Catch 'n' Kiss (Are You Game?) (29 page)

“Mmm…” She leaned back against him and hummed out a breath.

“Jody?”

She dug her nails into his forearms as she hissed out a breath.

“Jody?” She had him worried now.

“Can you ring whoever drew the short straw for coming to sit with the girls while we’re at the hospital?” She let go and stepped from his arms like she was doing nothing more than getting a drink of water.

“It’s time?” Did his voice just go up two octaves? “It can’t be time.”

“Babies always have their own timetable. Ours has chosen today.”

“But…” He watched as she pulled some things from her suitcase and piled them on the bed. Why was she unpacking now? “What are you doing? We have to go.”

Dan wasn’t proud to say he was beginning to panic. What if she had the baby before they made it to the hospital? He moved next to her and grabbed her hand.

“Jody. Talk to me. I’m freaking out here.”

She patted his cheek. “Relax, these things take a whil—” The word was cut off by a gasp and she doubled over just as water splashed over his bare feet.

“Fuck.”

“Okay,” she panted. “Maybe this won’t take so long after all.” She gripped his arm and dug her nails in so hard he had to clench his jaw to keep a cry of pain from escaping.

“Leigh! Amy!” he yelled.

Both girls came running and skidded to a stop in the doorway.

“Get the phone. Call 000,” he ordered as another pain ripped through Jody.

“Is Mum having the baby now?” Leigh asked. “She can’t have it now. It’s not time.”

“Try telling him that.”

“Her,” Jody got out through gritted teeth.

Dan eased her towards the bed.

“No. Not on the bed. I don’t want to ruin the bedding or mattress.”

“Screw that.” Dan scooped her up into his arms and placed her on the bed. “We’ll buy new ones if we have to.”

“Dan.” She grabbed his arm. “This is happening too fast. We aren’t going to make it to the hospital.”

“Clearly.”

“Ring doctor—argh…” Jody gripped her stomach and groaned through the next contraction.

“How close are they? I haven’t been keeping track.” Dan glanced at the alarm clock, noting the time. “Where’s the phone?”

“They’re on the way,” Leigh said.

Dan turned to see his step-daughter with the phone to her ear.

“The lady wants to know how close the contractions are.”

Dan looked back at Jody just as another pain gripped her midsection. “Shit. Less than a minute.”

Leigh relayed the information and then disappeared down the hall calling out, “I’ll get Amy to direct them in.”

The next few minutes were a blur of Jody’s pain and Dan’s panic. When the paramedics rushed into the room, Dan wasn’t sure which one of them breathed the bigger sigh of relief. It didn’t take them long to determine the baby wasn’t waiting for a trip to the hospital to enter the world. He followed directions. Tried to remember the breathing from class but he couldn’t, and when one of the paramedics said the baby was crowning, his whole existence boiled down to this monumental moment.

Leigh and Amy hovered near the door and he wondered if he should shoo them away or urge them closer. He sat on the bed behind Jody, propping her up so that she could concentrate on bringing their child into the world. And with the very next contraction, she did.

The hearty wail of a newborn filled the room and tears slid down Dan’s face. It didn’t matter what they had as long as the baby was healthy and his wife of three months didn’t kill him for making her go through this. His world was complete.

“It’s a boy. Here you go, Mum and Dad.”

The paramedic passed the slippery bundle of squirming arms and legs. For a second, Dan’s heart stopped. But he wasn’t about to miss this catch. And with his son firmly in his grasp, he ended the game with a kiss on his wife’s head.

About the Author

Years of slavery to four young aliens and their sire failed to squash the love of writing or reading hiding behind the facade of a boring stay-at-home mum. Escaping from the mother-ship with vivid imagination intact, Rhian uses her superpowers for good.

Okay, so that’s not quite how it happened. A 20-year marriage to her very own hero and raising a family of four kept writing on the back burner, but with more time to spend on the things she loves most, Rhian and her accomplice, Mr. Muse, have taken over. Writing in a multiple of genres keeps life interesting and busy.

An Aussie who’s spent years living overseas Rhian is now happily residing with her family back in their native land of down under. Rhian can be found in numerous places online where her love of talking is well satisfied.

To learn more about Rhian and her writing visit her website,
www.rhiancahill.com
. You can contact Rhian at
[email protected]
.

Look for these titles by Rhian Cahill

Now Available:

Party Games

Truth or Dare

Spin the Bottle

Are You Game?

7 Minutes in Heaven

It’s all fun and games until their hearts are on the line.

7 Minutes in Heaven

© 2013 Rhian Cahill

Are You Games, Book 1

Cassandra Moreland’s hard work to build her party-planning business is starting to pay off. There’s only one thorn in her side—a six-foot-five wall of testosterone throwing his weight around while she supervises her friend Lil’s first party. Butting heads doesn’t work. Ignoring him
really
doesn’t work. Not when he makes her pulse race and her palms sweat. But no way will she give in to his demand to shut the rowdy party down.

Lucas Wilhelm, head of McDermott Security, can’t believe the pint-sized brunette has the balls to go toe-to-toe with him. Strangely enough, that sassy mouth of hers isn’t ticking him off. It’s tightening his groin and stirring something much hotter than anger.

A stolen moment in a pantry leads to a challenge that pushes each other’s sexual boundaries to the limit. Except the rules go up in flames when they realize they’re not just playing around. They’re playing for keeps.

Warning: Contains an alpha male who’s used to being in charge, and a tough-as-steel woman who isn’t going down easy. Involves the use of beads, but not in the way you might think.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
7 Minutes in Heaven:

Luc relaxed the muscles in his arms and did the one thing he really didn’t want to. He set Cassie on her feet. Whoever had been hammering on the door had stopped, but the damage was done. Regret was written all over her pretty face. Scrubbing a hand over his stubbled jaw, he drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“Luc,” he said

Cassie’s gaze met his, one delicate eyebrow arched.

“My name. It’s Lucas Wilhelm. I’m head of McDermott Security, a position I’ve held for ten years.” Luc added the last part in the hope of reassuring her.

“Oh. Um, well…” She lowered her eyes, hiding the uncertainty swirling in their honey-coloured depths.

Placing two fingers under her chin, he tipped her head back until her gaze met his once more. “Don’t back down now, Cass. Where’s the woman who’s fought me for control for the last couple of hours gone?”

She shook her head, dislodging his fingers. “She just had common sense kissed right out of her.”

The small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth pulled at his gut and eased his mind. He hadn’t been sure at first, but now he didn’t doubt she’d bounce back from their mind-numbing lip-lock. Luc had expected they’d be explosive, he just hadn’t realised how unstable their chemistry was. He’d have to keep his hands off her until they were in more suitable surroundings or they’d find themselves sans clothes. There was one sure-fire way to keep her at a distance though. Strip her of control.

“As of now, this party is over.”

“What?” Her eyes narrowed to slits.

If looks could kill, the one she aimed his way would slice him to ribbons, and Luc figured she’d used it to de-ball many a man before him. Good thing he’d spent years developing a tough exterior. Although she’d found a way under his skin already, he wasn’t about to cower beneath her hostile stare. Luc embraced the hum in his veins. The zap delivered courtesy of her returning ballsy attitude. He’d never gone looking for a fight. Sure he’d been in plenty, but he’d never started one. Except now. With Cassie. And there was no denying the thrill thrumming in his blood. He was more than looking forward to their combat. He was eager for it to begin.

“As you can hear, there’s no longer music blasting through the house and that’s thanks to Lachlan McDermott ripping out power cables. If I were you, I wouldn’t be surprised when your DJ files a damage report and insurance claim.” Luc smiled as a growl rumbled in her throat. He’d never heard that particular sound from a woman, and he’d certainly never found it a turn on coming from any man, but there was no mistaking the tightening of his sac or the hardening of his erection.

“Damn men.” Cassie shoved passed him and flung open the door, using it to push him out of the way.

Before he got his head in gear and made it out from behind the door, she’d disappeared into the kitchen. With long strides, Luc followed only to witness her sexy arse vanish through the far doorway. Covering the distance in seconds, he found his men doing as he’d ordered. Between them and Cassie’s staff, the guests were quickly being ushered from the house in a tidal wave of drunkenness. His search for Cassie was hindered by the surge of bodies moving towards the front door, with his chances to spot her zero he let himself be swept up in the tide. When he reached the front yard, hire cars and drivers lined the street. Inebriated partiers tumbled into backseats, car doors slammed and departing vehicles were quickly swallowed up by the night.

With the party down to the last few stragglers, he turned back to the house determined to find Cassie while his men dealt with the remaining guests. He found her back in the kitchen. Leaning his shoulder against the doorframe, he folded his arms, crossed one ankle over the other and watched as she gave orders while packing box after box with glasses. The image of efficiency, her movements were economical and fluid, her speed and accuracy proving she’d done this a thousand times before. Luc relaxed and enjoyed the view. His pants grew snug and he had to shift his stance to alleviate the pressure.

Just when you think you know the rules, the game changes.

Spin the Bottle

© 2012 Rhian Cahill

Party Games, Book 4

Lillian McDermott can’t complain about the years she’s spent at the top of a career she never wanted. But modelling gave her everything. Amazing experiences and enough money to leave it all behind to start her own perfume and fashion label.

The one thing it didn’t give her is Mackenzie Harris. Her brother’s best friend. The man who sees her only as a surrogate little sister. Now, at the launch party for the next phase of her life, she’s done waiting. She’s going to rock Mac’s world until ignoring her is the last thing on his mind.

Mac isn’t blind to Lilli’s charms, and he never has been. But no best mate screws around with a little sister, no matter how tempting. No matter how much he wants to show her exactly how he’d like to respond to her teasing. But this time she’s gone too far, and he’s not backing down. She started it, and he’s going to finish it.

One spin of the bottle turns friends to lovers. But as the boundaries come down, everything changes. Including what they thought they believed about the other.

Warning: Playing this game will result in breathless sexual anticipation, smoldering sexual chemistry and scorching sexual tension. And then the fun really starts…

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Spin the Bottle:

He’d tried to stay away, tried to ignore the gut-burning need to see if the kiss they’d shared was a fluke. His gaze dropped to her mouth. Slightly parted, her cherry-red lips beckoned, a siren’s call he knew he couldn’t refuse—didn’t want to deny. Mac leaned forward, his lips a breath from hers.

“Mac?”

His name on her tongue, the puff of warm air that blew over his chin and the tremor of her lips made him smile. “Lilli.”

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“I thought that was obvious.” He didn’t pull away but moved his body closer to hers, his chest barely touching the tips of her breasts when she sucked in a breath.

“You can’t.”

“Can’t?”

“N-no.” Her lips brushed his. “It’s bad, remember?”

Mac pulled back a fraction to focus on her eyes. “What?”

“Kissing me.” She licked her lips and sent his blood pressure soaring. “When we did it before, you said it was bad.”

For a second, he hadn’t a clue what she meant, and then it clicked. “Oh, no, it wasn’t the kiss that was bad, Lilli.” He lowered his head, brought his mouth back within touching distance of hers. “I’ll prove it.”