HIS Series Box Set (Books 4-7)
Page 57
Putting his arm around her, Blake pulled Elizabeth to his side.
“Elizabeth, this is my eldest son, Jesse.” Pride filled his voice, the type of pride that only comes from a parent.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Jesse stuck out a hand to her.
Stunned that this big man who looked like he’d rip someone’s head off was Blake’s son, she could only nod as she shook his large hand.
He turned to Blake. “Give me your weapons, Dad,” Jesse insisted.
“What?” Blake asked.
“Give me your weapons. No one needs to see that you were carrying during this.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Your career. This one is for your career. We’re calling the police, and we don’t need Larry or one of his guards telling them you’re carrying without a permit.”
“You don’t have a permit in Mississippi, or wait… Tennessee.” He tilted his head. “Do you?”
Jesse smiled, his teeth gleaming in the light. “Trust me, Dad.” He held out his hand and Blake handed him his rifle, a handgun from his waistband, and something that looked like a grenade.
Her eyes snapped to Blake’s and she saw his hand-caught-in-a-candy-jar grin. And she loved it.
IT WAS A few hours before they trudged into the Oxford home. Dealing with the police had taken longer than they’d hoped. A Mississippi senator on Tennessee grounds where a shooting occurred had the local law enforcements officers’ chops salivating. Blake expected it’d be in the news since he had no one who’d been available to control the story. He’d woken Randy up in the middle of the night to get a press release put together, even though that meant waking other staff members.
While he was at it, he had his staff draw up another press release to be ready for when Elizabeth said yes to marrying him. Because he could barely wait to tell the world that she was his. His forever.
First, he had to allow her to recuperate from the ordeal she’d just endured. From all accounts, she’d been treated well, but she’d still been woken in the night and kidnapped with no idea what would happen to her. It had to have been frightening beyond measure.
“I’m hungry,” AJ said as they shuffled through the front door. “Think Mary’s up?”
His youngest son could eat twenty-four hours a day if allowed. How AJ had never been as big as a house baffled him. Walking through the portal with Elizabeth’s hand in his, he shook his head. “No, but we can whip something up ourselves. I taught all of you boys how to cook.”
Several groans sounded as they all continued toward the kitchen.
“Don’t tell me that being married has turned you into some kind of useless twits now, unable to care for yourselves.”
Kate laughed. “Believe me, Jesse is far from that.”
“Ditto,” Rylee added with a sly smile to Devon.
Stopping inside the big country kitchen, he dropped Elizabeth’s hand and moved to his two present daughters-in-law. Putting a hand on each of their shoulders, he smiled. “Have I told you how glad I am you joined our family? Not just for today, but for every day you make my sons happy.”
Rylee blinked fast as if staving off tears.
Kate spoke up, “I’m sure I speak for Rylee, but we’re glad to be part of your family. We’re in love with our husbands and we love you and your other sons.”
This time he blinked rapidly. These women had a way to move his heart with love. His family had never been so lucky. Now, if only Matt and Brad would find their special someone.
“Okay, get those weapons put away so the little ones won’t be tripping over them,” he directed. “Two of you stay in here with me to cook.”
As if she’d expected them to be awake so early, Mary shuffled into the kitchen and began shooing everyone out of the way so she could cook breakfast for not only them, but his other daughters-in-law that she said would be down as soon as all of the children were cared for.
It appeared no one slept, or slept much, during their daring rescue.
Sitting at the table by themselves while the others disposed of their weapons, he held Elizabeth’s hand in his own, lacing his fingers in hers. “I know I’ve asked a ton, but how are you, really?”
A warm smile spread across her face. Sunshine. It reminded him of sunshine. How could she smile so after everything? This was one hell of a woman. “Really, Blake. I’m fine. Tired, but fine. They didn’t hurt me. Only frightened me. But now I wonder if they actually meant it.” She shrugged her shoulders lazily. “It doesn’t matter. Larry was caught red-handed, so to speak, so it’s over.” Her eyes widened. “What about your career? I really think that one beefy cop was going to blab it to the press. He seemed eager to get you to do or say something newsworthy. Not that your being there wasn’t already newsworthy.”
Chuckling, he slowly shook his head. “Randy’s got the team on it. It’s okay. I was there rescuing you, so I can’t see how anyone can get anything bad from that. I have to hand it to my eldest son though. That was a stroke of genius taking everything away from me. Going in after you, defenseless…. Hell, they might make me a hero for that.” He winked at her.
Laughter bubbled up from her. Beautiful laughter. Thank God she didn’t have any lasting effects from her brief kidnapping.
How the hell did he get so lucky?
The group trudged back into the kitchen, a couple of extra daughters-in-law and grandchildren in the mix. He hadn’t understood when Camilla had wanted the huge bench table in their kitchen back then. Now, he saw she’d been forward planning to days like this. He hoped she looked down at her children and smiled at all they’d accomplished and their new families.
“Here, Dad.” AJ handed a squirming Alex to him. “He wants his poppy.”
He chuckled at how they continued teaching the kids Poppy after his first granddaughter had called him that and no one had challenged her on it. It’d stuck, and now his children were teaching their children to call him that. It was damn endearing, and he wanted to give them all a bear hug for it.
With a few seated at the bar, everyone else found a seat at the table albeit a little snug, but no one complained. He’d have to have an extension added on for the more daughters-in-law he expected and grandchildren. Maybe he’d find a place to build a children’s table. Then again, he had to leave that to Emily and Jake to decide.
It occurred to him that while he’d introduced Elizabeth to his family at Larry’s house while waiting for the police, she hadn’t met everyone else. So he introduced her to Emily, Megan, Kelly, Jason—his adopted teenage grandson—and the little ones. All who’d stayed behind.
Mary set two carafes of coffee on the table and then returned with a tray of mugs. She emptied it and returned with more mugs plus sugar, that nonsugar stuff, and creamer. God Bless the woman.
“How did you and Dad meet?” Emily asked as she handed around mugs.
Elizabeth glanced at him questioningly.
He motioned his head for her to answer. He wouldn’t do all of the communication. Elizabeth was strong, and he wanted the family to get to know her.
“We met at a fundraiser.”
“Tux and all, Dad?” Emily joked.
Blake chuckled. “No, just suit. But Elizabeth was running it and took my breath away.”
Matt poured coffee for himself. “What fundraiser this time, Dad?”
Hesitating, he looked at Elizabeth, to prepare her. “Diamond Blackfan Anemia Awareness.”
“I’ve never heard of it,” Megan said, swishing back and forth two pink bags of sugar substitute.
“It only affects a small part of the population, but it can be deadly.”
A moment of silence reigned as if paying homage to all the victims of the disease.
“Why that one, Elizabeth?” Devon asked before taking a sip of coffee.
Knowing she needed the comfort, and wanting to give it to her, he shifted Alex to his other arm and held her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“I— I lost my only daughter to it.”
“I’m sorry,” came from several of the people at the table, and he was proud he’d taught them respect and they’d found wives and a husband with the same etiquette.
Mary arrived to save the day with a stack of plates, then returned with silverware. After that, platters of eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, and biscuits hit the table, and the family dug in like they’d been starved.
Megan took Alex from him and set him up in the high chair that Blake had stored for when the kids visited. Looked like they’d need to get another one since he’d have two at the same time within that high chair age range.
The plates were nearly clean before conversation returned to the group.
“What ended up happening tonight?” Megan leaned forward and looked down the table at Elizabeth. “I’m glad they rescued you.”
Beside her, AJ shrugged. “Nothing happened.”
Brad scoffed. “Except Jesse shooting someone.”
Elizabeth’s hand flew to her mouth and she turned to Blake. “Someone got shot?”
“He needed it.” AJ shrugged and reached for another biscuit. “Besides, it wasn’t a mortal wound. The guy wouldn’t stand down.” He turned to his wife and almost pleaded her to understand. “He planned to shoot us, and Jesse kept that from happening. It’s what he does as a sniper.”
“Oh.” Megan appeared taken aback.
Waving his butter knife at her, AJ said, “You’d have to be there to understand.”
Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits. “AJ Hamilton, have you forgotten how we met? What I learned went on? I just meant I’d hoped it’d been civil, for Elizabeth’s sake.”
“Oh.” AJ nodded amid snickers from the family.
With a smile of his own, Blake couldn’t say it enough—God, he loved his family.
WITHOUT HESITATION OR doubt, Elizabeth loved Blake’s family—both sides of it. The big, menacing group rescuing her, and the fun, loving group having breakfast together. By all appearances, they seemed to accept her.
She wasn’t sure she’d thanked them enough. Wasn’t sure she could thank them enough. It might have been easy to breach the place and rescue her, but things might not have been, yet they went in anyway. For her. Because Blake was their father.
And Blake standing there with a rifle and other weaponry had her heart still racing in excitement. He’d looked fierce, yet sexy as all get out. She should’ve taken a picture before they removed his weapons if for nothing else than the memory of her savior… her hero. She couldn’t imagine many people would’ve gone to the depths of getting their family involved in such a feat. No, some would’ve called the police and made things worse, others would’ve done whatever was asked, but Blake… Blake proved he would do anything necessary to protect those he loves, and she was mighty glad that included her.
In the shower, she washed away any feeling of being held hostage, of meeting the slimeball Larry Thornton. Of being near his men, all masked to preserve their identities. She laughed. They never expected Blake to turn the tables or they’d have been better prepared.
She was still in awe that Jesse had shot one of the men because he’d been prepared to harm them. She’d never wanted anyone harmed trying to save her, but if someone had been, she was glad it had been the bad guys and not her knights—and princesses—in shining armor. Well, fatigues. Same principle.
She opened the shower door and jerked back in surprise. Her hands flew to her breasts reflexively, even knowing she didn’t need to hide. “Blake.”
With a cocky grin, he held out a fluffy towel. “Let me dry you off.” His tone held more of a command than an offering in it.
She almost argued that she could do it, but the thought of his hands on her sent a delicious shiver racing up her spine.
When she hesitated, he drew her attention to his crotch and the monster hard-on stuffed in his pants.
“See what you do to me?” Heat burned in his eyes, but she liked the fire in his playfulness just as much. “At my age, I should be looking at little blue pills, but when I’m around you, I’m like this all the freakin’ time.”
Stunned at the frequency he wanted her, her own arousal licked at her with a heat and need so strong she fought grabbing for him and racing to the bedroom. But having him dry her off could be enough foreplay to send her on an erotic spin. Yeah, she wanted it. With a mischievous smile, she opened her arms like she had before the kidnapping, stretching them out to the sides so he knew she was ready for him to go to work. He seemed to love her in this pose.
He rubbed the soft cloth lightly on her calves and feet. Lifting each foot, he took special care in drying every toe and kissed the top of her foot before he replaced it on the floor.
Her breath caught when he dried her inner thighs, briefly touching her core, just enough to tease her. His knowing smile acknowledged that fact. She’d remember this when it was her turn to touch him.
When he reached her breasts, goose bumps spread across her skin. A firestorm of heat touched her every nerve ending, leaving her burning with need for him to be inside her. “Hurry,” she pleaded.
Instead, he took a puckered nipple in his mouth, suckled on it, then with his tongue, laved the area around it in slow, sensual circles, driving her insane with lust.
The towel all but forgotten, he tended to her other breast with as much passion as he’d given the first one. With a nip on the rigid peak, she gasped and tossed her head back at the pleasure driving through her system.
With a hand behind her neck, he tilted her head back to him until they were face-to-face, their lips almost touching, their warm breaths mingling.
Then his lips took hers in a demanding, punishing kiss that easily bruised. Heat then flared at her core when his tongue intruded into her mouth, pursuing dominance. He’d never exerted this much of a forcible presence in their lovemaking.
She liked it.
A lot.
As their tongues intertwined, the kiss shifted, and the punishing part disappeared as a tenderness seeped into their lips.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight.
He broke the kiss. “I can never get enough of you,” he whispered hoarsely, his forehead resting against hers.
Pulling her closer, her breasts pushed into his chest, her hard nipples rubbing against the firmness of his body.
“I can’t get enough of you, either. Take me to bed.”
He did something unprecedented. Treating her as if she weighed less than a rag doll, he swung her into his arms and marched them to the bedroom. With all gentleness, he deposited her on the bed and impatiently divested himself of his clothing.
She’d never tire of seeing his magnificent body, all lean lines and tone. His hard cock standing up with need for her.
Scooting back, she lay down and made room for him. She patted the bedsheets beside her. “Come here,” she demanded in a soft, firm voice. She inwardly smirked. It was her turn to play.
With a wicked grin, he crawled onto the bed and plopped down in the spot she designated. He leaned over the top of her and took her mouth again. This time devouring it with such hunger she was almost floored by the strength of it.
Moving, she maneuvered them over to where she rested on top of him. She broke the heavy kiss and moaned at the loss of his lips, but she had work to do. “You’re always making love to me. It’s my turn to make love to you.” With the exception of their one time together here, he always went down on her and prepped her for their lovemaking, typically giving her two orgasms each time with each bout of sex. The man knew his way around her body.
Sliding down him, she pressed soft kisses to his chest, twirling the curly hair in her fingers as she glided her hand down his hard chest.
When she reached his navel, she ran her tongue in a circle around it and almost giggled when he inhaled deeply and sucked his stomach in as far as he cou
ld while pressed into the bed.
His hand, which had rested on her head, gently pushed the hair from her face so he could see her actions and reactions.
She smiled at him, then followed the thin path of hair that led to his cock. When she grasped it lightly, he tensed, making her smile even more. She worked her hand, stroking up and down, teasing him as she did.
As she neared his cock with her mouth, he groaned. The sound drove her forward, reverberating against her core, spiking up her own heat level.
She licked him from the base to the tip of his rigidness, then licked a circle around the head, swooping in to taste the precum that had appeared during her ministrations.
“You’re killing me,” he rasped.
“Oh, so you want me to stop?” she teased.
“Hell, no. I want to be balls deep in your sweet mouth.”
“I’ll just have to comply then since you said it so pleasantly.” She giggled and opened her mouth to take his cock inside, letting it slide down her throat as deep as possible.
“Good God.”
Sucking and licking her way up and down his shaft, while her hands helped in the process, her own desire grew, and her wetness increased. She teased the tender centerline along the base of his cock with her tongue and cupped his balls, massaging.
She wanted to fuck him something fierce, but she promised him this.
He grabbed her, yanked her up and onto her back in the gentlest way possible, yet it startled her until he hovered over her, settling between her thighs. His male hardness touched her heated core, and she wanted to fly with ecstasy.
“I have to have you, Elizabeth.”
“Then have me, Blake.”
Without further ado, he shoved his cock forward and deep into her pussy. She gasped and quivered around him. Then she moaned at the fullness, the rightness of it all.
After planting a kiss at the tender spot below her earlobe, he made his way with wet, hot kisses down her neck. “I love you,” he rasped as he moved his hips, sliding in and out of her, driving her mad with pleasure.
“I love you, too.” She lifted her legs and wrapped them around her waist, smiling when he groaned.