“It sounds like you’ve got everything all figured out.” Grasping the back of his head, Patricia drew him in for one of her sweet kisses.
When Jon came up for air, he stared into Patricia’s heavenly blue eyes and felt utter contentment wash over him. He smoothed her golden hair away from her face, enjoying the way it spread across his pillow and fanned out around her slender shoulders. My God, he thought in wonderment as he dipped his head to kiss the hollow of her throat, he was in love with a goddess. “I got your gift,” he blurted out, continuing to kiss a path down her chest. He lavished attention on each breast, licking her nipples until they beaded against his tongue, then moving further south.
He was so in tune with her body, he felt the instant Patricia’s muscles tensed beneath him. “And?” she asked hesitantly.
Jon smiled into the valley between her breasts. “And I can’t think of a more perfect gift.”
“I know we didn’t get a chance to talk about it, but are you sure? You’re not upset?”
“It’s not something I expected,” he admitted. “I kind of always pictured my life moving in a series of events, but no, I’m not upset.” He reached her flat stomach and pressed a kiss to the soft skin just below her belly button. When he lifted his gaze, they were shining with his happiness. “I love him already.”
Reaching for him, Patricia ran her fingers through the hair at his temple. “Him? I hate to break it to you, but I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a girl.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I have a sixth sense about these things.”
Jon’s eyes flashed and a grin spread across his face. “I think you just pulled that out of your ass.”
Patricia burst out laughing, making her breasts jiggle deliciously. As Jon crawled up her body and nestled himself between her legs, he took in her toothy smile and felt his stomach flip. “A daddy’s girl,” he mused, nuzzling his nose against hers. “I think I can live with that.”
Patricia cinched her legs around his hips and her arms around his shoulders, her expression growing serious. “I want this to work.”
“So do I.”
“I mean, I don’t want to hurt you again. I know we don’t really know each other, and everything is moving so fast now, but I’ve never felt like this about anyone before.”
Jon silenced her with a kiss. “You’re right, things are moving fast, but sometimes I think that’s what it takes to open your eyes to what’s standing right in front of you.”
“Aren’t you afraid?” she asked, her eyes wide.
“Not in the least, and do you know why,” Jon asked, reaching between them to guide himself inside of her, “because I love you, and I know that you love me.” He pushed deep inside of her, dragging a moan out of both of them. “We have all the time in the world to figure out the rest.”
They made slow, passionate love, and when they were both spent, Jon eased them under the covers, holding Patricia and their baby as close to his heart as physically possible. He knew that she was scared of the unknown, of how fast things were progressing between them, but Jon knew what it was like to be without her, and he never wanted to experience that again. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that he would do anything and everything to ensure that they never spent another day apart. She was his life and his future now, and he would protect and nurture her until he breathed his last breath.
Those were Jon’s last thoughts before he slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Patti awoke to the shrill sound of a telephone ringing.
Jon let out a small groan as she slipped out of his arms. Scooping his oversized T-shirt off the floor, she slipped it over her head and tiptoed into the living room to dig her phone out of her purse.
It took a moment for her to recognize the number, and when she did, she swiped her finger across the screen, her heart beating a mile a minute. “Tate,” she answered, holding the phone to her ear in a death grip.
“Patti,” he said, his voice strained. “Sorry to wake you, but we’ve just checked in at the hospital.”
Patti’s smile spread so wide she thought her face might crack. “Okay. I just need to get dressed and freshen up and I’ll be on my way.” She skidded to a stop just outside the bedroom door. “Tate, I’m so happy for you guys.”
“Yeah, yeah, none of the sappy stuff. It’s just a baby. People do this every day, right?” he said flippantly, but Patti knew by the slight tremor she detected in his voice that he was just trying to remain calm.
“Of course they do,” she assured him. “Just let Piper know that I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“I will, and Patti,” Tate said just as Patti was about to hang up. “Were you able to work things out with Jon?”
Peeking through the bedroom door, Patti looked at Jon, who was just tossing his feet over the side of the bed. He was gloriously naked, his muscles flexing as he pushed his fists into the side of the mattress and stood. Even with bleary eyes and dark hair sticking up at odd angles, the devilish look he sent her made her breath catch and moisture flood between her legs.
Would she ever get enough of this man?
“Yeah, we worked everything out,” she responded, completely distracted as Jon opened his arms, and she walked into them.
“Good, I’m glad to hear it. Tell him not to forget the cigars.”
“I heard that,” Jon said, taking her hand with the phone in it and bringing it to his ear. Patti rested her head against his chest, listening to the hollow depth of his voice as he laughed about something she couldn’t hear, too busy enjoying the warmth and comfort of being in his arms.
“I guess we’re headed out,” Jon said a moment later, handing Patti back her phone. She lifted her chin to look at him, and Jon took the opportunity to pinch it between his thumb and forefinger and drop a kiss to her lips. “As much as I’d love to keep you in bed all day, we should get moving.”
Patti stuck out her bottom lip. “I thought you said that we weren’t leaving the house ever again?”
Jon’s hand swung at her, smacking her butt with a resounding crack, and Patti shrieked, jumping away from him. “There’s another one where that came from. Now get dressed, wench.”
“Is this what I signed on for?” Patti asked, feigning shock and dismay.
“If by that you mean keeping you barefoot and pregnant, a slave to my every whim, then, yes. Yes, you did.”
Patti watched longingly as Jon slipped into the same pair of jeans he’d been wearing only hours before. “Don’t forget the occasional spanking,” she rebutted.
“There’s that, too.”
Patti sat on the edge of the bed and slid her legs into her pants. After buttoning and zipping them, she fingered the hem of Jon’s shirt, reluctant to take it off.
“Keep it on,” Jon said, rounding the side of the bed and snaking his arms around her waist. His mouth captured the side of her neck, licking and sucking just over her pulse point. “There’s nothing sexier than seeing you wearing my things.”
He pushed her back on the bed, inching his hands under the shirt to cup her breasts in his palms. “Jon, we’re never going to leave if we don’t stop now,” Patti moaned, tilting her head back to give him better access to her throat. She felt the button on her jeans pop free, and then Jon’s hand was burrowing underneath the material. He found her wet and wanting in a matter of seconds.
“Oh, baby, you are so ready for me.”
“I’m always ready for you.” She sucked in a breath, barely containing a scream as Jon pushed two of his thick fingers inside of her.
Dropping his forehead to rest in the curve between her neck and shoulder, Jon groaned as though in agony. His hips surged forward, grinding his thick, hard cock against her inner thigh. “Fuck, I don’t want to stop. Tell me to stop,” he begged.