by S. M. Butler
“Never heard of this uncle, actually. But Joe—Sheriff Hannigan checked it out and it appears legit.”
He stayed silent because he wasn’t sure where she was going with this.
“So, money isn’t a thing anymore, apparently,” she said carefully. “I’m going to have this baby. I understand if it’s not something you want. I’d like it to have a father, but I’m not going to force—”
Jordan sat up straight, the joy inside him nearly making his chest explode. “You mean it?”
“Well, yeah. If you want to, I want you to be part of the baby’s life.”
“I’m going to be a daddy?” He grinned, taking her hand in his. When she tensed, he frowned. “And what about you? What do you want?”
Her eyes shifted away from his then she seemed to find some sort of strength and met his gaze again. “I’ve missed you.”
He let out the breath he hadn’t been aware that he’d been holding. He kissed her fingers, one at a time. “Will his mother call me daddy too?”
She rolled her eyes. “I come here to ask you something serious and you’re joking with me.” She tried to pull her hand away, but he tightened his fingers, lacing them in hers. “What are you doing?”
He looked up at her. “I’m so goddamn sorry, Penny. I tricked you and I lied to you… There will be no more lies between us. I promise you.”
“We don’t…” her body shuddered as he bent down and kissed the back of her hand, then the inside of her forearm.
“I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you’re have me.”
“That’s not… I mean,” she let out a shaky breath. “We can be parents without the relationship, Jordan.”
“But is that what you want?” he asked, snuggling against her neck. He couldn’t stop himself from touching her, from feeling her warmth against his skin. Inside, his heart was slowly freezing, shattering the more she appeared to resist him.
“What do you want?” she shot back, cocking an eyebrow at him.
He sat up, pulling away from her and searched her face. Did she really not realize it? How he felt, how much he wanted her, loved her? He wouldn’t ever want anyone but her. He couldn’t want anyone but her. It scared him to say it all out loud, but… he’d just promised no more lies. And even if he was total scum, he would keep his word to her. “You’re it for me, Penny. I love you. I want you with me. Forever. Always.”
She slid her arms around his neck and pulled him to her. “Right answer, you big dummy.”
He chuckled, both with amusement and relief, as she pressed her soft body against his. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his lap.
They sat like that together for what seemed like both an eternity and not long enough. Then her head rose, and those beautiful brown eyes met his. “Take me to bed.”
“Is it safe?” he asked.
She nodded. “It’s fine. I checked with my doctor.”
“As my lady commands then,” he said. He grinned and scooped her up into his arms, striding in just a few paces to the bedroom.
As Jordan laid her out like a precious package on the bed, Penny’s voice burst free of that lump in her throat. “I love you.”
The grin that lit up his face was wider than she’d ever seen. He lunged for her before she knew he’d moved. His hands cupped her cheeks and his lips closed on hers. Hard and demanding, like a man starved.
Ralph barked next to them, annoyed at being forgotten. Jordan broke the kiss and glared at the mutt. “She’s mine.” Then he ushered the dog out and shut the door.
She had a smart retort on the tip of her tongue, but lost it when, before she blinked, he was next to her, kissing her. Yes. This was exactly what she’d been missing. When she’d talked to Nathan three weeks ago, he’d told her he wouldn’t release Jordan just because of an unplanned baby. That wasn’t what she wanted, though and she’d told Jordan’s boss that.
All she wanted was Jordan.
It had taken a while to figure that out. Was what she hated about what he’d done because he was ordered to do it or that he’d done it anyway? Maybe a little of both, but they wouldn’t have met otherwise. And she wouldn’t have had the courage to come home, to make up with Tessa, to find Jordan again, if she hadn’t lost everything in the first place. She’d still be a little more than a cowering mouse in the corner of her world.
Jordan groaned as she slid her hand down to his chest. He tensed as she paused over the scars. “Why do you hate these so much?”
Jordan looked down at her, those beautiful clear tropical-colored eyes giving her nothing. He sighed and lowered his big body beside her, propping his head on the palm of his left hand while he covered hers with his other. His thumb idly smoothed over the back of her hand. “I hate who I was when I got them.”
“You tried to cover them?”
He shook his head. “No. Not cover. Highlight. So I’d never forget. But… I did. Everything I did with you… I thought I was doing what had to be done. I’m not a free man, you know. But… this life… it was my choice. Unlike the life where I got these scars, I chose this life.”
“Jordan…” she stopped, her gaze sliding over the scars for an instant before she met his again. “You had to be that man to become this one.”
He swallowed hard, looking away. “But… I hurt a lot of people.”
“Do you love me?”
His gaze snapped to her. “Yes.”
“Stop hating what you were. Because if you hadn’t done those things, they wouldn’t have led you to Nathan, which wouldn’t have led you to me.”
He lifted his torso up and leaned in toward her. “You… how do you know Nathan’s name?”
She smiled. “He and I had a little chat about a week ago.” God above, his face turned snow white.
“You… talked… to Nathan?”
“Yes. Nice guy, very charming. A bit sad inside, if you ask me.” She was well aware of Jordan’s surprise, how his gaze was glued to her. And maybe she was a little bit of a bitch for enjoying it. “Anyway, he was very informative about a lot of stuff, and quite clear that releasing your contract wasn’t going to happen. But… he agreed he wouldn’t keep you from your family if that’s what you want.”
As she waited for him to process what she’d said, she swallowed hard. Would he understand what that entailed?
“My… family?” he said slowly, like he was testing out the words. “I don’t understand.”
“Yes,” she said. “Family. That is what we’re going to be. You and me. And baby makes three.”
“Family,” he whispered, awe-struck. He kissed her, smashing his mouth against hers so hard his beard scratched her chin. She pushed him down to the mattress and straddled his hips, never releasing his lips. He went willingly, rolling onto his back.
His hands slid up her thighs under they disappeared under her skirt. Then he groaned against her mouth as his fingers grazed her wet flesh.
“You’re not wearing any underwear,” he groaned. “Dirty, dirty girl.”
She pressed her hips down, trapping his fingers between them as she pulled back from his lips slightly. “We have all the time in the world to talk, Jordan. I want to show you how much I love you right now.”
“You came to seduce me, evil woman,” he muttered as his fingers slid along her wet slit. Then two fingers pressed into her, pumping in and out of her body.
She unzipped the dress and flung it off, leaving her completely bare to him. He stared up at her in awe, like maybe he thought she might be a dream that would melt away. “Too many clothes, Jordan.”
When he didn’t move immediately, she unbuttoned his pants, and tried to slide them off. But he was too heavy.
“Jordan.”
He blinked and then he was on board, shucking away his clothes.
Then they were skin to skin, chest to chest, and she hooked her leg over his, like she could pull him closer to her than they were already.
“You’re so goddamn beauti
ful,” he purred. His erection was hot against her stomach.
“Fuck me,” she whispered against his ear.
It didn’t take much to angle his cock into her and she was wet enough that entering her wasn’t even the slightest bit uncomfortable.
“Greedy little pussy,” he said. “Taking all of me like that.”
“I need you,” she said, pressing against him so he slid deeper into her.
He grabbed both her thighs, holding them joined as he pressed her against the mattress. As he rocked against her, she moaned, unable to stop the heat of arousal bursting from within her.
“I fucking missed you,” he panted as he thrust into her. “So. Fucking. Much.”
His hand slid over her clit, rubbing as he fucked her. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t make a sound. All she could do was feel as his cock and his fingers lifted her into euphoria.
“I love you,” he said, finally. “More than life, I love you.” His movements became more erratic as he fucked her. He looked down at her, his eyes darkening into deep sapphires. “I’m going to come.”
“Yes,” she moaned. “Fuck, yes.”
“You first,” he said, strumming her clit. “Give me that brilliant scream of yours first.”
It didn’t take a minute to have her tumbling over the edge, calling his name out. Seconds later, he followed her over, her name on his lips.
Epilogue
Jordan’s heart pounded as he drove the car through the rain, ignoring speed limit signs and half the time traffic lights. Sheets of water slammed again the windshield. But he couldn’t stop. He wouldn’t stop. This was probably the most important moment in his life.
As he pulled into the parking lot, he barely had the car turned off before he was out and running into the building. Everything burned, his chest, his legs as he made his way to the third floor.
He looked at the first room number as he stepped out of the stairwell. 309. She was in 349. He followed the signs, practically barreling over nurses and other hospital staff until he found the right room. But they all gave him a wide berth. Probably because he smelled like a swamp. He most likely didn’t look much better.
Sheriff Hannigan stood outside; his face whiter than the hospital sheets. A certain relief filled his features. “Finally, you made it.”
“Is she okay?” Jordan demanded. “Is it…”
“She’s fine. Baby’s fine. Tessa’s in there with her. I think you might just have made it in the nick of time.”
Jordan brushed past him and stepped into the room. He stopped, taking in the sight before him.
Penny’s chestnut hair was matted against her scalp with sweat. Her knuckles were white, clasped tightly around her sister’s hand. Yet despite the dark circles under eyes, the sweaty sheen on her skin, she still shined bright and beautiful like a star. His star. His sunshine.
“It’s about time you got here,” she snapped as he took his place beside her, across the bed from her sister. “It’s not like I’m having a baby or anything.” Tessa relinquished Penny’s hand to him, who probably squeezed it so tight he was sure she’d break his fingers as another contraction overwhelmed her.
Tessa sighed. “I’m going to make sure Joe’s not passed out. He had a little issue with watching the last contraction.”
She made her escape and left him alone with Penny. She glared at him. “You’re late.”
“Sorry, I was in South America,” he said apologetically. These last few months had been a whirlwind of missions. With the warehouse they’d found underneath the gallery in Company hands, it had opened up just how crooked Reilly was and how far his reach really extended. Scott was tracking him through the facility in Rose City, but it wouldn’t be long before they had him. The problem was he was still a senator in the United States government, and they had very little proof that tied him to that warehouse or to Penny’s kidnapping.
“Excuses,” she spat. “This whole thing is your fault, you know.”
“It takes two to spawn, my love,” he replied evenly. If she wanted to blame him for all of it, he’d let her. He’d fall on that sword for her. So long as she was safe. The gallery she’d worked at had been owned by a corporation that had no ties to Reilly beyond Penny’s involvement with him and damned if he’d bring Penny into that world again. Not now.
She glared at him again. “Don’t argue with me. I’m in—” She stopped mid-sentence as another contraction took over. She moaned, so loud he was sure it was probably heard in Mexico.
“Okay,” the doctor said cheerfully as he came in. Penny growled something unintelligible. “Let’s get this baby out, shall we?”
They got to work. Penny pushed, there was a whirlwind of movement and screams, some of which were probably his, and before Jordan knew it, the high piercing scream of a baby sent the room into a frenzy. Vitals were taken, new skin was cleaned, and Penny… god, his Penny was safe and alive and that was everything he needed.
Some time later—Jordan couldn’t have said how long it was—Penny collapsed against the pillows in recovery. Her breath was uneven, but regular. Jordan wiped her forehead with a damp, cool cloth as the shakes came over her. “You did fantastic, my love.”
“No more of those,” she said, shaking her exhausted head. “I’m not doing that ever again.”
Jordan chuckled and brushed her hair from her sweaty face. A few minutes later, the nurses brought their baby boy over. He’d settled down after the initial shock of entering the world, all swaddled in blankets. Jordan wrinkled his nose as the nurse handed the baby to his mother. “Do they all look like wrinkled old men when they come out?”
Penny snorted. “Such a charmer you are. Come say hi to your son.”
He settled on the bed, careful not to upset any of the wires and things attached to Penny. He leaned over her shoulder and gently brushed the boy’s cheek. It was so soft, angelic. The boy glowed brilliant like his mother. “He’s beautiful.”
“Connor…” Penny whispered to the baby boy as she nuzzled him.. Jordan smiled. She remembered the name they’d agreed on. “Maybe that wasn’t so bad.”
“So, you’re ready to start working on another?” he asked, grinning at her.
“You’re not getting anywhere near my hoo-hah for six to eight weeks,” she replied, holding up a single finger. The middle one. “I just pushed a baby out of it.”
He kissed the top of her head and stared down at the little wrinkled bundle in her arms. A year ago, he didn’t even know Penny. He was a lost soul only looking for the next score. Somehow, he’d found the best one, this woman when he wasn’t even looking. And they’d made another human. He was scared shitless that he’d fuck this kid up, that he’d ruin him the way his father had ruined him. But surely with Penny as his mother, that wouldn’t happen, right?
“Hold him. My arms are tired,” Penny said. They made the transfer with awkward movements, unpracticed and uncertain. Jordan carefully supported the head as he gazed down at the small bundle.
His son.
“He’s got your eyes,” the nurse said, smiling at the little guy. Jordan’s vision blurred but he quickly blinked it away. The nurse smiled knowingly, but instead directed her next question to Penny. “Are we ready for visitors? Seems you have kind of a large crowd out there.”
Penny nodded and looked at him. “How do you feel?”
“Can I keep him?” Jordan asked quietly. Disbelief that he’d helped create this tiny little human seized him.
The nurse laughed. “Of course. He’s yours.”
His. He had a baby. He was a father. The idea was so ludicrous he couldn’t even believe it, even as people filtered in. Tessa and Hannigan were first, then Bea and Axel, Chris and Abigail.
Bea stared at the baby like she’d never seen one before. She glanced at Jordan. “Is he heavy?”
“No,” Jordan said. “It’s like he weighs nothing at all.”
Bea continued to stare at Connor. Considering her background, maybe she’d never really been t
his close to a baby before.
“Do you want to hold him?” At her abrupt shake of the head, he was glad. He wasn’t ready to give up the little guy yet. She grabbed Axel’s hand like she was unsteady and stepped back. He glanced up to see Jack in the doorway.
Jack’s eyes were far away as they fell on the child. For the first time since he’d known the man, Jordan began to understand the constant torment Jack had to be under. Only five minutes with this little guy and he was utterly, completely under his spell. He didn’t think he would be able to survive one day away from him, let alone years away like Jack. He’d not only given up his life, but his daughter as well.
But all the Reapers had their own demons, didn’t they? And reasons for walking away from the ones they’d loved before they died.
He glanced at Penny, who’d closed her eyes, even with all the people in the room. She had to be tired. Twenty-two hours of labor and he’d barely made it back in time for the birth. He passed the baby to Tessa, who was already cooing at it and crying. He stepped over to Penny and kissed her forehead. “Hey.”
She barely opened her eyes. “Love you.”
“Love you,” he whispered as he settled next to her again. “Are you sure you don’t want another? He’s awfully cute.”
“Just wait until his first shit in the diaper,” she replied. “You’ll change your tune.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her against him gently. She closed her eyes and rested her head against his. He smiled. “I don’t think so.” When he looked up at the doorway again, Jack was gone.
As they all fawned over his baby boy, he held on to the other most precious thing in his life. His last heist had brought him this beautiful, shining woman and that tiny bundle who had a tuft of chestnut hair and crazy blue eyes. Somehow, this thief had finally found a life full of love.
The End
If you enjoyed this book, please consider signing up for email updates on future Reapers Strike Force books and future books!
Author’s Afterword