Scandalously Expecting His Child(87)

                Suddenly unable to wait a second longer, he swept her in his                     arms, heaved up to his feet and strode back to her bedroom.

                At her squeaking protest, he stopped, looked back at the trio,                     found them on their feet, looking crestfallen.

                He raised a mocking eyebrow at them. “Uh, sorry, were you                     waiting for a response from me?” He groaned in pleasure as Scarlett gave his jaw                     a punishing nip. His eyes laughed down at her, then back at the guests. “Let me                     give you a tip for future reference. Once Scarlett has spoken, I am but the                     executor of her will. She wants us to be family, we will be                     family.”

                After a moment’s uncertainty, the trio’s faces split with                     smiles, then they each advanced on them, all delighted relief.

                At Scarlett’s loving nudge, he put her back on her feet so she                     could receive with him the hugs of the three people who would be their                     family.

                After an interlude of mutual thanks and excitement, especially                     on the side of the ladies, who seemed to be delighted to have a girlfriend in                     their testosterone-dominated lives, Raiden swept Scarlett back up into his                     arms.

                This time their guests took the hint and rushed to the door.                     Scarlett spluttered that he put her down, that they should stay longer, that she                     hadn’t even offered them something to drink. But this time he didn’t heed her,                     and the trio insisted on leaving. It was time, Hashimoto said, to leave the two                     of them to continue their reunion     after such a harrowing separation.

                Raiden called after them when they were at the door, “I                         am grateful we will be family. But remember, we will only be                     because Scarlett decreed it. Now you all owe her.”

                Their voices rose in corroboration as they closed the door                     behind them. Then he raced with her to her bedroom.

                Putting her down on the still-rumpled sheets, as if he was                     laying down his heart, he pulled off his clothes, then hers, and came down into                     her arms.

                “I wasn’t just making him squirm, you know,” he said against                     her lips. “I was going to insist on refusing.”