However, AJ had proven himself over the past year. He’d stuck by her during her pregnancy, then after.
This time when AJ kissed her, the gloves came off. Hers and his. The chemistry that had always tethered them together was so potent it went right to his bloodstream. He was high on her, drugged by her scent, her kiss.
Although he wanted some sort of confirmation from her, he couldn’t hold back any longer. He needed to taste her, to remind himself of those days so long ago when he’d had her all to himself.
He released her lips and inched down her body, his tongue trailing over her warm skin. He felt the pulse in her neck, heard her ragged breaths as he moved lower.
When his lips trailed over the swell of her breast, he tugged the cup on her bra, freeing one luscious mound. AJ feasted on her, loving the way she writhed beneath him, her hips gyrating as she tried to get closer. He would give her everything she wanted, that much he knew.
And right now, Milly wanted the release he could offer and he wasn’t about to let her down.
*
AJ was saying all the words Milly had longed to hear. She wanted everything he was willing to give, but she was terrified. Scared that he would be in her life one minute and gone the next.
That was the way it worked for her. Every man in her life except for her father had abandoned her. She’d never even been given a chance to get close to them.
“Oh…” Milly arched her back when AJ teased her nipple with his teeth. She could feel the imaginary tug between her nipple and her clit. It drove her mad, the need to feel him inside her. As much as she loved foreplay, she wanted to feel him, to hold him close while he delivered the ecstasy that had brought them together in the first place.
Not caring if she looked like a wanton hussy, Milly twitched and twisted, trying to get him where she needed him most. AJ was having none of that, though. He was patient as he worked her body, his lips and tongue bringing all those nerve endings to life.
“AJ … I need you.”
“I know, beautiful.” He pushed up on his knees and placed a hand in the center of her chest to keep her down. “But this is my time right now.”
Milly moaned in frustration, which only made him laugh. His eyes were heated, his smile wickedly sexy.
Her gaze roamed over every delicious inch of him. All that smooth skin covering the rippling muscle beneath. In all the time she’d known him, Milly had never tired of sneaking peeks of his ridiculously hot bod. The man made her mouth water. The way he moved, the way he walked. Hell, even the way he talked. She was so in lust with him it made her crazy.
Finally he worked free the button on her shorts before hopping off the bed. He wasted no time tugging her shorts down, then her panties. Milly went to work unhooking her bra.
“Beautiful, baby,” he whispered as his molten green eyes trailed over her.
Milly knew she wasn’t perfect. She never had been, but having Miranda had changed her body. Faint pink lines now marked her body and she knew they would never go away. However, she embraced those marks. They were subtle reminders that she had brought a life into this world.
AJ’s gaze met hers and she could see the indecision in his eyes. She wasn’t sure what he was battling, but a few seconds later, his rough “fuck it” made her feel invincible. He quickly stripped off his own clothes and moved over her once again.
Those emotional walls she’d been fighting crumbled when he hovered above her. Despite the heat building between them, there was something more. Something Milly had never felt before when it came to a man. There was that tightness in her chest. The one she’d experienced the day Miranda was born. As though her heart was swelling to twice its normal size because it was filled to overflowing with love.
“Are you on birth control?” he asked, his eyes locked with hers. “Not that I care. We can have a million babies, as far as I’m concerned, but that’s not my decision to make.”
“Yes. I am on birth control.” Milly smiled. “Now.”
“Do I need a condom?” he asked, his lips hovering by hers. “Because I’d give anything to feel you skin to skin.”
“No.” Milly lifted her head and brushed her lips to his. “No condom.”
She felt the head of his cock press against her entrance, and she was so eager to feel him, her hips moved of their own accord, trying to bring him inside her.
AJ’s lips fused to hers. A soft, heartbreakingly gentle kiss ensued as he pushed inside her. Slowly. Ever so slowly.
Her body came alive in a way only AJ could make happen. Milly wrapped her arms around him and fought the need to fuck him hard and rough. That would come next. Right now, this was what she needed. To feel him inside her. Every shift, every thrust. She wanted what he was offering.
He groaned against her lips as he sank all the way inside. Milly sucked in a breath. The feeling was intense. A small amount of pain, but only because of the glorious way he was stretching her muscles.
“God, baby,” he whispered. “I’ve missed you so fucking much.”
Milly knew what he meant. It wasn’t that they’d been apart. They had seen each other almost every day since Miranda was born. But this … connected to him this way. Every minute since the last time they’d done this had felt like a lifetime.
Of course, the slow, leisurely pace couldn’t last long. The lust was too potent, the need too overwhelming. AJ rolled his hips, sliding deep, retreating. He continued for what felt like days. Milly braced his hips with her knees, wanting him to give her more. It wasn’t enough but it was too much at the same time. Her body sang with pure, raw pleasure.
“Milly … beautiful…” AJ lifted his head and stared down at her. “Fuck, baby.”
And that was exactly what he did.
AJ impaled her roughly, slamming his hips forward.
“Yes!” Milly’s eyes closed, her head tilted back.
He did it again, his thrusts sharp and eager. As though he couldn’t hold back any longer.
This was what Milly missed with AJ. The man had worked her over those nights they’d spent together. He had given her everything he had, showing her a world of ecstasy she hadn’t known existed.
And while she appreciated the love she could see in his gaze, she wanted the raw power this man wielded. She wanted him to unleash on her, to take her to new heights.
“More,” she pleaded.
He stared down at her, his eyes so hot she thought she might combust from the intensity.
“Hands over your head,” he ordered.
Milly lifted her arms, doing as he instructed.
One of his hands bracketed her wrists and held her in place as he drove into her. Once, twice…
AJ fucked her hard and deep, his pelvis slamming into hers as he rode her so beautifully.
Milly panted and moaned, a slew of unintelligible words escaping as she begged and pleaded for more. He drove her right out of her mind, filling her, stretching her, making her wild. The lust consumed her, driving out all thought until the only thing she knew was the feel of him.
What started out sweet turned brutal and perfect.
An orgasm rocketed through her, shocking her with its intensity. It overrode her mind. She screamed as glorious sensation slammed into her.
“Fuck, baby,” AJ growled. “Do that again. Come all over my cock so I can come inside you.”
He fucked her. Harder, faster, deeper, the bed rocking with every punishing thrust.
When he lifted, kneeling between her legs, Milly thought for a second he would stop, but he didn’t. Instead, he grabbed her hips, holding her still as he drove into her over and over, claiming her in a way she’d never been claimed before.
His hair fell over his eyes, his chest heaving as his breaths raced in and out of his lungs. Gone was the sweet man who had tried to seduce her with words. In his place, the alpha male hell-bent on driving her over the edge again and again.
Milly’s insides coiled again, tighter this time. She fought to draw air into her
lungs as she peered up at him. The strain on his face was animalistic. As though he’d been reduced to nothing more than a man who was intent on making her see stars.
Another orgasm ignited, barreling down on her. Like the first, Milly couldn’t stop it, but she was prepared, allowing the beautiful electricity to burst forth from her core until she was consumed by heat and warmth and a love so strong she wasn’t sure she would survive it.
AJ fell on top of her, his hips driving forward one last time as he roared his release.
It was powerful and perfect and Milly silently prayed that this was only the beginning.
Sixteen
Marry me
AJ fell to his side and tugged Milly close. Her ass pressed against his cock and he held her tightly.
“I love you, Milly,” he whispered.
Her breath hitched and her arm tightened around his but she didn’t say anything.
Sighing, AJ tried to be okay with the fact that she didn’t tell him she loved him, too. He wanted to hear it. Not only because he loved her but because he knew Milly loved him. He could see it in her eyes.
He pressed a kiss to her shoulder and that was when he realized she was shaking. Lifting his head, he peered over at her face. She was crying.
Aw, fucking hell. He’d made her cry.
Son of a bitch.
“Milly? What’s wrong, beautiful? Talk to me.”
She shook her head rapidly and wiped her eyes. “N-nothing’s wrong.”
When she laughed, something inside him eased.
“I’m an emotional mess, AJ.”
“I think that’s a little dramatic,” he teased.
She laughed again and rolled over until she was facing him. He rested his head back on the pillow and stared into her beautiful eyes.
“I have to tell you something,” she said quickly.
“What’s that?”
Her eyes closed and she sighed. “I didn’t really have a date.”
He pulled back enough to see more of her face. When she opened her eyes, he smiled. “No?”
Milly shook her head. “I lied. But I had a good reason.”
“And that was?”
“Because I wanted you to figure it out for yourself.”
He was confused. “Figure what out?”
“That … I wanted something more.”
“Probably would’ve been easier to say something,” he suggested, grinning.
“You’re not mad?”
“No.” Not even a little. “I’m glad you did.”
“Why? Because you were clueless?”
He laughed. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Okay, fine. Maybe I was the clueless one.”
“That’s better.”
Milly laughed and smacked his chest.
“I do love you, Milly,” he told her. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Raising Miranda and all the other babies we have.”
“How many?” she asked on a sob. “How many babies?”
He shrugged. “As many as you want.”
They could have a dozen for all he cared. He loved Miranda more than anything and having more babies with Milly made his heart swell.
“I love you, AJ,” she whispered, her hand coming up to cup his cheek. “I’m not good at showing it.”
Oh, she was better than she thought, but he didn’t tell her that.
For the longest time, they remained just like that, on their sides, staring back at one another.
AJ knew he should’ve considered all the right ways to propose to this woman. Getting dressed up, taking her to dinner, getting down on one knee. He should probably ask her father’s permission first. Maybe he should wait until Miranda was there so she could witness it, even if she was too small to ever remember.
But AJ wasn’t willing to wait even another minute longer.
Cupping her face, he moved closer. “Marry me, Milly. Let me spend the rest of my life making you happy. I don’t want to spend another day away from you.”
Her smile broke his heart. The tears that pooled in her eyes made his stomach clench.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I’ll marry you, AJ.”
Energized by her response, AJ moved over her once more. He rested his weight on his elbows as he kissed her sweetly.
“I love you,” he said between kisses. “I’ve loved you since the day I met you.”
She pressed kisses to his jaw, his neck. “I love you, too. And I’m sorry that we wasted so much precious time.”
He grinned, bringing her mouth back to his. “Well, I’ll let you make up for it somehow.”
Milly chuckled. “Will you now?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“What do you say we start now?”
AJ aligned their bodies and pushed inside her. “Like this?”
Milly moaned, her arms wreathing his neck. “Just like this.”
So, that was what he did. AJ loved her and he vowed to spend the rest of his life making a whole lot more memories with this beautiful woman.
EPILOGUE
Happily Ever After
October 31, 2018
Teague Ballard (yes, he had taken Hudson’s name) headed for the front door when the bell rang, signaling another group of trick-or-treaters.
Everyone had come over to Cam and Gannon’s for Halloween at Milly’s insistence. Because she had offered to cook them dinner, Teague hadn’t seen a reason not to show up. Plus, he liked to hang out with the gang, more so the kids, but he didn’t share that with anyone. Regardless of who was there, it was always interesting with the little ones under foot.
Teague pulled the door open and glanced at the group of kids standing there expectantly. A witch, a ballerina, and a little boy in a Superman costume peered up at him. “Trick or treat.”
Smiling down at them, Teague grabbed huge handfuls of candy and passed it out. After a few shy thank-yous, the kids moved back down the driveway toward the next house.
He stood there for a moment, watching them leave. He imagined those would one day be the kiddos currently in the house behind him. Walking side by side, best friends going out to pilfer candy from strangers.
What a life.
On occasion, Teague found himself reflecting on how they’d all gotten to this point. Living on the lake, working hard but playing harder, hanging out, enjoying one another’s company. Every day was new and interesting and Teague no longer spent any time dwelling on his past or the pain he’d endured growing up. It was as though he’d been reborn and this was his family.
Everyone was married now. Cam and Gannon, Dare and Noah, Roan and Seg, Milly and AJ. As well as him and Hudson. Along with wedded bliss, there were babies. Roan and Seg had Liam, who had turned two last month. Miranda was now one and a half, and Brianna, AJ and Milly’s second daughter, was a whopping two months old. Plus, Collin, Cam and Gannon’s adopted son, was now four and the life of the party. Not that Teague had anything against the smaller ones, but he happened to be quite fond of Collin. The kid was a hoot.
“Uncle Teague!” Collin called from behind him.
Teague turned to see the little boy racing his way. Holding out his arms, he allowed the munchkin to launch himself into his arms.
“What’s up, little man?”
“I wanna hand out candy.”
“You wanna hand it out? Or you wanna eat it?”
Collin grinned slyly. Teague had taken Collin to several houses on the block earlier this evening for his chance to get his own candy. Surprisingly enough, after just four houses, Collin had said he was ready to go home so he could pass it out. He didn’t seem to be fond of scrounging for candy on people’s doorsteps.
So, he’d brought Collin back and allowed him to help with passing it out. Teague hadn’t missed how the little boy had pocketed a Hershey miniature earlier. The kid was sneaky. Another thing Teague liked about him.
“Are they finished doing the dishes?” Teague asked Collin.
“Yep. You’re safe.”
Teague laughed. He’d purposely volunteered to hand out candy to keep from having to help in the kitchen. He had asked Collin to be his lookout so he knew when it was safe to go back in there.
“Good work,” he told Collin as he set him on his feet. He pointed toward the candy bucket by the door. “Take whatever you want.”
Collin’s little fist curled around as much candy as he could get and Teague laughed.
“Only one. You’ve got your own bucket.”
“Fine.” Collin grabbed another Hershey miniature and then took off toward the back of the house, his Batman cape flapping behind him.
Yep. Their worlds had changed a lot in the past few years. Weddings, babies, even a Stanley Cup win for Seg. It was a whole new world. One Teague found himself never wanting to leave. Over time, these people had become his family, giving him everything he’d spent his entire life missing.
While it had taken some time and quite a few mountains they’d had to scale, everyone had come out the other side better off.
Cam, while still reckless at heart, had toned it down because Gannon now provided him the adrenaline rush he’d always craved.
Of course, Dare was still fearless, launching headfirst into everything, but Noah was there to rein him in and keep him in line. The two of them were made for each other.
As for him and Hudson … well, Teague would just say that even if his husband could talk, Teague would still have the ability to render him speechless. He lived every day to make that man happy. In return, he went to sleep every night knowing he had the best of everything with that man.
Roan and Seg … they were an entirely different story. Seg still claimed he was harmless, but it was obvious Roan knew better. The man had blown in like a whirlwind, knocking Roan right off his feet but catching him long before he could ever fall.
And AJ and Milly had given clueless a whole new meaning. Even Teague had seen what was transpiring between them, even when they hadn’t. He was happy that they’d finally given in.
It was right out of a storybook. Or maybe five. A happily ever after for all.
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