Jack tucked the crumpled speech in his pocket. The media stood, shouting questions and calling his name. He ignored them, holding out a hand for me to take. He pulled me from the zoo and led me away until we tucked in a quiet, dim corner office. I was lost to his arms.
His kiss stole my breath.
“Marry me now,” he said. “If my career is ending, at least I’ll know I’ll have you, Kiss. Let’s get married now and just be happy.”
I stared into those bandit blue eyes. “You really are bad, aren’t you?”
“Willing to do something reckless?”
“Loving you isn’t reckless.”
“You sure?”
“It’s a testament to my patience, but it’s not reckless. It’s easy.”
Jack smiled. “Is that a yes?”
I kissed him again, easing the worry from his body with a simple brush of my lips.
“I love you,” I whispered. “Let’s get married.”
Epilogue – Jack
His crib was warm and comfortable. Sam stared at me with big, mocha eyes, just as expressive as his mother’s. He liked it when I hung around, cooing and kicking his legs so hard I hoped he wanted to play soccer and not become a punter.
I wasn’t sure how many nights I spent watching the little guy. Leah gave me a hard time. She said Sam couldn’t stop looking at me when I was around, and that I wound him up when he was supposed to be sleeping.
Likewise, kiddo.
I couldn’t follow all the rules, all the time. My son was worth breaking them all.
I tucked the little stuffed football under his chin. He smiled. He had my smile. Now Leah had both of us to deal with.
“So.” I set the ball at the bottom of his crib. “You missed the championship game, bud. I mean, you were there, in your mom, but you didn’t have a good seat in there. It was a good game too. I told your momma I’d play for her, and I earned the MVP.”
Sam blew a spit bubble. I took it as a compliment.
“This is your first lesson.” I poked at his chubby tummy. “When you win, you act like you’ve been there before. You hear me, Sam? Always.”
He gurgled and made a little squeal. His toes wiggled, and they were pretty much the most amazing things I had ever seen in my life. I rested my hand over him, amazed how I created something so little and yet absolutely cripplingly frightening and awesome and perfect.
“Last year was for your momma,” I said. “I had something to prove to her. This year? It’s all for you, Sam. Every play, every drive, every win. It’s because of you. You’re my reason.”
I could tell he was my kid because he didn’t have an ounce of humility in those rosy cheeks. I grinned.
“You know, it wouldn’t hurt if you told your mom that…I think hearing it from you would score me some points…”
Leah giggled from the doorway. I winked at her as she waited for me. Her arms crossed.
“He’s supposed to be sleeping.”
Busted. “He’s getting there.”
“Telling him a story?”
“Just making promises.” I brushed my hand over his cheek and smirked. “He’s bathed and ready for bed.”
“I could have helped.”
The little guy wasn’t sleeping yet, but he would be soon. I edged from the crib and took Leah’s hand, pulling her from the nursery and into our bedroom.
“Training camp starts tomorrow.” I towered over her, but she was ready for me. Knew what I wanted. She smirked as she let her husband lead her to the bed. “I won’t be around as much.”
“Like I can drag you away from that kid.”
I launched at her, tossing her onto the bed and attacking her neck, her lips, her chin in ravenous kisses.
“Speak for yourself…” I tucked my fingers into her skirt. “What are you going to do tomorrow when all the news crews and press come to camp?”
“The perk of working from home. I have everything coordinated from inside the nursery.”
“Oh, yeah?”
She rose up, letting me tug her blouse off her shoulders. “You have an interview with Sports Nation at ten about your new, five-year contract. Then there’s a photo-op at the hospital in the pediatric ward after practice. You’re only supposed to bring the kids one jersey this time.”
“But they need home and away colors.”
“You do have a big heart, you know that?”
I smirked. “A lot of things on me are big.”
“That so?”
“Need a demonstration?”
She giggled. “Your last demonstration ended with that little baby in nursery.”
“And you saw how fun that was…”
Her body was soft, warm, and absolutely perfect. I pinned her hands over her head as I nestled between her legs.
“You know I love you, right?” I whispered.
“You already married me and got a baby, Jack Carson.” Leah teased with a bump of her hips. “No need to flatter me anymore.”
“I’m serious.” I leaned over her, kissing her, tasting her, amazed by her. “I would do anything for you. Anything. Name it.”
“Make love to me?”
“I was already gonna do that.”
“Then I’m an easy woman to please.”
“And you know I love to watch you be pleased.” I kissed her again. “Are you happy?”
“Very.”
“How’s that grand plan working out for you?”
Leah’s hands found mine, fiddling with my zipper. She tugged on my cock, watching as I shuddered with every perfect stroke of her hand.
“Married. Baby. Job…” Her expression flickered as I adjusted her legs, pressing at her entrance, teasing her wetness. I pushed inside just to hear the catch in her voice. “Passion.”
Hell yeah. I groaned as I pierced inside her completely. “Love.”
“Love.”
“You know you’re nothing like what I imagined for me,” I whispered.
“Really?”
I savored her tightness, withdrawing and earning her squeal. “I don’t mind being wrong.”
“Good.” Her hands tightened over my arms. “Cause I’m always right.”
“You’re everything I want.”
Leah’s beautiful smile only got me harder. “Me too.”
“Prove it.” I grabbed her and rolled onto my back. Leah’s steadied herself on my pecs, but she knew what I wanted. Her hips ground against mine as she rode me just the way I liked. “Tonight, we prove it to each other.”
“All night?”
I fucked the most beautiful woman in the world—the love of my life and the mother of my child. What better way to prove how much we needed the other?
“All night long.” I held her hips firm against mine. “That’s my favorite way to party, Kiss.”
The End