by Levine, Nina
Grabbing the bottle of scotch I keep for him, I carry it and a glass to the table in the back that is his. Pouring a drink, I pass it to him when he reaches me.
Sliding his arm around my waist, he drops his lips to mine and kisses me before murmuring, “I’ve missed you today.”
“I was run off my feet all day. Were you too?”
He nods and then throws some scotch down his throat. “Yeah, it was a fucking mess of a day. One I’ll be glad to see the end of.”
“Is everything okay?”
“It will be.” At my frown, he adds, “Don’t worry about me, sweetheart.”
“I always worry about you.”
He drinks some more scotch, keeping his eyes on me. “Are you ready to go home?”
I move into him, bringing my hands to his chest. “I’m feeling nostalgic tonight. I thought we could sleep here.” In my old room above the bar.
Surprise fills his eyes. “What’s caused this?”
I smile, not ready to tell him yet. Taking his hand, I nod with my head for him to follow me. “Bring that bottle.”
He grabs the bottle and his glass, and follows me upstairs. Jess has everything under control with the bar, so I don’t give it another thought. There’s only one thing on my mind tonight and that’s my husband and the news I’m about to share with him.
When we reach my room, he closes the door behind us and reaches for me before I’ve even really made it into the room.
Gripping my waist, he turns me in his arms and pulls me close. Bringing his mouth to my throat, he trails kisses down to my chest while working the button on my jeans. “I fucking need this,” he rasps as he moves to his knees and strips me of my jeans and panties.
“Oh God,” I moan and clutch his hair.
Donovan takes hold of my ass and presses his face to my pussy as he growls, “Fuck.”
He inhales my scent, and fuck if that doesn’t shoot lust through my entire body. The need my husband has for me never fails to do that.
He flicks his tongue over my clit and then pushes it inside me. He’s fucking talented with his tongue and I’m pretty sure my legs won’t be holding me up soon.
When he roughly spreads my legs and switches his tongue for his fingers, I know for sure my legs won’t survive this.
As I lose myself in the orgasm he delivers, he stands and picks me up and takes me to the bed. Stripping, he watches me, fucking me with his eyes. No words are exchanged, but we don’t need them.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” he says when he positions himself above me.
I curl my fingers around his biceps. “I need you inside me.” My words come out a hot, needy mess. Something he always brings out in me.
Placing his hands either side of me on the bed, he orders, “Wrap your legs around me and hold on.”
I don’t need further instructions. I know how Donovan prefers to fuck me, and when he says hold on, he means hold on and don’t fucking let go. So I do.
He thrusts inside me.
If I didn’t know him like I do, I’d think he was trying to break me.
But he’s not.
Sex is how Donovan deals with his demons and I am more than happy to hold on and take everything he wants to give.
“Fuck.” The word falls from his lips savagely as he slams inside again.
He moves slowly to begin with and then picks up the pace.
His rhythm becomes fierce, brutal, relentless as he chases his release.
My fingers dig into his skin as I come.
Donovan keeps pounding into me, his growls of satisfaction coming from deep within.
Fuck!” he roars as his orgasm claims him.
When he’s done, he stays inside me and drops a kiss to my shoulder. It’s this moment I always live for. The moment right after when he lingers. I’m not sure why I love it so much, but I think it’s because it’s the calm after the storm. The relief for him after he works that dark energy out of his system.
I clean up in the bathroom after he collapses to the bed, and when I come back, he’s watching me intently.
“What are you thinking?” I ask as I move next to him.
His arm comes around me and he pulls me tightly against him. “I’m wondering why you’re feeling nostalgic. You didn’t tell me.”
Angling my face up to his, I say, “I’ve been thinking about how you used to come here for a long time before we got together, and about how happy you’ve made me.”
He watches me silently for a beat. “And?”
I smile. He reads me so perfectly. Always. “And about how much you’ve wanted us to have a baby.”
His eyes search mine. Again, he’s reading me perfectly. “You’re pregnant.”
I nod. “I’m pregnant.”
He’s silent for the longest moment, but only if we’re talking about actual words, because in every other way, he’s louder than ever. Donovan doesn’t always say a lot, but his energy vibrates all around me. Some days it’s a low thrum, others it’s a roar. Today, it’s the kind of energy I live for.
Donovan’s happy.
Like, the kind of happy I would pay all the money in the world to see him experience.
“You could have started with that,” he finally says.
“Where would the fun have been then?”
He shakes his head before sliding his fingers through my hair and pulling my face to his so he can kiss me.
“I’m going to be a father.”
“Yeah, you are.”
“Fuck.”
I smile. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you lost for words.”
“Well you have now.” He kisses me again.
Donovan has wanted us to fall pregnant for a while, but I’ve made him wait while I got my bar to a more profitable state. He’s waited patiently, so I’m not surprised he’s speechless.
“I love you, Donovan. Thank you for letting me take my time with this.”
“Fuck,” he growls again. “You know I’ll always give you what you need.”
“I know, and that’s everything to me. I couldn’t have asked for a better husband.”
He kisses me before saying, “So you’re aware, I’m almost certain you’re not going to like how protective I get during this pregnancy.”
“Oh, I know, and I’m ready for it.”
“As in you’re ready to tell me to back off, or you’re ready to accept it?”
I lean in close and kiss him. “As in I’m ready to accept it. You gave me time, I’ll give you this.”
“I don’t fucking deserve you, Layla, but I’m fucking keeping you and never letting go.”
“You better not let go or I’ll find ways to hunt you down and bring you back.”
He chuckles, and it’s the best damn sound. It’s not often Donovan laughs, if ever. “This is why you’re my wife and why you’ll always be my wife. You’re fucking fierce and the only woman I ever want as the mother of my children.”
I never imagined having a man love me so completely as Donovan does, but I found him and I’m never letting him go either.
6
Scott & Harlow
Harlow
This takes place in the same time that Gunnar’s story takes place.
* * *
“God, if J doesn’t start putting his damn clothes in the laundry hamper, I’m going to cut his balls off,” Madison grumbles over the phone late Friday afternoon while I check on the cake I placed in the oven earlier.
I laugh. “You’d miss those balls.”
“I would. But seriously, how fucking hard is it to drop your dirty clothes in a hamper rather than on the damn floor?”
“You’re being extra grumbly this week. This wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact J’s trying to get you pregnant again, would it?”
Madison sighs. “Possibly. The man is relentless when it comes to fucking me. And while you know I’m always up for sex, I’m exhausted. I’m not sure how I’d survive if I had two kids under two.”
/> “Well I’m having the opposite problem with Scott. He’s wrapped me in cotton wool. This baby isn’t due for another two months and I don’t want to go on the way we are.”
“What, you’re not getting any? At all?”
“I’m getting some, but it’s like he thinks he’s going to hurt me if he’s too rough. He did the same when I was pregnant with Aurora.”
“Jesus, these men need to get their shit together,” Madison mutters. “I’ll send a message to the universe for a raincheck on sex twice a day for me, and rough sex for you.”
I smile, thinking how lucky I am to have Madison for a sister-in-law. She helps me get through the hard days and makes the good days even better. “I love you.”
“Yeah, you will when the universe provides all that sex you want.”
The sound of the front door opening catches my attention and I glance towards the hallway where Scott will appear soon. “I’ve gotta go. Scott’s home, and I have plans.”
“God, that means J’s probably on his way home, too. If you have a moment, pray for me. Or maybe for his balls. Either way, all prayers appreciated.”
I laugh again. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Love you,” she says before ending the call.
I place my phone on the kitchen counter as my husband comes into view.
His eyes are the first thing I see. They’re trained on me in the way they always are when he comes home at the end of the day. I’ll never get enough of them on me like this.
“Hey, you,” I greet him, my lips spreading out into the kind of smile I feel down to my toes.
He comes to me, sliding his arm around my waist and pulling me close. Without uttering a word, he drops his lips to mine and wipes all the thoughts from my mind with a kiss that stirs a thousand butterflies in my stomach.
I’m breathless when we come up for air. Placing my hands to his chest, I smile as I say, “There should be more kisses like that in our life.”
Regret flashes in his eyes, something I didn’t want to put there. “It’s been a hell of a week, sweetheart.”
I nod, wishing I’d chosen my words more carefully. The club has kept Scott busier than usual this week, so it’s been lots of late nights and early mornings with little opportunity for us to connect, but I never want to make him feel bad for working hard. “I know, and I didn’t mean anything except that I’m greedy for you and can’t get enough of your kisses.”
He watches me silently for a beat, taking that in. Then, keeping his arm around me, he places his other hand on my belly. Dropping his eyes to my stomach, he says, “How is he? Giving you hell today?”
I bring my hand to rest on his, our fingers interlocking. “He’s been pretty restless today, but not too bad.” Yesterday, our son kicked so much I was concerned for my ribs. Not that I told Scott how bad it was. I didn’t want him worrying. I also didn’t want to put any more thoughts in his head of being gentle with me.
Scott bends his face so he can kiss my stomach before saying, “Go easy on your mother. I need her in one piece.”
I thread my fingers through his hair, loving this time with him. “I have good news for you.”
He straightens, meeting my gaze again. “You’ve made my favourite cake?”
I smile, loving his preference for the simple things in life. It doesn’t take much to make my husband happy. “Actually, I haven’t, but I have made a cake and I’m pretty sure you’re gonna love it, but that’s not the good news.”
“Well, I’m not seeing or hearing our daughter, so I’m guessing it has something to do with that. Where is she?”
“She’s with your mum in her bedroom. They’re packing Aurora’s bag so she can spend the night at her place.” I move into him. “We’ve got the night alone and you’re going to get that dick of yours out and use it properly.”
He arches his brows as be takes hold of my hips. “I’m not sure how I got you pregnant if I wasn’t using it properly.”
“No, back then you were using it properly. Now, not so much.”
“Fuck, Harlow, you’re going to have to be more specific here.”
“You’re home,” Scott’s mother says to him, drawing our attention to her and Aurora as they join us. “I’m glad I caught you before I leave. I want to ask if you’ll have any time over the weekend to come over and check my washing machine. It’s played up a couple of times this week.”
Scott nods. “Yeah, I’ll come over in the morning and pick Aurora up and check it then.” He reaches for our daughter who’s bouncing in her grandmother’s arms, clearly wanting her father.
“Thank you,” Sharon says. Then to me, she says, “Honey, promise me you’ll send some of that cake over with Scott tomorrow. It smells divine.”
I smile. “I’ll make sure not to let Scott eat it all tonight.”
Aurora gurgles happily in her father’s arms while he presses raspberries to her belly. Watching the two of them together is one of my favourite things to do. Scott is an amazing father and Aurora adores being with him.
“Okay, baby girl,” he says, “you be good for Grandma and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Aurora’s little fingers grip her father’s cheeks as he pulls her close to kiss her forehead.
“I love you, darlin’” he says as he walks her outside to his mother’s car.
Sharon and I follow, discussing the plans we have for op shopping next Tuesday. Buying pre-loved clothes has become a passion of mine over the last six months and Sharon has recently started shopping for her clothes this way too. It’s something that’s helped bond us even more and I encourage regular shopping days for us because of this.
Once Scott has Aurora settled in the car, he makes his way to me and pulls me close, resting his hand on my hip and dropping a kiss to my cheek. I loop my arm around his waist and turn into him. Clutching a handful of his shirt, I look up at him and say, “I love you, Scott Cole.”
He glances down at me. “Even though I don’t use my dick properly.”
Sharon’s car starts as I smile up at my husband and say, “I’d love you even if your dick stopped working altogether.”
“Thank fuck for that,” he says, waving at his mother and our daughter as they drive away. Then, looking back at me, he says, “Now that they’re gone, we’re going back inside and you’re gonna give me specifics about this.”
I follow him inside. “I need to check this cake first.”
The cake’s ready so I pull it out and place it on the kitchen counter to cool.
Scott rests his ass against the counter and watches me patiently. “What cake are you making?”
He knows my baking so well now to know that this may be a chocolate cake but that by the time I’m finished with it, it’ll be something more than that.
“It’s a Better Than Sex cake. It has to cool completely and then I’ll pour condensed milk into it and caramel topping over it. Then I’ll spread whipped cream over the caramel topping and sprinkle with pecans and toffee bits.” I move into him, sliding my hands around his waist. “And if you fuck me properly, you can have some.”
Heat flashes in his eyes as he runs his hands over my ass. “Tell me exactly how you want me to fuck you.”
Scott likes dirty talk, the filthier the better. It’s something that used to make me blush, but not anymore. “I want you to fuck me like you did that first time on our honeymoon. But first, I need your mouth on my pussy and I want you to take your time with your tongue.”
He brings his mouth to my neck and kisses me there before saying, “I’ll give you my mouth and tongue, but I’m not fucking you like I did on our honeymoon.”
I grip his biceps. “Yeah, you are.”
My tone catches his attention and his eyes meet mine. “You’re seven months pregnant.”
“So?”
“So it’s too rough for seven months pregnant.”
“I’m pregnant, Scott. Not sick.”
“Jesus, Harlow, no. Once you’ve had the baby,
I’ll fuck you like that all night long, but not now.”
I stare at him. “You’re not being serious?”
He returns my stare. “I’m being deadly fuckin’ serious.”
I push against him and step away. “Well, I’m being deadly fucking serious when I tell you I’m not happy about this.”
“We’ve got a problem then, because I’m not changing my mind.”
I love my husband, but sometimes he’s too stubborn for my liking. And when my body’s flooded with hormones like it is, I don’t play well with that stubbornness.
I open my mouth to tell him exactly what I think of him not changing his mind, but his phone rings. He looks at it and grimaces. “I have to take this.”
His apology is clear in his voice, but there’s no need. I know that Scott always puts me first, so if he says he has to take a call I know there’s no other option. I nod and he stabs at his phone before putting it to his ear and stepping away to talk.
I clean up the kitchen while he’s on the phone. When he comes back, I’m bent over the dishwasher, tetrising the hell out of the space available so I can fit all the dishes in.
Scott’s hand comes to my ass and as I straighten, he slips it around my waist and pulls me against him. “We need to begin that conversation again, sweetheart,” he murmurs against my ear. The gravel in his voice hits me everywhere it always does, shaking some of my frustration with him loose.
Turning to face him, I look up into his eyes. The love I find there melts my heart some more. God I love this man. “Why are you so gentle with me when I’m pregnant? Do you really think you’re going to hurt me?”
He smooths some hair off my face. “I don’t know if I’ll hurt you but it’s not something I’m willing to take a chance on. And I sure as fuck don’t want to take a chance on hurting our son.”
“You won’t hurt the baby, Scott. And if it hurts me, I’ll tell you and we’ll try something else.”
“Harlow, the way you’ve asked me to fuck you will hurt you. I fuckin’ know that without even trying.” He uses the tone that tells me nothing can sway him with this decision. It’s the tone that usually pisses me off during an argument. However, it’s the way he then says, all Scott-Cole soft that completely does me in and makes me back down, “Baby, don’t ask me to do something my gut’s telling me not to do. You know I’ll never forgive myself if I hurt you.”