El listened to the steady thump of Brogan’s heart beneath her cheek. Warmth radiated off him and flowed over her, soaking in to help shield her from the chill in the air. The drone of rubber rolling on tar, the murmur of Quinn and Rowan’s voices and Brogan’s words of reassurance that everything was okay, melded together in a soothing rhythm that comforted. Winding mountain roads swayed the truck in a rocking motion that lulled her to sleep as she lay in Brogan’s arms.
Brogan held her close, stroked his hand up and down her back and dropped the occasional kiss on her head. When they pulled into the driveway it seemed like only five minutes since they’d left town, not an hour. Quinn parked as close to the house as the snow drifts would allow. The engine died and everyone moved quickly, cold air bursting into the cab of the truck as the doors opened.
El slid from Brogan’s lap to the seat and waited for him to hop out. She climbed down, only to be lifted off her feet before they touched the ground. Holding on, she let Brogan carry her to the porch. Rowan opened the front door as they came up the stairs. A blast of hot air flew through the opening and surrounded them. The warmth smelled of spaghetti sauce and spices, everything that reminded her of home. El’s tummy rumbled, the scent of her Grandma’s special recipe sparking her hunger. Brogan laughed and continued into the house.
“Hungry, are we?”
“I guess so. I hadn’t thought about it before now.”
“Well, once I get you tucked up in bed I’ll bring you some dinner.”
“I can eat downstairs, Brogan.”
“Nope. Doc said complete bed rest until she sees you again next week.”
“I don’t think she meant I couldn’t get up to eat.”
“Complete bed rest is complete bed rest, Eloise. That means no getting up for anything, including food.”
They made it to the top of the stairs before El realized he was serious. “I think the idea was to take it easy but I’m sure I’m okay to get up for the essentials, like eating and bathing.”
“There will be no getting out of bed for the next week. I want to make sure your body recovers from the traumas of the last two days.” Anxiety and fear laced Brogan’s words.
El sighed, she didn’t want to upset him and if she was honest the thought of spending a week in bed with Brogan held an appeal all its own. He strode into the bedroom, kicked the door closed with his boot as he passed and placed her on her feet next to the bed.
“Do you need to use the bathroom before you get into bed?”
She shook her head.
“Okay, let’s get you out of that ugly gown first.”
He reached behind her to undo the ties of the horrible green garment the Gordie had given her. The material wasn’t the best, it was new and still held the stiff, rough feel all new clothes have before they’ve been washed several times. Once the ties were free, Brogan peeled the loose fabric from her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Her nipples pebbled as the scratchy material brushed over them.
El shivered.
Being naked while Brogan was fully clothed sent an erotic jolt through her. After the day she’d had, sex should be the last thing on her mind but when it came to Brogan it seemed to be the only thing she thought about. He reached around her to yank the covers back before easing her onto the cool sheets. The idea of getting into bed alone held no appeal and El grabbed his hand to pull him in with her.
“Hey, none of that. You need to rest and if I get in there with you there’ll be no resting anytime soon.” He tugged to free his hand.
“I don’t need rest right now, Brogan.” She tightened her grip. “I need you to hold me. Need to know this is real and that we’re both okay.”
Brogan didn’t say a word. He shook off her hold and began stripping out of his clothes. El scooted back in the bed and made room for him to climb under the covers with her. Warmth came off him in waves, banishing the chill in the bedding and the icy fear that had remained in her heart. They were safe, maybe not unhurt but safe from the man determined to do them harm.
El wrapped her arms around Brogan and pulled their bodies together until skin touched skin. Heat lashed out, zipping along nerve endings to set them alight with desire. Arousal swirled in the pit of her stomach, spreading out ribbons of warmth to drive her need for closeness higher. She smoothed her hands over his hot flesh until being held wasn’t enough. She wanted to consume him—be consumed. Taken to the place where only Brogan could lead.
She covered his chest with open-mouthed kisses. Her tongue and lips teased each of his nipples until he moaned in pleasure. Sliding her hand between them, El circled his hard length with her fingers. The hot, pulsing flesh burned her skin and sent a shudder of delight into her core. With a firm grip, she worked her hand up and down his cock, smoothing her thumb through the bead of moisture that formed on the head.
“Jeez, El. You need to rest.”
“No. I need this. I need to be as close to you as I can get.” She stroked him harder.
“Christ.”
Brogan’s breath came in ragged puffs that blew at her hair and his hips jerked into her as he grew harder in her grasp.
“Dammit, El, we shouldn’t do this,” he ground out between clenched teeth as he grabbed her hand to stop her movements.
“Yes we should.” El tilted her head back to look into his eyes. “Please.”
He stared at her, the swirl of emotions in his eyes mesmerizing. Whatever he searched for he found, because in a heartbeat he pulled her hand free and rolled them until she lay pinned beneath him. Air rushed from her lungs, sucked out by the molten desire flashing in his gaze.
“Fine, but we do it my way, my pace.”
Breathless, El nodded.
In slow motion he lowered his mouth to hers. The agonizing wait both excited and frustrated her. Brogan’s tongue swept between her lips, delving inside to tangle with hers. She tried to take the kiss deeper but he pulled back.
“No.” He spoke against her mouth. “My way.”
His lips traveled across her cheek, butterfly kisses that soothed and seduced. Reaching her ear, he sucked the lobe into his mouth, nipped it with his teeth before his tongue traced the delicate shell. Warm air rushed over her skin leaving tingles in its wake. Brogan nudged her jaw with his cheek as he kissed his way down her neck and El turned her head to give him room to explore the sensitive flesh along her throat.
Brogan continued at his leisure. The unhurried pace tormented and teased El’s senses until urgency filled her. Clawing at his back, she arched beneath him, tried to drag him closer.
“More.”
“Soon.” His hot breath bathed her nipple seconds before the tight bud was engulfed in wet heat.
El cried out. Pleasure rippled over her to center in her core. Her clit throbbed and moisture dripped from her pussy to coat her thighs. Brogan switched to her other nipple, one hand cupping her breast to lift it to his mouth. He sucked hard, drawing more of the tip between his lips. His tongue swirled around the tender peak and jolts of electricity fired off in all directions.
Her head thrashed on the pillow. The sensations bombarding her drove her closer to the orgasm threatening to crash over her. Brogan’s hand left her breast, brushed over stomach muscles that quivered at his touch before sliding lower to cup her mound. Cream-slicked folds pulsed as he stroked her clit and El’s hips bucked as the first wave of her climax gripped her.
A sob of desperation caught in her throat as Brogan removed his hand. He pushed a knee between her legs, shoved them wide and placed the head of his cock at her entrance.
“Not without me, El.” He dropped to his elbows and cupped her face in his hands so she was forced to look at him. “Don’t close your eyes. Watch me while I love you.”
Through heavy eyelids, El focused on the emotions swimming in the golden glow of Brogan’s gaze. Love, desire and need, with just a trace of fear swirled in a mesmerizing mix that she couldn’t look away from even if she wanted to. He rocked his hips and entered her slowly. Her drenched sheath welcomed him, clasping his length as each inch pushed inside.
Buried to the hilt, Brogan held still. His gaze dropped to look between them and El raised her head to glance down at where their bodies joined. While they both watched, he pulled out. Her pussy walls clamped hard around him in an attempt to keep him from leaving. His erection, glistening with her cream, caused her muscles to flutter around the head, dragging a groan from Brogan and a shudder from her.
In long, drawn-out strokes, he made love to her. In and out. Push and pull. Brogan took them on a slow ride to the top. El wanted to feel his mouth on hers. Needed to taste him. Raking her fingers through his hair she urged his head toward hers. She captured his lips. Spice and warmth exploded across her tongue as they deepened the kiss. Urgency built—in the probing of his tongue and the thrusting of his cock—until their movements became frenzied with the need for more.
Brogan plunged into her body, strumming sensitized tissues and setting off El’s orgasm. Wave after wave broke over her. His hips slammed forward, ramming his pulsing shaft to the hilt time and again. He sank his teeth into the side of her neck as he thrust deep one final time. With a guttural growl he came. Hot cum bathed her cervix, triggering a second climax. Her body bowed under him as breath stealing pleasure consumed her.
The rasp of harsh breathing filled her ears to compete with the pounding of her heart. Her nostrils were coated in the scent of sex and Brogan with every inhalation. His dead weight pressed her into the bed but El welcomed the burden. Their sweat-slicked skin grew tacky and cool as they came back to earth. He pushed up on his arms and withdrew from her body. Muscles gone lax with satisfaction clutched at his retreating flesh.
Brogan dropped to the mattress beside her—one arm draped across her chest and sighed. His eyes remained closed and El reached over to brush the hair from his forehead. He murmured something unintelligible but didn’t move. She smiled, had he fallen asleep?
“I love you.” The words left her lips before she realized she was even thinking them.
“Love you, too.” Brogan’s usual deep rumble was muffled by his face being squashed against the bed. His eyes opened, the beautiful gold color full of the emotion they’d just spoken. “Come here.”
Turning on his side, he pulled her close so they lay face to face. He dipped his head and kissed her, just a light peck on the lips. Leaning back, he studied her face for a few seconds. “We haven’t talked about it but are you okay with being pregnant?”
She smiled. “More than okay. I can’t explain it but everything just feels so right.”
Brogan’s hand slipped between them to rest over her still flat stomach. “I hope she’s just like her mother.”
El laughed. “And I hope he’s just like his father.”
“Maybe we’ll both get our wish.”
Her laughter stopped cold. Two? The thought of one terrified her in an exciting way, but two? She shook her head. “No thanks. One at a time will be just fine thank you.”
Laughter rumbled in Brogan’s chest.
“Are you still hungry? Want me to go get you some dinner?”
“No, I’m too tired to eat now, maybe later.” She cuddled in close, tucking her head on his shoulder. “Just hold me until I go to sleep.”
“I’ll hold you longer than that, El. I’m not planning on letting you go ever again.”
Her lips curved against his neck. He wasn’t the only one who wasn’t planning on letting go. She’d found the place she was supposed to be, the man she was meant to be with. There was no way in the world she was letting either go without a fight.