Page 31 of Slashed By You (Chicago Steel #5)

Chapter 31

Josh

W ith Kenzie’s hands running over me and our mouths locked together in a heated kiss, I feel electrified. My body is buzzing with the need to be inside her again; it’s been so long.

She breaks our kiss and smiles at me just before she asks, “Will you make love to me now?”

Sex during pregnancy. I still have concerns, even though Kenzie has already said I won’t hurt her or the baby. Having sex with a pregnant woman has to be about logistics, so I try to determine the best positions possible.

Since it’s been so long, I want to see Kenzie’s face when she comes. Reaching down, I run my fingers through her folds. “Oh, Josh,” she says with a moan. Already soaking, she bucks her hips forward, grinding against the heel of my hand. She’s close. Excitement builds within me as I back off the bed.

“Scoot this way,” I tell her, directing her to the edge of the bed. Once she’s situated, I tap her knees and direct, “Open for me, babe.” I lower my head and leisurely drag my tongue back to front. When I get to her clit, I suck it into my mouth, giving it rhythmic flicks.

“Mmmm. That feels so good,” she whimpers as she arches off the bed.

I trace my hand down her sternum, over her belly, and to her thigh. I squeeze it possessively and growl “mine” against her center. Her whole-body shivers from what I’m doing with my tongue or from my possessiveness, I’m not sure. Giving long, unhurried licks, I bring her to the edge of an orgasm time and time again. After the third time, she frowns and I insert two fingers, pumping them into her. I curl my digits toward me, hunting out the prize inside. When I finally brush against the promised land, she lets out a toe-curling moan that rattles me to the core. It makes me want to beat my chest. I did that to her.

Finally, when she comes down from the high of her orgasm, she pants my name.

“Yeah, babe? What do you need?” I ask.

Her sensual blue eyes flick open and she gives me a one-word answer. “You.”

I drop my voice, quietly telling her, “Roll onto your side.” I move in front of her and pull her in close. Lifting one leg up, I run my cock through her wet heat. Damn, that feels so good . I know it’ll be even better once I’m inside her. She nudges her hips forward, and I don’t need any further encouragement before I line myself up and slide into her. Thoughts of poking my son with the head of my cock invade my mind for a moment before disappearing entirely. The tight squeeze she has on me blanking my mind.

She grips my biceps as she murmurs, “That feels so good.” I second that. Slowly, I turn her to me and thrust in and out. Because she’s still sensitive from her orgasms, the next one comes on quickly, and her muscles squeeze me as I continue pumping into her. I’m so close, but I’m not ready yet. I reach between us and make circles on her clit. At first, she pulls away with an “oh,” but within seconds that moan turns pleasurable and she wraps her leg around me tighter, pulling me deeper. I pull one of her full breasts into my mouth and suck the hardened nipple. Every pull I take brings her closer and closer. She arches her back and her belly pushes into mine, reminding me of the life we made growing inside of her. Thoughts of that unravel me, revealing a primal hunger for her. I pump into her with a feverish pace while teasing her clit and breast. “Please, right there,” she begs, and I can’t help but deliver. Three pumps later, my orgasm rips through me like a bolt of lightning. It leaves parts of me singed, never to be the same again. We lie there together, panting, staring into each other’s eyes.

“I love you, Kenzie.” It probably isn’t the right time to say it, but I couldn’t hold it back any longer.

“Love you too, Josh,” she replies before falling asleep. My heart hammers in my chest, threatening to break free. She fucking loves me. I’m on top of the world.

After cleaning us both up, I crawl into bed and Kenzie immediately cuddles up next to me, her head on my chest and her leg slung over my thigh. I pull her in close as I lie there, and just stare at her as she drifts back to sleep.

Ever since the first time I laid eyes on Kenzie, I’ve been drawn to her. In fact, she is the only woman I have ever pursued. She is utter perfection. From her radiant smile to the twinkle in her eyes, she captivates me completely. When I got to know her, my attraction for her grew tenfold. She is the most amazing person I have ever met. I still don’t understand how I doubted her when she told me she was pregnant. Kenzie’s nothing like Kayla, and she never would have lied or tried to trick me. I was an idiot for even thinking it.

Speaking of the she-devil, Kayla tried to weasel her way back into my life when Kenzie and I were broken up. Thinking about it now, my stomach cramps in disgust. She must have learned that we weren’t together. Because she started trying to insert herself back into my life. She showed up at the rink or harassed my assistant when I refused to call her back. She didn’t take too kindly to my attempts to ignore her, and she showed up at the arena one day. Stan recognized her and gave me a heads-up, and I let my boys know to be ready with their cameras.

When Ace, Rocco, and I came out of practice, she tried to get my attention by puffing out her chest and waving dramatically. I made her wait, signing autographs for a few fans before I made my way to her. I’m actually surprised she didn’t burst into flames with the glare I directed at her. As soon as I got within a foot of her, she started with all the “baby, I’ve missed you” garbage. I actually snarled at her and said, “Why are you here, Kayla? After everything you did to me. All the lies you told.” I didn’t need to air the dirty laundry, expose what she’d done to me. I just needed her to admit she’d lied about me. About us. I planned to share that shit all over the web. Pay her back for a fraction of what she did to me.

“Joshy-baby. I am so sorry. You’re right. I was horrible, but I’ve missed you so much. I’m here begging for another chance.”

Crossing my arms, my snarky response came out just as I intended it. “Why the fuck would I give you a second chance?”

She pouted her lips and whispered, “Because I know you and that baker chick aren’t together anymore.”

I reared back as if I’d been punched hard. My breath caught in my throat. “What did you say?”

“She wasn’t good enough for you, Josh. I’m who you need to be with. We’re the perfect match and you know it. Give me another chance to show you how good I can be for you.”

Anger coursed through my veins. How dare she. Shaking, I sputtered, ”Y-you’re wrong. I’m not good enough for Kenzie. She deserves so much more than I can ever give her. She is the best there is, and I fucked up. I love her and will for the rest of my life. You, on the other hand, I never want to see again.” Her mouth dropped open in surprise and I turned around and walked away.

“That was fucking awesome, Josh.” Rocco hooted as he slapped my back. He turned to Ace and asked, “You got it all right?”

Ace grinned. “Sure did, and it’s already been loaded onto all the major social platforms.”

Not even thirty seconds passed before I heard Kayla scream like the banshee she is. Apparently, she’d already seen a replay of our conversation.

“She doesn’t sound happy. I must not have used the right filter or my lighting was shoddy,” Ace said with a laugh. Rocco laughed too, but I couldn’t seem to find any humor in the situation.

I’d been completely truthful with Kayla; I’d fucked things up with Kenzie. But thankfully, Kenzie has given me a second chance. There is no way in hell I’m going to screw it up.

H ockey has always been my first love, but the longer we’re together, the more I realize that Kenzie and our son have taken the top spot. The next few weeks pass quickly. I’m on the road a lot, and unfortunately, I miss most of Kenzie’s OB checks. We always make sure to FaceTime afterward so I can hear how she and the baby are doing.

Last week, when I was home, we made it to a birthing class and infant care, and both were eye-opening. I realized I know nothing, and I’m not sure the hospital should let me go home with a baby. During the birthing class, the instructor showed us a video of a baby being born. And since then, I can definitely say I don’t look at sausage the same way. Other than trying to distract Kenzie from making fun of me and my aversion to blood, it went okay. Since I wasn’t sure about the birth, I figured I’d pay close attention to the infant care class so I’d be ready. Unfortunately, it didn’t go as planned, and when we were practicing diaper changes, I unintentionally removed our practice baby’s leg. I’m not sure what happened, but thankfully, Kenzie fixed the doll before the class ended. Otherwise, that might have proved embarrassing.

We haven’t chosen his name yet, but we have a few favorites. We’re keeping them quiet until our little man arrives.

The last concern I have before she delivers—aside from me possibly not being here—is that I want Kenzie to move in with me, but I never seem to find the right time to ask her.

My FaceTime rings.

“Hey, babe,” I say as I answer the call.

Her glowing face appears on my iPad, and my fingers flinch because they long to touch her.

“Hey,” she answers in her sweet tone.

“How are you feeling? How was your appointment?”

Setting up the iPad, I see she’s surrounded by lots of things.

“I’m good, but tired.”

“Yeah? Are you packing?”

She nods. “Dr. Cruise said it was time to pack the hospital bag if I hadn’t done it yet.”

Nerves and excitement roll through me.

“Really?” Panic sets in. I’m going to an away series this week and next. “But you have a few weeks left, right?”

Interrupting my musings, she replies, “Technically, I can deliver after thirty-seven weeks. Since it’s my first pregnancy, Dr. Cruise expects I won’t deliver before forty weeks. But she wants me to be ready. I spoke with Stephanie today, too, just to make sure she’s still willing to be my backup if you aren’t here, and she couldn’t be more excited.”

“I’m so glad you have her, because if I can’t be there, I’d want either Stephanie or Toby there with you.”

Kenzie laughs. “Toby?”

I smirk. “Okay, okay. Scratch that. Toby would probably be a disaster. Plus, he needs to run CakeStop.”

“I think that’s safer. I don’t need my labor coach passing out on me.” As she’s folding baby clothes for the hospital bag, I spot her holding something that doesn’t look familiar. “What’s that?”

She holds up a Chicago Steel onesie. “Samantha brought this into the bakery this week. She said our little man needs to go home in style. It even has matching baby joggers,” she squeals as she holds up the entire outfit.

“He’ll be styling, for sure,” I confirm. “Is there anything you need done before our little man arrives?”

She looks around her small bedroom and frowns.

“What’s wrong, babe?”

Shaking her head, she answers, “Nothing. I’m just trying to figure out how all the baby stuff is going to fit in here.” It’s like she’s reading my mind.

“What if you didn’t have to fit all in there?” I ask. The questioning look on her face tells me she’s confused.

Before I speak, I pray she’s receptive to my idea. “What if you moved into my house and we officially live together and raise our little guy there?”

“Really?” she questions, and I nod.

Her face lights up, and a smile spreads across my face. I can’t wait to see her in my place. To make it our place. I’ve wanted no one in my space before. Kayla forced it and I was too broken to fight it. But I didn’t want her there. I can’t wait to share space with Kenzie.

“Okay,” she murmurs. Then her face drops. “But when will I move?”

“I’ll call the movers tomorrow and try to schedule it for this weekend. They do everything. You just have to point and direct.”

She tries to disguise her excitement, asking, “Are you sure?”

“I couldn’t be more sure about anything. I love you and I love the house. I’ve wanted you there for a long time. Plus, when your parents visit, they’ll have a place to stay. So, what do you say?”

Pausing for a moment, she smiles and answers, “Okay, I’ll move in with you.” I wish I were there so I could pull her in for a hug.

Reading my thoughts, she says, “I wish you were here.”

“Me too.”

Months ago, when my world was in complete chaos, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be happy again. But thanks to Kenzie, everything has changed and I couldn’t ask for anything better.