Forty-five minutes later, he found her dozing on the couch with a magazine lying on the floor. He smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek. Startled eyes met his. She smiled up at him and attempted to sit up. Riley helped her.
“Dinner is ready.”
“Smells good. I didn’t realize I’d fallen asleep. You would think after a nap I would be rested,” she said.
Riley helped her to her feet then followed her to the kitchen. He wanted to be sure she ate as much as possible. When she was seated at the bar, he filled her plate with chicken and the steamed vegetables. If he read her facial expressions right, she looked hungry. That was a good sign.
“I can’t possibly eat all this.”
“Just eat what you can.” He fixed his plate and stood across from her, waiting for her to take her first bite.
“Mmmm, it’s delicious,” she said after taking a fork full of broccoli. “It’s cooked just right.”
“Let’s see how much of it you can put away. Then I’ll know if it was really that good or not.”
Riley watched as she ate, marveling at the faint glow about her. She looked lovely despite the weight loss and dark circles under her eyes. Her skin shone in the light.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” she asked, nodding at his untouched plate.
“Yeah, I was just watching you. You’re so beautiful,” he said.
She blushed and ducked her head. He reached across and lifted her chin with two fingers.
“I mean it, Jenna. You’re so beautiful sitting there with your hair mused and your skin glowing. I can hardly take my eyes off you.”
“Stop it. You’re making me uncomfortable.” She shifted on the stool.
Grinning, Riley began to eat so she would. More than anything, he wanted her to clean her plate. She needed the food desperately.
When she said she had eaten all she could, Riley nodded and cleared the dishes. He wished she could have eaten a bit more, but she managed to eat over half of what he’d put on her plate. It was a start. She started helping him, and he shooed her away.
“I’ll get this. There isn’t much to do. It all goes in the dishwasher anyway.” He demonstrated by adding a plate to the rack.
She walked over and leaned against him. Her breasts pressed into his chest. She rested her head against his shoulder. He dropped his chin to the top of her head. He drew in her scent. He liked that she touched him despite their separation. He could almost think nothing had changed. Almost.
Chapter Eighteen
Riley followed her into the bedroom. She planned to take a shower. But then she looked at him again and wanted him more. Jenna found she couldn’t resist him. She wanted to be close to him, wanted to touch him and be touched by him. How could she possibly live with him without being with him? Of course, he might not feel the same way despite his asking her to marry him. Surely that was a product of finding out she was pregnant with his child. What decent man wouldn’t ask the mother of his child to marry them? Riley was a decent, honorable man. He just wasn’t the type to stick around. She sighed.
When he reached for her, Jenna found herself going to him. He pulled her into his arms and held her almost loosely as if he were afraid of hurting her, or their child.
“You know, I’m not going to break.”
“You look so fragile right now. It feels as if I could break you in half just by holding you,” he said.
“Nonsense. I’m not different now than I was three months ago.”
“But you are,” Riley said.
Still, he pulled her tighter into his arms. She breathed in his scent, all masculine. His musky smell aroused the woman in her. That deep down, wanton siren who ached to feel him inside her. Did he feel the same way? Did he still want her?
The T-shirt he wore stretched tight over his muscled chest. She dragged her nails across the outline of his nipples. He growled. It warmed her to hear the sound. The evidence of his arousal lay pulsing against her belly. Her hips undulated against his, wanting more of him.
“We’ve got to stop this, Jenna.” He swallowed hard.
“Why? You want me, don’t you?” she asked, just a little scared he wouldn’t.
What if he said no? Could she bear the thought of him not wanting to make love to her?
“You’re in no shape for my loving. I’d hurt you.”
“Bullshit. I’m not the fragile doll you are making me out to be. Either you want me or you don’t. Tell me now so I stop making a fool of myself.” Jenna pushed away from him and crossed her arms as anger welled up in her.
“It’s not that I don’t want you because I do. I want to lay you across the bed and bury my cock inside you, but you’re weak right now. Pushing me will only hurt us both. I’m not a gentle man, baby.”
“You’ve never hurt me before.” She swallowed hard around the lump forming in her throat. “Does my body turn you off now that I’ve lost a little weight?”
“No!” he exclaimed. “I want you just as much if not more so than ever. But you’ve lost more than a little weight, Jenna, and I’m worried about how weak you are. I don’t want to make it worse.”
Jenna sighed and walked across the bedroom to the bed. She peeled off her T-shirt and unbuttoned her jeans. His eyes never left her body. Hers remained on his eyes as she slowly slid the jeans down her legs. She bent over and stepped out of them. He took a hesitant step forward then stopped. She unclasped the front closure of her bra and let it slide down her arms and drop to the floor. She smiled a triumphant smile when his hands went over his head to grasp his T-shirt and pulled it over his head and off his body. She remained where she stood, waiting on him to come to her.
Riley sat on the bed to take off his boots. When he stood back up, his jeans soon joined his shirt on the floor.
“You’re a temptation that should be banned,” he said with a low growl.
“I can’t help it that being pregnant makes me horny,” she said with a smile.
“Is that the excuse you’re using?” He stepped closer to her without touching her.
She licked her lips, and he groaned. The sound ramped up her arousal.
“It’s no excuse. The pregnancy books talk about it.”
One of Riley’s hands slid down her arm from shoulder to fingertips and back up again.
“You’ve been reading baby books.” He made it a statement.
“Of course. I need to know what to expect.” Chills ran down her spine as he trailed his hand in the same fashion along the other arm.
“I think I need to read these books and be sure you are interpreting them correctly.”
Jenna laughed. “Somehow I can’t see you reading baby books, motorcycle magazines, maybe.”
“Careful or you’re going to hurt my feelings,” Riley teased.
Jenna thrilled at the easy banter between them as he simply touched her. The atmosphere around them was relaxing. She waited to see what he would do next. His hands rubbed up her arms and over her collarbone to cup either side of her face. Riley leaned in ever so slowly and sank into her mouth. The kiss started out slow and sensual, his lips sipping at hers, his tongue licking along the seam of her lips. A sigh left her when he nipped at her lower lip then laved it with his tongue. When she opened her mouth, he delved inside to explore and taste her. Their tongues twined and danced until she was forced to pull back for air.
They stood there panting, staring into each other’s eyes. Mirrored in his was the lust and arousal she craved. It warmed her inside and out knowing she could do this to him. If only he loved her. She pushed that thought aside. She didn’t need that right now. What she needed was him.
“I want you,” he said.
Their foreheads met as each leaned against the other.
“I want you, too.”
He pressed his erection against her belly and growled as she added her own pressure to his, trapping it between them.
“Baby, I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Riley, you’re not going to hurt
me. I’ll hit you if you do. Will that make you feel better?” She was fast losing patience.
Jenna wanted him to fuck her and do it now. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in the curve of her neck before biting gently down on her shoulder. She shivered. Riley leaned down and drew in one nipple, laving it with his tongue then nipping it. He drew in more of her breast and sucked, rolling the nipple around in his mouth. She sighed and held his bald head to her. He moved to the other breast and treated it equally. A thrill traveled down her spine to her core. Heat built deep inside her. The thread between breast and womb tightened until the last tingle trilled along it.
Riley gently pushed her back toward the bed until it hit the back of her knees and she sat down. Going to his knees, he nudged her legs apart with his broad shoulders. She lay spread before him, the wanton woman open to him. Only now, she didn’t feel so confident. If he noticed her unease, he didn’t show it.
Instead, he leaned in and licked from clit to her opening and back up again. She shivered at the cooling air once his hot breath left her. Deep within her womb, a spark built. His tongue licked along the seam of her pussy, separating the lips. He used his fingers to separate her farther and delved in deep with his tongue. She moaned and squirmed. He slid his hands beneath her ass and lifted her to his mouth. He dined on her.
That spark grew in size and heat. It burned from the inside out. With each lick and suck of his mouth against her pussy, she drew closer to climax. When he circled her clit with his tongue, she lifted her body closer to his mouth. He chuckled and pushed her back down with one hand splayed across her stomach. Then he froze.
“God, baby. Did I hurt you?”
“If you don’t put your mouth back down there and finish what you started, I’m going to hurt you!” she nearly screamed.
He looked sheepish then fucked her with his tongue, taking her by surprise. She squealed, undulating her hips in time with his tongue forging inside her. He circled her clit without touching it, leaving her wanting even more. Fire raced from womb to clit. She needed him to touch her there. No matter how she moved, he avoided the one spot needing attention. Frustration laced with a bit of fear left her growling and demanding he finish her.
“I can’t take anymore. Please, Riley. I need…”
“What do you need, baby? Tell me and I’ll give it to you.”
“I need to come. Lick my clit. Please. Hurry.” Jenna shuddered and whimpered at being denied.
Suddenly, Riley licked directly over her clit, sending her spiraling higher than ever. When he sucked the little bud into his mouth and held it with his teeth, she exploded around him. The more he licked it while he held it prisoner, the hotter she burned.
Was that her she heard mewling like a baby tiger? Jenna’s ears rang as she slowly came down off her high. His mouth continued to languidly lick, scooping up all the cream he could. He ate at her as if he were starving. Finally, with one last lick, he leaned back and looked up the line of her body to stare into her eyes. His were dark with lids half closed. His mouth was shiny wet from her core. He rose and leaned in to kiss her stomach. He lavished it with licks and kisses until she couldn’t stop the giggles from escaping her mouth. He was tickling her.
“Stop.” She laughed, throwing her hands up to hold his head away from her.
“You don’t like my kisses?” he demanded as he licked around her bellybutton.
“I love your kisses. Just not there.”
He smiled down at her before crawling up her body and laying down beside her. She turned to stare at him. His cock pulsed against her abdomen, but he looked relaxed and sated. She was anything but sated. She grinned at him and reached between them to grasp his cock in her hand. She squeezed. He closed his eyes and groaned. The feel of his hard flesh made up of satin skin in her hand caused her breath to hitch.
Riley threw back his head when she used her thumb to spread the drop of pre-cum around the mushroom head. She squeezed, relishing how he jumped in her hand. Jenna rose to her knees and scooted down the bed until her mouth was level with his hot cock. Saliva pooled in her mouth at the sight of it. She stuck out her tongue and licked him from root to tip. The heavy stalk jerked at her touch. Slowly, she enclosed him with her mouth and sucked all the way down until he hit the back of her throat. She swallowed and was rewarded with a curse and Riley’s hand in her hair.
“Fuck, your mouth is hot,” Riley said.
Jenna didn’t stop to talk. Instead, she sucked him hard and fast then slow and easy until he was fucking her mouth, his hand in her hair holding her still. She moaned around him, sending another groan from his mouth above her.
She tongued the slit at the top of his cock then twirled her tongue around the cap, paying close attention to the underside where he seemed to be most sensitive. She rubbed that spot with her tongue until he all but jerked her head from him. She stared up into his eyes, reveling in how his breath came in quick spurts. His raspy voice gave away how close he’d been to coming in her mouth.
“You’re playing with fire, baby. One of us is going to get burned.”
She crawled up his body and positioned her pussy over the top of his pulsing cock.
“I say we both get burned.” She dropped on top of him, taking him halfway before her tightness stopped her.
She groaned and lifted with his hands on her hips and tried again to fit all of him inside her. He felt enormous inside her. The slight burn to the stretch heightened her arousal to untold proportions. Surely she would explode if it got any hotter. He wiggled beneath her, and she sank another inch. Just a little more, she thought. Then he surged upward and buried himself inside her. The rasp of his pubic hair tickled her clit, sending another round of sparks throughout her body.
“Oh, baby. I’m not going to last if you don’t be still. Let me catch my breath.” His voice came out an octave lower than usual.
“I need you to move, Riley. I can’t stand this. Let me.”
Riley let go of her hips, and she rose on her knees until only the head remained inside her. Then she dropped back down, swallowing him within her. She rose and dropped, rose and dropped until she thought she would die from the rush of heat searing through her veins. Her movements became frenzied with need as her orgasm drew closer.
Riley rolled them over. He took control of her body and drove her higher than she thought possible with his long, deep thrusts that moved her body up the bed. He pounded into her over and over. She pushed her hands above her to keep her head from smacking the headboard. Still he thrust deep and hard, bringing one of her legs up over his arm and bowing her up on herself.
Just when she thought nothing could lead her any higher, he reached between them and pinched her clit, sending her into spasms of pleasure unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. He thrust twice more and followed her over the edge into oblivion. There was no other word for the equisetic pleasure that took over her body and mind. She soared higher and dropped harder until she lost sight of everything but the pure feelings dancing inside her.
When she came to much later, Riley had pulled the covers over them and was holding her close against his body. His hand lay splayed across her belly as if protecting the little spark of a life within.
“You’re awake,” he said. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”
“Mmmm, I’m fine. I’m better than fine.”
“You’re not bleeding. I checked. You’re sure you’re okay?”
“You checked to see if I was bleeding?” Jenna couldn’t keep the humor from her voice. “What are you? A doctor now?” She giggled then threw her hand over her mouth. She didn’t want to upset him.
“I was rough with you. I told you not to push me.” His voice sounded firm perhaps even a bit angry.
“I’m fine, Riley. You can’t hurt me.” She sighed and attempted to roll over, but his hand on her abdomen prevented it.
“You’re pregnant, Jenna. I can’t help but feel protective of you—of the baby. I’m a rough m
an. I worried about you even when you weren’t pregnant.”
“Is that why you left? Because you were scared you were going to hurt me?” She bit her lip. She hadn’t planned on bringing that up any time soon.
“I left because I didn’t think I would be able to be the man you needed. Sticking around has never been my strong suit,” he said.
“Why do you think you’ll stick around now? What, besides my being pregnant, has changed?” Jenna rolled over to face him.
“I realized I can’t live without you. I want to be with you all the time. Leaving you was supposed to keep you safe, but I hurt you instead. I’m sorry.”
He didn’t say the one thing she wanted to hear. The one thing that would convince her he was serious about sticking around. He hadn’t said he loved her. Jenna swallowed down the tears threatening to escape. Until and unless he said those words and meant them, she wouldn’t marry him. Baby or no baby. It saddened her. She had hoped he had fallen in love with her as she had with him. Even if he had, he wouldn’t admit it.
“It’s okay, Riley. Let’s just go to sleep. I’m tired.” She rolled back to her side and closed her eyes, hoping for sleep.
* * * *
He waited until she was fast asleep, her little snores amusing him. Riley carefully disentangled himself from her arms and slipped out of bed. Grabbing his jeans, he pulled them on and padded quietly into the living room to stare out the window. His inner clock said it was around two in the morning, the night outside slowly heading toward the dawn.
She was everything he remembered her to be. He feared that once he returned he would have made some part of her up in his head. Instead, he found her even more attractive than he remembered—her body and her soul. The fact that she now carried his baby beneath her breast only added to his love for her. That thought stilled him. Yes, he loved her. It was the only answer for how he felt around her.
In The Still of the Night [The Protectors 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 22