Protect

by Bailey, Sarah

  I heard him shift in his seat and I looked up. He smiled at me, which was unusual for Jensen when he was in session.

  “You’re going to be a mother. It’s normal to be scared. I’d be more concerned if you weren’t worried about it all. I think it would be helpful if you sat down with Liora and talked to her about this. It’s always better to discuss these things with someone who’s been through it themselves. I guarantee she’ll have been nervous about becoming a mother, just as you are.”

  I cocked my head to the side.

  “She doesn’t know yet.”

  “Well, after you tell her obviously. You’re not alone in this, Jen. You have your family and you have Brent. We’re all here if you need us, especially Fi. Between you and me, she’s been bouncing off the walls ever since you told her.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “And you’re complaining that your girlfriend is in a good mood?”

  His smile got wider.

  “No, but you’re making her broody and I really don’t need that.”

  I couldn’t help bursting out into laughter. His face. I knew Jensen wanted kids with Fi, but judging by his current expression, it most definitely wasn’t right now.

  “Glad to see my predicament is so amusing to you.”

  I waved him off, unable to stop as tears started to stream down my face. Fi would never force him into having kids if he wasn’t ready. She wasn’t that type of person.

  When I finally settled down, he was still smiling at me.

  “Trust me, Fi will wait until you’re on board with it. All she talks about is how much she wants to please you, which, quite frankly, is sickening.”

  His eyebrows shot up in the most comical fashion I almost started laughing all over again.

  “She tells you that?”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, did you not remember we’re twins and Fi pretty much tells me everything? I know some very sordid details about you and my sister.” I waggled my eyebrows at him. “But don’t worry, your secrets are safe with me.”

  “I’m going to have words with her,” he muttered, scowling.

  “I should warn her she’s going to get punished, but she quite likes that so maybe I won’t.”

  His frown deepened and one of his hands closed into a fist.

  “You shouldn’t know those things about me. I’m your therapist.”

  “Oh yeah, because that really mattered so much when you were getting down and dirty with my sister whilst treating her.”

  “You are incorrigible.”

  I shrugged. I’d give Jensen shit all I wanted and there was nothing he could do about it.

  “Brent says the same thing.”

  He shook his head and rolled his eyes.

  “I think he’s the only man who’ll put up with you.”

  “Hey, you’re not supposed to say stuff like that!”

  “And you’re not supposed to know about my sex life with your sister. I’d say we’re even.”

  “Touché.”

  He shrugged, his fist uncurling as he flexed his fingers.

  “You sound like you’re feeling better.”

  I guess I was. Talking through stuff with Jensen always did help.

  “I mean I’m still pretty freaked out about the baby thing, but I do feel better about things on the whole.”

  He clapped his hands together and sat up.

  “I think we’ll leave things there then as I’m sure your sister wants to shower you with questions.”

  “Ugh, don’t remind me.”

  We both stood to leave. Fi would be on my case as soon as we got out into the living room so I braced myself for the onslaught.

  “Just don’t give her any further ideas about babies, got it?”

  I grinned and shook my head.

  “No promises.”

  ***

  Brent had been acting weird for days. I first thought it was because of his sister giving him shit about me, but he told me him and Cam were always getting into arguments so it was nothing new. Then I suspected he wasn’t as okay about the baby thing as he’d first made out. Again, he quickly dissuaded me of that idea by telling me whilst it was scary, he wanted the little life growing inside of me.

  So I was at a complete loss as to why he was being all cagey. I knew he was going to see my dad in prison tomorrow, but it didn’t explain why he’d told me to get dressed up this evening. I did as he asked even though I wanted to demand answer. I specifically picked out a red dress with a plunging neckline which left my back completely bare along with sky high heels. I had my hair down in loose curls and dark smoky eyes completed the look. The first time I’d ever really gotten dressed up specifically for him so I wanted to make an effort.

  He hadn’t told me where we were going. I descended the stairs and found him waiting for me in a suit no less. Swallowing hard before I started drooling all over him because he looked so damn handsome, I stood before him with a smile. His eyes roamed across me and he made a low growling sound in the back of his throat.

  “Fuck.”

  I raised an eyebrow, sweeping an arm out as I twirled for him.

  “Is that all you have to say?”

  His hazel eyes were dark when I faced him again, the golden flecks more pronounced.

  “Damn it, Jen, you’re making it impossible not to want to have you on your hands and knees for me right now.”

  I bit my lip, imaging his hands banded around my hips whilst he slammed his cock inside me over and over again. My insides clenched.

  “You’re the one who told me to dress up.”

  “Mmm, I did. Now close your eyes.”

  I put a hand on my hip.

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s surprise, that’s why.”

  I rolled my eyes but did as he said. I felt him walk around behind me and cover my eyes with one of his hands whilst the other rested on my shoulder.

  “Now turn around and step forward for me.”

  I did as he asked, letting him guide me through the house and wondering what the fuck he was playing at. I heard my heels tapping across the kitchen tiles so I roughly knew where we were. He told me when to take a step as we walked down into the conservatory and brought me towards the patio doors. I knew because I felt the warm breeze fluttering across my bare skin.

  “You ready?” he asked, his mouth right next to my ear.

  “The anticipation is killing me.”

  “Watch it or I’ll punish that smart mouth of yours later.”

  I grinned and felt him lower his hands.

  “Open your eyes, firestorm.”

  I took a breath before I did. My hand went to my mouth immediately. My heart hammered in my chest and I felt as though all of my breath was stolen away.

  “Brent…” I whispered, utterly at a loss for words.

  I knew Dante must’ve helped him with this because there was no way he could’ve it done alone. From one of the trees hung a curtain of fairy lights and before it was a table set for two. On the table was a vase of blue irises which were my absolute favourite flowers. It was almost like a fairy tale setting. Far too romantic and sappy, but right then, I really didn’t give a shit. He’d done this for me. Just for me.

  “I can’t take you out on a proper date yet because of everything going on with Max, but I can do this.”

  I didn’t really want to be reminded of Max, but I understood completely. I looked up at him as he came around and stood next to me.

  “Thank you. It’s perfect.”

  “Yeah? Not going to tell me it’s too over the top and you hate romantic bullshit?”

  I shook my head, stepping closer and looping my arms around his neck.

  “I love you so much, you know that? I can’t believe you and Dante did this for me. How did you convince him?”

  He smiled and it lit his whole face up.

  “Liora told him if he didn’t help me, she’d make him sleep
in the nursery whilst she slept in their bed with Logan.”

  “I can’t imagine he was too happy about that.”

  “He got all huffy and told her she was walking a fine line. Personally think the sooner they can fuck again the better.”

  I wrinkled my nose.

  “Gross, I don’t really want to think about my brother having sex. I already hear enough about Jensen and Fi’s sex life.”

  His smile got wider.

  “Yeah, okay, so have I. Too much really.”

  I kissed his cheek. I may have told him about me winding Jensen up during our session. He took my hand and tugged me over to the table, pulling out my chair like a proper gentleman. He poured me a glass of juice since I wasn’t drinking due to being pregnant and all.

  “Who made this?”

  We had steaming plates of my absolute favourite dish in the world… mac and cheese.

  “I did.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “You made it?”

  “What? I can cook. Okay, so Liora may have supervised to make sure I did it right.”

  I laughed and shook my head. It was sweet of him to do this for me, but I wasn’t going to admit it. He knew I hated sweet and romantic even if I was secretly overjoyed at the effort he’d gone to.

  “Well, excuse if me whilst I tuck in. Me and the baby are starving.”

  I heard him chuckling as I dug in and stuffed a huge forkful of cheesy pasta in my mouth. I practically moaned in delight.

  “Oh my god, it’s so good,” I mumbled through a mouthful.

  He rolled his eyes at my inability to act ladylike. He knew what he’d signed up for with me.

  “Well, I’m glad you think so.”

  I reached over and squeezed his hand, making sure to swallow before I spoke.

  “You’re amazing.”

  His eyes twinkled and adoration spread across his features. As much as I hated it, Jensen was right. Forgiving myself and Brent for what happened in the past was the only way forward and I realised right then, I had. This man right here was my one.

  We spent the rest of the meal winding each other up and bickering in the way we always did. He was adamant I needed to move downstairs with him, whereas I wanted to stay in my room. He had a point though. When the baby came, we’d need our own space.

  “I’ll move down on the condition you let me redecorate.”

  He raised an eyebrow before shaking his head and sighing.

  “Fine, just don’t go crazy, okay?”

  “Me? I’ll have you know I plan only to brighten the place up. The lack of natural light is limiting so we need to remedy in other ways.”

  I already had so many ideas and a plan to convert his second bedroom into a nursery. We could be happy there together with our own little family and still be close to Dante and Liora.

  “When you put it like that, how can a man resist?”

  “Oh shut up. Just you wait, you’ll be wondering how you spent so long in the dark by the time I’m done.”

  There was still the option my own place with Fi, but we had tenants and well, if we were having a baby, it would be better for us to be close to Dante and Liora so we could have that support network.

  “I trust you.”

  Those three words warmed my heart and the way he looked at me stole my breath from my lungs. I often wondered how I never noticed it before. Noticed the way his eyes lit up when I was around. The golden flecks more pronounced and the hazel colouring so vivid.

  He looked away and fiddled with his phone for a moment before music tinkled out of the speaker. He laid it down on the table before standing up and putting out his hand.

  “Dance with me.”

  The romantic atmosphere had me standing and taking his hand, allowing him to lead me away from the table. His fingers drifted over my lower back, landing just above where my dress began. The touch of his bare skin on mine made me shiver as he tugged me close enough so our bodies were brushing together. We swayed to the music. Brent stared down at me with a tentative smile on his face.

  “I’d give you the world if I could.”

  I shook my head.

  “I don’t need the world. Just you is more than enough.”

  He leant down and rested his forehead against mine.

  “You have me forever, Jen.”

  I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. Stupid pregnancy hormones making me emotional. I could blame it on that, but really, it was everything about this evening. He’d made me feel special and that rarely occurred in my life. No one except Fi and perhaps Dante had cared for me in the way Brent did. Although this was so much more than just caring. He loved me, completely and irrevocably.

  “No more sappy shit,” I muttered. “I won’t have you ruining my makeup.”

  He bit his lip.

  “If you allow me one more thing, I promise I’ll stop after that.”

  “Ugh fine.”

  He pulled away and stared down at me.

  “I know you hate romantic bullshit so I’m not going to make some grand gesture, although this was probably too much as it is.” He waved his hand around at the setting. “I wanted tonight to be special for you.”

  “It is.”

  He put a finger over my lips, silencing me. I wondered why, but he clearly wanted me to listen rather than make comments. Dropping his finger from my lips, he cupped my cheek.

  “You can tell me to fuck off if this is too soon and I’ll understand. Hell, this whole thing between us has been crazy, but I’ve always known how I feel about you. I love you. Your fire, your passion and most of all, your beautiful soul.”

  He reached inside his trouser pocket and I swear I just about died on the spot. My heart threatened to explode out of my chest and my breath caught in my throat. He flipped open the small little box and held it up to me. Nestled inside was a white gold band, a single round diamond in the centre with sapphires either side. It was so beautiful and I couldn’t even begin to form a sentence let alone an answer to a question he hadn’t even asked yet in my head.

  “I want you to be my wife, Jen. I know things will be tough and we have a rocky road ahead of us, but you’re the one. You’ve always been the one.”

  His thumb brushed over my cheek.

  “Marry me.”

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Brent

  She stared at me for the longest time without taking a breath. And when she finally did, tears fell down her cheeks, streaking her mascara. Was it too much? I had no idea. I had to ask her though. I had to know. Was she as deep into this relationship as I was? Did she feel the same? I knew she loved me, but that wasn’t the issue at hand. Did she love me enough to tie herself to me for life?

  I could feel her trembling where I was holding her face and willing her to say something. Jen very rarely had nothing to say on a subject. Her silence made me nervous. My stomach churned and my skin prickled, but I couldn’t push her for an answer.

  “You’re serious about this?” she choked out.

  I nodded, trying to keep my own emotions in check. My throat felt tight and it took a supreme effort just to keep breathing.

  “I… this is too much. I can’t… we’re together then we’re having a baby and now marriage. Where are all the steps in between? The parts where we’re just you and me. It’s so fast. I’m already so overwhelmed by everything. How can we get married in the middle of all this mess? For fuck’s sake, I love you and I want to be in this with you. Damn it, Brent, this is too bloody perfect. You’re too fucking perfect and I can’t deal with it.”

  She choked back a sob. My heart was in a vice. Yes, it was too soon, too fast and our lives were a mess, but none of it mattered. I loved her and she loved me.

  “Fuck. I must be insane but put the damn thing on my finger before I change my mind.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She shoved me weakly in the chest.

  “Yes, I want to
be Mrs Coleman.”

  I couldn’t help the smile spreading across my face as I dropped my hand from hers and took out the ring. She held her hand out for me and I slipped it on her finger. Seeing it resting there made everything feel right. Jen and I were meant to be together like this. She was meant to be my wife. My partner in crime. My everything. Just as I was hers.

  “You’re annoying, sometimes I hate you and sometimes I want to hit you for all the shit you give me, but I love you all the same.”

  She cupped my face and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around her, tugging her closer as the kiss became more frantic. Like we were trying to dig our way inside each other. My hands ran down her bare back until I cupped her arse, pressing her against me. She moaned, practically grinding against me. Fuck, I needed her. Directing her towards the patio doors, I kept kissing her, quite unable to stop so I could take her to bed. We practically fell into the conservatory. I pressed her up against the table, grinding into her. Shit if I didn’t get my cock inside this woman, I’d go insane.

  “Brent, please,” she whimpered.

  Damn it.

  My hands were at her dress, tugging it upwards until it pooled at her waist. I sat her on the table, my fingers trailing up her inner thighs. When I realised she wasn’t wearing any underwear, I growled. Jen would be the death of me. Absolutely maddening as she was.

  She clawed my back as I tried to work at getting my trousers undone so I could sink into her. That was until I heard a loud cough to my left. Jen and I both froze and looked over at the source of the sound. Dante looked equal parts annoyed and disgusted.

  “Can you just maybe not fuck my sister on the table in my conservatory?”

  Next thing I knew, Jen was sniggering and I couldn’t help smiling too.

  “I’m going to suggest you turn around and pretend you didn’t see anything,” she said, trying to keep her laughter at bay. “After all, didn’t you force Brent to watch Liora on her knees for you in here?”

  His eyebrows shot up and he looked at me.

  “You told her about that?”

  I shrugged but didn’t make any effort to move away from Jen. I was hiding her modesty right now after all.