She gets off her chairlift at the bottom of the stairs and gestures me closer. I lean down, and she pats my cheek. “You’re a good man, Garrett.”
I kiss her cheek. “And you’re a good woman. I’ll always honor and respect the woman who raised my amazing woman.” I gesture to Harper, who walks downstairs, smiling with tears in her eyes.
Mrs. Ellis wipes her eyes. “Okay, enough of that mushy stuff. I need to go make the cocoa.”
I can’t help but tease her about earlier. “Sure you don’t want to wait for a rival to come over and prove I’ll rise to the occasion before cocoa?”
She cackles, making her slow way to the kitchen. “Have to keep you on your toes.”
Harper wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me tenderly. “I love you, you wonderful man. I’ve never been so happy in my life.”
“I love you too. So damn much. It almost feels too good to be true. I had no idea how it would go today, and now it’s like—”
“The universe is smiling down on us.”
“It’s you.” I kiss her again, overwhelmed with all I feel. “Always you.”
She hugs me and goes up on tiptoe to whisper in my ear, “She goes to bed at seven. After that, we can go back to my place for our own celebration. Know what I mean?” She grabs my ass.
I cock my head. “Not sure. You’ll have to explain a little better.”
She slides a hand to my cock, and it rises to the occasion instantly.
“Do you like marshmallows, Garrett?” Mrs. Ellis calls from the kitchen.
I jerk away from Harper, my ears burning.
Harper cracks up. “She has radar for—” she finger quotes “—hanky-panky.”
“Sure, thanks, I’ll take marshmallows,” I say.
“I’ll need you to get some from the store,” Mrs. Ellis says.
“I’m fine without.”
Harper giggles.
Mrs. Ellis pokes her head in, smiling wickedly. “Sure?”
I’m onto her. That’s her way of saying keep your hands to yourself, mister. Except it was her granddaughter who got handsy! “We’re getting married as soon as I can convince her.”
She narrows her eyes. “Before the baby’s born.”
I turn to Harper. “Valentine’s Day wedding? Sean and Josie had one and it was great. We still have the arch of silk flowers. Actually, it’s been used for a wedding re-enactment for my other brother, who had a courthouse ceremony. Third time would be good luck.”
“I have got to meet this family of yours,” Mrs. Ellis says.
I grin. “They’re nuts in the best way. I’m sure they’d love you.”
She pats her hair, pink rising in her cheeks. “Yes, well…” She shuffles back in the kitchen.
Harper wraps her arms around my waist. “If you’re not careful, she’s going to fall in love with you too. I really don’t want to compete with my grandmother for my man.”
I laugh and then get back to the important part. “So Valentine’s Day? Hearts, cupids, and all the dark chocolate with cherry squares your heart desires. Wait.” I go down on one knee. “Harper Ellis, will you marry me?”
“Yes!”
“Yes!” Mrs. Ellis exclaims a second later, beaming at us.
I hug Harper and smile over at Mrs. Ellis, who waves her dishrag at me before going back to the kitchen.
Harper beams at me. “I can’t wait to be your wife.”
“Me too.” I kiss her tenderly, but then it flashes to heat, wild and out of control. God, I’ve missed her.
“Cocoa’s just about ready,” Mrs. Ellis calls.
We break apart, smiling. Time flies when you’re making out with your future wife in her grandmother’s living room.
We join Mrs. Ellis, gathered around the small kitchen table, the three of us planning a Valentine’s wedding and a summer vacation together.
We leave Mrs. Ellis out of the honeymoon plans.
Harper
My grandmother insisted we drive her old Toyota back to the city instead of me riding on the back of Garrett’s motorcycle since I’m pregnant. I have the sneaky feeling she’s secretly hoping Garrett will return on Christmas to pick up his bike just so she can see him again. Truth is, seeing how well he treats my curmudgeonly grandmother is probably what made me fall so hard for him in the first place.
The moment we get inside my apartment, I throw myself into his arms. “I’ve missed you so much!” Kiss. Longer kiss. “I can’t wait to get…” Kiss. “Naked.”
He scoops me up and carries me into the bedroom, smiling big time. “You held out on me at your grandmother’s place.”
“Are you kidding me? I can’t throw myself at you there. And she’s always listening. Her hearing hasn’t diminished at all, unfortunately.”
“Now, sweetheart, that’s uncharitable.”
“Oh, Garrett, you have so much to learn.”
He sets me down next to the bed and pulls my sweater over my head. He stares at my breasts. “Did your boobs get bigger?”
I look down at my newfound cleavage. “Yup. Pregnancy side effect.”
“Nice,” he says, sliding the straps of my bra down, his big hands running over my shoulders as he does. He takes off the bra, caressing my breasts with both hands. “I’m liking this pregnancy effect.”
“You can say it. I was too small before.”
He kisses me. “You were perfect before. You’re perfect in every way.” He grins, sits on the bed, and gives me a tug, pulling me closer. His mouth closes over my breast, suckling hard. It’s a direct line of pure pleasure, making me ache with need. I slide my fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck and hold him to me. His hands roam over my ass and squeeze.
I sigh in pure bliss. He shifts, giving the other breast the same attention, making me moan. My knees grow weak.
“Garrett,” I whisper.
“Too many clothes,” he says, stripping me out of my leggings and panties.
I step out of them and help him undress, both of us admiring each other like it’s the first time we’ve seen each other. It’s been too long. We slam together the moment we’re naked, kissing wildly. His hands are everywhere at once, and then he’s lifting me. He breaks the kiss and sets me in the center of the bed.
I open my arms to him, and he joins me, resting his weight on his forearms. He strokes my hair back. “You sure this is okay with the baby?”
I smile at his concern. “Yes.”
He pushes inside slowly, watching my expression the whole time, his brows knitted in concentration. I love this man.
I wrap my arms and legs around him. “Promise it’ll be okay. Do what you want.”
He thrusts slow and deep, his head dipping to nuzzle my neck. I stroke the broad planes of his back. All this muscle and power, yet he holds himself back, treating me with such care. Tears spring to my eyes.
He lifts his head, stilling. “What’s wrong?”
“How did you know I was crying?”
“You felt far away.”
I stare at him. “How do you feel that?”
“I dunno, Harp. We’re connected. What’s wrong?”
“I just love you so much, and you’re so tender with me.”
“Of course I’m tender. I love you.”
I nod. “It’s okay, I’m better now. Kiss me.”
He does. I can feel him holding back this time, and I realize he’s right about our connection. And that just makes me completely relax and let go. He responds instantly, his mouth hungry, his thrusts harder and faster. Pleasure cascades over me in waves, building and building.
He breaks the kiss, gazing deep into my eyes, and it’s all there—the intense pleasure, the love, the care he takes with me. He shifts, hitting just the right angle, and I go off, pleasure bursting through me as I rock against him. He takes his own pleasure, thrusting deep over and over before his head throws back in ecstasy, the cords of his neck standing out.
I stroke his neck, and he grabs my hand and kisses it. �
�You good?” he asks. “Everything good with the baby?”
I beam. “We’re both great.”
He pulls out and rolls to my side. “Thank God. I don’t think I could keep my hands off you for months.”
I curl up against his side and stroke his chest. “Merry Christmas, Garrett.”
He kisses me and tucks me close. “Merry Christmas and many more.”
“You know my grandmother is hoping you’ll go back tomorrow to get your motorcycle so she can see you for Christmas.”
“I planned on it. Besides, my whole family’s in Villroy. Time to spend Christmas with my new family.”
My heart squeezes. I climb on top of him and pepper his face with kisses. “Wonderful, wonderful man.”
He twines his fingers together and puts them under his head, a smug smile across his gorgeous face. “Got that right.”
I nip his bottom lip. “Beast.”
He arches his brows. “So you finally see it, huh? That’s what my brothers call me because of these guns.” He pulls his arms down and flexes for me.
“Beast on the inside.”
“Round two, you say? That’s what I’m hearing with your sexy talk.” He rolls on top of me and nips along my neck.
I laugh and hug him tight. He’s mine forever, and I’m so lucky to have a future with him. My beast, my teddy bear, my love.
Epilogue
Garrett
Two days before New Year’s, I bring Harper to my parents’ house. I was waiting for them to return from Villroy to share our big news in person.
Harper grabs my hand tightly as we walk up the front stoop. Joe’s behind us. He sticks with us when Harper’s in public, but here he doesn’t need to go ahead to scout it out.
“Are you nervous?” I ask her.
She lifts our joined hands. “Was it my death grip that gave it away?”
“Hey, if Queen Joan is on board, King Daniel will be too. He’s the one to watch. My mom just loves babies. She’ll focus on that.”
“Oh great, put it that way.”
I ring the bell.
Harper takes an audible breath.
“Relax,” I tell her.
“Garrett, this is big—”
“Hello!” My mom opens the door. “Come in. So good to see you both. Hi, Joe.” She steps back. My dad is in the entryway to greet us too.
“We missed you at Christmas,” my dad says.
“I know,” I say. “Couldn’t be helped this year. Maybe next year.”
“Maybe?” he says. “Definitely. You’re invited too, of course, Harper.”
“Please join us in the living room,” my mom says. “We got in yesterday, and we’re still a little confused with the time zones.”
“It’s dinnertime to us,” my dad puts in. We’re here for lunch.
“Mind if I check out the pool table downstairs?” Joe asks my mom. “I’m only on duty for the transportation part of the day today.”
“If you’d like,” she says, sounding surprised. I told Joe our news and why we’re here today. I also told him he could take a walk or play pool while we deliver the news. He heads down to the basement.
We all settle in the living room. The ugly painting I gave them from Jack’s prank has been replaced with a beautiful landscape painting of Villroy.
I gesture to it. “That painting is so much better than the scribbles.”
“Thanks,” my mom says, glancing over at it. “It was commissioned by the king and queen as a Christmas gift for us.”
“Oh, wow,” Harper says, staring at it. “Villroy is so beautiful. I can see the palace at the top of the hill there. Like something out of a fairy tale.”
“It’s good to have the reminder of home,” my dad says. “Now can we offer you a drink?”
My mom jumps up.
“I’ll get it, Mom,” I say.
She smiles her loving smile at me. “Thank you, my sweet teddy bear.”
My ears burn. “Mom, please.”
“He is,” Harper says, leaning into my side. “Can I call you that too?”
I tap her nose. “No.” I head over to the kitchen and open the refrigerator. “Looks like bottled water and beer. What would everyone like?”
Harper says, “Water, please.”
Everyone else follows suit. Guess it’s early for a beer, though I suddenly want one. I never had to share such big news with my parents before, and if they don’t respond positively to the surprise baby news, I know Harper will be upset. I’m too happy to worry about anyone’s reaction. In any case, I’d better break the news gently.
After I pass out glasses of water, I sit on the love seat next to Harper. My parents are on the sofa across from us. “Harper and I have some news.”
My parents look at us expectantly.
“So,” I say, glancing at Harper. She’s so tense she’s not even blinking. I take her hand, and it’s like ice. “We’re engaged.”
“Oh!” My mom throws her hands in the air. “Wonderful news! Oh, I’m so happy for you both.” She rushes over to hug and kiss Harper and then me.
My dad joins her, slapping my shoulder and kissing Harper’s cheek. “Welcome to the family, Harper.”
My mom covers her cheeks as she smiles at me. “My baby, my last boy, getting married.” She glances at Harper’s hand and stops smiling. “No ring, Garrett.”
“We’ll shop for it later,” I say. “It’s only been a week.”
“How did he propose?” my mom asks Harper.
“He went down on one knee on Christmas Eve,” she says.
My mom sighs happily.
I take a deep breath and say the rest in a rush. “There’s more good news. Harper is pregnant. Baby is due in June.”
My dad’s brows shoot up.
My mom stares at Harper’s stomach. “That’s not why you’re getting married, is it?”
“No,” I say, taking my love’s hand, entwining our fingers together. “She’s the One. You know how you said you knew right away with Dad? And, Dad, you said the same. You knew when it was the One for you. I knew with Harper.”
“I love him so much,” Harper says, her voice choking with emotion. Her eyes water, and she brushes away a tear. She’s been extra sensitive with the pregnancy hormones.
“Aww!” my mom exclaims, rushing over to hug Harper. She sits on the arm of the loveseat next to Harper. “I can tell you do, honey. I’m so happy for you both.” She leans past Harper to give my shoulder a squeeze.
“Congratulations,” my dad says stiffly. “Though I thought we had that talk about the order of things, son.”
“Sometimes there’s a happy accident,” I say pointedly.
My dad walks over and kisses the top of my head. “More like a gift.”
“You’re so lucky to have loving parents like this,” Harper says.
“What kind of parents are you used to?” my mom asks with real concern.
I jump in to explain because Harper’s bottom lip is quivering. “She was raised by her grandmother. You’d like her, Dad, she’s got that stiff-upper-lip toughness that queens have. I call her Queen Joan.”
“I call her the General,” Harper says with a laugh.
“We’d love to have her over,” my mom says, putting her arm around Harper. “We’re your family now, too, so you’ll have all kinds of loving people around you—the royal pain-in-the-neck kind and the sweet loving kind. That’s me, if you didn’t know.”
My dad harrumphs. “It’s good to have a balance of parenting styles.”
My mom smiles at him. “It is.”
They take a seat on the sofa across from us again. My mom pulls out her phone. “Do you mind if I share the good news with a few people?”
“We’re trying to keep it quiet since Harper is a public figure,” I say.
“Only family, promise,” my mom says.
“That’s okay,” Harper says.
My dad pulls out his phone too, and the two of them start texting like crazy.
I exchange an amused look with Harper.
My dad puts his phone down and turns to my mom. “We’re going to need more food.”
She nods. “I’ll call for some.”
He stands. “I’ll go next door and see if the Bianchis want to join us. They always have plenty of food.”
She jumps up. “Great idea!”
He grabs his jacket and goes out the door. My mom hustles to the kitchen to pull out a take-out menu.
“What’s happening?” Harper asks me. “Is everyone coming over?”
“Seems that way. I did tell them we had big news before we got here. Maybe they were hoping it was an engagement and spread the word to my brothers that we might have a celebration. Baby was a bonus.”
Her eyes widen. “They were that confident we were engaged?”
“I’m guessing, but…”
There’s a knock at the door.
“That was fast,” Harper says.
“Could you get that?” my mom asks, gesturing to me.
“Sure.” I walk over and open the door. My oldest brother, Dylan, is standing there, holding my niece Olivia, who’s holding a bouquet of congratulations balloons. His wife, Ariana, is behind him, with a double stroller for the twins.
“Is this where the party is?” he asks.
I laugh and let him in. “What did Mom and Dad tell you?”
“Mom said you were crazy about Harper, and she felt sure an engagement was in the works. So here we are for your engagement party. We were next door. Give him the balloons, Olivia.”
She thrusts them at me, and I take them. “Thank you.”
He sets her down, and she runs straight to my mom in the kitchen.
“Be right back,” he says. “I’m gonna help Ariana with the twins and their gear. Congratulations, Harper.”
“We’re having a baby too!” Harper exclaims happily.
He smiles widely. “Double congratulations are in order then. You’ll love having kids. We do.” He leaves to help his wife.
“Can you watch Olivia?” my mom asks us. “I’m going to the basement to get the decorations.”
“Mom, how in the world did you know?”
She taps her heart. “Mom radar working better than ever! I know you, Garrett, and when I saw you two together for Olivia’s big-sister party, I knew it was just a matter of time.” She beams and rushes to hug me and then Harper. “Harper, any questions you have about pregnancy or birth, anything at all, I’m happy to share. I had six healthy boys.”
Rogue Beast (The Rourkes, Book 12) Page 22