“Thank you, Mike. That means a lot,” Caden said. Was Makenna imagining it, or were Caden’s cheeks turning pink, just a little? How freaking cute was that?
“Listen, Patrick’s probably climbing the walls,” Dad said. “Let me head out so he can come back. They’ll only allow two at a time.”
“I can go so you can stay and visit,” Caden said, gesturing to the door.
Her father shook his head. “Your place is right here.” He clapped Caden on the back then looked at Makenna. “Get some sleep. I’ll see you in a while.”
“Thanks, Dad,” she said.
When he left, Caden leaned against the rail of her bed and bent down to kiss her forehead. “Your father’s a helluva guy.”
She grinned. “Yes, he is. And so are you.” Makenna only hoped that things went as well with her oldest brother.
The thought seemed to beckon him, because the next instant, Patrick walked into the room and came right up to her on the opposite side of the bed from Caden. “Makenna, Jesus. You scared the hell out of all of us.” He kissed her on the forehead. “You okay?”
“Yes, I’m going to be fine. Thank you so much for coming down,” she said.
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else. None of us would. You know that,” he said, still not acknowledging Caden. Makenna’s shoulders sagged, but they had to work this out between them.
An awkward silence stretched out and Makenna was debating how to make all this right when a fluttery tingle flitted through her belly. And again.
“Oh! It’s happening again,” she said, grabbing Caden’s hand. She flattened it against her belly. “I don’t know if you’ll be able to feel it but this is the second time I’ve felt the baby move.”
Caden’s face was a mask of joyful anticipation as he leaned over her. He shook his head, his smile bringing out his dimples.
“Damn,” she said. “I guess we’re gonna have to get used to the kid not doing things when we want him to, huh?”
Chuckling, Caden nodded. “Sounds about right.”
“So, you’re in this, then?” Patrick said, finally looking at Caden. “You know what, let’s take this into the hall so we don’t disturb Makenna.”
Caden straightened and met Patrick’s intense gaze eye to eye, then nodded.
“Guys, it’s okay,” Makenna said, worry slinking through her.
“Don’t worry,” Caden said, kissing her on the forehead. “We’ll be right back.” They disappeared into the hallway, but they didn’t go so far that she couldn’t hear a lot of the conversation.
“I’m all in,” Caden said. “I know I made mistakes, but I’ve worked to fix them, and I won’t make them again.”
A long pause, and Makenna could imagine the hard-ass expression on Patrick’s face. Cop face, she always called it. “She deserves everything, Caden.” Makenna’s heart melted at her brother’s protectiveness.
“I couldn’t agree more. And I’m going to make sure she has it. That they both do,” Caden said. Just a few short hours ago, she’d worried she’d never hear Caden say something like that ever again. Now here he was, making amends with her family and holding his own. More proof of how far he’d come.
Another long pause, and she couldn’t hear what they were saying.
“Yeah, well, if I do, I’ll kick my own ass.” Caden’s voice, followed by laughter.
“You got a fucking deal,” Patrick said.
A moment later, they returned to her room. “Everything okay?” she asked.
Caden and Patrick exchanged a look and a nod, and then Caden gave her a smile. “I’m here with you, Red. Everything’s finally perfect.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“This is my favorite Valentine’s Day ever,” Makenna said, sitting in the rocking chair as Caden drove in the last screw on the baby’s crib. What could be more romantic than the father of her child whole-heartedly throwing himself into decorating the baby’s nursery? They’d been working on it for hours, both of them perfectly content to just be at home together on this day that was all about celebrating love.
They’d gone with a red, yellow, and light blue color scheme and a fireman and Dalmatian dog theme. Makenna’s guess had been right—they were having a boy. Caden had teared up upon seeing the ultrasound and learning the news—it was one of the sweetest things Makenna had ever seen.
Caden’s smile brought out his dimples. “Oh, yeah? Me too.”
She popped a piece of chocolate from a big box he’d given her into her mouth, and looked around at what used to be Caden’s spare bedroom. She’d moved into his house the week after she’d been released from the hospital. Caden had insisted, and Makenna had fallen in love with him even more for how much he’d been doting on her.
“There,” he said. “All done.” He rose and slid the crib into place against the wall, then settled the mattress inside.
“It’s coming together so nicely,” she said, looking up at the mobile with its hanging fireman’s helmet, Dalmatian, fire hydrant, and fire truck. “Such a cute room.”
“I have an idea.” Caden disappeared for a moment and returned with the stuffed bear she’d gotten him all those months ago. “I think this guy should go in here. The baby’s very first bear. A gift from his mom and his dad.”
“Have I told you lately how sweet you are?” she asked as he placed it in the crib.
He gave her a sheepish smile and knelt in between Makenna’s thighs. “Our son deserves everything.” He pressed a kiss to her belly—she wasn’t very big yet, but there was no mistaking that she was pregnant. “And so do you.”
She rubbed her hand over her short hair. “We all do,” she said. “And we have it.”
Leaning closer, Caden cupped her cheek and kissed her, a slow press of lips and a soft slide of tongues. “You taste fucking delicious,” he said.
“I do?” she whispered, her arms wrapping around his neck.
He nodded and deepened the kiss. Then he tracked kisses from her cheek to her jaw to her ear.
“Watching you being all handy and domestic is really hot,” she said, smiling.
He chuffed out a laugh against her neck. “Like that, do you?”
“A lot,” she nodded.
“Any time you want me to hammer, drill, or screw, you just let me know,” he said.
Makenna laughed. “I want those all the time, Caden. Don’t you know?”
A mischievous grin on his face, he rose and pulled her up with him. Kissing her again, he walked them out of the nursery and into their bedroom. Boxes of her stuff lined one wall—slowly, but surely, they were getting her settled in. “Tell me what you want.” His dark eyes blazed at her.
“You,” she said, pulling her shirt over her head. “Just you.”
He kissed her shoulder, the swell of her breast, her nipple through her bra. “You have me,” he said. “You always have.” He unclasped her bra and flicked his tongue over one nipple than the other.
Before long, they were both naked and Caden was pressing her back onto the bed. He dropped to his knees and pushed her thighs apart. The look on his face was pure masculine hunger as he leaned in. He kissed her thighs, her hip bone, the skin just above her pubic hair, driving her crazy and making her need him even more. And then he pressed a firm kiss against her clit, and Makenna couldn’t help but thrust her hips.
“You want me to put my mouth on you here?” he asked, his breath ghosting over her most sensitive skin.
“God, yes,” she said, looking down her body at him. He was so fucking sexy, his big shoulders filling up the space between her thighs, that harsh face peering at her with such intensity.
“Say it,” he said. “Tell me what you want.”
“I want you to make me come with your mouth,” she rasped.
“Fuck, yes,” he said, and then he was on her. Licking, sucking, relentless, driving her out of her mind. He penetrated her with one thick finger, then with another, his fingers moving inside her as he sucked hard on her clit and flicked it with h
is tongue. His lip piercing pressed against her flesh, a feeling that always drove her wild.
Makenna cried out and grasped his head, holding him to her, pressing him down. “God, I’m going to come already.”
He growled his approval and sucked her harder, faster.
She held her breath as her orgasm washed over her in wave after wave. “Holy shit,” she rasped.
“Again,” he said, a mischievous glint in his eye, his pierced eyebrow arched. He angled his fingers inside her and hit a place that sent her flying.
“Jesus,” she rasped. “That’s so freaking good.”
As he worked his fingers deep inside, he flicked his tongue over her clit hard and fast. He reached his other hand up her body and grasped her breast, his fingers stroking and squeezing her sensitive nipples. Makenna’s body wound back up fast, arousal and lust and love lancing through her for this man. This gorgeous, sweet, damaged man. Her Caden.
“So good, so good, so good,” she said, her hips moving, her heart racing.
“Come on my tongue, Makenna,” Caden gritted out. “I want it.”
The need and arousal in his tone shoved her closer to the edge. And then he angled his fingers to stroke that spot inside her again and again.
She came on a scream, her body shaking and the room spinning. Turned out that pregnant sex had some fun benefits—she found it easier to have multiple orgasms and they were so much more intense. Makenna reached her hands out to Caden.
He crawled up over her and pushed her up against the pillows until he could settle between her parted legs. “Love you so fucking much,” he said, taking himself in hand. He leaned down and kissed her, an urgent kiss filled with heat and love and need, and then his cock was right there and sliding deep.
“Love you, too,” Makenna moaned, arching beneath him. Hearing him say that would never get old. Finding him in that elevator had been such a gift.
Arms braced on either side of her shoulders, Caden’s hips moved in a slow, grinding rhythm. His gaze dropped down to where he disappeared inside her. “Looks so fucking hot,” he rasped. “Feels so good inside you.”
She ran her hands down his strong sides to his ass, his muscles clenching beneath her grip. “Harder,” she whispered, needing more of him, needing all of him.
“Don’t wanna hurt you,” he said.
“You won’t,” she said. “Need you so much.”
“Jesus,” he said, coming down all the way on top of her. His hands slid beneath her ass, tilting her hips, and then his hips were flying—hard, fast, delicious. Every impact ground against her clit until Makenna was panting and digging her fingers into his shoulders. “You own me, Red. Do you know that?” he whispered against her ear. “There isn’t a part of me that isn’t yours completely.”
The words squeezed her heart and made her soul fly. “I feel the same way, Caden. You’re everything to me.”
“Fuck,” he growled, his hips moving faster. “It’s too good.”
She wrapped her legs around his hips and dug her heels into his ass. “Come in me. I want to feel it.”
He circled his hips, the new sensation suddenly pushing her closer to orgasm. “Oh, God.”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t stop,” she whispered. “Don’t stop.”
“You gonna come for me again?” he asked, kissing her ear.
All she could do was moan as sensation twisted faster and faster low in her belly.
“Aw, so fucking tight,” he rasped.
And then she was crying out and coming, her body gripping his.
“Yes, Makenna, yes. I’m coming. Coming so fucking hard,” he said, his voice low and gritty. His cock pulsed inside her as his hips slowed and jerked.
When their bodies calmed, he eased from inside her and rolled them over until she was laying half on top of him, his arm around her shoulder and holding her close.
“I never thought I would have all this, Makenna,” he said, kissing her forehead. “It’s more than I ever hoped for.” He tilted her chin up so he could look her in the eyes, eyes that were lighter and more unburdened than she’d ever seen them. Since they’d moved in together, he’d told her everything he’d done to get himself healthier while they’d been apart. And she was so proud of him, proud that he’d had the courage to look all that darkness in the face and still manage to find the light. “You’re more than I ever hoped for.”
She stroked her hand over his scar, her chest so full of love for this man she wasn’t sure how she contained it inside her. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life making you happy.”
He pressed her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm. “You know what, Red? You already do.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
5 Months Later
“Oh, Makenna, he’s healthy and beautiful and just perfect,” Dr. Lyons said as their son made his entrance into the world. The baby cried, and the sound crawled right into Caden’s heart and made it fuller than it’d ever been in his whole life. How had he gotten so lucky?
“Good job, Makenna,” Caden said, pressing a kiss to her damp cheek. “You did it. I’m so proud of you.”
“He’s here,” Makenna said, clutching Caden’s hand. “He’s really here.”
The doctor laid the baby on Makenna’s belly and clipped off the umbilical cord while a nurse dried him off and put a striped cap on his little head. And, God, he was so little. Little and beautiful and amazing.
“Would you like to do the honors?” the doctor asked Caden, holding the scissors out to him.
“Yeah?” Caden asked, smiling. Makenna grinned and nodded, and Caden cut the cord, bringing his son fully into the world.
Finished rubbing him down, the nurse covered the baby with a blanket and lifted him higher so Makenna could hold him in her arms. Seeing Makenna hold their son for the first time was something he would never forget. He shook his head as he looked at the two of them, just so filled with awe. This…this was his family. Leaning over, he stroked her hair. “He’s beautiful.”
“He really is,” she said, her voice shaky. “Hi, Sean, it’s so nice to finally meeting you.”
Caden gently cupped his hand around Sean’s little head. Sean David James Grayson. It was a big name for such a little guy, but they’d both fallen in love with it as a way to recognize the important people in their lives—his brother, the paramedic who’d saved Caden, and Makenna’s family. Wherever they were, Caden hoped his mom and brother would be proud.
The nurse gave the three of them wrist bands and took the baby’s footprint and weighed him, and then asked, “Would you like to try to feed him, Makenna?”
“Yes,” she said, her face lighting up. It took a couple of tries, but Sean caught on pretty fast. And the wonder on Makenna’s face was so fucking sweet that it made Caden’s chest ache.
Caden held the boy’s tiny hand, the little fingers curling around one of Caden’s. And it gave him the best idea. Because today he was making this family official. He had the ring and the approval of her father and brothers—even Ian, who finally seemed to have warmed up to the idea of Makenna being with Caden—and now was the perfect time.
After a while, the baby pulled away and fussed, and Makenna nuzzled him, cooing and talking until the boy calmed down. For long moments, she and his son just stared at one another as she spoke quietly to him. Watching them, Caden had never felt happier or more grateful in his whole life.
“Your turn to hold him,” she said, smiling up at him.
Caden’s heart tripped into a sprint. Sean’s little body barely filled the crook of Caden’s arm. He was so little, so vulnerable, so beautiful, with a head of silky brown hair peeking out from beneath the cap and blue eyes that Caden hoped stayed that color. Part him and part her.
When the baby started to cry, Caden shook him gently in his arms and walked in a slow circle by the bed. “You and me are going to be good friends, little man. I’m going to teach you everything. I love you,” he said, “you and your mom both.”
r /> The baby’s little arm escaped from the blanket, and when Caden had his back to Makenna, he slipped the ring from his pocket and put it in the baby’s palm. Sean’s fingers closed tightly around it. “You can do the honors for me,” he whispered, then he turned to Makenna, nervousness suddenly racing through him. “He’s perfect, Makenna,” Caden said, laying the baby on her chest again. “And I think he has a gift for you.”
She gave Caden a questioning smile and grasped Sean’s hand. The diamond glinted and Makenna gasped as she slipped it from his little grasp. “Oh, Caden.”
Heart in his throat, he went to one knee beside her hospital bed and took her left hand in his. “Makenna James, you are everything I want and need in this world. I love you with all my heart, and I promise to devote myself to loving you and taking care of you and building a wonderful life for you and Sean. For the three of us together, as a family. You are the best thing that ever happened to me, and I would be the happiest man in the world if you would agree to be my wife. Makenna, will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she said. “Oh, Caden, Yes.”
Caden took the ring and slid it on her finger. Finding where he belonged in this world—and that it was with her—was a gift bigger and more meaningful than he’d ever imagined possible. He rose and kissed her, softly, sweetly, with so much love.
“I’m the luckiest man who ever lived. Thanks to you.” He kissed Makenna again, then kissed Sean’s head. “And you, too.”
Makenna smiled even as her baby blues filled with happy tears. “I love you, Caden. So much.”
Caden smiled back, his heart so damn full. “Aw, Red. I love you, too. Forever.”
Read on for a sneak peek at Laura’s sexy and suspenseful new series, beginning with Ride Hard…
The Raven Riders MC
Brotherhood. Club. Family.
They live and ride by their own rules.