, there were no bibbity-bobbity-freaking-boos.

  Josh’s jaw jerked. “Look, I didn’t come here for us to argue. I just thought it was a viable option so we can be together.” He looked toward the rain-splattered window and let out a long breath. “This is our last night together for a few weeks, and I’d much rather spend what little time we have left with me making love to you.”

  The frustration in his face eased, to be replaced by my favorite panty-dropping smirk—if I had been wearing panties. “Now, can we have some hot and dirty make-up sex?”

  Despite everything, I laughed. Besides, he was right. Why waste time being angry when we didn’t have much time before he had to leave again?

  “So, you don’t even want dinner?” I asked, laughter in my voice.

  He grinned, everything being good for now—as long as we avoided the elephant in the room. “Dinner might be good.”

  I lay back and tugged him down to join me. “What do you want first? Dinner? Or…” I trailed my fingertips down his chest, under the sheet covering his hips, and along his hardening length.

  He didn’t answer with words…instead he showed me exactly what he hungered for—with his mouth and tongue, with his fingers, with his cock.

  Dinner? Totally overrated anyway.

  34

  Holly

  It was that time of the year again. The time that hockey fans lived for—well, maybe not if your favorite team didn’t make it in.

  That’s right. Playoffs had begun two weeks ago.

  Did the Montreal Canadiens make it into the first round?

  I entered the team box where the wives and girlfriends were gathered, waiting for the game to begin. What was Lily wearing? Her Canadiens red jersey of course—like me and everyone else.

  Was I nervous being here when I didn’t know anyone?

  Were flamingos pink?

  “Hi,” a woman, who I hadn’t even noticed approach, said next to me. In her arms was a baby a few months older than Lily. “You must be Holly.” Then to Lily she said, “Aren’t ya just adorable?” Lily gurgled and w
aved her arms as if to say hi.

  Or to agree that she was indeed adorable.

  “I’m Emily, Sam Grainger’s wife,” the woman said. “And this is Ethan. He’s six months old. I’m guessing Lily is about three months?”

  “Three months next week.”

  Emily introduced me to the other wives and girlfriends—who of course all gushed over Lily. Their friendly smiles and hellos instantly put me at ease.

  “How come you didn’t move here with Josh?”

  Was Emily’s tone judgmental? Not at all. Like the other women with her, she was just curious—which made me relax even more.

  I explained my reasons—the job and green card part. I didn’t mention the part about Josh suggesting we get married but not for the right reasons.

  Even Kelsey and Erin didn’t know about what could’ve easily made it to the list for The Top Ten Ways How Not To Propose To The Woman You Love.

  “I don’t blame you for feeling that way,” Emily said. “I was lucky when Sam got traded here. It wasn’t like I was giving up a great job. And I was able to make my experience work for me. I created my own online business that can be done anywhere.” Emily was a social media consultant.

  Could I do something like that? I wasn’t so sure—especially with my career goals. They weren’t exactly easy to convert into something I could do online.

  I know. I know. What happened to thinking outside the box?

  Fortunately, I didn’t have to figure it out, at least not for now. The game was starting. The Canadiens were currently tied in the series, so tonight’s game—the final game in the series—could go either way.

  Unfortunately for me, they won in overtime. Lily had long since fallen asleep in my arms but stirred at the cheering from the team’s box.

  I smiled softly at her. “Hey, sweetie. Looks like Daddy won’t be coming home to us next week after all.”

  Was I disappointed? Of course.

  But I was also happy for Josh and his team. Because, hello? We were talking about the chance to win the most coveted trophy in the NHL.

  But like anything of value—winning it came at a cost.

  Eventually the women met up with their men. Careful not to disturb his sleeping daughter in my arms, Josh kissed me in the way that I loved. The way he always did whenever we hadn’t been together for so long—hard and possessive.

  Once he was finished showing me how much he missed me, he glanced at Lily with the same adoring expression he always had whenever he looked at her. There was no doubt just how precious she was to him—the one girl he’d kill for.

  Did you pity her future boyfriends? Yeah, me too.

  “Can I hold her?”

  I carefully handed her to him, doing my best not to wake her. Are you surprised she was still sleeping with how noisy the room was? It was true—babies really could sleep through almost anything.

  Unless you wanted them to sleep.

  Then just the tiniest of sounds woke them up.

  “Did you want to go out with the team to celebrate?” I’d overheard his teammates discussing where they were going after this.

  Did you see that? The hesitation?

  That was because there was no hesitation when he shook his head. “The only person I want to celebrate with tonight is you.” He kissed my jaw, his new beard riling me up.

  Yes, he was sporting a playoff beard—in all its sexy glory.

  And in case you didn’t know, oral sex when the guy has a beard is pretty damn amazing.

  “You sure?” I asked.

  “Very sure.”

  Sam slapped him on the back. “Man, she really has you pussy whipped.”

  “Hey, I haven’t seen my girls in a month,” Josh said. “But I promise when we win the next series, I’ll be chugging beer alongside you guys.”

  Emily rolled her eyes at her husband, then to me said, “Any man who puts you ahead of everything else is a real keeper. And don’t let my dum…”—her gaze dropped to the sleeping six-month-old in her arms—“my wonderful husband tell you otherwise.”

  We returned to Josh’s hotel suite soon after, where I got Lily settled in the playpen in the living room, then joined Josh in the bedroom. Normally he was restless after a game. After a series win? Well, I was surprised he wasn’t bouncing on the bed.

  But instead of joining him on the king-sized bed, I stood at the end of it and swayed my hips side-to-side, erotic dancer style. Jazz music played in my head.

  My hips still moving, I slowly unbuttoned the waistband of my jeans, and equally slowly inched the zipper down. Josh ran the tip of his tongue against his lower lip—and I immediately relived in my mind a few choice moments when he had used that talented tongue on my girlie parts.

  I almost moaned at the memory.

  I shimmied my jeans down my legs, leaving Josh practically panting. I stepped out of them, so all I had left on were my underwear and Canadiens jersey.

  I winked at him and could’ve sworn his eyes grew darker.

  Seduction is power, ladies—never forget it.

  With the music still playing in my head, I inched the hem of my jersey up my body. I’d lost a bunch of weight since Josh had last seen me. Turned out, breastfeeding was the best diet ever. But unlike with most diet plans, my breasts weren’t the first to go.

  They were still impressive.

  And based on the way Josh licked his lower lip when I gave him a peek at them, I’d say he had no complaints with what he saw.

  I tugged the jersey over my head and dropped it to the floor. Then I crawled over to Josh on the bed. “One of us is a little overdressed here,” I said, unfastening the hook on his trousers. “Let me help you out.”

  I unzipped them and pulled them down his legs. His cock strained against the fabric of his briefs. Yes—someone was very eager for what was coming next.

  After neatly folding his trousers, I placed them on the end of the bed. I then straddled his hips, and began slipping the buttons of his dress shirt through the holes. Now, if I were a guy, this is where my patience would’ve been sorely tested. And an alpha hero? He would’ve ripped those buttons off in one easy move.

  Don’t doubt it for a second.

  But while Josh wasn’t going all-romance-hero on me, his level of patience was wearing thin. He lifted his hips and grounded his hard length against my clit. Oh. God. My panties grew wetter, my body betraying its impeding impatience.

  I quickly finished unbuttoning his shirt. He removed it and tossed it to the floor. I leaned down and took his nipple into my mouth. Josh groaned—and girl power saluted me.

  I sucked and teased the hardening nub with my tongue, relishing each erotic sound Josh made, each demanding movement of his body. After I’d had my fun with the first nipple, I moved over to the other one and treated it to the same level of attention.

  Josh continued squirming under me, his hands moving all over my body. In my hair. Down my back. Cupping my breasts. Grabbing hold of my arse.

  Once I was finished teasing him, I sat back, pressing my clit against him. It whispered for me to rub it along his hard length—to make my core happy. To give it a chance to sing an impressive round of hallelujahs that left angels weeping with envy.

  Ignoring my clit’s pleas, I shifted off Josh and removed his underwear. The moment his cock was freed, it sprung up, enticing me, a drop of desire on its tip.

  I licked it off, then took the head into my mouth, and flicked my tongue across the sensitive part. Josh hissed.

  I sank my head lower, taking more of him into my mouth. I cupped his balls in my hand and gave them a light squeeze as I sucked his cock. Josh groaned and I continued cupping him while bobbing my head up and down.

  “I’m going to blow my load any second,” Josh said, voice strained.

  Remember what I said about seduction was power? Well, so was this.

  I released him from my mouth and grinned at him. “Blow away.” I returned to what I was doing, and a moment later he did exactly as promised. />
  I greedily swallowed, then lay on the bed next to him as he recovered.

  “Christ, now I’m really glad I didn’t go with the guys,” he murmured, and I laughed softly.

  Then he proceeded to show me what I could expect a lot more of once he returned to San Francisco for the summer.

  The room was still dark when I woke up to Lily’s whimper through the open door. Josh was still asleep next to me. Was it just me who thought he looked sinfully hot while he slept?

  If it weren’t for Lily, I could’ve seen if he was ready for sexy times #4 for the night.

  That’s right for those of you doing the math. The fourth time.

  Jealous?

  I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and went to join Lily.

  “Hey, sweetie, you hungry?” I scooped her up and carried her over to the couch. I had just switched her to the other breast when my phone rang. What the hell? Who would be calling me in the middle of the night?

  Oh. Right. Simon.

  I picked up my phone and my heart almost tripped over itself at the number. Mum?

  35

  Josh

  The worst thing about waking up with three a.m. wood?

  When you realize the only one in bed with you who can relieve it is your hand.

  Holly’s hushed voice came from the other room, too quiet for me to hear what she was saying. A soft glow leaked past the door, which had been left open a crack.

  “No,” Holly said as I entered the room. She was sitting on the couch, her back to me, talking on her phone. “It does sound like an amazing opportunity. But what about my life here? This is Lily’s home.”

  I know it was three a.m., when most sane people were still asleep, but thanks to my morning wood, I was fully awake.

  Why am I telling you that?

  Because I hadn’t missed the one important word in what Holly had said.

  Here—that was what she had told the other person. But her life wasn’t here in Montreal. It was back in San Francisco.

  Which meant she was talking to her mother.

  Yeah, yeah, I knew Simon was the only one who had trouble getting the time zones straight. But since Christmas, her mom had suddenly wanted to play the role of grandmother—which was a helluva lot easier to do if Holly and Lily lived in Australia.