Courtney looked up at Logan, taking in his desire-filled eyes, open white shirt, and the expensive silver watch on his wrist. He’d barely touched her and she was writhing on the bed, needy as hell for him. She had a feeling that it was always going to be like this.
They’d sneak kisses where they could, when the children weren’t looking. Exchange hot glances during the baby’s bath time, counting down the hours until they’d be in bed again. It would be exhilarating, crazy-making, and everything she knew she wanted.
He completed her in every way.
Standing at the end of the bed, he shucked off his shirt, his eyes still trained on her as he unfastened his watch. He was only in dress pants, and she swallowed hard as her gaze dipped to his muscled chest, his ridged abdomen, then down further still.
He’d already taken her clothes off, kissing her neck, her shoulders, her chest as he removed every piece. Then he’d told her to lay on the bed and wait, his voice so sure it sent tingles to every nerve ending in her body.
In the bedroom he was bossy. Everywhere else? They were a team.
Just the way she liked it.
“Open your legs,” he said, and she did exactly as she was told. He stepped out of his pants, wearing only his shorts now, and climbed in between, running his hands along her calves, her thighs, then up to her swollen stomach.
“I love this,” he said pressing his lips against her belly. “You’re gonna have to eat a lot when the baby comes so I can keep this belly.”
Amusement mingled with her desire. “You can’t keep this belly. I’m not walking around looking like I’m five months pregnant just for your… oh.” He closed his mouth around a nipple, making her back arch with pleasure. “What was I saying?”
He smiled against her breast. “I think you were saying you’d do whatever I wanted,” he said softly, sucking at her again.
“Did I?”
He stroked her stomach softly, moving his palm down until he was right where she needed him, the heel of his hand pressing against her. “I guess the other option is to keep knocking you up.” He lifted his head, his eyes teasing. “It’ll be a tough job…”
“Birth control.” She gasped as he dragged a finger against her. “We need to take all the birth control after this baby is born. You’re too potent for your own good.”
He brushed his lips against hers, his finger circling her in a rhythm that stole her breath away. “Yeah, but we don’t need to use it right now.”
No, they didn’t. And she was really glad about that, because he was driving her crazy with only his touch. She reached her hand down, her palm brushing against him in a way that made him hiss loudly. “Yeah,” he murmured against her mouth. “That’s good.”
She couldn’t get enough of him. That’s what four days of not talking did to her. She wasn’t sure she’d survive that again. She pulled his shorts down, smiling, because she knew she didn’t have to.
Yeah, he still had Boston to sort out, and that would take time. Plus they were going to have a baby, and everybody knew how much strain that could put on people. But he was hers, the same way she was his. She had been since the moment their eyes connected on the road, right as Hester flew toward him, feathers everywhere.
He slid against her, large and thick and oh so hard, making her hips roll until he was almost inside her. He kissed her throat, her chest, then brushed his lips against her nipple. “You ready, baby?” he asked, glancing up at her through his lashes.
Yeah, she was ready. For him, for their life, for everything they were going to face. Together.
And as he slid inside her, she knew it was the start of something wonderful.
Chapter Thirty-One
FOUR MONTHS LATER
May had always been one of Courtney’s favorite months. The weather was warm, the crops were growing, and the fields were full of baby animals following their mothers around like, well, sheep. It was hard work – farming always was – but it was rewarding to see all their plans coming to fruition.
Her work this year had been different than normal. For a start, they had an extra pair of hands in Ben, the local college student who came to work every other day, taking over the hard labor tasks that Courtney could no longer manage at thirty-four weeks pregnant. Technically, they had two extra pair of hands, if you counted Logan, who’d taken to helping Ellis out on the land whenever he had a chance.
She glanced across the lawn at where he was standing with his brothers, the four of them laughing and raising bottles to each other. She’d gotten close to them all. Gray and his soft strumming of the guitar whenever they all got together. Tanner and his grin and penchant for practical jokes. And especially Cam, who looked so much like Logan, yet was completely different in temperament. Though they both had a competitive streak that made her secretly smile.
“This place is beautiful,” Becca said as she walked over, holding a glass of champagne in her hand.
They’d decided to hold the baby shower in the gardens of The Secret Gourmet. It was the perfect location. The cherry trees were blossoming, and birds were chirping in the branches. It felt like the beginning of something new.
“Here,” Becca said, passing Courtney an orange juice as she kept hold of her champagne flute. “I thought you could do with a drink.”
Courtney smiled at Logan’s sister. She was growing fond of her, too. Becca was younger than the brothers, but somehow balanced them out. And she loved the way they all protected her like mother hens. She took the orange juice from Becca’s outstretched hand. “Thanks, I was about to grab one. The way the baby keeps kicking I’m going to need all the energy I can get.”