by Kim Loraine
He released her after swirling his tongue around her fingertip and sat back with a smile. “Delicious.”
The game started again but this time Donovan’s eyes never left her. By the time Sully headed home, her husband was wound tighter than a piano string. As the door shut behind their guest, Donovan turned on her, eyes blazing.
“You need to be naked in the next three seconds if you don’t want your clothes to be ruined because I’m about to tear them off you.”
Shit. A spike of lust hit her as he stalked across the room and she ripped her shirt over her head. His arms wrapped around her at the same time as his lips crashed down on hers. He was all tongue and teeth, grunts and groans.
Unhinged.
She loved it.
“Do you know how fucking hot that was?” he asked between kisses.
“You want to show me, hotshot?”
“Fuck, yes. I’m going to show you for the rest of our lives.”
His heart hammered in his chest as he forced himself to rein in his raging need to take her. Running his hand up and over her thin panties, he grinned as her breath hitched. Never losing eye contact, his fingers worked their way under the fabric to the place he most wanted to be. Pressing inside, he had to bite back a groan as she squirmed and moaned.
He ached to slide his length deep inside her and sate the desperate need that had his body trembling. Removing his fingers from her, he climbed between her legs, sitting on his knees while staring down at her beautiful body. Her cheeks were flushed and those eyes sparkled with lust as he slid her panties over her hips and down her thighs until they landed on the floor.
In a swift move, she wrapped her legs around him and pulled his upper body down until he hovered inches from her, his thick cock pressing against her entrance, held at bay only by his rapidly failing restraint. It was sweet torture to feel her heat and not be able to slide home.
“God, Donovan.” Her harsh cry of his name sent his control out the window. “Please.”
In one sure thrust he sank deep, a groan ripping from his throat. “Fuck, Valerie.”
Her lips blazed a trail along his neck and down as he moved slowly, trying to make it last. A stinging pain shot through him as her teeth sank into his shoulder. Fuck, yes. He loved it when she got fierce and wild.
Her heels dug into his ass as he picked up the pace. Her keening cries telling him she was nearly there. But he wanted more. Needed to have her as close as possible when they both found their release. Slowing his pace to a stop, he pulled out and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. She straddled him without being prompted, and before she could prepare herself, he brought her down over him, letting her take him deep inside. They were both sitting up, chest to chest, her nipples brushing along his skin as he kicked his hips forward. Her hands tangled in his hair and she began rotating her hips in time to his thrusts.
“Jesus I’ve missed you, sweetheart.” His words were laced with the need for release as he moved inside her, so close to what he wanted.
She didn’t answer, choosing to crush her lips to his as she fell over the edge and clutched him tightly. Her sigh against his mouth shredded his control and he came tumbling along with her. Waves of pleasure mixed with overwhelming emotion as he groaned his release.
He held her close, stroking the soft skin of her back as they both breathed heavy, sated sighs. The kiss they’d shared drifted from close and passionate to light and tender.
“I’m so glad you’re home.” Her voice was a feather-light whisper in his ears.
“Me, too, sweetheart.”
Chapter 15
“Sweetheart, you done in there yet?” Donovan adjusted his tie for the millionth time as he waited for Valerie.
“Almost.” Her voice grew louder as she strode out of the bathroom. “Now listen, you can’t say Jesus, or God, unless you’re praying. And certainly not Goddammit. Also, don’t try to go up for communion.”
Holding up his hands, he laughed. “Okay, okay, Jesus.”
She shot him a warning look.
“I’m just kidding. You know, I have been to church a few times in my life.”
“I just don’t want Marianne to hand you your ass in front of God and everyone. It’s the first time one of her grandchildren is being christened. She’ll probably draw blood if anyone sets a toe out of line.”
“She won’t. That woman loves me.”
“I think that’s debatable.” Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she reached up and ran her fingers through his hair.
“I should have gotten a haircut.”
Pursing her lips, she assessed him. “I don’t know. I kind of like it. It makes you look a little dangerous.”
“You like a bad boy?”
She frowned and shook her head before cupping his jaw and running the pad of her thumb over his lower lip. “I love the man you are. There’s no boy about you anymore, Donovan.”
Pride filled his chest at the look on her face. Adoring. Loving. Heated. “If you give me twenty minutes, I can show you exactly the man I am.”
All the blood rushed to his thickening length as she blinked wide eyes up at him and took her bottom lip between her teeth. He was sure she’d be ready for him if he could convince her to be a little late.
“Stop being so . . . tempting, hotshot.” She stepped back and fluffed her tumble of blond hair. “We can’t go to Meg’s christening smelling like sex.”
“We can.”
“No.”
“Technically it’s pos—”
Laughing, she stopped him. “No.”
“Fine. Let’s go watch this baby get water dumped on her or whatever. Then, I’m taking you up against our front door as soon as we get inside this apartment.”
“I’m not going to say no to that one.”
The service was exactly what he’d expected. Long, boring, and filled with so much he didn’t understand. Michael beamed with pride the whole time though, which made it worthwhile. It was good to see his friend so happy. After saying their goodbyes, he guided Valerie to the jeep with a firm hand on the small of her back, hoping to disguise his urgency.
“Michael and Lena looked so happy, didn’t they?” Valerie asked on a soft sigh as Donovan pulled into traffic.
“Yeah, they did. How much do you want to bet she gets knocked up before Meg is two?” He regretted the words as soon as they came out. Hurt sliced his chest. He could only imagine what she was feeling.
“I don’t know. Lena was pretty determined to keep some space between pregnancies. I think it’ll be Angie and Garrett.”
Surprisingly, her tone was light and breezy. Testing the waters, he kept the conversation going. “Did you see the look on Michael’s face when Meg smiled at him? He’s probably working on baby number two already.”
“Um, I’m pretty sure it takes two to make that happen.”
“He’ll get her on his side.”
“Okay, so what are the stakes?”
Confusion brought him up short. “What?”
“You said you bet she gets knocked up before Meg is two. I think it’s going to be Angie. What are the stakes?”
“Uh, a week of blow jobs if I win?”
She laughed and shook her head. “Fine. But if I win, we start working on our own family. We can move forward with IVF treatments.”
Pulling the car to the side of the road, he brought them to a screeching halt as his brain tried to process what he’d just heard.
“Donovan! What the hell?”
His heart hammered so hard against his rib cage he thought it might end up bruised. “What did you say?”
“I said—”
“No. I heard you. I just . . . how are you able to make a joke out of this?”
She twined her fingers
with his. “I’m not. It’s so far from a joke, Donovan. I think we should have a baby.”
“But . . . the cost . . . the treatments.”
“You want a baby that shares our DNA. I can see that’s important to you. If I can give you that, I want to.”
He couldn’t believe what he was hearing, and as he stared in shock at his wife. The thought of her carrying his child sent something primal through him, but he’d done his own research since their last conversation about IVF. “No.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t want you to go through all of that. Not just for me. We can adopt.”
“But I want to do it.”
He took her hand and brought it to his lips remembering all he’d learned. Hormones, stress, disappointment. He couldn’t watch her go through that. “You want to do it for me. That’s different. I want a baby with you, a family, but sweetheart, not if it’s going to mean pumping you full of hormones and causing you mental and physical stress. Not when there are so many children out there ready to be placed with a family.”
Tears swam in her eyes. “Really?”
“Hell, yes, sweetheart. I don’t care how we get our family started. I just care that we do it.”
A horn blared behind them, making him grit his teeth in frustration. Rolling down his window he waved the car past and yelled, “I’m having a fucking life-changing conversation over here. Just go around.”
“Donovan, we’re parked in the exit of a Dairy Queen drive-thru.”
Glancing out his window, he sighed. She was right, of course. Pressing on the gas, he got them on their way home again, needing to finish their conversation. As soon as they parked, she unbuckled her seatbelt and threw herself at him, her mouth meeting his with so much yearning, he could feel the tension coiled in her, ready to burst. Then her lips began to tremble against his and she clutched him as though her life depended on never letting him go.
“Hey, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere. Don’t cry.”
She buried her face in his neck and heaved a shuddering breath. “I’m sorry. It’s just, this was the biggest barrier between us. I’m so relieved it’s gone. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, trying to avoid having this conversation because I was afraid it would open old wounds and put more space between us.”
“I’m never letting anything get between us again. I promise you that. It’s you and me, sweetheart.” Pushing her away so he could see her beautiful face, he pressed his palm over her heart. “You and me.”
“And whoever we bring into our family.”
Grinning, he nodded. “Right.”
Her wide smile sent a wave of love over him that would have sent a weaker man to his knees.
As they walked toward their apartment, she snuggled close to his side. “Donovan?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re not a sore loser, are you?”
Squeezing her tighter to him, he chuckled. “Nope, not this time.”
“That’s good, because Angie is already five weeks pregnant.”
A laugh rolled through him. Of course she was. Staring into Valerie’s bright aqua eyes, he couldn’t find a trace of jealousy or hurt. Her gaze reflected nothing but happiness, like she felt as though everything had fallen into place. She was peaceful.
So was he.
Also by Kim Loraine and Soul Mate Publishing:
The Golden Beach Series:
RESTORATION
After the tragic death of her fiancé, Grace McConnell turns to the only remaining constant in her life, her work. So when she’s offered the lead position for an international restoration project, she jumps at the chance to get away from her small town, full of John’s memories.
Drew Tensley has always been a hard worker. Dedicated to his family and community, he put aside his own London career to take over the family business after his mother’s terminal diagnosis. Five years later, he’s ready to start living for himself when he literally runs into his hometown’s newest architect.
Grace quickly discovers that traveling halfway across the world was the best decision she’s ever made. Until she meets Drew, a man whose personality and lifestyle are the exact opposite of John’s, but whose face is the spitting image. Struggling with her own motivations and feelings, research uncovers secrets she isn’t ready for; secrets that could ruin her second chance for true love.
Available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/nfxo38x
RENOVATION
Valerie Peters is done with bad boys and ready to start living for herself. She’s determined to settle for nothing less than a romantic, sweeps-you-off-your-feet, nice-guy. So when a sexy firefighter with the hottest reputation in town saves her from near-drowning, there’s no doubt he’s everything she shouldn't want.
Donovan’s looks and image have kept his nights entertaining and his ring finger empty. One-night stands serve as a short-term distraction to the flashbacks of his past he increasingly struggles to ignore. But a chance encounter with his best friend’s sister makes him realize that one night is no longer enough.
Together they discover that bad can actually be the best and forever is worth everything.
Available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/jqzgeh7
RESONANCE
Fame . . .
It’s all Angela Peters has wanted for the last twelve years. Determined to keep their focus on their band, Panic Station, she and Garrett made a pact that they’d never sleep together. No relationships. No distractions. Now, on the brink of getting everything she wants, she wakes up in bed with her drummer the day before their big tour begins, a recipe for disaster.
Love . . .
Garrett Donalson has been in love with Angela since they were twelve years old. The moment she broke their pact, he thought he’d finally found his forever with her. Unfortunately, the road to success is paved with lies and deceit, leaving Garrett fighting to keep the girl he’s wanted for so long.
Sometimes holding on to what you have is harder than getting what you want.
Available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/j3g4jgq
FOUNDATION
Grace and Drew are finally married and ready to begin their happily ever after. Drew’s expanding his business; Grace finds out she’s pregnant. Life couldn’t be more perfect.
But secrets, lies, and questions about the past get in the way. And before they know it, everything is on the line.
Available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/hdvzfbu
REDEMPTION
Sparks may fly in the bedroom, but fire always brings destruction.
Golden Beach firefighter Lieutenant Michael Oliver has everything he wants: a beautiful wife, a job he loves, and a future that finally looks bright after years of darkness. Until one day a surprise from his past shows up, throwing everything he’d finally recovered from back in his face.
Lena Shirakawa married the man of her dreams in an impulsive Vegas wedding. As a free-spirited and highly sought-after travel photographer, being the wife of a firefighter who wants her to settle down isn’t easy. Especially when her job takes her all over the world for months at a time.
When Lena’s deep-rooted fears take hold, the damage is done and divorce seems the only option. But Michael won't give up, even if it means risking everything to keep her.
Available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/hxx8lej
RESOLUTION
Firefighter Alex Oliver lost everything that mattered. In the blink of an eye, the life he’d built burned to the ground. Now, he’s starting over. Returning home to Golden Beach, he’s determined to pick up the pieces and put himself back together. But love isn’t an option. He had that once upon a time, and all he got was a broken heart.
Optimistic and sunny, Lauren Garcia is exactly what Alex doesn’t wan
t in his life. Despite his fears, he can’t stay away. Her love might be the glue that holds him in place. But something once broken isn’t easily repaired. And if it breaks again, it will shatter.
Available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/y7v4tgg8