by Layla Hagen
The tip of his erection was pushing at my entrance, and I needed him inside me so badly that I was close to begging. I rolled my hips, but Carter pulled back, smiling like the devil he was.
“You’re too impatient. I want to explore you first. I’ve missed you.”
Before I could object, he brought his mouth to one breast, his fingers between my legs. I gripped the headboard behind me with both hands at the first strokes of his tongue against my nipple. When he pressed his thumb on my clit, a spasm of pleasure rocked through me. My inner muscles pulsed madly.
When he finally, finally slid inside me, he did it so slowly that my thighs shook from anticipation, from the intensity of it all.
I wasn’t going to lose him. He was mine. He wanted to be mine, to love me and be on the receiving end of my love.
I cried out when he slid into me those last few inches. I came apart at the seams one thrust at a time. Every sensation was magnified. I was feeling everything so intensely that I could barely breathe through the pleasure. My inner muscles tightened when I felt him starting to swell inside me. I climaxed so hard that my senses were off-balance, and I drew him into a kiss, moving in sync with him until I took him with me over the edge.
A few minutes passed before either of us spoke. We were both curled on one side. Carter had an arm around me.
“I’ve missed holding you like this. Watching you sleep, waking up and spying as you get dressed in the dark,” he said.
“You spy on me?”
“Yes.”
“Every morning?” I clarified.
“And every evening. And if you happen to change in between, I spy on you then too.”
“Isn’t spying illegal?”
“You’re so fucking sexy and lovely that it would be illegal not to spy on you.”
I shimmied against him and was startled when I felt his raging erection against my back. “Again?”
“I told you I’ve missed you. I’m going to spend the next few days showing you just how much.”
“You’re such a sweet talker. All to keep me in bed.”
“You’re holding it against me?”
I turned around to face him, hugging my pillow with an arm. “Umm, no. Is my lying here naked not enough proof that you’ve won me over with your devious plans?”
He rolled us over until I was under him, pressing every inch of that delicious chest against mine. “Nah, I’m going to demand more proof.”
“I’m more than happy to provide it.”
Epilogue
Val
“I can tell you’re spying on me,” I said one Friday afternoon a few weeks later, smiling as I looked over my shoulder. Yep, Carter was standing in the doorway to my bedroom. I was sitting on the bed, iPad in my lap, typing an email.
“This isn’t spying, love. I was just... observing you.”
“So you’re not here to convince me to lock ourselves in the room and ignore the outside world?”
“I would if the movers weren’t arriving in ten minutes.”
I still couldn’t believe this was happening. Carter and the girls were moving in here. Today. My house had three bedrooms, and the surrounding land was big enough that we could always expand. We’d chosen Friday as move-in day because the house would be full of Connors who’d offered to help.
I went back to composing my email, feeling Carter’s gaze on me. When I heard the door close, I spun around to him.
“What are you doing?”
“Come to think of it, there’s plenty I can do to you in ten minutes.”
I grinned. “I so saw this coming.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh. A mile away. Why do you think I hid up here to write this email?”
“Who are you emailing anyway?”
“Davis’s grandson. He’s been abroad, but now that he’s back he wants a face-to-face meeting.”
Davis had been so impressed by the samples we’d presented to him that he asked us to fast-track the line we were developing for him so he could have it in stores a half-year earlier than we’d originally planned.
Carter climbed next to me on the bed faster than if I’d dropped my clothes.
“I see. The old man had better stop trying to hook you two up.”
“He has stopped. I told him I have this amazing man who isn’t too thrilled with his plan.”
“Good.” That one word had come out in a warning tone, as if he’d planned to add or else. I chuckled.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Carter narrowed his eyes, and the next thing I knew, he set my iPad aside, pulling me into his arms.
“I love you, Val. Meeting you has been my luck. Loving you for the rest of my life will be my honor. My joy. You have my devotion. All of me.”
“And you have all of me,” I whispered, my voice full of emotion as I curled my arms around his neck.
Ten minutes later, we had to hurry downstairs. I tried not to look too guilty as I smoothed my hair. Will and Paige arrived at the same time with the movers, and Jace a few minutes later.
It was early afternoon, so we had just enough time before dinner to arrange the boxes and a few furniture items, so the house wouldn’t look like a storage room.
April and Peyton would be home in an hour. We’d finally hired a new nanny for them. She picked them up from school and spent time with them when Carter and I were busy with meetings. Truthfully, though, I liked slowing down in the afternoons to enjoy my time with the girls. My team didn’t mind me working remotely now and then, and Carter’s partners were supportive of him. Things between Carter’s partners and me had been a little awkward, since I’d known they hadn’t been too keen on him taking on my case, but I assured them I didn’t hold a grudge. Everyone liked being on the winning side. It was how life worked. I especially enjoyed being on the winning side right now, as the magazine that had published Beauty SkinEssence’s smear campaign had run an article on me, singing my praises. The line had come out last week to rave reviews. Since the competition’s line had come out at the same time, my profits were going to be small, but I wasn’t too worried. It was just how business decisions worked out sometimes.
A few hours later, the house looked semi decent and the rest of the family had arrived. I slipped into the kitchen to prepare dinner. I was making fried chicken—Jace’s favorite. I was usually very strict about respecting his meal plan, but some comfort food was in order right now because his team had lost a game.
April and Peyton were “helping.” Translation: while keeping an eye on Peyton, April and I were strategizing how she could order some boots Carter would surely deem too “grown-up.” They were not. I was still working on my persuasion skills in that area, so I considered taking one for the team this time and simply saying I’d ordered them for April as a surprise.
Carter was going to feel ambushed, but it was high time I introduced April and Peyton to the Connor ambush and intervention techniques. Peyton was still a bit young, but I had full confidence that April could pull it off. Girls had to stick together. As someone who’d always been surrounded by overprotective brothers, I knew the girls needed someone to champion their causes. I volunteered for the task.
April clamped her lips shut as Carter came to check on us. He glanced from April to me.
“What are you two up to?”
What? How could he know? Could he read the guilt on our faces? Crap, he was a lawyer. He was probably trained to sniff out guilt a mile away. So I resorted to one of my favorite techniques to distract him: talking his ear off.
“Want to taste the fried chicken? It’s delicious.”
“Sure. “
“It’s Jace’s favorite. His team just suffered a defeat, and I’m making this so he won’t be grouchy. Grouchiness is contagious in my family.”
“Because we live here now, are we your family too?” asked Peyton.
I stopped in the act of stabbing a piece of chicken with the fork, spinning around to face Peyton. Her e
yes were wide, and she was looking expectantly between Carter and me. April had gone very still. Carter squeezed me to his side. “Do you want to tell them?”
I nodded, then lowered myself to my haunches. Peyton ran straight to me.
“Of course you’re my family too.”
“Grandma and Grandpa too?”
“Yes.”
I’d met them last weekend, when they flew in to officially meet me and to see the girls. They were both great people. Mrs. Sloane definitely seemed to want to move to LA permanently. Mr. Sloane insisted he had to be at the farm, but I could see him melting a little every time his granddaughters insisted they wanted to spend more time with him.
I wasn’t known for orchestrating ambushes and interventions for nothing, so I foresaw planning one or the other in the near future where the Sloanes were concerned.
Peyton snuggled closer, lacing her little arms around my neck. I’d told Hailey last week that Carter and I planned to get married, so of course, the whole Connor clan knew the next day. But we hadn’t told the girls yet.
“Carter and I are getting married.”
Peyton squealed with joy. April looked between Carter and me with a smug smile before saying, “I already know. Hailey told me.”
“You’ve made my favorite,” Jace exclaimed when we were all seated around the table a while later. “You always know how to put me in a good mood.”
“Maybe I’m just trying to bribe you.” I cocked a brow, leaning into him and nudging his shoulder playfully.
“Aww, Val. You know I’m always at your service, like the dutiful brother I am.” He gave me a mock salute. “Though I’ll never say no to fried chicken.”
Truthfully, I’d just wanted to lift his mood, but since he’d just offered his unconditional support, I couldn’t let this pass.
“Would you be willing to do another campaign with us? This one is shaping up to be great.”
Jace grinned like a Cheshire cat. “I know. Our PR person says they’re calling me the face of success.”
“Oh, dear God.” Hailey shook her head mockingly. “There’s a real risk this will go straight to your head. As your sister, I feel it’s my duty to keep you grounded.”
“Not before he agrees to another campaign,” I admonished her.
“Val, of course I’ll do it. Is it true they’re also calling me a heartthrob?”
“Yep. Which is just a nicer way of spelling heartbreaker,” I teased.
Jace shook his forefinger. “No, no. Big distinction. I like heartthrob much better. It’s not judgy.”
After Jace and I nailed down the details, Lori cleared her throat. “So... not to be a nag or anything, but do any of you have news?”
She looked from Carter and me to Will and Paige.
“No, Lori, we still haven’t set the date,” I said, fighting a smile.
“You know, the four of us should elope,” Will said conversationally. Lori gasped.
The entire table started laughing.
“Brother, not even I would dare elope,” Jace said. “For the sake of the family, you need to let Lori throw you a huge-ass wedding.”
Ah... he had no idea what he’d just gotten himself into. Lori had confessed to me once that she believed Jace would be forever a bachelor. Now I could practically hear the wheels spinning in her mind. I had to warn my little brother.
“Careful, Jace, or Lori will start planning your wedding before there’s even a bride in the picture.”
Jace took one look at Lori and groaned. Which was when Milo, presumably tired of so much adult talk, said, “Uncle Jace, can you practice with me?”
“Sure, buddy. Let’s go. I feel an ambush coming anyway. I prefer spending time with the younger generation these days. No one’s calling me a heartbreaker or planning weddings.”
“Yet. But I’m a fast learner,” April replied impishly, sitting up straighter. I was so proud of this girl. Following in my footsteps already. I sighed, looking around the table contentedly. All my favorite people in the world were gathered around me. What more could I ask for?
“Carter, you’re going to have your hands full by the looks of it,” Landon commented.
Carter winked at me. “I can handle my ladies.”
Hours later, after everyone left, the house was quiet. The girls had gone to bed. When Carter went to check on Peyton, I was alone in the living room and seized the moment, taking out my phone and ordering those boots I promised April. The website was a pain in the ass. It took forever to place the order. I was just moving from the shopping cart to the payment page when a muscular arm wrapped around my waist. I threw the phone on the couch, but I was fairly certain Carter had caught a glimpse of the screen.
I whirled around, lacing my arms around his neck. He feathered his lips along my jawline, keeping me so close that our hips were touching.
“Wait until we’re upstairs to unleash your seductive charms on me, mister.”
“Why? So you can sneak behind my back some more?”
Oh crap.
“I was doing no such thing.”
“Val.” His voice held a note of warning, but then I felt him smile against my cheek. “I’ll pretend I haven’t seen the website.”
“I like you more and more every day.”
“Is that why you’re siding with April?”
“No, but the girls need someone on their side.” I pulled back a notch, looking him straight in the eyes so he knew I meant it.
“You really know how to keep me on my toes. And you’re right, they do need someone on their side. Thank you for caring so much about them. It means a lot to me.”
He placed both my hands on his chest. I could feel his heart beating rapidly under my palms. “I love you so much.”
“I can’t believe I’m so lucky,” I murmured. He bit my lower lip gently before moving his mouth over mine, demanding full surrender. One hand gripped my hip possessively, pressing me harder against his pelvis. We walked backward until the backs of my knees touched a soft surface, then we tumbled onto the couch, laughing.
“We’re going to have a happy life together, Val.”
I shimmied under him, overwhelmed by the emotion in his voice.
“Yes, we are. I promise.”
He smiled before lowering his head, drawing the tip of his nose over my neck. “Does that promise also include you keeping me on my toes every day?”
“Um... the answer to that will always be yes.”
“And you’re not even sorry, are you?”
“Not one bit.”
“If you surrender to me so beautifully every evening, I won’t complain.”
I grinned, shifting and biting his earlobe slightly. “I believe we have a deal.”
<<<<>>>>
Dear Reader,
This is the end of Val and Carter’s story. The next book will be Jace’s story, and it will be released in summer. Please sign up HERE to my newsletter to receive news about upcoming releases and giveaways (you will also receive a FREE copy of my romance Found in Us).
Other books in the Connor Family series
ANYTHING FOR YOU (Landon & Maddie)
WILD WITH YOU (Lori & Graham)
MEANT FOR YOU (Will & Paige)
***
If you want to meet the Bennett family, you can find a link to the series HERE.
They are a fun family, the romances are HOT and SWOONWORTHY. That series is complete, and each book can be read as a standalone.
***
Links to THE ENTIRE BENNETT FAMILY SERIES:
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Links to individual books in the Bennett Family Series:
Book 1: Your Irresistible Love (Sebastian & Ava)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Audio
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Book 2: Your Captivating Love (Logan & Nadine)
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Amazon UK
> Audio
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Book 3: Your Forever Love (Pippa & Eric)
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Audio
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Book 4: Your Inescapable Love (Max & Emilia)
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Audio
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Book 5: Your Tempting Love (Christopher & Victoria)
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Audio
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Book 6: Your Alluring Love (Alice & Nate)
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Audio
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Book 7: Your Fierce Love (Blake & Clara)
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Audio
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Book 8: Your One True Love (Daniel & Caroline)
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Audio
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Book 9: Your Endless Love (Summer & Alex)
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Audio
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***
Book 1 in the Series: Your Irresistible Love
Sebastian Bennett is a determined man. It’s the secret behind the business empire he built from scratch. Under his rule, Bennett Enterprises dominates the jewelry industry. Despite being ruthless in his work, family comes first for him, and he’d do anything for his parents and eight siblings—even if they drive him crazy sometimes. . . like when they keep nagging him to get married already.
Sebastian doesn’t believe in love, until he brings in external marketing consultant Ava to oversee the next collection launch. She’s beautiful, funny, and just as stubborn as he is. Not only is he obsessed with her delicious curves, but he also finds himself willing to do anything to make her smile.
He’s determined to have Ava, even if she’s completely off limits.