“Good for you, Liv. I knew you were strong enough to handle this. I expect the whole damned Chase family has gathered out there. I can deal with visitors just now but I want to make it clear that I do not want an audience or cameras in here when the big moment comes. Pictures before, pictures after. No money shots.”
Liv laughed. “Got it. No pictures of Maggie’s hoo-ha with a baby emerging. I’ll go let the hordes know you’re available for visits.”
Before too long, the room had filled with family and it had become a festive place. Whatever Polly told Kyle had calmed him but he didn’t move more than an inch from Maggie’s side.
They all took turns walking with Maggie through the halls as she labored.
On a break, Liv leaned into Marc, who massaged her shoulders. “Sorry about dinner, sport.”
“I’ll grab a rain check. This is more important. Have you eaten though? You want me to go and grab you something?”
“Not right now, but why don’t you go and get something with Kyle? He needs a break and the nurse said Maggie has several more hours to go.”
When the guys left, Liv turned down the lights and she, Cassie, Polly and Maggie all sat quietly. Maggie’s pain had ramped up considerably and she finally opted for an epidural so she rested, staring at a television movie while Liv watched Cassie make jewelry.
It was right that they all sat in the room, the generations all together as a new life prepared to make an appearance. By the time the men returned with food for everyone but Maggie, who waved away any apologies for not being able to eat, Liv wanted to simply snuggle with Marc until the sun rose.
Who knew that love would make her so content? But it had. Content and the restlessness was gone. Everything felt like it was supposed to be. She’d never felt so settled and happy and she refused to entertain any of those, oh no, what’s going to happen to end this, thoughts. Well, they were there in the background but she could beat them back.
Everyone but Liv and Kyle went to rest or nap in the waiting room when the labor nurse came to check on Maggie. She told them Maggie was just at four centimeters and they expected it to be several more hours before she’d be fully dilated.
Liv kissed Maggie’s forehead. “You’ve got a ways to go. Rest for now. I’m going on a walk with Marc. I have my phone and I won’t be far but you need to sleep. You won’t if I’m here.” She turned to Kyle. “Stretch out in that chair, it converts into a bed. You sleep too. She will if you will.”
Kyle hugged Liv and she went out and found Marc waiting just outside the door.
“I need to walk, get some air. You want to come with me?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.” Marc took her hand as they went to inform the nurse’s station that they’d be going on a walk for a while and to call if there was anything Maggie needed.
Once they’d gotten outside, Marc turned to her. “What do you need? You’ve been taking care of her all night, running interference, making sure no one pushed her too much.”
She laid her head on his chest, listening to his heart. “I love you,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“Oh, sugar, I wanted to say it first. I love you too. I want this with you you know.”
“You do?”
“I do what?”
She laughed. “You love me?”
“Woman, have you not listened to a damned thing I’ve said in the last months? Yes. Yes, I love you. It’d be impossible not to.”
She smiled. “Oh. Good. And what is it you want with me?”
“So many ways I could go with that question. But being serious instead of lascivious for a moment at least, I want a family. A life like Kyle and Maggie, Shane and Cassie have.”
“Marc, the age difference…”
“Stop it with that!” He pushed her back and shook his head. “That does not even matter. It’s six years, not even quite six years. You act like it’s twenty years. It seriously pisses me off.”
“It pisses me off that you think it’s nothing.”
He wrinkled his nose. “Please. You’re so full of shit for a woman who looks so good. I’m over twenty-one. And what difference could it make? Come on, sugar, it’s six years. When you get old, I’ll be old too. It’s not like anyone is going to think I’m marrying you for your fortune because you’re so old and hideous.”
She laughed. “Stop that. I’m serious.”
“So am I. Liv, tell me what difference our ages have to make in our relationship.”
“You have time left to get out there and sow wild oats. I don’t want you to settle down if you’re not ready.”
He snorted. “Olivia Jean Davis, girl, you are crazy. I’ve sowed ‘em. Lots and lots of them. I don’t have any more I want to sow except with you.”
They walked a while longer as Liv let herself believe in what they had together and it grew inside her until it filled every cell. Almost every cell. The fear still crouched, small and nearly defeated. She could be loved by someone like this man, damn it. She would do it because he was worth it.
Liv walked out of Maggie’s room, face bright with tears. “He’s here. Nicholas Edward Chase is now ready to see two people at a time. Maggie is tired but she knows you all want to meet him. Polly, why don’t you and Grandpa go first?”
Liv collapsed into a chair next to Marc and he hugged her. “You okay?”
“Oh my God. I’ve never in my life seen anything more amazing. Maggie deserves a medal. And Nicholas is the most beautiful boy. Looks an awful lot like your dad.” She stood. “I need to call Dee and Penny. Maggie’s dad is on his way here from the airport. I bet he’s kicking himself for having to take a business trip when Maggie had the baby.”
“Can I help with the calls?”
She smiled at him. “Thank you, darlin’, but I need you to be the gatekeeper. You’ll need to wrestle your parents out of there in about five minutes. Then Cassie and Shane can go in. Hopefully I’ll be back but I need to go outside to call. Only two people and only five minutes. She needs to sleep. They all do.”
She made her calls in the early afternoon heat. Smiling and crying as she relayed the details to Penny and Dee. Maggie would be so happy to see the flowers her students were going to send and Kyle’s employees would take care of their accounts for the next two weeks so he could focus on Maggie and the baby.
It was then she saw Lindsay Cole walking out of the building across the street from the hospital. She looked up and flinched when she saw Liv. Liv expected to feel fury but she didn’t. Instead she just felt sad that anyone could be so cold as Brody had been and Lindsay deserved him.
Liv had just been in the room to help her best friend deliver a new life into the world. No silly skank could ruin that. Not when she had Marc Chase in her bed and her heart.
She turned and went back inside.
Chapter Ten
Liv swayed in Marc’s arms on the dance floor. The Honky Tonk on a Friday night and the place was packed. The Dixie Chicks played and Marc was lazily propositioning her in her ear. Shivers ran up and down her spine as he described in great detail just how he was going to make her come.
They’d foregone pool and beer at The Pumphouse and had gone on an actual date instead. Liv saw Shane and Cassie nearby and Matt sat with Amy Jackson at their table.
“What do you say?” Marc pulled away from her ear to look into her face.
“I’m not sure that’s even physically possible but I’m up for it if you are.”
He laughed and she felt light and dizzy with happy. Could have been the lack of sleep because Marc had slept over the last two nights and she’d been over at Kyle and Maggie’s several times to check in. She wanted to bring by food but Polly had prepared enough food to keep them fed until Christmas.
“Okay. But a beer first to fortify me. Plus you realize this is our first actual out on the town date now that we’re an official couple?”
“You mean all the times you came over to have sex didn’t count?” Liv winked at him.
/> “Well, now yes they did. They did very fine. But this lets all these dimwits know you’re mine. So no more sniffing around you every damned time you’re out in public.” He frowned as he led her off the dance floor.
“Me? You’ve got to be kidding. Marc, a stream of women follows you by scent. Everywhere you go there’s some bimbo nearby fluttering her lashes and thrusting her boobies at you.”
“Boobies?”
“Yes, that’s how I think of them when their owner is twenty-two.”
He blushed and it was her turn to laugh.
“Olivia Jean, are you jealous?”
“I don’t like it, no.”
He stopped right in the middle of the aisle they were walking on. “Do you think I’d do you like Brody?”
“No. No I don’t. I wouldn’t be with you if I did, Marc.” She shrugged. “I didn’t accuse you of cheating on me. You made a comment about men sniffing around and I countered with your harem. Every Chase brother comes equipped with one apparently. You asked if I was jealous and I answered you honestly. Don’t ask a question if you don’t want to hear the answer.”
He relaxed and kissed her lightly. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I just hate that you might compare me to Brody.”
“I can understand that. But I wasn’t. I don’t like it that I have to wade through a bunch of women to get to you all the time.”
“Doesn’t signify. The only woman who matters is you.” He took her hand and tucked it into his arm and continued to walk her to the table. When they got there, he pulled out her chair, enjoying the view as she plopped into it.
“Nice jiggle.” He sat and poured her a beer from the pitcher.
“Hmpf. Hey, Matt.”
“Hey Liv, how are you tonight? Looking mighty fine.” Matt winked and Marc growled.
Matt just laughed. “It’s payback for all you’ve done to Kyle and Shane.”
“Just wait. You’re the last one.” Marc drank his beer while drawing circles on the back of Liv’s neck with the other hand, loving the way she shivered in response. He noted the stares that Liv attracted but also the way she ignored it.
Until Brody came in with Lyndsay.
Everyone at the table froze except for Amy who waved and called out Lyndsay’s name.
“No.” Matt shook his head and put his hand on Amy’s. “Neither of them is welcome at this table.”
Amy looked confused and then her face changed when she caught sight of Liv, blushing. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”
Liv shrugged. “It’s okay, Amy. I know you’re friends with her.”
“I know, but I wouldn’t want her at my table either if I were you. Even though I think you got a way better deal.” Amy smiled tentatively and Liv laughed.
“I know I did.”
Lyndsay had been on her way over with Brody until she saw who else was at the table and froze. Brody saw Liv and paled. Marc narrowed his eyes at them both. He was thankful Brody’s stupidity drove Liv to his arms but he hated the bastard for hurting her.
Shane and Cassie came up behind them and Marc noted with some amusement that Shane used a bit more of his body than was necessary to push past Brody. Cassie just stared at them like she smelled something nasty. Brody and Lindsay moved to the other side of the dance floor.
“Asshole,” Cassie muttered as she sat down.
Marc grinned as he looked around the table. His family was hers now too. He loved that she was so close to Cassie and Maggie. His family was important to him and she was already a part of it.
“It’s a small town. We’re bound to see each other. I’m surprised this is the first time I’ve seen him since the end of February.” Liv took a sip of her beer.
“I’m sure he’s been laying low. Everyone knows what he did. I told him what an ass I thought he was when I ran into him two months ago at the hardware store.” Marc thought Brody should have been glad the running into him part wasn’t with Marc’s truck.
“You didn’t tell me you ran into him.” Liv raised an eyebrow at him in question.
Marc shrugged. “It didn’t matter enough to mention. He’s a punk and he’s lucky I didn’t put my fist in his face.”
“Damn right,” Cassie said.
“Marc and I are going to be getting out of here. He’s got an ambitious new workout routine he’s promised to show me.”
Choking on his beer a moment, Marc stood with Liv and waved to everyone else as he dragged her out.
In the parking lot, he backed her against the side of his truck. “You’re playing with fire, Liv.” To underline his point, he rolled his hips, grinding his cock into her, inflamed even more when she half closed her eyes and moaned softly.
“You okay to drive?” Her hands skimmed over his shoulders and back as she writhed against him.
“I only had three sips of my beer before you dangled kinky sex in front of me. I’m as sober as a parson. If we don’t get going right now, I’m going to do you right here in the parking lot.”
“As tempting as that is, the family watching us through the window of the diner across the way might not appreciate it.”
He stepped back and opened the door. She climbed up and in and he smiled, catching the flash of bare leg he got as she scooted across the seat to her side.
“My place is closer.” He fastened his seatbelt quickly and put his keys in the ignition.
“Cool. I like having sex in your monument to bachelorhood.”
“Where do you get the stuff you say?”
“I’m naturally gifted that way.” She lifted her shoulders nonchalantly.
He drove safely but quickly to his apartment. Parking somewhat haphazardly, he dragged her up the stairs, pushed her inside and kicked the door closed behind him.
“Clothes off. Now.”
She took a deep breath and undid the ties at the shoulder of her dress. It fell to the floor, pooling in a spill of deep blue at her feet.
“You had no panties on that whole time.” He swallowed hard.
She shook her head. “Not a stitch.”
“Damned sexy. And oh so naughty.” He stalked toward her, yanking his shirt over his head, toeing his boots off when he reached her and tossing them back with the shirt.
“I have this recurring fantasy.” He looked down at her, liking the way her mouth turned up at the corner when he said it.
“Oh? Do tell.”
“It involves you, on your knees.”
She dropped to her knees and he sucked in a breath.
“Like this?” She looked up at him.
“That’ll do nicely. And then you suck my cock. Afterwards, we make love nice and slow. This after I go down on you of course.”
She reached up and unzipped his jeans, freeing his cock. “Of course.” Her tongue darted out to lick around the ridge of the head. Swirling her tongue around him as she took him farther and farther into her mouth. The heat built in him. Her mouth, hot and wet, surrounded him fully as her nails lightly scored his balls. Pleasure so intense he had to lock his knees to keep from crumbling, burst through him.
Liv thought she was pretty darned good at oral sex. Because she loved it. Loved making him squirm and groan, loved the feel of his cock in her mouth as it got harder and harder. There was power there, even on her knees, because it was her and no one else who made him feel that way.
Over and over again, she took him into her mouth, rocking back and sliding forward on him, keeping him wet and the pressure even. Every few passes she added a flick of her tongue just beneath the head.
His hands squeezed her shoulders, guiding her movements. No other man would have been allowed to do that but with him it seemed natural. Not overly aggressive or controlling in a negative sense but more like he couldn’t resist because he needed her that much.
“You feel so good, sugar. I don’t know what I did to deserve a gorgeous creature at my feet, sucking my cock, but I’m thankful to the powers that be for you. Fuck. Fuck. I’m close.”
She hummed her a
pproval around him and he cursed under his breath before he groaned low and long while he came.
He sank to the carpet beside her, bringing her to lie across his body as he caught his breath.
“Yeah. Better than the fantasy. Not that it’ll stop me from having more fantasies about you or anything. Now I’ll have more fodder.”
She laughed and he rolled her over onto her back, looming over her. “That was spectacular, Liv. Now, I think it’s your turn.”
“Like I’m gonna argue?”
Marc looked down at her, lying there beneath him, naked but for some seriously sexy heels. The look in her eyes made his heart sing. Trust. Love. Openness.
The long line of her neck called to his lips and he didn’t resist. Leaning in, he licked from shoulder to earlobe, loving the way she arched into him, giving him more of her neck.
No shy miss here. She widened her thighs and rolled her hips. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, urging him on.
Taking his time, he meandered over the hills and curves of her body, licking across her collarbone, laving his tongue through the warmth at the hollow of her throat. His fingers kneaded her muscles as he moved down, kissing the curve of her breast until he reached the nipple, swirling his tongue around it and sliding the edge of his teeth across it until she gasped.
“You like that?”
“Yes, oh yes. More, please, Marc.”
“Since you asked so pretty.” He continued to kiss down the bottom slope of her breast, over each rib, down the soft plane of her belly, pausing to dip his tongue in the sweet well of her navel.
Her low moan of encouragement made him grin as he sat back on his heels. Grabbing her ankles, he pushed her knees up and pressed them wide, opening her up to him completely.
She gasped and caught her bottom lip between her teeth.
“You need to keep your thighs wide for me. If you move them I’ll stop. Can you do that for me, sugar?”
She blinked rapidly, licking her lips before managing a nod.
Satisfied, he slid his palms down her thighs and pulled her labia apart just before lowering his mouth to her and taking a leisurely lick. He felt her thigh muscles tense under his hands but she relaxed, keeping her legs open.