by C. A. Szarek
“Oh, God no.” Jared pinned Mel with a glare. “Just remember, when they leave, you’ll be stuck here. Alone. With me.”
She giggled.
“Let’s have a seat and you can tell me all about it.” Cole’s statement wasn’t a suggestion.
“Don’t kill him, okay? Sometimes I’m fond of him. But a maiming might be okay,” Mel offered.
Her husband’s partner wore an even more curious look, and threw his arm around Jared’s shoulders.
When her man feigned right to get away from him, Cole smirked and playfully shoved him forward, sending the kids into a fit of giggles.
The guys faded into the living room, taking the boys with them. Deep voices mixed with Ethan’s much higher one faded in and out.
Cole’s laughter followed.
“Aren’t you concerned?” Mel asked Andi, who’d stayed with her in the dining room.
“Nah, the boys are fine. Body parts all accounted for, no casts or limps.” She winked, and took a seat at the table.
Mel grinned.
“I trust you guys, wouldn’t leave my kids with you otherwise.”
“I know. Appreciate that. We really did have a great weekend.” She took a seat opposite her friend and sucked back another sigh.
The thousandth one of the weekend.
The female cop’s gaze was already appraising.
Darn detective.
“Did you and Cole have a nice weekend? I bet it was great to get away.”
Andi’s pretty face lit up and her chestnut ponytail bobbed with her nod. “It was awesome. The bed and breakfast was really nice, and the couple that runs it convinced me romance never dies. They’ve been married forty years, and are so cute. Still so in love.” She touched her cheek, and Mel smiled.
Her friend had no worries. Cole was completely head over heels for Andi. It was so obvious when they were together. But the detective hadn’t been digging for affirmation. Her expression was wistful; she was no doubt reminiscing over the weekend.
“I think Cole missed the kids more than I did. But I kept him…distracted.” She looked at Mel and flashed a grin that had them both laughing. Her face went pink up to her ears, contradicting her confession.
“That’s great to hear.”
“I love being a mom as much as I love being a cop, but sometimes parents need Mommy and Daddy time.”
She shoved away the sadness that hit at Andi’s lighthearted comment. She’d meant no harm. Mel swallowed and forced her eyes forward, instead of looking away like she wanted to.
Andi grabbed her hand. “Hey. What’s up? For real.”
“I hate that you notice stuff like that.”
Her smile was unapologetic. “Pete would be proud; he’s usually the more perceptive one.”
She spoke of her partner; Mel had always liked the other detective, and his wife, Nikki.
“Nothing’s wrong, really.”
Her friend gave her a long look that called her a liar. After all, they’d talked about this before.
She sighed. “I started my period Friday night. No baby. Again. It’s been months. Every time a start my period, I’m sure it’s never going to happen. Jared says I need to be patient; that it’ll happen when it’s supposed to, but…” She blinked away sudden tears and broke eye contact.
“He’s right, sweetie. Just relax. It will happen. Enjoy being with your man. Trying is fun. But we don’t want to tell our husbands they’re right, of course.” Andi squeezed the hand she still held.
She forced another nod.
“Wow, no smile for me? Not even a little one? I was trying to be funny.” Her eyes were wide when Mel looked back.
She managed a smirk. “I always enjoy being with Jared.”
“Good.”
“Babe, we should probably go. Gotta pack the car.” Cole popped his head in the dining room and paused. “Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Mel stood. Made her lips curve up. “You didn’t. Just chatting.”
Andi rose and tugged her into a hug. “It’ll be okay. Call me later if you wanna talk.” She pressed a kiss to Mel’s cheek. “Thanks again for keeping the boys. We had a great weekend.”
“Anytime. I mean it. Your kids are awesome.”
Cole flashed dimples and opened his arms. “Thanks. Ethan’s going on about the fun he had. Probably will for days.”
Mel went to her husband’s partner and stepped into his hug.
“Get your hands off my wife,” Jared playfully barked.
Cole held her tighter and she laughed. “Maybe I’ll keep them both.”
“Nah, two women are more trouble than one.” Andi’s voice was dry, but she grinned.
“Ain’t that the truth,” Cole quipped, and earned a smack from his wife.
They all laughed.
The guys shook hands and Mel kissed the boys.
Jared helped Cole get the boys’ paraphernalia into Andi’s SUV.
She waved as they pulled away, and couldn’t help but sigh. Sat on the top step of their small porch.
The sun would set soon, and there was a great view from the front of their house.
“What’s wrong, baby?” Jared drew her close when he took a seat beside her. His lips brushed her temple, then her cheek.
Instead of answering, she turned her face and met his mouth with hers.
It didn’t take him more than half a second to deepen the kiss. Their tongues danced and dueled, and Mel wound her arms around his neck, nestling close.
He kissed her until her toes curled, and desire settled low in her belly, making her wish her period was already over.
Jared rubbed her back and held her afterward, her cheek resting over his heart.
She closed her eyes, savoring the comfort of the thump thump of his heart, she could feel as well as hear.
“You didn’t answer me,” he whispered, pressing another kiss to her temple.
“Nothing’s wrong. Had a great weekend and I love sitting here like this with you.”
“I love sitting here like this with you, too. Even if my ass is already going numb.”
Mel laughed and lifted her head. “Don’t ruin it.”
He flashed a grin that had her insides wobbling. “Sorry.”
“You aren’t even.” She poked his chest, and Jared chuckled.
“Probably not. I am grateful you’re talking to me after ‘the incident.’” He made air quotes like she had earlier, and waggled his eyebrows.
She laughed again. “Well, you are lucky for that, I guess. What did Cole say?”
“He laughed, I told ya he would.”
She rolled her eyes. “Men.”
Jared’s grin widened and his pressed his lips to her forehead. “On a serious note, he was grateful no one was hurt badly. Ethan piped up his knee had a boo boo, but Cole didn’t kill me. If one of the boys would’ve been really hurt, I’m sure he would’ve.”
“I would’ve arranged a nice funeral.”
“Hey! That’s all I mean to you?”
She grinned and cocked her head to one side. “Maybe.”
Jared growled and kissed her.
Chapter Six
“I thought your dad would never leave! At least my parents took a hint.”
Mel glanced over her shoulder from the kitchen sink, trying to keep a straight face. “Wow, I’ll be sure to let Daddy know how you really feel about him.”
Hosting Thanksgiving, with their parents at their house for the first time had been fantastic, but her dad had stayed a few hours past pumpkin pie.
Her monitor told her she was ovulating, and she’d made the mistake of telling her husband that morning; Jared had been keyed up all day.
The touches and kisses he’d snuck for the majority of the day while they’d had company hadn’t done much for keeping her libido in check.
Pushing him away never worked; her heart wasn’t in it. Desire to sneak to the bedroom had been higher than spending time with her dad and his parents—as much as sh
e loved them.
Sure, a little guilt assaulted her senses, but it was for a good cause—their first grandbaby.
Against her real wishes, Mel had told Jared to stop acting like a horny teenager, but he’d only flashed a wicked grin and kissed her again.
Her dad in the living room was too close for comfort, grown, married woman or not; need or not. Talked her out of whatever courage her hormones had mustered for sure.
Jared’s hands swallowed her waist, and his warm breath tickled the back of her neck. His powerful chest cradled her back, and his erection through his jeans rubbed against her bottom.
Then his lips were nibbling, licking, kissing her neck and earlobe until her legs wobbled and she splashed warm, soapy water when her hands missed the first grab for the edge of the sink.
“Jared.” His name came out more moan than protest, and she whirled in his arms, meeting his mouth when he dipped down.
He deepened the kiss, and rocked his hips in time with his tongue.
Her side hit the counter, but she didn’t care.
Mel was a goner.
She couldn’t tell him she needed to finish scrubbing a pan and put the leftover food away. Didn’t care if it all rotted—she was liquid, grateful her husband was holding her up.
“I’ve been waiting to do that. All. Damn. Day.” He panted against her, pushing the words into her lips, and his eyes were black with desire.
She could barely moan, let alone form a coherent thought.
Jared groaned and sealed his mouth over hers again, kissing her until her toes curled. He tore away on a ragged breath, and Mel’s head spun. “Let’s go to bed.”
“Happy Thanksgiving,” she whispered.
He grinned. “Baby, I’m thankful for you for damn sure.”
Her heart skipped, which only made her dizzier. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. And because I love you, I know you’ll be mad at me if I whisk you away with a dirty kitchen, so I’ll help you finish cleaning up.”
Mel arched an eyebrow. “I feel like you have nefarious intentions.”
Jared chuckled. “I did think about taking you on the butcher’s block. But it’s…busy.”
She giggled and followed his gaze. The remnants of the turkey sat on her best platter at the center, but he’d already cut all the rest of the meat off it for her. “I do prefer our bed, truth be told.”
His mouth hovered over hers, but he didn’t kiss her properly. “Nah, sometimes you’re adventurous.”
That was true. They’d made love all over the house that’d been hers, but slipped to theirs effortlessly.
Tremors chased each other down her spine and she tipped up, begging without words.
Her husband retreated, instead of capturing her mouth again. “Let’s get this done so I can ravish you without guilt.”
Mel snorted. “Right. You’d be so bothered.”
He winked and started putting the remainder of their meal away.
She stood back watching him, her heart thumping all over again.
Mel slipped her light blue sweater over her head, releasing it to the kitchen floor. Her bra was next, and she dropped it at her feet, then stepped out of her slippers. She’d given up real shoes after dinner.
Jared didn’t notice she was getting undressed; he was diligently putting leftovers in containers and loading the dishwasher.
She grinned and shimmied out of her gray pencil skirt and pink panties, then perched her hand on her hip and waited for her man to notice she was naked in their kitchen.
He whirled toward the fridge, containers of mashed potatoes, stuffing, and green beans stacked in hands. His eyes widened and he froze a few inches from the handle. “Ummm…” His mouth hung open.
She laughed. “Wow. You’d think I did something wrong.”
Jared recovered fast, sliding the food into the refrigerator, shutting it, and invading her personal space in what felt like the same move. “Not at all. Just surprised me, is all. Melody Manning is not a woman to be trifled with. Especially where her kitchen is concerned.”
Mel laughed and wound her arms around his neck, moving in to his body heat. “I’m glad you recognize that.”
His lips came down, but she met him, snuggling closer and kissing him back until she couldn’t breathe.
“Butcher’s block?” her husband asked against her mouth.
She smacked his chest and laughed again. “Bed.”
“As you wish, my lady love.”
She giggled, then yelped as he swung her up into his arms. Made a grab for his neck, but Jared wouldn’t drop her.
Mel didn’t speak—couldn’t, since he fit his mouth over hers again, taking her air and her breath as he kissed her, but she didn’t care if her head spun. Not when he was already sending her to heaven.
Her husband set her at the center of their bed and made short work of his clothing—although his nice cobalt button-down was done for, if the pinging buttons were any indication.
“Jared, that shirt was expensive!” She laughed through her complaint.
“Don’t care,” he answered as he shrugged out of it, yanked his zipper down and shoved his dark jeans off his hips. He tossed his cowboy boots across the room one-by-one, and prowled to their king-sized bed.
She giggled. “No undies? How did I not notice that?” Her gaze zoned in on his erection and she licked her lips.
Jared groaned. “It was a bad call.”
“Why?”
“Chafing. If the blue balls weren’t enough.”
Mel laughed yet again.
He flashed a grin when their gazes brushed.
Her insides wobbled. Her husband was hot.
“It’s your fault, really,” she said.
“Mine? How’d you figure? You made me want you.”
Heat flushed her body and she quivered. Burned for his hands on her. She raised her arms in invitation, and he didn’t disappoint.
Jared practically pounced on the bed and hovered over her.
She dragged her fingers down his chest, traced his abs and watched his muscles jump under her touch.
When Mel looked into his face, her husband had his head back, eyes closed, a look of desire and contentment dominating his expression.
Her insides shook all over. She had the power to make him look like that.
“Jared,” she whispered.
His gorgeous dark eyes met hers. “Hmm, baby?”
“Baby. Exactly. Let’s make one.”
He grinned, but then sobered. Cupped her face. “I love you, and I want you, but it will be okay if it doesn’t happen this time.”
She smiled. “I love you, too. And I always want you.”
“Mel.”
Her name was all warning.
“Relax, I’m in a good place. Promise.”
Jared studied her for a few more seconds before his big shoulders loosened. “I was there, too.”
“What?”
“Doc Hayes says we’re good. My swimmers swim, and he said it can take up to a year.”
Mel smiled. She really was better with things after her appointment last week. She needed him to believe she wasn’t a head-case.
Despair had melted in to reserved hopefulness.
There was nothing wrong with either of them.
“I know, love. I’m okay, really. I just want to feel good with you. That’s my mindset now. I’m not obsessing about what the monitor told me. I mean, I’m aware it’s there, but it’s in the back of my mind.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You sure?”
“Hey, if I can think, you’re not doing something right. Isn’t that what you always say?”
“I always do it right,” Jared growled and kissed her.
It was a quick thing that was over much too soon.
She giggled and patted his cheek. “Time to prove it again, husband.”
Chapter Seven
Jared held himself over his naked wife. His gorgeous, flushed pink with desire, ravished-lookin
g wife, and he was only getting started.
She didn’t need to challenge him, because he was so already there. Had been all day.
He did want to make sure she was okay—really okay. She had seemed more lighthearted about the baby thing since the appointment last week.
“You sure?” he quizzed her once more.
Not that she’d lie, but she would minimize so he wouldn’t worry.
That was classic Mel.
She frowned, but her mouth wobbled with the smile she was fighting—she wasn’t really irritated. “You’re gonna let me doubt you like that and get away with it?”
He smirked. “Doubt me? Puhllleassse. We both know my skills, baby.” He punctuated his response with the tilt of his pelvis, and rubbed his cock against her sex.
She moaned and closed her eyes. Lifted her torso, drawing his attention to her peaked dusky nipples.
Jared skimmed his palms over her breasts and she pressed into his hands. He groaned, and his balls ached. “Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about.”
Mel pinned him with those crystal eyes. “Done. Talking. Show. Time.” She lifted her hips and shoved against him, ripping another groan from his lips.
He had to pant to get air down. He grabbed his dick and ran his tip up and down her glistening tender flesh, then parted her folds and circled her clit, pushing their skin together.
“Jared…” she whispered, elongating his name on a pleasurable sigh.
He smiled and stopped the torture, propelling inside her.
They both moaned.
“You win,” he grunted with his first thrust.
“We both win,” Mel whimpered, and slid her arms around his neck. She urged him down for a kiss, and he didn’t resist.
He took her mouth, tasting the wine she’d had with dinner and something sweet that was just his wife. Something familiar and lovely that made him sear even hotter for her, until his temples pounded with his rushing pulse, and he timed his surges forward in rhythm; his tongue and his hips.
Jared had wanted to worship her, but he’d been too revved up all day. This wouldn’t last long enough. He’d make it up to her, because he was far from done with her.