by Lauren Rowe
Oh my God, I love my husband. There’s nothing like seeing him with our baby strapped to his broad chest while hearing him talk so passionately about the business he’s worked so hard to make successful. And that cute little wink he just gave me was the cherry on top of the sundae. Wooh! I’m suddenly feeling the distinct urge to give my sexy husband a highly enthusiastic blowjob at my first opportunity.
“Honestly,” Ryan says, drawing me out my fellatio-themed reverie, “I never once imagined in my wildest dreams we’d be opening our fifth location at all, let alone this quickly—or that we’d be having this much fun along the way.” He shoots me a massive smile that melts my heart and makes my ovaries quake like rockets just before lift-off. “So I want to thank my partners, especially my wife, for...”
“Mommy?” my son, three-year-old Zachary Hennessy Morgan, says, abruptly lifting his sleepy head off my chest.
I smooth his tousled hair out of his dark eyes. “What’s up, bubba?”
“I gotta go pee-pee, Mommy,” Zac says, his little voice edged with unmistakable urgency.
I spring into action. “Good boy. Come on, buddy. Good boy!”
I quickly lead my little potty-trainer through the crowd toward the restrooms, smiling and nodding at the friends and family we pass along our route: Keane and his fiancée, Maddy (a documentary filmmaker who happens to be Hannah Banana Montana Milliken’s little sister); Colby and his pregnant wife (and former physical therapist), Lydia; and Henn and Hannah and their brand new daughter, Hazel (who looks so much like Henn, Hannah keeps accusing her husband of sneaking their combined genes into a centrifuge and somehow extracting every characteristic having to do with her).
Finally, Zachary and I reach the bathroom door, just as my mother-in-law emerges with Kat’s four-year-old mini-me, Little Miss Gracie Louise Faraday (aka “Little G” aka “Mademoiselle Terrorist”).
“Hi, Zacky,” Louise says. She looks at me. “Do you want me to take him?”
“Oh, thanks, Momma Lou. I don’t wanna miss Ryan talking about Captain’s. You know how much I love hearing him gush.”
Louise winks at me. “I know. Just do me a favor and take Little G back to Kitty. Come on, Zacky-baby. Show me what a big boy you are.”
“Will you give me a candy like Mommy does, Gramma Lou?”
Louise looks at me, a question on her face, and I nod.
“Of course,” my mother-in-law replies. “Where do you think the mommies in this family got the brilliant idea to give their kiddos M&Ms for pee-pees in the toilet?” She winks at me and guides my baby through the bathroom door.
I escort Gracie to her mommy and daddy and brother and then stand off to the side, listening with rapt attention to the tail end of my husband’s speech, my heart swelling with pride and joy and love of a magnitude I truly didn’t know existed before this gorgeous man came into my life.
“...which is why I’m so thrilled to own Captain’s with the people I respect and love the most,” Ryan is saying, his face aglow. “So thanks again to my partners—Josh, Kat, Jonas, Sarah, and, most of all, my beautiful wife—for making this journey, and this crazy life, so much fun, and thanks to all of you for dropping by this afternoon to celebrate with cupcakes and lemonade before we ditch the kids and come back tonight to celebrate with lots and lots of booze. Hear, hear!”
Everyone laughs and clinks glasses of lemonade.
Josh assumes the microphone to say a few quick words about an upcoming fundraiser Captain’s will be hosting for a children’s charity we all support, and Ryan immediately strides across the bar to me.
“Hey there, Mrs. Morgan,” he says. He wraps me in his strong arms and pulls me close, gently smooshing the tiny human we (brilliantly) made together (because we’re super smart like that) between our warm bodies.
“Hey, Baby-Daddy,” I reply, looking down at the top of Claire’s fuzzy head between our chests. “Is C-Dog still sleeping down there?”
“Like a baby,” Ryan says. “Where’s Z-Dog?”
“With your momma in the bathroom. He woke up and told me he had to pee-pee.”
“Awesome. The power of M&Ms. You’re so damned smart, woman.”
“I can’t take credit for that little trick. Kat told me about it—although, I just found out she got the idea from the Grand Dame.”
“Of course, she did. All good parenting tricks originate with my mother. I mean, yeesh, if changing two kids’ diapers at once is nuts, I can’t imagine how my mom simultaneously changed diapers for three.”
I laugh. “You don’t get to complain about changing shitty diapers, babe. You’re the one who kept begging me for a second human. You don’t get to beg for ’em and then complain about having to change their diapers.”
“Oh, I’m not complaining about a damned thing and you know it. I love it all, including changing shitty diapers.” He chuckles and kisses me and his stubble slides roughly across my chin, making my nipples harden at the memory of his stubble between my thighs last night. “I’m the last guy in the world who’s got anything to complain about,” he whispers, his lips skimming mine. “In fact, just puttin’ it out there: I’m ready to change a third human’s diapers any time.”
“Dude. I just popped Claire out three months ago. Gimme a minute to catch my damned breath. We’ve got plenty of time. I’m not going anywhere.”
“No pressure. I’m just letting you know, I’m totally on board, whenever you’re ready. Let’s make a soccer team. Viva La Banda Morgana!”
I giggle and he nuzzles his nose into mine.
“I’ve heard you loud and clear, Romeo,” I whisper. “But let’s just slow it down a tad, shall we?”
“I can’t help it, baby. You’re just so damned sexy when you’re pregnant. And when you’re not pregnant. And when you’re sleeping. And awake. And talking. And not talking. And when you’re reading. Or cooking. Or breathing. Oh my God, and don’t get me started on what a turn-on it is when you hold our babies—oh my God—I’m seriously getting hard right now, just thinking about it.”
I laugh. “You’re not normal, Captain Morgan.”
“I’m pretty sure that particular cat leaped out of its bag a long time ago.” He lets out a loaded sigh. “Holy shit.”
“What?”
“I knew we’d have a great life—I really did. I saw it. But I had no idea it’d be this great. Thank you for saying yes.”
“It was the Power Point. I couldn’t resist the effing Power Point.”
He laughs. “Dogs and wives. I’m telling ya.”
“And school dances. But just to be clear, I made a huge sacrifice saying yes to you. Huge.”
Ryan chuckles. “How about I work off my debt again tonight?”
“You better. Right I after I have my way with you, Captain.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“You know how much it turns me on when you’ve got one of our babies strapped to your chest.”
“Why do you think I do it all the time?”
I laugh. “Because you love having a baby strapped to your chest.”
Ryan smiles. “True. But I also do it because I know it turns you on.”
“Well, it’s working.” I lower my voice. “I’m thinking Samantha and Ulysses should come out to play tonight.”
Ryan skims his lips across mine. “Oh my God, woman, you turn me on.”
“Captain, My Captain,” I whisper.
“Are you trying to torture me?”
“Daddy, I made pee-pee in the toilet!” Zachary says, appearing out of nowhere with Louise.
Ryan smiles wistfully at me and bends down to pick up his beloved son with one of his muscular arms, taking care not to smash Claire’s little body against his chest as he does.
As my husband learns the exciting details of Zachary’s hard-earned M&M, I stand, frozen, watching him, my heart bursting.
I don’t know why Ryan loves me so passionately. I don’t know why he thinks I “hung the moon” and regularly brings home little “moon” gift
s to remind me of that fact (like the cow-jumping-over-the-moon salt-and-pepper shakers he got at a flea market not too long ago and a charm bracelet featuring a dangling diamond moon he gave me for Mother’s Day this year). I don’t know why this beautiful man’s attraction to me never seems to wane but, instead, only seems to grow and strengthen with each new day.
I don’t know why Ryan seems convinced I’m perfect (when, in fact, I’m so obviously flawed in a thousand annoying ways).
I truly don’t know how I managed to stumble into this wonderful life, whether it was just dumb luck or fate; but, either way, the end result is the same: I’m married to the man of my dreams.
And that’s why, after much thought on the topic, I’ve finally decided to stop trying to analyze his unflagging devotion and instead focus my energies on deserving it, to the best of my abilities—trying, on a daily basis, to do whatever I can to make sure my beloved husband feels as worshipped and adored in this marriage as I do.
As Ryan continues chatting with Zac, Claire stirs against his chest and makes a little yelping sound, signaling she’s hungry.
“Hang on a minute, buddy,” Ryan says calmly to Zac. He puts our son down, deftly pulls Claire’s tiny body out of her carrier, and gently hands her to me, no words necessary.
“Are you hungry?” I coo to Claire, sticking my fingertip into her mouth and heading toward a quiet corner.
“Sorry, buddy,” Ryan says behind my back to Zachary. “Finish your story. I’m listening. And then what happened?”
I turn back around. “Babe?”
Ryan looks at me, his eyebrows raised.
“I love you so much,” I say. I swallow hard, suddenly feeling overcome with emotion. Those words are so paltry. So insufficient. But they’re all I have. “I love you more than words can say.”
Ryan shoots me a beaming smile. “And I love you—the absolute most.”
We smile at each other for a beat, until Claire jerks free of my fingertip and lets out a screeching noise that tells me I’m playing with fire if I make her wait any longer.
But I still haven’t managed to convey everything I’m feeling. “I just wanna thank you...” I choke out. “For...” I don’t even know what the hell I’m trying to say to this beautiful man. “For loving me the way you do.”
The look that overtakes Ryan’s features is pure love and patience. “Baby, I have no choice but to love you—you’re my ‘kick.’” He flashes me a beautiful smile. “Don’t ever thank me for loving you.” He kisses Zachary on the cheek and winks at me. “Loving you is what I was born to do.”
Music Playlist for Captain
“Bailando”—Enrique Iglesias
“Use Somebody”—Kings of Leon
“Sex on Fire”—Kings of Leon
“Shape of You”—Ed Sheeran
“Beneath Your Beautiful”—Labrinth ft. Emeli Sandé
“Marry Me”—Jason Derulo
Acknowledgments
This book is dedicated to The Love Monkeys, my devoted and wonderful readers. Thank you for loving my characters as much as I do. Thank you also to my team: Melissa, Sophie, Alicia, Judi, Sarah, Jill, Andrea, and Kevin. Thank you, as always, to my beloved family. I could not write the Morgans were it not for my own awesome family members, immediate and extended, who show me every day what it means to love and be loved. And, finally, thank you to Damon for telling me an old joke over dinner one night that inspired the Keane Morgan inside me. I have researched and not been able to find the author or origin of the old and quite famous “Welcome to Jamaica” dick-tattoo joke, but let me thank and credit that person or persons here and note that Keane’s story about his matching dick-tattoo with Zander was inspired by and an homage to that old joke. It has many iterations out there, but the core of it always remains a dick-tattoo with a lengthy welcoming message on it as the punchline.
Author Biography
USA Today and internationally bestselling author Lauren Rowe lives in San Diego, California, where, in addition to writing books, she performs with her dance/party band at events all over Southern California, writes songs, takes embarrassing snapshots of her ever-patient Boston terrier, Buster, spends time with her family, and narrates audiobooks. Much to Lauren’s thrill, her books have been translated all over the world in multiple languages and hit multiple domestic and international bestseller lists. To find out about Lauren’s upcoming releases and giveaways, sign up for Lauren’s emails at www.LaurenRoweBooks.com. Lauren loves to hear from readers! Send Lauren an email from her website, say hi on Twitter or Instagram @laurenrowebooks, and/or come by her Facebook page by searching Facebook for “Lauren Rowe Author.”
Books by Lauren Rowe
(All books available in ebook, print, and audiobook)
The Club Series (a sexy, suspenseful, romantic, and hilarious saga about the Faraday brothers and the feisty, intelligent women who fall for them, to be read in the following order):
- The Club (The Club #1)
- The Reclamation (The Club #2)
- The Redemption (The Club #3)
- The Culmination (The Club #4)
- The Infatuation: Josh and Kat Part I (The Club #5)
- The Revelation: Josh and Kat Part II (The Club #6)
- The Consummation: Josh and Kat Part III (The Club #7)
- Captain: a standalone sexy contemporary romance about Ryan Morgan, a character introduced in The Club Series and also featured in Ball Peen Hammer, with no prior reading required and no cliffhanger. (Captain takes place a year before Ball Peen Hammer, but can be read before or after that book.)
- Ball Peen Hammer: a standalone sexy romantic comedy about stripper Keane Morgan, a character introduced in The Club Series and also featured in Captain, with no prior reading required and no cliffhanger. (Takes place one year after Captain, but can be read before or after that book.”
- Countdown to Killing Kurtis: a standalone psychological thriller featuring Lauren’s distinctive humor, unique characters, “what the f*ck!”-inducing plot twists. This is not a romance, but more like a twisted love story. As Buttercup, the lead character, says, she loves her husband “to death.”
-Misadventures on the Night Shift: A sexy romance and part of Waterhouse Press’s Misadventures series featuring standalone works by a roster of kick-ass authors. Look for the first round of Misadventures books, including Lauren’s, in fall 2017. For more, visit misadventures.com.
Table of Contents
Captain Copyright © 2017 by Lauren Rowe
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Epilogue
Music Playlist for Captain
Acknowledgments
Author Biography
Books by Lauren Rowe