In The Still of the Night [The Protectors 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (27 page)

“You just wait. He’ll be great with it. If I’d have realized you might want to move, I would have already offered the house to you, but I thought you loved that little house,” Tina complained.

“I do love it, but I have to be practical. Even if Riley wasn’t in the picture, I’d need more room with a child on the way. Besides, there’s practically no yard at that house, and it’s not even fenced in.”

“Those are good points. I guess when I look at getting pregnant, I need to think about things like that, too.” Tina was quiet for a little while, sipping her wine cooler.

Jenna wondered if she were seriously thinking about having a baby. It would really be wonderful if their children could grow up together. They’d always have a friend that way. By the dreamy look on Tina’s face, she might not have to wish too hard, Jenna thought.

“What are you girls doing in here?” Logan asked, startling them both.

“Hey, baby. Are Diet Cokes safe for you to be drinking?” Riley asked, a worried look on his face.

“They are fine if I don’t drink too many of them,” Jenna assured him.

Tina and Jenna exchanged looks. She was sure Tina was thinking how cute it was that Riley was so concerned about what she had to drink. “Just wait till you’re pregnant,” she mouthed to the other woman. Tina just grinned.

The four of them relaxed in the living room after dinner, talking about everything from bikes to baby beds. Mostly, the women talked about the things related to babies. Jenna didn’t grunt without Riley wanting to know if she was okay, or if he could get her anything. It wasn’t lost on Logan or Tina, either. They laughed about it, much to Riley’s consternation. Jenna yawned and noticed that it was close to one in the morning.

“You know I hate to break this up, but I’m really tired.”

Instantly, Riley was on his feet. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t think about you being tired. I’ll get you home.”

“Jenna, I’m so glad you two came over tonight. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?” Tina said.

“Don’t call before noon,” Riley said.

Logan laughed. “Don’t worry. If she manages to wake up that early, I’ll keep her busy.”

Tina huffed out an outraged growl and hit him in the arm. “Bastard.”

Jenna laughed and leaned back against Riley. This was what she longed for, family and friends to spend time with and grow old with. She couldn’t imagine life without Tina and Logan as her friends. She didn’t want to even contemplate a life without Riley. Maybe she should rethink her need for the words. Maybe they didn’t matter that much after all. Words were easy to say and not mean. Actions spoke much louder than words.

* * * *

Sunday morning around six, Riley woke and immediately checked on Jenna. Finding her asleep, he slipped out of the bed and around to pull out a couple of crackers from the package on the bedside table. Then he leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. She moaned and woke up with a confused expression on her face at first.

“Hmm? Is something wrong?” she asked, groggy with sleep.

“No, baby, I want you to eat a couple of crackers, and let’s see if we can outsmart that ole morning sickness guy.” He held out a cracker to her mouth.

He watched as Jenna ate the first cracker and then the second. He gave her the glass of water to wash it down and then settled her back in bed. As soon as she closed her eyes again, he visited the bathroom then climbed back in bed to curl around her. She hummed her appreciation and promptly fell back asleep.

Riley dozed off and on for the next few hours, relieved as time went by and she didn’t get up sick to her stomach. Maybe there was something to the crackers first thing. He could definitely take care of that for her.

“Riley?”

He started when she called his name. He hadn’t realized she woken up.

“Yeah, baby?” He leaned up on one elbow to look down into her upturned face.

“I’ll marry you.”

“What did you say?” He wasn’t sure he had heard her correctly.

“I’ll marry you. If you’ll still have me?”

She sounded so unsure. It tightened something around his heart to hear her sounding insecure in how he felt about her. Riley pulled her into his arms and kissed her as if he’d never get enough of her. When he finally pulled back, they were both panting.

“Jenna, darling. I love you. I love you more than anything else in this world.”

Riley had planned to get on his knees and tell her that. He’d thought long and hard about it while he’d watched her sleep that morning. Now that he’d said it, he wondered why he’d waited so long to do it.

“Do you really? Love me, I mean?” Jenna’s eyes were full of tears.

“Yes, baby. I love you. I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you at Tina’s house sitting on the deck. I just didn’t realize what it was till I had left. I’m so sorry I left you like that. I thought it was the right thing to do.”

“Just don’t ever leave me again and I’ll forgive you,” Jenna said.

“How would you feel about living next door to Tina and Logan?” Riley asked. Hell, he was on a roll. He might as well go for broke.

Jenna started laughing and didn’t act as if she were going to stop.

“What’s so funny?” he asked, a little put out.

“I was trying to figure out how to ask you if you’d mind living next door to them,” Jenna confessed.

“Then you like the idea?”

“I love the idea. Then our children can grow up together.”

“Well, when they decide to have children,” Riley said with a grin.

“Oh, I think there will be children in their future sooner than they think,” Jenna said with a smirk.

“I for one would love to see Logan’s face when Tina tells him she’s pregnant,” Riley confessed.

“I’ll talk to Tina about the house next week at work. We normally eat lunch together anyway.”

“Am I going to have to limit the time you girls have together?” Riley asked with a stern look.

“You just try it, buddy.”

“Hey, all I have to do is touch you like this.” He demonstrated with a finger to her clit. “And you’ll do whatever I ask.”

Jenna moaned and reached out to take his cock into her hand.

“And all I have to do is hold this and you’ll follow me around anywhere I go,” Jenna countered.

“Hmmm, what were we fussing over?” Riley asked.

“I don’t know,” Jenna said as he circled her clit with his finger.

“We can continue the conversation later,” Riley said and groaned when she tightened her grip on him.

He leaned in and kissed her before she could say anything else. He wanted her and would go on wanting her for the rest of his life. When she wrapped her arms around him, he knew he’d come home. Home was in her arms.

THE END

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marla Monroe lives in the southern part of the United States. She writes sexy romance from the heart and often puts a twist of suspense in her books. She is a nurse and works in a busy hospital, but finds plenty of time to follow her two passions, reading and writing. You can find her in a book store or a library at any given time when she’s not at work or writing. Marla would love for you to visit her at her blog at themarlamonroe.blogspot.com and leave a comment.

Also by Marla Monroe

Siren Classic: The Protectors 1:
Long, Lonely Nights

Siren Classic:
Hot and Bothered

Ménage Amour:
Trusting Them

Available at

BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com