Page 25 of Delivery After Dark (Gansett Island #28)

“ D o you feel better about things with Johnny?” Kelsey asked Jeff when they were tucked into bed in their room at his mom’s house, where they’d been welcomed with open arms after Jeff “graduated” from rehab. She was curled up to him with her head on his chest and his arm around her.

“I’m glad he finally told us what’s been eating at him, although we should’ve known. Of course that was it. That’s what it always is with us. Even from prison, he haunts us.”

“I hate that for all of you.”

“I do, too, and I hate carrying around hate for anyone, but with him… It’s hard not to feel that way.”

“You have every right to feel like that about him, and so do your mom and siblings.”

“Still… It’s a hell of a thing to carry around when all you want is to be free from the past so you can enjoy all the good things happening now.”

“I hope Dr. McCarthy can help Johnny find a way forward with Niall. I loved them together. They seemed so happy.”

“I know. I hope so, too.” He ran his hand up and down her arm, which ached badly the day after getting her cast off. “I never got the chance to ask about your visit with the kids.”

“They were so happy to see me, and the babies have gotten so big!”

“Did you decide about when you want to go back to work?”

“I’m going to try for part time next week and see how that goes. They really need the help, especially with Mac’s brother and his wife about to bring home quads.”

“Four babies. That’s a lot.”

“Sure is, and they’re going to need Big Mac and Linda, who’ve been helping Maddie while I was laid up.”

“What a baby boom.”

“I know, especially for the McCarthys. They have six new grandkids with two more coming soon.”

“That’s a lot of kids.”

“Sure is.”

“How’s the pain?” she asked, knowing it was always more intense at the end of the day.

“A little better than it was.”

“I’m sorry it’s still so bad.”

“It’s nothing like it was at first, so that’s progress.” He gave her a squeeze and kissed the top of her head. “I’m looking forward to picking up where we left off when Ethel messed with us.”

“Me, too.”

“Are you blushing?”

“I don’t do that anymore.”

Jeff laughed—hard. “Right.”

“It’s not nice to laugh at your future wife.”

“I’m not laughing at her…”

“You’re the only one laughing!”

“I can’t help it. You’re so cute when you lie.”

“I do not lie.”

“You’re even cuter when you’re indignant.”

“Let’s talk about something else before I forget you’re still injured and give you a smack that you deserve.”

His low chuckle pleased her because it meant he wasn’t thinking about the pain that’d persisted much longer than either of them had expected it to.

“How great was Charlie with Johnny earlier?” Jeff said.

“He’s such a lovely guy.”

“Before he came along, the whole lot of us probably would’ve said we had no need for a new father, thank you very much, but we can’t help loving him and the way he steps in as needed without forcing himself on us.

He’s teaching a master class on how to come into a family of traumatized people and make himself at home there. ”

“That’s a such a nice way to put it. You should tell him that.”

“I will if I get the chance.”

“I think it would mean a lot to him.”

“Probably. He has no idea how easy he’s made it look, when joining this family is anything but.”

“I don’t know… I think your family is incredible, especially with the way they’ve all stepped up to support us during this crazy time. I can’t wait to be a Lawry.”

“I can’t wait for that either. When’s it going to happen?”

“You said you wanted to be able to stand without crutches before we get married.”

“That’s taking longer than expected.”

“Are we in a rush?”

“I’m sick of being laid up when we’ve got big plans.”

“And plenty of time to make them happen.”

“I want to get going on all of it.”

“It’ll happen. In the meantime, you need to stay focused on doing your PT and getting stronger.”

“ Sick of it ,” he said in a protracted whine.

“Is this what our kids will sound like when they don’t get their way?”

“Maybe so.”

“You’re cute when you’re cranky.”

“I must be cute as hell lately.”

“You’re cute as hell all the time, and don’t worry about the crankiness. It’s a small price to pay to have you on the way to a full recovery, even if it’s taking longer than we’d like.”

“I’m thankful to still be here. I know it was a very close call, and I’m doubly thankful that you weren’t hurt any worse than you were. But I’m not meant for sitting around. It’s making me nuts.”

“I know, babe. Tomorrow, I’ll take you out for a ride, and we’ll stop to have lunch somewhere. That’ll make you feel better.”

“Yes, it will. Thanks for giving me something to look forward to.”

“Jeffrey… honey… We have everything to look forward to. Don’t ever forget that.”

“Keep reminding me, okay?”

“Any time you need to hear it.” She kissed him good night. “Get some rest so you’ll be ready for our big date tomorrow.”

“More kissing, less sleeping.”

“Is that what kind of husband you’re going to be?” she asked with pretend annoyance.

“You know it.”

“I can’t wait for all of it.”

“Me either.”

This was happening too fast. That was the only thought in Sierra’s mind as she took the wildest ride of her life, right on the floor inside her front door with a man who needed no instruction on how to bring her more pleasure than she’d ever experienced with a partner.

In ten short minutes, he’d upended her entire existence, using lips, tongue and teeth to make her come harder than she knew she could.

Twice.

The sight of his dark head between her legs was almost enough to get her off all on its own.

Then he raised his head, caught her watching him and grinned with total male satisfaction that would’ve been a turnoff with anyone else. This man, however, had earned the right to be pleased with himself. “We need protection.”

“In the bathroom closet. Second door in the hallway.”

“Don’t move.”

“Couldn’t if I tried.”

Morgan got up and stalked naked across her living room like a panther on the prowl, a thought that should’ve made her laugh, but she was still too stunned by recent events to do anything other than try to prepare herself for what would happen next.

He returned as quickly as he’d left, rolled the condom onto his impressive erection and came back down on top of her, covering her with his warmth and the rich scent of cologne.

“Should we move to the sofa?” He reached down to cup her ass. “I’d hate to see this perfect skin with rug burns.”

“I’m okay where I am.” She also doubted the ability of her legs to hold her weight, as every part of her felt like a wet noodle after two explosive orgasms.

“Hold on to me.”

The way he took care of business was ridiculously sexy, mostly because he made it so she didn’t have to think about anything other than chasing the next high.

That, too, was an all-new thing to her. Most of the guys she’d encountered had no idea how to pleasure a woman.

This one dove right in and went for it, which was a huge turn-on.

She did as she was told and held on tight to him, her arms around his neck as he pushed into her, slowly and carefully so he wouldn’t hurt her.

All the while, he watched over her with dark eyes that seemed to see deep inside her.

He never blinked or looked away or tried to dodge the intensity of the moment.

He pushed deeper into her, making her moan from the tight squeeze that had her already on the verge of another orgasm. When had that ever happened? Never. Ever.

“Good?” he asked, still watching her as if he was afraid to miss anything.

“Mmm, yes .” She smoothed her hands down his back, massaging as she went because she couldn’t help herself.

“God, that feels amazing.” His gruffly whispered words, lips close to her ear, set off a wave of goose bumps that made her skin extra sensitive.

She kept her hands moving down, digging into his back muscles and then the glutes that flexed as he pressed as far into her as he could go and then held still. Under him, she squirmed, trying to get him to move, but he didn’t take the hint. “Morgan…”

“Hmm?”

“Come on!”

“Are you in a rush?”

“No, but…”

He kissed a path of fire up her neck and rolled her earlobe between his teeth as he continued to throb inside her. “You’re so busy taking care of everyone else, when was the last time you let someone take care of you?”

Sierra was moved to tears by the astute observation.

“Relax. I’ve got you.”

She closed her eyes, desperately trying to contain her emotional reaction, but a tear slid down her cheek anyway.

He kissed it away as he began to move, keeping a hand under her to protect her from rug burn.

Everything he did and said wrecked whatever defenses she had left, leaving her feeling fully exposed in a way she’d never been before.

At any other time, she would’ve run screaming for her life away from that kind of vulnerability, but he made her feel safe in it, as if she wasn’t alone anymore.

Wouldn’t that be something?

When he picked up the pace, every thought left her brain except for one—he was it. The one she’d waited for. Now she just had to figure out how to keep him forever.

What. The. Hell.

Those were the only words running through Morgan’s scrambled brain as he rested on top of Sierra, every cell in his body attuned to her and the aftershocks of explosive passion the likes of which he’d never before experienced.

This was the kind of thing that could change a guy’s life if he let it.

Would he let it?

He had no idea which end was up at the moment, so he couldn’t answer that or any other deep questions. Not now, anyway. His most pressing concerns at the moment were to get her off the floor and move them to a bed so they could do that again as soon as possible.

Her hands moving on his back felt heavenly as she zeroed in on all his hot spots, working out each knot before moving on to the next one. “That feels so good.”

“You’re a tight mess of stress.”

“Gee, I wonder why.”