Riley swallowed hard and attempted to clear his mind. When had he fallen in love? Perhaps he’d known it all along and that was the reason he’d come back. All he knew for certain was that he wanted her next to him forever. Something about her drew him close to her and activated some instinct within him to protect and care for her. Keeping her safe and happy seemed the most important thing in the world to him now. Not riding, not traveling, not anything but being with her.
There were so many things he needed to do now. First and foremost was finding a job so he could provide for her. He had no doubt that she would always make more money than he did if she continued to work, but he would work and make things as easy for her as possible. He’d work two jobs if she wanted to stay home with the baby. That wasn’t even an issue. All that mattered was that she was happy.
The next thing on his list would be reading those damn baby books. He needed to be sure she was telling the truth on certain things. He grinned. He needed to know what kind of food she should eat and evidently, about sex. She seemed to think there wasn’t anything they couldn’t do. He wanted to know for sure.
He remained standing in the living room, looking out the window for several more long minutes, then sighed and returned to the bedroom and the arms of the woman he loved.
Chapter Nineteen
“Easy, baby.” Riley held Jenna’s hair back from her face as she threw up.
She’d awakened him by jumping out of bed and racing to the bathroom. He’d instantly known what the problem was and joined her. The sight of her being so violently ill clawed at him. He’d done this to her. Slamming the door shut on that thought, Riley grabbed a cloth and moistened it before wiping her face once she’d stopped heaving.
“God, I hate this part,” she grumbled, holding the wet cloth to her mouth.
“How much longer till it’s gone?” Riley asked as he crouched next to her on the bathroom floor.
“It depends on the woman, according to the doctor. In some women it lasts longer than others. I’m crossing my fingers that mine will be over with soon.”
“Is there anything that makes it better?”
“Not really,” she said. “Sometimes, if I can get some crackers inside of me before it starts, I’m okay.”
“Then why don’t you have them sitting by your bed?” he demanded.
“I forget at night and don’t feel well enough after being sick to bother with it.” She started to stand up.
Riley lifted her in his arms instead and carried her back to the bed. He tucked her back under the covers and pulled on his jeans again.
“I’m going to go get some crackers so they will be there in the morning. You get some more rest.”
Jenna merely nodded her head and closed her eyes. He smiled then frowned. He didn’t like to see her sick like that. Something had to be done about it. He walked into the kitchen and searched until he came up with a half sleeve of crackers. He sat them on the bar to put by her bed later once she was up again.
Coffee was his next order of business. Hot, black coffee would help clear his head. Nothing like getting up at a dead run to knock you for a loop. He hadn’t done that since being in the army. Funny that something he’d learned how to do in the army would help him in real life. Riley waited while the coffee made and busied himself gathering the ingredients for an omelet when Jenna got up.
He found her baby book on the coffee table and carried it into the kitchen to read. He noticed there were several pages marked and decided to read those first since they were obviously important to Jenna. Two cups of coffee and nearly two hours later, he put down the book and rubbed his belly. Now he knew why women had morning sickness. Some of the things he had read about were interesting and some downright scary.
“What are you doing?” Jenna asked, standing in the doorway in nothing but a T-shirt and panties.
He smiled and walked over to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back. He could easily get use to this.
“I’m finding out what is going on inside that delicious body of yours,” he said with a wink.
“I’m hungry.” Jenna grinned at him. “Does it tell you in there that you are supposed to feed me?”
Riley laughed and kissed her on the forehead. “It does indeed. Why don’t you go get a shower, and I’ll fix you an omelet. How does that sound?”
“Yummy.” She squeezed his ass then turned and walked back toward the bedroom.
Riley spied the crackers on the island counter top. He took them to the bedroom and placed them on the bedside table. He would wake her up a little before six each morning and feed her a couple of crackers. The books seemed to think it would stop the nausea. He’d try anything to get her past that part.
By the time they finished breakfast, Jenna was ready to go shopping. He made sure she ate over half the omelet and drank her milk and OJ. She had balked at the juice but did manage to sip half the little glass. He accepted that it was the best she could do and quickly cleaned up the kitchen while she gathered her purse and a light sweater. The mornings were much cooler now with winter so close.
About the time they were ready to leave, the phone rang. Riley grabbed it and handed it to Jenna. It turned out to be Tina. They chatted for a few minutes then hung up.
“Tina wants us to come over there for dinner tonight. Is that okay with you?” she asked.
“As long as you’re up to it. We’ll see how you feel after shopping.” Riley wasn’t promising anything until he knew how she did during the day.
She seemed to have plenty of energy to shop, though she did let him do all the lifting. They started off at a department store where he insisted she buy a couple of pairs of jeans that fit her.
“The ones you’re wearing are only staying up because of the belt. Without it, they would be around your ankles,” he fussed.
“I would think you would like the easy access,” she teased.
He just shook his head and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I read what the book said about pregnant women being horny all the time, and it isn’t supposed to start until later in the pregnancy.” He smirked at her.
“Well, mine started early,” she pouted and turned away to go try on the jeans.
Riley laughed and waited patiently as she tried on several pairs of jeans until she found two pair that fit her too-skinny figure. He would be much happier when she put on some weight. The sight of her hip bones poking out worried him. Some guys might like their women thin as a rake, but he didn’t. He liked them soft with a little padding on them.
After unloading the groceries from the car, Riley sent Jenna to deal with her other purchases while he put them away. He didn’t want her handling the heavy stuff or climbing on a stool to put things up on shelves. That was for him to handle. He rolled up the plastic bags and shoved them in the bag sock on the pantry door. When he turned around, it was to find Jenna waiting for him with a naughty look in her eyes.
“I’m ready for a nap,” she said.
Riley lifted an eyebrow at her and shook his head. “You’re up to something.”
“No I’m not. I just want to take a little nap with you.”
“I tell you what,” he began. “You eat a snack for me, and I’ll lie down with you for awhile.”
She frowned at him but nodded. He grabbed an apple and peeled it before slicing it up and handing it to her in a bowl. She scowled and took a bite. She hummed and took another bite. He grinned. She hadn’t realized she was hungry. Maybe all she needed was a little encouragement to eat and gain weight. He hoped it would be that simple. He settled her on the couch with her feet in his lap and fed her the sliced apple. She managed to eat the entire apple minus one slice she insisted on feeding him.
He put the bowl on the coffee table then picked up one of her feet in his hands and began massaging it. She moaned her appreciation. Riley grinned and moved up her leg before changing feet and having a go at the other one. When he finished, he noticed she was sound asleep. He chuckl
ed to himself and gathered her in his arms to carry her to bed. She needed to be comfortable, and the couch was not comfortable in the least as far as he was concerned.
She stirred when he laid her on the bed but didn’t argue. She grabbed hold of his shirt in an effort to keep him from leaving.
“I’m not going anywhere. Let go so I can get in beside you, baby.”
She released her hold on his shirt and gazed with sleep-heavy eyes into his. “Don’t leave me, okay?”
“I’m not. Go back to sleep.” He climbed in beside her and pulled her into his arms.
Once her light snores told him she was asleep, he could have eased from her arms, but he’d promised he wouldn’t leave her. He figured that had been a subconscious plea that he not leave her alone again. He didn’t plan on it. He planned to marry her and raise their child together. Right now, she wouldn’t marry him. Why? He’d come back to her on his own. He hadn’t known about the baby until after he’d gotten back. Sighing, he huffed out a quiet breath. There was no telling what went on inside a woman’s mind and especially a pregnant woman according to the book. Maybe he needed to get another book to double-check some of the things he was reading.
Riley nearly laughed out loud. What would Logan say to him once he found out he was reading pregnancy books? He’d give him shit, that’s what he would do. Maybe he could talk Jenna into not saying anything. Glancing at her face next to his shoulder tightened his gut. She was his. Despite her balking at marrying him, she was all his. He’d get her to marry him one way or another. She belonged with him.
At some point, Riley had fallen asleep since the clock on the bedside table said four in the afternoon. He needed to wake Jenna up so she could get ready to go to Tina and Logan’s house. He would have to check, but he was pretty sure Logan had called while he’d been sleeping. His phone had vibrated at some point, but he’d ignored it.
Riley leaned over and gently kissed Jenna on the lips. Then he moved down her jaw to her ear. When he sucked her earlobe into his mouth, she squinched her neck and giggled.
“What, my kisses are funny now?”
“They are when you tickle me. Your beard is ticklish.”
He rubbed a hand over his chin and realized he hadn’t shaved in a couple of days now. Time for a razor. His head probably needed it, too.
“You ready to get up, sleeping beauty? It’s a little after four.” Riley bit her chin.
“Yeah, I better. I need to change clothes to go to Tina’s,” she said, stretching.
“I’m going to take a shower and shave. If you’ll hang around until I get out, I’ll help you dress.”
“I don’t need help dressing, yet.” She laughed. “When I’m as big as an elephant, I will probably need help with my shoes then.”
“I’ll always enjoy dressing you…and undressing you.” He growled in a low voice.
Jenna sat up and shook her head at him. He sat up next to her and turned her head for a kiss. He took his time and explored her mouth with his, paying extra attention to her lips. He nipped at them then licked them before delving inside to dance with her tongue. When he pulled back, her eyes had gone dark with desire.
“I hate it when you do that.”
“Do what?” he asked with a knowing grin.
“Get me all hot and bothered and then stop.”
“It’s a promise of more to come after we get home tonight. I figure that way you won’t want to stay all night.” He ducked when she grabbed a pillow and hit him with it.
Laughing, Riley escaped to the bathroom. He stopped and stared at himself in the mirror. He was laughing and teasing, something he couldn’t ever remember doing before. Something about Jenna lightened his heart. He would love her for that alone.
* * * *
Jenna stretched and smiled at the way Riley had hightailed it to the bathroom. If she hadn’t been looking forward to talking with Tina again, she would have gone in there and shown him some shower love, but that would lead them into another bout in bed, and they would be late or miss the dinner entirely. She needed to talk to her friend.
Riley was everything she wanted in a man. He was strong, serious when needed, and playful when provoked. He took care of her, making sure she had what she needed despite her grumbling. He didn’t take things personally when she fussed, and he went out of his way not to hurt her. After years of abusive men in her life, this amazed her the most. He didn’t want to cause her the least bit of pain.
But did he love her? Could she live with him even if he didn’t love her? He did everything and said everything right except for those three simple words. I love you. Jenna needed to think about it long and hard. It took two to make a marriage work, and with a baby starting out, it would be harder than most new marriages. Was she really considering marrying him even if he didn’t love her? Maybe.
The sound of the shower turning off had her looking hastily at the clock. She’d been daydreaming for nearly thirty minutes. She jumped out of bed and raced for the closet to find something to put on. She would wear a pair of her new jeans and maybe the gypsy blouse. It wouldn’t matter if it were a little bigger. Besides, despite having lost weight, her boobs were larger and a little more sensitive, too, she realized.
She had just gotten her jeans on and the blouse over her head when Riley walked out of the bathroom totally nude and looking completely edible. She sighed and couldn’t help licking her lips. Though he’d dried off, there was a drop of water here and there that raced down his smooth skin. She ached to lick a path up his bare chest to nip at his nipples. Jenna took a step toward him. Something must have shown in her eyes because he grinned and put up both hands to ward her off.
“Whoa, baby. I need to get dressed, and you don’t look like you’re going to let me.”
“Just one lick. Please?” she pleaded.
He narrowed his eyes. “Where?”
“Your chest.”
“One lick,” he said with a growl.
Jenna crossed to him and put her hands on his shoulders before leaning in and licked a line from one nipple to the other. She stopped only to suck at the nipple until he was holding her pressed to his chest. She grinned. She would be able to control him if need be.
He pulled her away from him and wagged a finger at her nose.
“Uh, uh, uh. cheater.” He pushed her gently away and grabbed clothes from his pack.
It hit her then that he needed room in her dresser and chest to put his things. Hell, he needed things to put there. She doubted he had more than three changes of clothes to his name. The thought made her a little sad. Riley must have noticed her frown because he walked over and put his arms around her. She snuggled into him and rested her head against his chest. She pulled lightly on his chest hair.
“What, baby?” he asked.
“There’s plenty of room in the chest of drawers for your clothes. Do you have anything anywhere else that you need to bring here?”
He stilled around her. She feared she’d said something she shouldn’t have.
“Are you saying I can move in with you?” he asked, his voice quiet.
“Of course you can. I thought you already knew that.”
“I wasn’t sure what you wanted after you said you wouldn’t marry me.”
“I want you here with me. I…I love you, Riley. I just can’t marry you right now. You weren’t expecting to have to deal with a baby, and that’s the only reason you asked me to marry you right now. Maybe later, if you still feel the same way…” She let it trail off then pulled out of his arms.
“I’m going to read while you finish getting dressed. Tina wanted us to come over anytime around six, so whenever you’re ready, I am.” She walked out of the room and escaped to the living room.
So much for playing it cool and not pushing him, Jenna thought. She’d screwed that up. What would she do if he refused to wait around for her to make up her mind about marrying him? What if he had some things at another woman’s place that he needed to go get? The though
t of another woman in his life pumped up her blood pressure until she realized she was gritting her teeth and curling her nails into her hands. She drew in one deep breath after another until she had calmed down. Whatever he did before her, before now, didn’t matter. All that mattered now was what came after. But she didn’t feel very convinced.
The sound of Riley walking into the room stirred her from her musings. He stopped and frowned down at her.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I was just thinking about something at work.”
His lips thinned, but he didn’t challenge her on it. Instead, he pulled her to her feet. Warm arms wrapped around her, and he settled his chin on her head.
“Let’s run by the liquor store and get a bottle of wine to take with us. Do you mind taking your car?”
“Of course not. I have a spare pair of keys I’ll give you so you can drive it whenever you want to.” She pulled from his arms to hunt for the spare keys in the kitchen drawer.
She also grabbed the spare house key. They would need to get another made to have in case of emergencies. She returned and handed them to him. He looked deep into her eyes before his hand closed over the keys in her palm. He pulled out his bike key and slipped them all on the same key ring. Something inside her clicked when he shoved the keys into his pocket. It felt like a piece of her heart fastening in place. She refused to dwell on it. Instead, she grabbed his arm and tugged on him.
“Come on, let’s go. I’m getting hungry.”
It was evidently all she would ever need to say to get him in gear. He fairly carried her outside and into the car. She laughed when he fastened the seatbelt for her.
“I can do that myself, you know.”
“Humor me,” was all he said as he backed out of the drive.
They stopped by a liquor store, and Riley bought a bottle of white zinfandel as well as a sparkling grape juice for her since she couldn’t indulge in alcohol. Then he drove them across town to Tina and Logan’s house.
Tina still kept her house next door, but they were making plans to sell it soon. It was larger than her little place. She only had two bedrooms, but Tina’s had four. Maybe she should think about selling hers and buying Tina’s. She kept that thought to herself for the time being. She would talk to Riley about it after she discussed it with Tina. She wasn’t sure how Riley would feel about living next door to them. She would love being so close to her best friend, but there was no telling how men thought.
In The Still of the Night [The Protectors 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 23