by Reina Torres
Jake lifted a hand and trailed his fingers over the soft swell of her breast and brushed the pad of his thumb over her nipple, drawing a gasping breath from her lips.
“You’re so damn beautiful, Hill. So perfect in every way.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but he stopped her with a look.
“Don’t argue with me, baby. You’re not going to win.”
“Even if I decide to play dirty?” Hildie dropped her bra down to the cold tiles at her feet and hooked her thumbs into the thin side-straps of her bikini-panties and gave him a look that told him exactly what was on her mind. “Like, invite you into the shower with me?”
Hildie wiggled her panties over her hips and turned toward the mirror as she stepped out of the pale pink confection. Jake stepped up behind her, set his belt and holster on the counter with a soft slap of leather and put his other hand on her hip.
The cold marble counter-top pressed low against her belly, and she had his warmth at her back.
Jake leaned down, and she felt the subtle scrape of his shirt and his buttons against her back. “Let’s get you in the shower.”
He wove their hands together and led her to the shower, turning on the water and letting it heat while Hildie helped him strip out of his clothes. She loved the feel of his skin under her palms, smoothing her hands up his chest and down over his hips. When she reached in a hand to test the heat of the water against her arm, she leaned into him, pressing her body against his as she lifted her chin to whisper to him. “Come with me, Jake. I need your hands on me.”
He followed her willingly into the glass walled shower and picked up the bar of soap that she’d given him. Smiling, she watched as he lathered up his hands and set the bar back down.
She backed up against the wall and watched as he followed her, his hands reaching for her as she leaned her head back against the tile. He settled his hands on her shoulders and smoothed them down over her arms, holding her still for a moment, his hands resting just above her elbows as he kissed her.
Hildie sighed into the kiss, laughing when his lips touched a kiss to the tip of her nose.
“You’re so beautiful.”
She laughed again, and her hands reached out and managed to grab a hold of his backside and dug her fingertips into it as she rose up on tiptoe to kiss his lips again. “Don’t talk, Jake… show me how you feel.”
The man sure could take a suggestion. His hands moved over her breasts and her belly, working the soap suds over her skin and teasing her nipples with his fingers and his palms until she was breathless and shuddering, her thighs clasped tightly together as she tried to relieve some of the tension building inside.
“Hey now,” he lowered his hands and settled them on her thighs, sweeping his thumbs along the graceful arc at the tops of her thighs, brushing against the silken curls covering her sex, “don’t get ahead of me. I was hoping to take some time with you tonight.”
“We can take our time later, Jake.” Pushing away from the wall, she wrapped her arms loosely around his neck and pressed against him. There was no hiding how much he was all in for another one of her suggestions.
He added more soap to his hands and smoothed them over her back and lower until he cupped her backside and drew her even closer. The friction of their bodies felt like heaven and torture at the same time. Hildie tipped her chin down and traced the outside edge of his nipple with her tongue before lightly biting into his skin as her tongue continued to caress him.
“Hill, baby, you’re going to have to stop that.”
She released him to look up through the humid haze of his shower. “Why? You seemed to like what I was doing.”
His laughter was a warm chuckle. “Like doesn’t even come close, but I need to get inside you and after what happened today, I’m not sure my legs will hold us up.
“I came so close to losing you.”
“No,” she shook her head, “we got another chance to set things right between us.”
Jake shut off the water and dried Hildie off before turning the towel on himself, talking as he worked. “When Anne came into the station, I was upset. I felt like she was undoing all the good you had done for her. But then I realized that I was wrong.”
He saw Hildie’s widening eyes and the glint of humor in her expression.
“Yes, I was wrong.” He swept her up into his arms and walked her into the bedroom, setting her down on the cool sheets and bracing his hands beside her, near her elbows. “You don’t just give your time and effort into a void. They know how much you give them, and they appreciate your work. If it hadn’t been for Anne’s selfless act, offering herself up as bait, it might have taken us too long to find you.
“I might have lost you forever.”
She wiggled underneath him and hitched one leg high on his hip before matching the movement with the other.
She cradled him against her sex, the warm radiating heat of her body calling to him as he reached a hand down to fit himself into her folds.
“Yes…” his voice growled in the quiet of the room as her body gave and then stretched around his thickness, drawing him in deeper. “So damn tight.”
Hildie lifted her knees and dug her heels into him, pushing him in to the hilt. The moan that crawled from her throat made him harder, hotter. His skin felt tighter, his nerves on edge, and need crawled up his spine.
“Jake?”
He opened his eyes and looked down at her, her warm skin on display. Her breasts with their tight rosy tips made his mouth water, but his focus was on her and the worry in her tone. “Yeah?”
“I was going to tell you, earlier. When I came to the station…” she released the pressure of her heels and he eased out, almost to the tip, “that I was wrong.”
Gritting his teeth, he sank deep inside of her again. “And I was going to tell you,” he let out a little grunt as he bottomed out, “that I was wrong. I shouldn’t have pushed you like that. I’m not going to make that mistake again. Baby, I love you.”
Her cheeks flushed pink, and the color spread below her collarbones and across the tops of her breasts, making his cock twitch inside of her.
“Oh,” she smiled and reached up her hands to trail her fingertips down his chest, “that feels so wicked.”
He sat back and rolled his hips into her. “And that?”
“That?” She sighed and curled her fingers as she trailed her closely trimmed nails across his abs. “That feels like heaven.”
Jake repeated the motion and thrust harder into her body. “You scared me half to death, Hill. I never want to feel like that again.”
She gasped as he picked up a rhythm, seating himself inside of her over and over. “I’m still going to do my job.”
“And I’m going to take care of you. Love you.” He rose up on his knees as he picked up more speed. “Protect you. Whatever it takes, Hill. You and me.”
“Oh, yes,” her voice was softer, higher, “you and me, Jake.”
He lifted a hand from the mattress and swept his thumb over her bottom lip. Trailed his hand down her neck, cupped her breast in the warmth of his hand, and gave her nipple a light pinch.
“Jake!”
He continued, dragging his palm over her belly, pausing just below her bellybutton. “You’re going to marry me, Hill. You’re going to make an honest man of me, and then we’re going to have babies. Lots of babies.”
Her eyes fluttered closed as he spoke, punctuating his words with thrust after thrust into her beautiful body.
“Yes, god yes, please.”
“And I’m always going to be there for you.”
“We’re going to be there for each other, Jake. Always.”
Hildie’s eyes snapped open as his hand moved over her silken curls and found her clit with his thumb. He gave her just enough pressure to make her tighten around him, and when her inner muscles worked along his shaft, he felt his whole body tighten up and climb toward his release.
“Jake?” Her voice was a ple
a, trembling with the movement of their bodies. “So close… yes, right there, I-”
Her orgasm took him over the edge. Not just falling over it, but soaring over it. She couldn’t keep her hands off him, couldn’t seem to set them in one place, but he didn’t care. Everywhere she touched him she left a trail of fire, and with every babbling word she gave him joy and contentment.
He was right where he should be. Where he needed to be.
With Hildie.
Epilogue
The Queen of Angels Church stood open when Hildie practically dragged Jake up the steps and into the quaint sanctuary. There were a number of floral arrangements up at the front of the church by the altar and the baptismal font had been installed at the front of the room, centered in the cascading lights from the brass fixtures at the front of the hall.
Hildie felt Jake’s hand give hers a squeeze.
“Don’t forget to breathe.”
She rolled her eyes and knew by his soft chuckle that he guessed her reaction even without seeing her face.
“You were almost hyperventilating in the car, Hill.”
Turning around to face him she gave him a stern look that instantly dissolved into a look of fear, lower lip trembling.
“Hey,” he gently took her face in his hands, “what’s wrong?”
She tried to shake her head but he held her still.
“No, don’t try and tell me you’re not afraid of something, Hill.”
She shrank a little at the thought. Hildie had tried to cover it as best as she could, but of course Jake had seen right through her. Leaning closer, she whispered to him even though they were the only people in the small chapel. “What if I’m a horrible fairy godmother?”
She saw him smile and then she heard his soft laughter, but she didn’t feel like he was making fun of her. No, Jack McGowan was trying to make her feel better.
God, she loved him so much.
“First of all, my love. You’re only required to be a godmother. The fairy part is only for animated movies or story books.”
She winced at his words and laughed at her own odd turn of a phrase. “Okay, you got me there. Now, what’s the second thing you were going to say?”
He lifted his hand and held her chin while he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. When he pulled back, he leaned a little closer to her. And surprisingly the heat of his larger frame didn’t make her uncomfortable, just comforted.
“Second, you’re going to be the best godmother the world has ever seen. You’re already crazy over the baby and Sloane knows that you would do anything to take care of her if something happened to-”
She clapped a hand over his mouth. “Nope, don’t even say it.”
He just kissed her palm and she leaned into the intimate touch with a sigh.
“Hey, you two!”
Hildie stepped back from Jake with a soft yelp. “We weren’t doing anything!”
Sloane laughed at her and slowly moved closer bouncing the baby gently in her arms. “That wasn’t what I was about to say, but it sounds like you’re feeling a little guilty.” When Sloane was just a foot away, she whispered softly. “She’s been missing her Aunt Hildie.”
With a snuffle of sound, the baby’s eyes opened and turned to look at Hildie.
And Hildie couldn’t help the little keening sigh at the movement. “Yes... of course!” She gently held out her hands. “Hand over my goddaughter.”
Vicente stepped up and held out a cloth. It was Jake who took if from the FBI Agent and laid it over Hildie’s shoulder. Sloane handed the baby over with a bright grin. “All right, Lora’s been waiting for you all morning.”
Hildie gently settled the baby against her shoulder and placed the lightest of kisses on the downy curls that had quickly grown after the baby’s birth. “She’s just the sweetest thing.”
Rocking the baby with the gentle bouncing motion that had seemed to come naturally to her, Hildie leaned down again to inhale that perfect powdery fresh scent that she’d come to love so very much. “Lora, my little sweetheart.”
Vicente’s normally warm voice dipped lower in the register and softened. “You’re really great with her. A calming influence.”
Hildie couldn’t help the wry smile that touched her lips. “No one has ever said that about me... ever.”
“Hey,” she felt Jake wrap his arms around her, “everyone knows how much you care about people. There will be plenty of time to go wild when she’s a little older.”
Vicente groaned and Lora’s eyes fluttered open at the sound.
“Shhh... shhh... little one.”
The baby’s lips opened and closed before she turned her head toward Hildie’s chest.
“Looks like she’s going to want her mama in a minute.” She hoped no one else heard the wistful tone in her voice. She really didn’t want to hand the baby over so soon.
Sloane set a hand on her shoulder. “Why don’t we go into the suite and when she’s really ready I’ll feed her.”
Hildie’s relieved sigh didn’t fool anyone.
“Are you and Jake getting ideas?” Sloane looked over her shoulder as she walked beside Hildie. “I think you’re getting a little baby fever.”
Jake cleared his throat and Hildie heard his hesitation. “I don’t know if I should-”
When Sloane reached out to open the door for them, Hildie paused and turned so she could meet Jake’s eyes. “Go ahead,” she gave him a wink, “I know it’s hard for you keep it a secret.”
Hildie saw Sloane’s eyes widen in her peripheral vision, but her eyes were on Jake and the way he looked at her. It never failed to amaze her how just a look from him could make her feel the most intense joy and love that was echoed by her own feelings for Jake.
His face warmed with masculine pride before he turned to meet Vicente’s curious gaze. “I hope you won’t mind being a godfather for us later this year.”
The door to the suite swung shut as Sloane wrapped her arms around Hildie, but kept her voice to barely a whisper. “When did you find out?”
“A few days ago.” Hildie rubbed her hand over Lora’s back to soothe the soft murmurs she was making. “After my OB confirmed we were nearing the end of the first trimester we were trying to find a good time to tell you.” She lowered her gaze to the top of Lora’s curly head. “I didn’t want... I wasn’t sure...”
“Hildie!” Sloane hugged her closer and pressed a kiss on her cheek. “Of course you should! We’re sisters!”
Hildie felt a tear course down her cheek and Sloane swept it away with her thumb.
“I think it’s great! Our babies are going to grow up with each other.”
A cautious smile touched Hildie’s lips as she turned to look at Vicente. “And I wanted to make sure that you didn’t want Pilar to be Lora’s godmother. I’ll always be here for this little love,” she touched her cheek to the top of the baby’s head, “but Pilar is your blood. Your closest sibling.”
Vicente took his hand off of Jake’s shoulder and moved to her side. “Pilar is my sister and she’ll love Lora just like you do, but her life is in Center City now. You’re a huge part of our life here in San Antonio and we think you’re going to be an important part of Lora’s life.”
Sloane bobbed her head in agreement. “And we’ll be here for your babies too.”
Hildie pulled in a breath and blinked back more tears. “It’s crazy to think of where we were just a couple of years ago. The two of us working all hours of the day thinking it was just going to be the two of us forever. And now,” she turned to look at the two men beside them in the hall, “we’re both in love and still doing the work we love.”
With a sweet sigh, Sloane agreed. “We’re just as dedicated as we were before, we just have more love in our lives to share.”
Jake opened the door so that Sloane and Hildie could go inside the suite together when Lora started to fuss. He stayed outside with Vicente and found himself drawn into a conversation with the FBI Agent.
�
��Feels different, doesn’t it?”
“Hmm?”
“Knowing you’re going to be a father. It changes everything.”
Jake chuckled. “No kidding. Hildie thought I was a little over zealous about safety before. Last night I ordered child-proof covers for all the plugs around the apartment.”
Vicente laughed out loud. “And I thought I was bad.”
Jake leaned against the wall and sighed. “We haven’t told her parents yet.”
“Oh,” Vicente sounded genuinely surprised, “I would have thought that she would have gone over almost immediately.”
Wincing, Jake shook his head. “Her mother thought I was there to arrest Hildie when I went over to their house for dinner, still carrying my badge. Hildie’s convinced that her mom would get out a shotgun the instant she hears the news.”
Vicente agreed all too quickly for Jake’s nerves.
“I’ve only met her mom two times, but I say she’s hit the nail on that. Her mom would drive you to a church and drag both of you in there.”
“I’m not all that worried,” Jake smiled at Vicente’s almost horrified look, “Hildie gives me that same look.” Pulling his hand from his suit coat pocket he turned it palm up so that Vicente could see the small velvet box. As he spoke, he opened the top of the ring box. “I bought this about a week after we got Hildie back. It took me a few days to find the right style, the right stone. Once that was done, I bought it and I’ve held it ever since. I just wasn’t sure it was the right time.
“We were spending time with your family and we both still had work and the time we’ve spent alone... I didn’t want her to think I was only asking because... because...”
“Because you were in bed?” Vicente chuckled. “I know what that’s like. All of that heat, the passion, neither one of you were probably thinking much, you could barely catch a breath... but how much longer are you going to wait?”