Your Inescapable Love (The Bennett Family Book 4)

by Layla Hagen

  “Max,” I try again. “The babies won’t arrive in the car. The contractions are far enough apart that we will make it to the hospital in time even if we’re stuck in traffic.”

  Max doesn’t even seem to hear me. He has both hands on the wheel, grasping it so tightly that his knuckles turn white.

  “This is going well,” I mutter, sliding next to Pippa again.

  “Men are weird creatures,” she says. “You should see Max in a negotiation. He’s usually the calm one, when even Sebastian loses his cool.”

  “But his nieces are already making him lose his cool.” I grin at this, suddenly wanting to hug Max.

  “Can you do me a favor and call Eric again?” She called him while we were waiting for Max on the bench, but he didn’t answer. “I’d do it, but if I have a contraction while talking to him, he’ll panic even more than Max.”

  She hands me her phone, Eric’s number already on the screen.

  “Ah, we finally found the one word with the power to bring men worldwide to their knees,” I say as Max goes on another honking chorus. “Childbirth.”

  ***

  By the time we arrive at the hospital, Pippa’s contractions are more frequent.

  “Those babies are in a hurry to come out,” I tell her, jogging next to her as some nurses wheel her to a room. The nurse helps her change into a hospital gown and then lie on the bed. This is a birthing room, which looks very homey and comfortable. The birth will take place in this room. I hover next to her, unsure what to say or do. Max is in the hallway, pacing around and calling his family, but I’m not sure he’d be of much help if he were here with us.

  “I’ve been waiting to hear that for weeks now. But damn, it hurts.” Pippa grits her teeth as yet another contraction makes her jolt. After it passes, she unexpectedly grips my hand.

  “Promise me you won’t let anyone else except my husband stay in here during the delivery.”

  I’m about to tell her that knowing the streak of stubbornness running deep in the Bennett family, I’m unlikely to be able to stop them if they put their minds to it. But Pippa’s grip is tight, and her eyes are begging.

  So instead of protesting, I say, “I promise. No one else besides your husband and the hospital crew will stay.”

  She lets go of me, visibly relaxed. Madness reigns for the next half hour. I get hold of Eric on the phone, and he panics the moment I utter the word labor. He arrives shortly afterward with his daughter, Julie.

  They go directly to Pippa, and then Eric turns to a nearby nurse, questioning her, while the girl remains by Pippa’s side, fear and excitement warring on her lovely face.

  Sebastian and Ava arrive next. He sits on the edge of his sister’s bed, chuckling and evidently trying to distract his sister from the pain. The rest of the family trickles in, and after each of them pokes their head in, they scatter outside in the hallway. Max and I are in the hallway as well, sitting and holding hands. I can’t help feeling as though I’m intruding on family time.

  After a while, a nurse announces Pippa is ready for delivery. A pale Eric kisses his wife on the forehead.

  “I’ll stay in here with you,” Alice declares. Pippa opens her mouth, but she can’t make out more than a few words before she cries out in pain from another contraction. Now I understand why she appointed me as her spokesperson. Great foresight on her part.

  “Alice,” I call, stepping forward, “Pippa insisted that she only wants Eric inside with her.”

  “But I—”

  “No negotiating,” I say firmly. Alice narrows her eyes at me, then at Pippa, and nods.

  “Men are such pussies,” Alice whispers to me as all of us except Eric leave Pippa’s room. The Bennett men are all awfully quiet. “They beat their chests, but childbirth scares the shit out of them.”

  “It really does, doesn’t it?”

  Once the door to Pippa’s room closes, everyone is silent.

  I find Max pacing around an adjacent empty hallway, looking far calmer than in the car, but still not quite himself. His shoulders are hunched with tension, and his arms are folded against his chest. I don’t like seeing my man like this.

  “Hey,” I tell him. “Everything will be all right.”

  “There are about one thousand things that can go wrong during childbirth, and I read them all this morning.”

  “You what?”

  “Pippa told me on Friday how the babies might be late, and I started researching about that.”

  “And somehow you ended up reading an entire book?” I can barely hold back my grin. Max is the most adorable man in the world.

  “Yeah, don’t mock me.”

  “I wasn’t about to.”

  “Liar.”

  “Fine, I was about to. But only because I think it’s very sweet.”

  “Don’t tell anyone else.” His warning tone tips me over the edge, and I burst out laughing.

  “Why, would it endanger your alpha male status?”

  In an instant, Max pulls me to him, trapping me against his hard chest. “You’re too sassy for your own good today, you know that?”

  “I’m just fascinated by you, that’s all.”

  “And now you’re trying to talk your way out of it.”

  “Whatcha gonna do about it, Bennett?”

  By way of answering, Max seals his lips over mine, kissing me thoroughly until we hear someone clear their throat behind us. We pull apart, and I avoid looking at the nurse who admonished us. She continues walking down the corridor, and when she’s out of sight, I turn to Max.

  “If I’m too sassy, you’re too shameless today. What’s with all the public kissing?”

  “It was one nurse, and I wouldn’t care if the entire hospital would be watching. You’re mine.” Can’t argue with that. Max pulls me into his arms, and I lay my head against his chest, breathing in his scent.

  “Max, is it all right if I stay?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s a family thing… I’m intruding.”

  Max cups my face, kissing my forehead. “You’re not intruding. I want you here. I need you.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. I want you to be part of my life. Every side of my life.”

  His words reach a place deep inside me, and I’m too emotional to say anything more than, “Okay, I’ll stay.”

  “Thank God, because I also need you here to keep me sane.”

  I grin at this. “So you admit you were acting a little out of it on our way here?”

  “A little? You’re being polite. I was like a damn maniac. The more I think about it, the more embarrassed I am.”

  “You were so adorable, I was debating whether to kiss you or punch you to calm you down.”

  “Interesting choices.” Tilting his head to me, he adds, “Lucky I had you with me. Wait. How come you can be here? What happened to your appointments?”

  “I called the clinic and asked them to cancel everything for the afternoon.” That means a hefty loss of income, but I wouldn’t have missed the birth of the twins for the world. Max seems to be reading my thoughts.

  “But you’re counting on the income….”

  I shake my head. “I’ll find a way. I’m happy to be here with you and your family.”

  Elena and Mia Bennett-Callahan are born at 6:14 and 6:26 p.m. on a beautiful May day, and they are the most adorable babies on the planet. I instantly want to cuddle them, but there is a long line of Bennetts in front of me waiting to do the same. The doctor in charge tells us that both the girls and Pippa are in perfect health.

  “Look at them,” Max says a while later, tapping the window to the nursery where the newborns are. “They’re the most beautiful kids in the room.” He says this with such pride, as if they were his. He puts his arm around my shoulders, and we watch the sleeping babies for a long time. It’s warm and cozy here in his arms, and I don’t want to go. Turning my head to him, I observe him in silence. To my astonishment, I discover that his eyes are
a little glassy.

  “Max,” I ask tentatively. “Are you crying?”

  “No, I have something in my eye.”

  “In both eyes? You big goof.”

  “Shut up.” He pulls me into a bear hug from behind, flattening his chest against my back, resting his chin in the crook of my neck. I can’t quench the desire to make fun of him, even though I’m melting as I’m experiencing this sensitive side of him.

  “I suppose I’m not allowed to say anything about this to anyone either.”

  “No.”

  “Fine, your secret is safe with me. After all, I never told anyone about that time you were bawling your eyes out when we saved the pups.”

  “I was having an allergy to dog hair.”

  “Which you conveniently never had again,” I volley back.

  “I swear to God, if you don’t stop with this right now—”

  “You’ll do what?” I challenge, looking forward to his reaction. Challenging him has brought me delicious paybacks in the past. Max doesn’t disappoint. He pulls me away from the window of the nursery room and into a neighboring corridor. Then he pushes me against a wall and kisses me raw.

  “Mmm, I think I’ll annoy you some more,” I tell him. “Your I’m-annoyed-with-you kisses are the best. I’m surprised you even took the time to pull me to this corridor.”

  “Of course, I couldn’t let the babies see me kissing you against a wall.”

  I chuckle. “What?”

  “It’s not good for them to see that.”

  For a split second I’m convinced he’s pulling my leg, but no, he’s all serious.

  “Let me get this straight. You don’t care if you kiss me in front of my clinic, or in the middle of the street, or in front of the nurses here, but a room full of babies can’t see us?”

  “They’re impressionable.”

  That’s it. I can’t hold the laughter in anymore. Giggles bubble out of me, loud and uncontrollable. “They have no idea what’s happening around them, Max.”

  “You can never know. What if it influences them in some way? I’m not taking any risks.”

  Ah, I foresee Mia and Elena having to deal with one too many overprotective uncles. Max will probably lead the pack.

  “Do you want to spend the night at my place?” he asks me. “I need to sleep next to you tonight.”

  “Sure, let me just call Mrs. Wilson.” She’s been helping out a lot lately. Caressing his cheek, I kiss him softly. I need to sleep next to him tonight too.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Emilia

  Something is different between us when we walk inside his apartment. Maybe it’s the fact that we experienced the birth of the twins together, but I feel much closer to Max. He and I have experienced many things together throughout our history, but this was different, special.

  In the dimly lit living room, Max wraps his arms around my waist. His lips touch mine, soft, warm, and demanding. I push my body against his, needing to be even closer to him. Fisting the fabric of his shirt, I sigh in his mouth.

  Max leans his forehead against mine, and we just enjoy each other in silence. As I sense his warm breath on my skin, my age-old desire for motherhood kicks in hard. I know it’s not just because I was looking at a room full of babies, but also because I’m finally with the right man. One who makes me feel safe and loved, with whom I laugh about the silliest things. One whom I trust with all my secrets and wishes.

  “I’m jealous,” Max says. “You just had an entire conversation in your head, and I wasn’t part of it.”

  “Stop reading me so well. It’s unnerving.”

  Kissing my forehead, he steps back, surveying me from head to toe.

  “I’ll do something else then,” he says in a low voice, full of promise. He removes my shirt, kissing my neck as the fabric falls to my feet. Not one to waste time, I turn around, undressing him as well, until we’re both just in our underwear.

  I can’t help giving him the once-over. God, I don’t think I could ever tire of watching him. Taking my hand, he leads me to his bedroom.

  “Lie on the bed,” he commands. His words spur a primal need inside me, and all I can do is nod. Shaking with desire, I do as he says, and he leans over me, threading his fingers through my hair.

  “I love your hair,” he murmurs.

  “It’s wild today.” I shimmy underneath him, my legs wide open, my inner thighs cradling his groin.

  “That’s what I like most. And your lips. They are perfect.” He strokes his thumb against my upper lip and then the lower one. Feeling bold, I open my mouth, sucking on his thumb, grazing it with my teeth. Max sucks in a sharp breath. “I love every part of you. Especially your feisty side.”

  “Figures,” I tease, pushing him slightly off me so I can have better access to his neck, which I lavish with kisses, biting it gently.

  “I want you.” His fingers curl around a few strands of my hair, and then he cups the back of my head. “You’re so beautiful, Emilia.” Then he seals his mouth over mine. His tongue invites mine to a ferocious dance, one to which I give in willingly—almost desperately. All my senses are hyperalert, as if the sheer power of his kiss has awakened them to life. The scent of his skin is intoxicating, the heat of it almost too much to bear. Even this—lovemaking—is different tonight. With every touch and every word, he reaches deeper inside me, in places I haven’t allowed anyone. But I welcome him, and I hope he’ll stay forever.

  Abruptly, he pulls back, his hands feverishly undoing the clasp of my bra. I sigh as my breasts spill free from the confines of the fabric. Max wastes no time, running his thumb around one nipple while licking around the other one. And damn, that tongue of his is magic. He descends further down with his mouth on the valley between my breasts, stopping at my navel. His hands tug at the hem of my panties. I have the slight suspicion he’d like nothing better than to yank them down, but for some reason holds back.

  “You soaked through your thong,” he groans, his gaze zeroing on the spot between my legs. I open my legs further as an invitation. Max strokes me with one finger, and feeling the drenched fabric against my sensitive skin is too much. My hips arch off the bed, seeking reprieve.

  “Max…,” I whisper, needing his touch. Wordlessly he peels off my panties, doing it slowly, teasing me. When I’m finally completely naked before him, he gives me a once-over.

  “I will make you feel so good.” Lowering his head, he peppers kisses on my inner thighs, drawing little circles with his tongue, inching closer and closer to my slick spot. He lashes his tongue once over my folds, and I quiver. When he takes the ripe flesh between his lips, suckling gently on it, I nearly come out of my skin.

  “Max, ah!” Words escape me as I’m lost to sensation, a million daggers of pleasure searing me. When his thumb circles my clit, I’m nearly delirious. “This is. Yeah… perfect.” He dips his tongue once inside me, and then again. I fist the sheets with both hands to keep myself from doing something crazy… like making love to his mouth, or entire face.

  I needn’t have worried, because Max pulls away, leaving me cold and aching for him.

  “You going to get rid of those boxers or what?” I tease.

  He tilts his head to one side, as if considering not to. Oh hell, if he plans to torture me some more, I’ll rip those boxers off him myself. But Max is a smart man, and as usual, seems to be reading my thoughts. So he drops his boxers, putting a condom over his length. I lick my lips at the sight of his thick shaft.

  Bringing his erection dangerously close to my entrance, he rubs himself against my inner thigh. I shiver as I feel his hot, hard length against my skin. Watching me straight in the eyes, he drags his tip up to my clit, circling it once. Energy strums through me, manifesting in a shiver that makes me quiver from head to toe.

  “I need you inside me,” I whisper. “I ache, Max.”

  He gulps, his Adam’s apple bobbing down. And then he enters me to the hilt in one swift move. I gasp, the sensation overwhelming
me.

  “You’re so big,” I whisper as my insides stretch around him. When I hear him chuckle, I blink my eyes open. He watches me with a playful expression.

  “You definitely know what I want to hear.” Leaning forward over me, he levels himself on his forearms and eases himself in and out of me in a maddening rhythm. “You like it deep, and wild and fast.”

  “Yes.” Wrapping my legs around him, I dig my heels into his ass cheeks, pushing him closer to me.

  He cups my jaw, giving me a chaste kiss. Looking me in the eyes, he changes the rhythm, easing in and out of me slowly. Needing to touch as much of him as I can, I place my palms on his chest, feeling the way his hard muscles flex as he makes sweet love to me.

  “I feel closer to you tonight than before, Emilia,” he whispers. In his eyes, I see the same array of emotions running through me: love, fear, uncertainty, and a wish to be all in. It’s more than either of us was banking on, but it’s wonderful.

  “Me too.”

  My release builds slowly, starting from my center and firing up all my nerve endings, sending my vision and all of my senses into a tailspin.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Emilia

  I wake up alone the next morning, and briefly wonder if Max is trying to cook breakfast again. No smell of burned food lingers in the air though, so I suppose all is right. Muffled words reach my ears, and I realize Max must be on the balcony, even though I can’t see him on the portion of the balcony that stretches in front of the bedroom.

  Whistling to a catchy tune I heard yesterday on the radio, I leave the bed. After a quick shower, I realize my clothes are in the living room, and if I’m honest, I’m in no mood to wear them right now. But I can’t join Max on the balcony stark naked. Hmm. I might not have any clothes here, but Max has a closet full of them. Time to… borrow some.

  After searching for a good fifteen minutes, I end up wearing a white office shirt. Since it’s large enough for two of me, I roll the sleeves to my elbows and wrap a belt around my middle. The shirt is long enough that it covers my butt almost completely, leaving only a tiny spec of ass cheeks visible. Perfect for not attracting stares from neighbors, and for tempting my man.