Knocking Up His Bride Read online

  I smile and look down at that. A lumberjack. Maybe in another life. I should lie to her, tell her some fantasy story about a background I could be proud of. But when I meet her eyes again, I realize that I just can’t do it.

  “I’ve only been here for a couple years. First moved to Frozen Falls, then built this lodge. It started out as the space you see here.” I look around at the rough-hewn wood walls. “But then I kept expanding. First for Barrow, then Diego, and finally Tiernan.”

  “Are you brothers?” She finishes her Cheetos and licks her fingertips.

  My cock demands that tongue lick elsewhere, but I need to focus. This is important.

  “No. Well, not by blood. We’re the closest thing to brothers, but that’s because we come from similar pasts.” I drop to my knee in front of her, and she stops licking and stares at me, surprised. “We’ve all done bad things. For money.” I sigh.

  “That’s okay.” She puts her coffee down and leans forward. “You mean like strippers? I’d never judge, though.”

  I bark a laugh and press forward, resting my head in her lap. She strokes my cheek, and it all just feels so … right. I don’t want to ruin it with the truth.

  With an easy pull, I spread the blanket and look up at her round tits, the nipples already hardening for me. Rising, I claim one in my mouth.

  She moans, and when I reach beneath the blanket and grip her hips, she arches her back. I suck first one breast and then the other, giving them so much attention that she starts to rock her hips, her body demanding more. With a yank, I pull her forward on the chair and spread her legs.

  Diving down, I taste her again, relishing every bit of her as I tongue her clit.

  She gasps, the coffee forgotten as she grips my hair and rocks her hips. “Yes, please.”

  “You need me here?” I ask and lick her clit again.

  “Yes, Charles. Please.”

  I can’t deny her, so I give her all I have, licking her until she comes, her body twisting tight, then unwinding on my tongue. When her pleasure ebbs, I rise and pull her up with me, holding her in my arms as I kiss her, giving her the taste I’m already addicted to.

  “I need to be inside you,” I growl against her mouth. I need to know this is real.

  She twines her arms around my neck. “Yes,” she moans as I suck her throat. “I’m yours, just please give me everything.”

  I grin against her skin and walk her to the bed. I’ll give her all I’ve got, every last drop, and show her just how much forever can mean to a man like me.

  9

  Clover

  He lays me in the center of his bed the same way he’d done before. I watch as he pulls his shirt off and then his pants revealing his broad chest and thick thighs. I lick my lips at the sight of him in only his boxer briefs. I don’t miss the outline of his erection. The man looks like a freaking god. No wonder he so easily saved us all.

  I push up onto my elbows to get a better look at him. While his whole body is ripped in perfection, I can still see the scars that mar parts of him. Ones that tell me that he hasn’t had an easy life. Some of the marks are faint and look as if they’ve faded over time, but some are still very prominent. He doesn't get to hide all of them the way that many of us do. My fingers itch to touch them. As if my touch could soothe them or take away whatever memory he had of receiving them.

  He told me he was a bad man. But how bad could he be when he saved all of us? Bad men don’t save people. Do they? They also don't make you sandwiches and cut them into diagonal pieces for you either. I don’t know what kind of bad Charles thinks he is, but I’m more than fine with it. At least I think I am. My sex is doing most of the thinking for me at the moment.

  When my eyes meet his all I see is hunger and need. It had been there the last time, too. He comes down over me, and I put my hands on his chest stopping him.

  “Last time you had me naked in your bed, you walked out on me.” I try to keep the emotion out of my voice. I’m usually pretty good at doing it but with him not so much.

  “I hurt you.” He breathes out. His eyes close for a moment. “I told myself that I needed to touch base with everyone to make sure they were all okay. That I needed to get you food. But I think I was freaking the fuck out to be honest with you, Clover.”

  “You can always be honest with me.” I run my fingers up his bare back. As I go, I feel more of those scars.

  “If I told you everything you’d be trying to get out of here as fast as you could.”

  “I’m a terrible runner. I’m sure you’d catch me.” I smirk.

  “I can promise you that. I’d always catch you.” He leans down and kisses my neck before he begins to trail kisses all over me. As much as I want his mouth everywhere, I need it more between my legs. The ache there seems to only be getting worse. Even though he already gave me multiple orgasms earlier, my body wants more. He gave me a taste of the pleasure he could provide and made me greedy. I want it all now.

  “Charles, I need you.” I whisper his name, pleading for him to make the ache go away. I lift my hips off the bed, trying to get the friction I need. I feel his hand reach down to grip my hip, holding me in place. I let out a whimper that soon turns into a moan when he takes my nipple into his mouth. I tangle my fingers in his hair as I watch him lavish my breasts with attention. I swear I could come just from watching.

  He moves to the next. I try again to move my hips, needing to come so badly. The man is made of solid muscle, and I realize that I’m not going anywhere unless he lets me. That should scare me, but it doesn't. When it comes to Charles, being scared is the last thing I feel.

  As crazy as it sounds, being near him feels like I’ve come home. There was an instant bond that formed between us when he trusted me to lead the way. That he had faith in me that I could do it.

  “There’s no going back now, you know.” His voice is deep and rumbles from his body. “If I take you, I’ll never let you go. Hell, not sure I’ll let you go either way.”

  “Take me.” I reach down between us. He helps me free him of his boxer briefs. I wrap my hand around his cock. He lets out a strangled groan that has me pumping him fast. One of his hands wraps around my wrist to stop me.

  “Put me inside you. I want to come in you, not on you.”

  I can feel myself blush at his comment, but I don’t shy away. At this moment, I feel sexy and wanted. Charles' eyes are always on me. As if I’m the only woman he sees. It doesn't just make me feel pretty or sexy. It makes me feel powerful.

  I line him up with my opening.

  “Fuck, you’re wet for me. I want the taste of you on my mouth before I sink into your cunt.” I dig my fingers into his shoulder, stopping him. “I need you in me, Charles. Need you to be the man to take the one thing I’ve never given any other man.” His eyes go wide for a moment in understanding. Then they darken.

  I press the end of his cock to my opening. “Make me yours.”

  “You’re already mine.” His mouth crashes down onto mine as he pushes inside me. I feel the pinch of pain but it’s nothing compared to what he makes me feel. I finally belong somewhere.

  He keeps kissing me as he thrusts in and out. We both come, crying out each other’s names. Charles still pushes on. His cock is still hard inside me. I see the need in his eyes to make me orgasm as many times as he can.

  And he does until sleep takes me.

  10

  Charles

  Mine. It’s the only word I can think of as she sleeps in my arms. The first rays of sun are trying to peek through the snowy scene outside. They coat her face in warm light, but she slumbers peacefully.

  I want to touch her all over, to marvel at her and imprint every curve into my memory. Instead, I let her sleep and hold her to me, thanking the universe for sending me one good thing. I’ll take it. And keep it. Unexpected and amazing, Clover is everything I’ve ever wanted but knew I didn’t deserve.

  Footsteps outside my door have me tensing, but then I relax when I recogn
ize Tiernan’s gait. He passes by, likely on another check of the lodge and perimeter. We all have checkered pasts, none more so than me, but Tiernan certainly gives me a run for my money.

  With a quiet sigh, I ease back onto my pillow and just enjoy her. I’m already planning on adding more rooms to the lodge, making room for a walk-in closet for Clover along with a spot outside our room for a hot tub. I bet she’d like that. Somewhere nice and warm to sit and watch the falling snow. Naked, of course.

  My cock has been awake for hours, and now it hardens even more just thinking about her naked in a hot tub. Fuck, that would be heaven.

  I’m halfway to waking her up for another round when something outside the window catches my attention. Movement. And it’s not the tree branches or a snow drift collapsing. Something’s out there.

  I ease from beneath Clover and pad over to the wide window, keeping to the side of it so I can see without being seen. The hairs on the nape of my neck stand on end as I peer into the white wonderland. A bird, maybe?

  No, my hackles don’t agree with that guess. There’s something else. Something wrong out there.

  “Charles?” Clover calls. “Where are you?”

  “Here.” I back away from the window, keeping an eye on the woods. Nothing moves.

  I slide back between the sheets and pull her to me. She snuggles tight to me, her soft breath against my chest. My eyes are still on the window. The lodge is wired with state-of-the-art security, not to mention the bulletproof glass and massive amount of firepower we have stocked in every room. If someone’s out there, they won’t last. Not in this weather, and not up against four of the deadliest men the clandestine services have ever seen.

  “When you said you were bad, what did you mean?” Clover asks sleepily. “I had a dream that you were onstage dancing to Ginuwine’s ‘Pony’ and stripping as all the ladies in the audience cheered and I really wanted to kill them for even looking at you and that seems normal right but is that the kind of bad you meant?” She runs out of air at the end.

  I kiss the crown of her head. “Did I at least dance well in your dream?”

  She smiles. I can feel it against my chest, right over my heart.

  “You were amazing.”

  I snort a laugh. “Good.”

  “What was out the window?” She’s already drifting off again.

  “Nothing.” I finally stop looking. None of the alarms are triggering. It’s either Leonard or my imagination.

  “No matter what happens, I want you to know last night was the best night of my life.”

  I blink. What does that mean? What is ‘no matter what happens’? I already know what happens. She stays here with me. I’m the only man for her. Maybe I didn’t prove it well enough last night? I mean, sure, I made her come so many times I lost count, but if she thinks there’s someone else out there who could—No. I can’t even finish the thought.

  With a shove, I push her onto her back and roll on top of her.

  “You’re mine, Clover.”

  Her eyes open, and she spreads her legs for me. “What do you—”

  “Say it, Clover. Tell me you’re mine. You can’t walk into my life and think for a second I’d ever let you walk back out.” I kiss her, putting my heart into every touch of my lips to hers. “I’m not good at words. Never have been. But I need you to know that you’ve changed everything. Before you showed up on the road that day, I was just biding my time. Before, I was a bad man. I did bad things for a shadow organization.”

  She blinks. “A what?”

  “A brotherhood of assassins.”

  She gasps at the last word. “You weren’t a stripper?”

  I nuzzle my nose against hers. “No, pretty eyes. I did things for money, but it wasn’t taking off my clothes. It was violence.” I hesitate to say the next word, but she needs to know who I was so she can understand who I am. “Murder.”

  Her brow furrows. “You killed for money?”

  I nod and press my forehead to hers. “Yes.”

  She takes a deep breath. “That’s kind of intense.”

  I bury my face in the crook of her neck and breathe her in. “That part of my life is done. This part of my life—it’s all about you now.” I kiss her throat, desperate for another taste of her. “I knew it the moment I saw you. You’re mine.”

  “So you’re never going to let me go?” she asks.

  I lift my head and meet her gaze again. “Never.”

  “Charles,” she breathes and lifts her hips.

  I take the invitation and sink inside her. “So fucking hot and wet.” I thrust smoothly. “You’ve brought me to my knees. Does that turn you on?”

  “Yes,” she moans as I bend my head down and take one of her nipples in my mouth. I suck and lave the hard tip as I keep thrusting inside her, taking her fully, giving her all of me now that she knows everything that matters.

  “I’m a bad man, pretty eyes.” I meet her gaze again, her eyes heavy lidded as she arches into my strokes. “But I think that turns you on, too.”

  She sinks her nails into my shoulders as I bite down on her bottom lip. Her orgasm hits hard, gripping my cock tight as she moans my name. So fucking hot. I push deep inside her and release, coating her in me as I take what’s mine. And then I do it again. And then again before the sun has even cleared the trees.

  “Forever,” I whisper as she slumbers on me once again. My eyes drift to the window, and I see Leonard romping around the woodpile, making a mess and enjoying the snow. Fucker.

  I fall asleep content with my love in my arms and my heart in her hands.

  11

  Clover

  I pace back and forth at the end of the bed. Charles watches me as I do it. He’s leaning up against the headboard with his hands behind his head. The sheet only covers him to the waist, so I can see every ripped inch of him. His scars are on full display, but they only add to his appeal. I’ve met so many singers and actors in my life.

  There were some stunt doubles and action heroes mixed in there, too. I’m pretty sure Charles is the real deal based on what he’s told me. I mean, no one would confess to murdering people for money if it weren’t true, right?

  His eyes remain trained on me. I’m guessing because I’m naked with only my glasses on. The way his eyes trace over me, you'd think I was a supermodel. I should probably put some clothes on, but once my mind starts going, I can’t stop it. His words keep replaying in my mind again and again. I reach down and snag his shirt off the ground, I slip it on before I get back to my pacing. He continues watching me, so I know it’s not the naked thing. The man really can’t keep his hands or eyes off me.

  Aurora is usually the one that gets all the male attention. I’ve never felt jealous of that fact. I love that girl as if she were my sister. But I have to admit it does feel good to be the one that a man can’t keep his eyes off of. To have someone that desires me. A man that vows to keep me and never let me leave.

  “You freaking out on me about the whole—”

  “The killing people thing?” I interrupt him. “You've been inside me twice since you made that confession. I think it’s safe to say I don’t care.” I don’t. I think that’s what might be bothering me the most. Shouldn’t I care that he’s murdered people? I’m not even sure what not caring says about me, but I think if Charles killed anyone it was for a good reason. They must have needed killing. He’d saved us, and all he’s given me is pleasure. No one’s dead. At least, I think no one’s dead.

  I stop, turning to face him. “What about like messing someone up?”

  “Messing someone up?” He gives me a smirk.

  “You know, like breaking their kneecaps or whatever. Do you take those sorts of jobs?”

  His smirk turns into full-on laughter.

  “I could hire you,” I say defensively, putting my hands on my hips. “Maybe you could rough the guy up a bit. Break his jaw maybe. That way he wouldn’t be able to open his mouth. I bet that would stop him from spreading all thos
e lies.”

  Charles’s face starts to turn more serious. “Who are we talking about?”

  “Better yet, you could break his fingers! Then he wouldn’t be able to tweet any of the shit he does now.”

  “Tweet?” His eyebrows furrow as though he has no clue what I’m talking about.

  I wave my hand. “It's some social media thing. Aurora has a stalker. He needs a good beating.” I shake my head.

  He tries to fight a smile at my suggestion to hire him, but I see it still.

  “Or maybe he could disappear.” I bite my lip, not sure I really want it to go that far. Then again, Charles is asking like there’s a chance he might handle it.

  “Tell me exactly what he’s done.” There’s a tick in his jaw that I know is only going to get worse once I start spilling the details.

  So I do. I tell him about Kent’s obsession with Aurora and all the things he’s done so far. How he has some clout in the entertainment world, and he’s using it to try to intimidate her. How I’m sure there are more women out there that have had to deal with this behavior from him. I think some girls might have even lost roles—or worse—because they wouldn't do the things he wanted them to. I have to admit that it feels good to tell Charles. To get it all off my chest.

  “If he’s doing these things out in the open, I can promise you the things we don’t know about are probably three times as bad.”

  I swallow, thinking he’s right. Charles gets up from the bed to come stand behind me.

  He kisses my neck. “We’ll figure this all out. Let’s shower first.”

  I nod, still thinking.

  He turns to go to the bathroom, and I hear the shower come on.

  Daphne. She would know more about Kent Kingston. As if my mind conjures her up, I see a flash of red hair through the window. I grab my sneakers and put them on. “What are you doing?”