“Settle down you maniacs,” Hunter yells as two little bodies go flying past us, running after our daughter who is heading straight for the kitchen at my parents’ house. “Guaranteed they figured out where Nana keeps the candy.”
I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him from behind. “They’re smart kids.”
He tugs me around to face his front, and kisses my forehead. “All of you Donnellys are smart.”
“Hey, your daughter and I are Callaghans thank you very much.”
His smile still stretches ear to ear, even now, all these years after our perfect Christmas wedding.
“Yeah, you are.”
I lift up on my toes to meet his lips with mine. I’ll never get tired of kissing this man.
“Come on, really? Keep it rated G around the kids.” My brother’s good natured teasing breaks us apart, and I mock glare at Sawyer.
“Like you’re one to talk.”
He just raises his hands and walks past, nudging Hunter in the shoulder as he goes.
“How long do we have to stay?” Hunter whispers in my ear after Sawyer’s left the room.
“It’s dinner with my family. So, through dinner?” I reply, half teasing half vibrating with anticipation. “But then we have to get Lyssa settled for the night. Unless you’d rather we brought her home…” Hunter’s face is an epic display of emotion. I know he’s looking forward to some adult alone time just like I am, but the adoration he has for our little girl knows no limits.
Hunter growls. Yep, he growls. “I love my baby girl, but Daddy needs some alone time with Mommy. So eat fast, kitty kat. Because I saw what you put on after your shower. And I’m planning on pulling them off with my teeth before I eat you for dessert.”
“Hunter,” I moan quietly. “That’s not fair.”
He pulls back, sliding his hands down to lace his fingers with mine, a cocky grin on his face. “Sure it is, babe. Consider it foreplay.”
I let him lead me into the kitchen where my siblings and their families wait. I would have never guessed that I’d someday see all four of my brothers settled down and happy, but here we are. It makes family dinners seriously loud, especially when we’re all around, but I love it.
Except for nights like tonight when all I want is to get my husband home, alone.
**
Three agonizing hours later we’re finally in the car headed across town to our house.
“You need to stop doing that,” Hunter mutters.
“Stop what?” I reply innocently, fighting back a smirk. Meanwhile I keep up the light stroking of my fingertips up and down the length of his thigh. I can feel the muscles bunching and tensing under my touch, especially as I get higher.
The car lurches to the side, as Hunter pulls off into a now empty parking lot. He heads for the farthest corner and as soon as the engine is shut off he undoes my seatbelt and pulls me across the center console and into his lap.
“Fuck, kitty kat. You’re a temptress. You know that?” He grabs me by the back of my head and pulls me in for an intense kiss.
My hands are busy with the buckle on his pants, and my mouth is occupied meeting him kiss for kiss, stroke for stroke. Even after all this time, our passion for each other hasn’t diminished at all.
As soon as his cock is freed, his hands slide under the skirt I was smart enough to wear, and he’s pulling my lacey thong to one side. “I still want to rip this off when we get home, but kid-free time is at a premium so I’m not waiting.” he mutters right before snapping his hips up, filling me in one stroke.
“Yes,” I gasp, my fingers gripping his shoulders as I start to rock my hips back and forth. “So good.”
The car windows start to fog up. I should probably be more concerned with whether or not someone catches us, what with Hunter being a detective on the police force and me being the nurse practitioner at the medical clinic, but in this moment I don’t care.
The only thing I care about is the orgasm crashing over me, like waves on a rocky shore.
We stay like that, connected in the closest, most intimate way two people can be, for several minutes, our hearts beating in sync.
“I swear it gets better every time,” Hunter murmurs, his hand tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.
I slowly lift myself off of his lap, and move back to my seat, grimacing slightly at the sticky feeling between my thighs. “Agreed, but as much as I love you and love what we just did, how ‘bout we go home and shower, then you can do it again and again and again.”
Hunter chuckles as he zips up his pants, and turns on the car. “Deal. Think we can convince your parents to keep our minion for a second night?”
I grin. “Why ever would you want that?”
He shoots me a wink that is full of dirty promises. “Because one night is not going to be nearly enough for all the filthy things I want to do to you.”
Threading our fingers together, I rest my head back and look at him. My husband. The father of my child, and the love of my life.
“How about a lifetime? Would that be enough?”
Hunter lifts our joined hands so he can kiss mine. “A lifetime sounds perfect.”
Doctor Heidi Morgan is off limits. She’s the definition of forbidden and I hate that I want her anyway.
I may be forced to see my new resident each day at the hospital where we work, but I won’t be forced into feeling something for the woman who is an unwelcome reminder of the worst day of my life.
Heidi gets under my skin, testing the limits of my patience and my control. WIth our past, it should be easy to push her away; to convince myself not to trust her. It definitely should not be so hard to resist the attraction I’ve ignored for so long, especially since I’m her boss.
Only restraint is never easy.
Her brilliant mind, compassionate heart and seductively sweet smile that keep me up at night with thoughts I really shouldn’t be having about someone who works for me, let alone someone I have every reason to hate.
Yet with every word we exchange, every touch we share, the fire she’s ignited in me is shifting from frustration into something else. Something far more risky.
It’s starting to feel like a matter of time before I lose control and let her into my heart. I just have to find a way not to lose myself at the same time.
Please note this book does contain scenes involving pediatric illness and death in a hospital setting.
COPYRIGHT © 2023 | Julia Jarrett