by Layla Hagen
I wiggled my eyebrows, suddenly feeling a little brave. “Don’t tell me that. I come from a family of four. Five if you include Hunter too, which I do.”
Rob paled a little. I laughed, throwing my head back. Clearly he hadn’t meant five when he’d said more than one.
“We can negotiate that later on.” I patted his shoulder, laughing harder when he became even paler.
“How long are you in town?” I asked.
“Haven’t made any immediate plans to go back to LA.”
“That means I have you all to myself?” I batted my eyelashes.
He smiled wolfishly. “No, I will have you all to myself.”
And just like that, my entire body sizzled. He skimmed his gaze up and down my body. Heavens, how could he have such an effect on me? How could my body respond to a look or mere words?
“Oh yeah? How do you plan to do that?”
“First step, getting you out of here. Right now.” He traced his thumb down my jaw and neck, resting it on my shoulder. I burned everywhere he touched.
I shook my head teasingly. The truth was, I was dying to be alone with Rob. Buuut a little persuasion from him wouldn’t hurt. “No can do.”
“What’s that I hear about needing to boss you into calling it a night?”
I grinned, shimmying my hips a little. “Like you ever need a reason to boss me around.”
“Now I actually do.” He brought a hand to my belly. It was the first time he touched it, and I could swear something stirred deep inside me. It was irrational, of course, but somehow I thought it felt Rob was here with us.
“Baby, if you’re just as stubborn as your mom, God help me.”
I was in real danger of swooning here. I had no idea how I was planning to go on with my charade, but I loved seeing Rob in persuasion mode. The man was always hot, but when he was trying to half convince, half seduce me? Make that hot times a million.
Pulling back a little, he frowned at my T-shirt, as if he was just now seeing it properly.
“I’m on back-office duty today,” I explained. “That’s why I’m wearing these godawful clothes. So I can’t be tempted to go in the front.”
“I can’t wait to take them off you.”
“Of course your mind went right there.”
“You don’t like the clothes, and I love you naked best. It’s a win-win.”
“Rob....”
“I can get you naked here too, if you insist.”
“I don’t,” I said quickly.
His eyes darkened instantly. He skimmed his hands down the sides of my body, gripping my hips. His fingers pressed into my ass possessively. I couldn’t resist and gave in just a little, pushing my pelvis into him. He groaned, gripping me even tighter, bringing his mouth closer to my cheek.
“I want to sink so deep inside you.” His words were almost a growl. My whole body ignited.
Just then, I heard footsteps approaching. I instantly moved away.
Tess poked her head in. “Sorry to disturb, but I need to find some merchandise for the display before I leave.”
“Um, sure. Can I help?” My cheeks were on fire.
“Nah, I’m good.”
It took Tess all of two seconds to find a dark green bra, but then she still hovered.
“Tess?”
She held up a finger. “Just trying to get a feel for how this is going.”
“Did you really need merchandise?” I asked, laughing.
“Yes, the display is missing a bra. And I just couldn’t take the suspense anymore.” She looked from me to Rob, then back to me.
Rob pulled me into him, kissing the side of my head. “I’m negotiating getting her out of here.”
“Excellent. Can’t wait to tell the family.”
“Wait, what?” I asked, perplexed.
Tess grimaced. “Um, well... Ryker and Cole were here in the morning before you came in. I didn’t know if you could make it, so I called for help. Anyway, I accidentally brought them up to date.”
“How can you do that accidentally?” Rob asked. I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
“I blame that on the no-secrets policy. Just makes me instantly share news with everyone in the family. I’ll leave you two now. I’m leaving as soon as I put this bra on the mannequin.”
She was grinning from ear to ear as she left.
“I like how you switched from bossing to negotiating,” I said.
“Sounds smoother. Now, let’s go.” His gaze smoldered. “Skye....”
“I’m gone,” Tess called from the front. The sound of the door closing followed.
Rob strode closer until he was right in front of me, eyes hot and determined. His whole body language was just smoking hot. Shoulders slightly hunched forward, his biceps flexed as he bent his arms at the elbow, touching my waist.
***
Rob
I barely kept my hands off her. Now that I knew we were alone, I couldn’t stop touching her. This woman was just everything I needed. I’d always thought I was happy with my life the way it used to be, that it was enough. Meeting her changed that. Falling for her changed me.
I led her to the couch between changing rooms.
“Here?” Skye whispered.
“Here. That way you’ll think about me every time you see it.”
That, and I couldn’t wait another minute, let alone the time it took to get her home.
I touched her mouth with my fingers. She parted her lips, biting one finger gently. It drove me crazy. Pulling her closer, I captured her mouth, then kissed down her neck. I got rid of her clothes in a few moves, then skimmed my lips from one shoulder to the other before descending to her breasts. They almost spilled out of her half-cup bra. I licked and nipped right along the line where fabric met skin, smiling when she pushed her hips forward into me. Kissing her again, I lowered one hand between us, slowing down as I reached the hem of her panties. Her breath was shaky. I splayed her thighs wider with my knee, lowering my hand even more over her panties, running one finger over the center right between her thighs. She moaned against my mouth. Pulling back, I turned her around, pressing her ass against my cock. I wanted her to feel how hard I was.
“Grip the backrest,” I said.
Goose bumps instantly broke out on her skin. I barely kept from bending her over right this instant, tugging her panties to one side, and driving inside her. She did just as I said while I pushed down my pants and boxers, then pulled my shirt over my head. I was desperate for her: to touch, claim, own every part of her.
I undid the clasp of her bra before palming one breast. I slipped the other hand into her panties, circling her clit. I needed to get her wet and ready because I couldn’t be gentle tonight. I wanted her on a primal level, more than ever before. With one hand, I pulled at each bow holding her panties together at her hips. They fell to the floor, and we were both completely naked now. Still standing right behind her, I strummed my fingers over her pussy. Moaning, she leaned back against me, trapping my cock between my front and her left ass cheek. I could feel the tension build inside her. Every sharp intake of breath, every moan of hers reverberated through me.
“Rob,” she gasped as her whole body curved forward. I leaned with her, kissing her back, letting my hand drop, giving her a brief reprieve. Gripping at the base of my erection, I positioned myself between her thighs, drawing the tip of my cock from her clit all the way down to her entrance, then teased her again.
“Rob, oh...,” she whispered. Her legs were shaking slightly.
I wanted to make her come once just like this, but I barely kept from bursting myself. Tension pumped through me. When she was close to the edge, I straightened up, holding her with one arm against me, teasing her clit with my fingers. She climaxed beautifully, arching her back, resting her head on my shoulder as she cried out. I whirled her around, capturing her mouth before she’d even finished coming. I explored her mouth ferociously, moving us both around the armrest. I lowered myself on the couch, pulling he
r on top of me. She straddled me, her knees at my sides.
“Now you’re at my mercy,” she teased.
“That’s what I let you think.”
I gripped her hips, lowering her onto me slowly, watching her face transform with pleasure. When I was all the way in, I let go of her hips, pushing myself up on an elbow. She undulated her hips in a fast rhythm while I explored her upper body with my hand and mouth. Her skin was so smooth, her scent maddening. The sound of our bodies moving filled the space. I felt more connected to her than ever. There was no feeling more perfect than being entwined like this with her. She belonged to me, and I was going to remind her of that every day. I was going to make her mine every day, bring her pleasure and happiness.
When she threw her head back, crying out my name, I nearly came. She was pulsing tight around me. Lifting her hips a few inches, I pressed one thumb just above her clit, driving inside her from below. I wanted to own every drop of pleasure, and I did. When my sensitive woman came yet again, I succumbed to my own climax too, calling out her name and pushing so deep inside her that my vision blurred. My breath stuttered as every muscle cramped and burned.
She leaned forward until her forehead touched my chest. “You bad, bad man,” she chastised.
“Bad?”
“How am I supposed to concentrate on customers when every time I look at this couch, I’ll remember this?”
“That’s the point, Skye. I want to be on your mind all the time.”
Laughing, she kissed my neck, stretching over me. “Mission more than accomplished.”
Chapter Thirty
Skye
Three weeks later
“I can’t believe I’ve ordered so much stuff,” I said, looking at the pile of things in what was still the guest room but would be the baby’s room. I’d moved into Rob’s house. God, I loved this place so much. I’d loved it even before I helped sell it to him, but now it was our place.
Currently, there were bags and boxes everywhere, containing everything from furniture to toys to clothes (for me), and more clothes (for the baby), and God knew what else. Between the wish lists I made with Mom, Tess, and Lindsay and Anne, I went way overboard.
Couples usually waited until twelve weeks to announce the news, but it was impossible to keep such a secret in my family. And once I’d told them, I couldn’t hold back from buying all these pretty things.
Rob hooked an arm around my waist from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder.
“I love you, despite your newly developed shopaholic tendencies.”
I’d have blamed it on the nesting period, except I’d read that only set in during the last two months of pregnancy. I must have had an early case....
“Too late to back out now.”
“That’s right.”
“I think I might have gone overboard.”
In response, he just patted my right ass cheek right before pinching it lightly. I turned around. Grinning, I took a mini step back, surveying him.
“What?” he asked.
“Deciding where to pinch you.” I drew my fingers down his chest, narrowing my eyes as if I was seriously considering it, even though I knew what my target was all along. When I reached his navel, I moved my hands to the side and down, right to his ass cheeks, giving each a good pinch.
“There,” I said casually, as if I was checking if they were still there.
Rob chuckled, but his eyes snapped fire. He splayed his big hand over the side of my face, resting his thumb at the corner of my mouth.
“Come on, beautiful, or you’ll go in hangry mode before we’re even at the restaurant.” We were having dinner at Rob’s restaurant in Tribeca.
I pouted. “I don’t understand why we have to go anywhere. I have the chef right here.” Batting my eyelashes, I added, “We can stay in. You’ll cook, and I’ll be your sous-chef. I can even be your naked sous-chef if you want.”
The corners of his mouth twitched. He skimmed one hand at the small of my back, pressing me against him. The air between us charged. His gaze dropped to my lips. I had him, I was sure of it.
Clearing his throat, he shook his head. “Not tonight. Come on, dress up.”
He was passing up my naked sous-chef offer? Something wasn’t right, but I didn’t push any further. Taking my hand, he led me out of the room.
I changed into a light pink summer dress and white flats. Underneath, I wore a pink bra with soft padding. My breasts were tender, so these bras were my go-to these days. I didn’t have many side effects from the pregnancy yet. The initial exhaustion had worn off (or I’d become better at managing it), but Tess and I were figuring out a system where I focused more on the online side and generally took over tasks I could do from home. The business wasn’t yet at the point where I could just take months off, but the plan was for me to do tasks that didn’t require me to go into the city every day, at least for a while, and especially after the baby was here.
We’d figure it out.
Rob was waiting for me downstairs, already dressed to go. I took a second at the top of the stairs just to drink him in. His black jeans were somehow making his butt even sexier than usual—kudos to the designer. And that shirt he had on... yum.
When I joined him, I realized he held up a jacket for me.
“It’s not cold,” I said.
“But it might get cold later.”
I laughed; I just couldn’t help myself. “Rob, it’s the hottest fall in years. I’m sure I won’t need it.”
“You never know. I need to take care of you.” He touched my belly, kissing my forehead. “Both of you.”
And just like that, he won me over. How could I say no?
The restaurant was full when we arrived. Wait a second. I spotted Mom, Mick, and Tess at the bar.
“What is—” I started to ask Rob, but my words faded when I noticed that Cole, Ryker, Heather, and Avery were next to them. A few feet away, Josie and Hunter waved at me.
“Oh, the whole family is here?” I asked, mystified. That was when I noticed Anne and Lindsay too. “And your family. Are we celebrating something?”
“We sure are, babe. We didn’t get a chance to celebrate this.” He touched my belly.
“Oh, okay.” Of course, what was I thinking?
Since we’d told everyone already, and we’d met every member of our families at least once in the past few weeks and had celebrated with them individually, I still thought it was a little odd. Just three days ago, we met with my siblings and Hunter to discuss the upcoming gala, and we all toasted to the news. But I loved every opportunity to gather with our families, so I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Rob led us to the back room, where the small tables had been arranged into a long one. It was just our group in here. There were already bags hung around the backs of the chairs, meaning at least part of the group had been inside. They’d just been waiting at the bar for the wow effect. I loved all this.
Rob held a chair for me, and I sat down along with everyone else. Servers came in with an assortment of drinks, pouring water, wine, and sparkling wine. After they left, Rob rose to his feet. Grabbing a fork, he gently tapped it against his water glass.
He was going to give a speech?
“Thank you, everyone, for coming here tonight. As you all know, Skye and I have something huge to celebrate. We’re happy that in seven months, we’ll welcome a baby boy or girl. I know everyone’s already making bets on what it’s going to be.”
“Hear, hear,” Cole said.
“Not bets,” Ryker corrected. “Just giving our opinion... based on the fifty-fifty odds in our family.”
Mom laughed, but the whole table went silent when Rob half turned to me. I shoved my chair back a little so I could look at him properly.
“Skye, I’ve thought about this moment for a long time, even before we knew you were pregnant. Imagining life with you was easy. But this moment? This took planning. I first thought about taking you away for a weekend, but...
I know it will mean more to us if it happens here, in front of both our families.”
He took my left hand in his. Oh my God. He was holding a ring! A sapphire in a rose gold setting. He was going to propose. My heart swelled.
“Skye, you’re everything to me. I love you so—” His voice caught. The emotion in it made my eyes misty. “—so much. Marry me, babe.”
He sounded as if he’d wanted to say more but decided not to because his voice was too undependable.
I swallowed the emotion in my throat, rising to my feet. I touched his cheek with one hand, holding out the other one, fingers splayed.
“Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you.”
I laughed as the ring went on my finger, then touched his face with both hands.
He touched his lips to mine in a gentle kiss. I barely refrained from jumping straight into his arms. The tip of his tongue teased my lower lip, and I smiled against his mouth. He was barely keeping himself from kissing me long and deep and wet.
The upside of being surrounded by our families was that we could share this moment with them. The downside? We had to keep the heat to a decent level.
When he pulled back, amusement danced in his eyes.
“Congratulations,” Mom said. She sat right next to me and was the first to hug me.
“Anyone know about this?” Cole asked, looking around at the table.
“No,” Tess said, her voice a little uneven. “Wow, talk about surprises.”
There was a screeching sound as everyone rose from their chairs, coming over to congratulate us.
Cole and Ryker shook Rob’s hand.
“We need to speak later,” Cole said.
I stared at my brother. “You already gave him the talk.”
I’d heard that through the family grapevine.
“There are several talks,” Cole clarified, eyes on Rob. “You received the initial one.”
“Now you’ll get the serious one,” Ryker added.
Cole patted his shoulder. “Congratulations, you’ve reached the next level.”
I grinned at Rob. “You’ve got to love these two, right?”
My fiancé shrugged good-naturedly as Hunter, Josie, Tess, and Heather came toward us.