In The Still of the Night [The Protectors 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (25 page)

Riley rolled them over. He took control of her body and drove her higher than she thought possible with his long, deep thrusts that moved her body up the bed. He pounded into her over and over. She pushed her hands above her to keep her head from smacking the headboard. Still he thrust deep and hard, bringing one of her legs up over his arm and bowing her up on herself.

Just when she thought nothing could lead her any higher, he reached between them and pinched her clit, sending her into spasms of pleasure unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. He thrust twice more and followed her over the edge into oblivion. There was no other word for the equisetic pleasure that took over her body and mind. She soared higher and dropped harder until she lost sight of everything but the pure feelings dancing inside her.

When she came to much later, Riley had pulled the covers over them and was holding her close against his body. His hand lay splayed across her belly as if protecting the little spark of a life within.

“You’re awake,” he said. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

“Mmmm, I’m fine. I’m better than fine.”

“You’re not bleeding. I checked. You’re sure you’re okay?”

“You checked to see if I was bleeding?” Jenna couldn’t keep the humor from her voice. “What are you? A doctor now?” She giggled then threw her hand over her mouth. She didn’t want to upset him.

“I was rough with you. I told you not to push me.” His voice sounded firm perhaps even a bit angry.

“I’m fine, Riley. You can’t hurt me.” She sighed and attempted to roll over, but his hand on her abdomen prevented it.

“You’re pregnant, Jenna. I can’t help but feel protective of you—of the baby. I’m a rough man. I worried about you even when you weren’t pregnant.”

“Is that why you left? Because you were scared you were going to hurt me?” She bit her lip. She hadn’t planned on bringing that up any time soon.

“I left because I didn’t think I would be able to be the man you needed. Sticking around has never been my strong suit,” he said.

“Why do you think you’ll stick around now? What, besides my being pregnant, has changed?” Jenna rolled over to face him.

“I realized I can’t live without you. I want to be with you all the time. Leaving you was supposed to keep you safe, but I hurt you instead. I’m sorry.”

He didn’t say the one thing she wanted to hear. The one thing that would convince her he was serious about sticking around. He hadn’t said he loved her. Jenna swallowed down the tears threatening to escape. Until and unless he said those words and meant them, she wouldn’t marry him. Baby or no baby. It saddened her. She had hoped he had fallen in love with her as she had with him. Even if he had, he wouldn’t admit it.

“It’s okay, Riley. Let’s just go to sleep. I’m tired.” She rolled back to her side and closed her eyes, hoping for sleep.

* * * *

He waited until she was fast asleep, her little snores amusing him. Riley carefully disentangled himself from her arms and slipped out of bed. Grabbing his jeans, he pulled them on and padded quietly into the living room to stare out the window. His inner clock said it was around two in the morning, the night outside slowly heading toward the dawn.

She was everything he remembered her to be. He feared that once he returned he would have made some part of her up in his head. Instead, he found her even more attractive than he remembered—her body and her soul. The fact that she now carried his baby beneath her breast only added to his love for her. That thought stilled him. Yes, he loved her. It was the only answer for how he felt around her.

Riley swallowed hard and attempted to clear his mind. When had he fallen in love? Perhaps he’d known it all along and that was the reason he’d come back. All he knew for certain was that he wanted her next to him forever. Something about her drew him close to her and activated some instinct within him to protect and care for her. Keeping her safe and happy seemed the most important thing in the world to him now. Not riding, not traveling, not anything but being with her.

There were so many things he needed to do now. First and foremost was finding a job so he could provide for her. He had no doubt that she would always make more money than he did if she continued to work, but he would work and make things as easy for her as possible. He’d work two jobs if she wanted to stay home with the baby. That wasn’t even an issue. All that mattered was that she was happy.

The next thing on his list would be reading those damn baby books. He needed to be sure she was telling the truth on certain things. He grinned. He needed to know what kind of food she should eat and evidently, about sex. She seemed to think there wasn’t anything they couldn’t do. He wanted to know for sure.

He remained standing in the living room, looking out the window for several more long minutes, then sighed and returned to the bedroom and the arms of the woman he loved.

Chapter Nineteen

“Easy, baby.” Riley held Jenna’s hair back from her face as she threw up.

She’d awakened him by jumping out of bed and racing to the bathroom. He’d instantly known what the problem was and joined her. The sight of her being so violently ill clawed at him. He’d done this to her. Slamming the door shut on that thought, Riley grabbed a cloth and moistened it before wiping her face once she’d stopped heaving.

“God, I hate this part,” she grumbled, holding the wet cloth to her mouth.

“How much longer till it’s gone?” Riley asked as he crouched next to her on the bathroom floor.

“It depends on the woman, according to the doctor. In some women it lasts longer than others. I’m crossing my fingers that mine will be over with soon.”

“Is there anything that makes it better?”

“Not really,” she said. “Sometimes, if I can get some crackers inside of me before it starts, I’m okay.”

“Then why don’t you have them sitting by your bed?” he demanded.

“I forget at night and don’t feel well enough after being sick to bother with it.” She started to stand up.

Riley lifted her in his arms instead and carried her back to the bed. He tucked her back under the covers and pulled on his jeans again.

“I’m going to go get some crackers so they will be there in the morning. You get some more rest.”

Jenna merely nodded her head and closed her eyes. He smiled then frowned. He didn’t like to see her sick like that. Something had to be done about it. He walked into the kitchen and searched until he came up with a half sleeve of crackers. He sat them on the bar to put by her bed later once she was up again.

Coffee was his next order of business. Hot, black coffee would help clear his head. Nothing like getting up at a dead run to knock you for a loop. He hadn’t done that since being in the army. Funny that something he’d learned how to do in the army would help him in real life. Riley waited while the coffee made and busied himself gathering the ingredients for an omelet when Jenna got up.

He found her baby book on the coffee table and carried it into the kitchen to read. He noticed there were several pages marked and decided to read those first since they were obviously important to Jenna. Two cups of coffee and nearly two hours later, he put down the book and rubbed his belly. Now he knew why women had morning sickness. Some of the things he had read about were interesting and some downright scary.

“What are you doing?” Jenna asked, standing in the doorway in nothing but a T-shirt and panties.

He smiled and walked over to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back. He could easily get use to this.

“I’m finding out what is going on inside that delicious body of yours,” he said with a wink.

“I’m hungry.” Jenna grinned at him. “Does it tell you in there that you are supposed to feed me?”

Riley laughed and kissed her on the forehead. “It does indeed. Why don’t you go get a shower, and I’ll fix you an omelet. How does that sound?”

“Yummy.” She squeezed his ass then turned and walked back toward the bedroom.

Riley spied the crackers on the island counter top. He took them to the bedroom and placed them on the bedside table. He would wake her up a little before six each morning and feed her a couple of crackers. The books seemed to think it would stop the nausea. He’d try anything to get her past that part.

By the time they finished breakfast, Jenna was ready to go shopping. He made sure she ate over half the omelet and drank her milk and OJ. She had balked at the juice but did manage to sip half the little glass. He accepted that it was the best she could do and quickly cleaned up the kitchen while she gathered her purse and a light sweater. The mornings were much cooler now with winter so close.

About the time they were ready to leave, the phone rang. Riley grabbed it and handed it to Jenna. It turned out to be Tina. They chatted for a few minutes then hung up.

“Tina wants us to come over there for dinner tonight. Is that okay with you?” she asked.

“As long as you’re up to it. We’ll see how you feel after shopping.” Riley wasn’t promising anything until he knew how she did during the day.

She seemed to have plenty of energy to shop, though she did let him do all the lifting. They started off at a department store where he insisted she buy a couple of pairs of jeans that fit her.

“The ones you’re wearing are only staying up because of the belt. Without it, they would be around your ankles,” he fussed.

“I would think you would like the easy access,” she teased.

He just shook his head and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I read what the book said about pregnant women being horny all the time, and it isn’t supposed to start until later in the pregnancy.” He smirked at her.

“Well, mine started early,” she pouted and turned away to go try on the jeans.

Riley laughed and waited patiently as she tried on several pairs of jeans until she found two pair that fit her too-skinny figure. He would be much happier when she put on some weight. The sight of her hip bones poking out worried him. Some guys might like their women thin as a rake, but he didn’t. He liked them soft with a little padding on them.

After unloading the groceries from the car, Riley sent Jenna to deal with her other purchases while he put them away. He didn’t want her handling the heavy stuff or climbing on a stool to put things up on shelves. That was for him to handle. He rolled up the plastic bags and shoved them in the bag sock on the pantry door. When he turned around, it was to find Jenna waiting for him with a naughty look in her eyes.

“I’m ready for a nap,” she said.

Riley lifted an eyebrow at her and shook his head. “You’re up to something.”

“No I’m not. I just want to take a little nap with you.”

“I tell you what,” he began. “You eat a snack for me, and I’ll lie down with you for awhile.”

She frowned at him but nodded. He grabbed an apple and peeled it before slicing it up and handing it to her in a bowl. She scowled and took a bite. She hummed and took another bite. He grinned. She hadn’t realized she was hungry. Maybe all she needed was a little encouragement to eat and gain weight. He hoped it would be that simple. He settled her on the couch with her feet in his lap and fed her the sliced apple. She managed to eat the entire apple minus one slice she insisted on feeding him.

He put the bowl on the coffee table then picked up one of her feet in his hands and began massaging it. She moaned her appreciation. Riley grinned and moved up her leg before changing feet and having a go at the other one. When he finished, he noticed she was sound asleep. He chuckled to himself and gathered her in his arms to carry her to bed. She needed to be comfortable, and the couch was not comfortable in the least as far as he was concerned.

She stirred when he laid her on the bed but didn’t argue. She grabbed hold of his shirt in an effort to keep him from leaving.

“I’m not going anywhere. Let go so I can get in beside you, baby.”

She released her hold on his shirt and gazed with sleep-heavy eyes into his. “Don’t leave me, okay?”

“I’m not. Go back to sleep.” He climbed in beside her and pulled her into his arms.

Once her light snores told him she was asleep, he could have eased from her arms, but he’d promised he wouldn’t leave her. He figured that had been a subconscious plea that he not leave her alone again. He didn’t plan on it. He planned to marry her and raise their child together. Right now, she wouldn’t marry him. Why? He’d come back to her on his own. He hadn’t known about the baby until after he’d gotten back. Sighing, he huffed out a quiet breath. There was no telling what went on inside a woman’s mind and especially a pregnant woman according to the book. Maybe he needed to get another book to double-check some of the things he was reading.

Riley nearly laughed out loud. What would Logan say to him once he found out he was reading pregnancy books? He’d give him shit, that’s what he would do. Maybe he could talk Jenna into not saying anything. Glancing at her face next to his shoulder tightened his gut. She was his. Despite her balking at marrying him, she was all his. He’d get her to marry him one way or another. She belonged with him.

At some point, Riley had fallen asleep since the clock on the bedside table said four in the afternoon. He needed to wake Jenna up so she could get ready to go to Tina and Logan’s house. He would have to check, but he was pretty sure Logan had called while he’d been sleeping. His phone had vibrated at some point, but he’d ignored it.

Riley leaned over and gently kissed Jenna on the lips. Then he moved down her jaw to her ear. When he sucked her earlobe into his mouth, she squinched her neck and giggled.

“What, my kisses are funny now?”

“They are when you tickle me. Your beard is ticklish.”

He rubbed a hand over his chin and realized he hadn’t shaved in a couple of days now. Time for a razor. His head probably needed it, too.

“You ready to get up, sleeping beauty? It’s a little after four.” Riley bit her chin.

“Yeah, I better. I need to change clothes to go to Tina’s,” she said, stretching.

“I’m going to take a shower and shave. If you’ll hang around until I get out, I’ll help you dress.”

“I don’t need help dressing, yet.” She laughed. “When I’m as big as an elephant, I will probably need help with my shoes then.”

“I’ll always enjoy dressing you…and undressing you.” He growled in a low voice.

Jenna sat up and shook her head at him. He sat up next to her and turned her head for a kiss. He took his time and explored her mouth with his, paying extra attention to her lips. He nipped at them then licked them before delving inside to dance with her tongue. When he pulled back, her eyes had gone dark with desire.

“I hate it when you do that.”

“Do what?” he asked with a knowing grin.

“Get me all hot and bothered and then stop.”

“It’s a promise of more to come after we get home tonight. I figure that way you won’t want to stay all night.” He ducked when she grabbed a pillow and hit him with it.

Laughing, Riley escaped to the bathroom. He stopped and stared at himself in the mirror. He was laughing and teasing, something he couldn’t ever remember doing before. Something about Jenna lightened his heart. He would love her for that alone.

* * * *

Jenna stretched and smiled at the way Riley had hightailed it to the bathroom. If she hadn’t been looking forward to talking with Tina again, she would have gone in there and shown him some shower love, but that would lead them into another bout in bed, and they would be late or miss the dinner entirely. She needed to talk to her friend.

Riley was everything she wanted in a man. He was strong, serious when needed, and playful when provoked. He took care of her, making sure she had what she needed despite her grumbling. He didn’t take things personally when she fussed, and he went out of his way not to hurt her. After years of abusive men in her life, this amazed her the most. He didn’t want to cause her the least bit of pain.

But did he love her? Could she live with him even if he didn’t love her? He did everything and said everything right except for those three simple words. I love you. Jenna needed to think about it long and hard. It took two to make a marriage work, and with a baby starting out, it would be harder than most new marriages. Was she really considering marrying him even if he didn’t love her? Maybe.

The sound of the shower turning off had her looking hastily at the clock. She’d been daydreaming for nearly thirty minutes. She jumped out of bed and raced for the closet to find something to put on. She would wear a pair of her new jeans and maybe the gypsy blouse. It wouldn’t matter if it were a little bigger. Besides, despite having lost weight, her boobs were larger and a little more sensitive, too, she realized.