Claiming Honor (Bad Boys of River City Book 3) (11 page)

Dinner is great. There are ten of us: me and Serenity, Walker and Grace, Hunter and Honor, Hunter’s sister Mercy, the girls’ friend Faye, and my other business partners Lake Palmer and Ryder Malone. The food is incredible, the booze free flowing, though Serenity doesn’t touch any and I limit myself to one beer. Doesn’t seem fair for me to drink when she can’t. If anyone notices they keep it to themselves.

I still can’t quite believe I’m going to be a father. Even more amazing is how excited I am about it. From the second she told me I haven’t had one doubt, not one regret. I should, considering where I come from and how horrible my parents were. I figure that just means I know exactly what not to do. This baby is me and Serenity. Hopefully, she gets her mother’s looks and moral compass.

The only blot on my happiness is Serenity’s fear. I know it scares her. I even know why, though she’d never admit it. Oh she says she’s worried about being a mother. Being good at it. I have no doubts on that score. What she’s buried so deep she refuses to even acknowledge it, is her fear about me. Will I be here? If I’m not will it be because I didn’t stick around or because I went back to prison? The only real reassurance I can offer her on that score is time. I can’t offer her any promises about prison but I sure as hell will never leave her on purpose.

There is a short scuffle over the bill when it arrives which Lake wins. He pretends to have a heart attack over the total and Mercy snatches it right out of his hands. She hands her credit card to the waitress before anyone can protest.

The tattoo shop is in a different casino so a few minutes later we all head out to the strip. This is my first trip to Vegas and I’m not sure what to make of it. It’s crowded, hot, loud. I wrap an arm around Serenity’s shoulders, pulling her close to my side. It would be too easy to get separated in this crowd. A part of me will probably always fear losing her again. I can’t let that happen. She must guess what I’m thinking because she puts her arm around my waist and squeezes.

“You sure about this?” she asks, leaning close so I can hear.

There’s a hint of doubt in her tone but growing excitement in her eyes. Thank fucking God. I want her to be as happy as I am. To want our daughter and me as much as I want them both.

“Absolutely,” I say.

A few minutes later we enter the shop. It’s large, clean, and modern. Hunter set everything up before we arrived so three artists are ready. We split up and go to semi-private booths.

“I’m Jet,” my tattooist says.

I shake his hand and keep Serenity’s tight in mine.

“Trace. This is my wife Serenity.”

I’ll never get over the thrill of introducing her that way.

“Nice to meet you,” Jet says, leaning back against a counter. “What are you looking for tonight?”

“A name.”

I see a reluctant look cross his face and laugh. “Not Serenity’s. She keeps insisting that’s bad luck. Our daughter’s name. Jesse.”

He looks relieved. “Is she in Vegas with you?”

Serenity snorts. “Yeah. Right here. She isn’t born yet.”

Understanding crosses his face. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” we say together.

Then Jet gets to work. We choose a flowing script and discuss placement, decide to put it under the rune on my neck that means defense. It’ll be at the very top of my back. A few minutes later I release Serenity’s hand and straddle the chair facing the doorway. I don’t want anyone to see this until I’m ready. The sound of the tattoo machine fills the air and gets my blood pumping. I have a few tattoos and this always happens. Whoever said ink was addicting told the God’s honest truth. It doesn’t take long to finish and I get a look at it in the mirror. It’s light and feminine, as pretty and perfect as I know our daughter will be. I can’t read Serenity’s expression though and that worries me.

“What do you think?” I ask and struggle to keep the nerves out of my voice.

She lifts her hands to cup my face, tugs me close so our lips just brush together. “It’s beautiful,” she whispers. “Thank you.”

Now she’s really worrying me. “For what?”

“For loving us so much.”

She kisses me quickly, then steps aside while Jet covers the tattoo. I pull my shirt on while he explains the aftercare, something I obviously know how to do but I don’t interrupt. I want to get back to our room and show her how much I love her in the best way I know how. We follow Jet back out front. Hunter is also done. He got his and Honor’s upcoming wedding date tattooed across his heart. Wish I had thought of that, though Honor mutters something about bad luck so maybe not.

“What did you get?” Ryder asks.

In our group he’s the most determined to stay single. The idea of fatherhood would probably send him screaming into the night.

“A name,” I say, turning around and tugging the collar of my shirt low so everyone can see.

There is a moment of silence I can only describe as stunned. After all, why on Earth would I get someone else’s name inked on my skin? Honor gets it first. She turns to Serenity with a mock glare.

“I’m not sure if I want to hug you or smack you upside the back of the head for keeping this from me. When are you due?”

“December fourth,” Serenity answers.

Hunter doesn’t look surprised which makes sense. If Honor already suspects Serenity is pregnant, she probably would have told him. Grinning, he steps forward and clasps my hand.

“Congratulations, man.”

I grin back.

“Jesse could be a girl or a boy,” Faye says.

“It’s a girl,” I say before Serenity can.

All the guys groan. “What?” I ask.

“I can see the appeal of spoiling a little girl. Father’s should do that,” Hunter says, watching his sister. “But they grow up to be teenagers. Eventually they want to do things like date.”

I scowl. I haven’t thought about that yet. “No dating. Not until she’s thirty.”

Serenity grins. “I was a teenager when we met.”

“I know, baby,” I drawl. “I remember it in vivid detail.”

She blushes, but the others laugh.

“Hence the no dating till thirty rule. I’ll have to remember that. Might come in handy one day,” Hunter says.

As hot and heavy as he and Honor are, I bet that day will come sooner rather than later. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve walked into a room and had to turn around and walk right back out. It makes it tricky to get some of our business done, but it’s good to see Hunter settled and happy. Finally Walker and Grace come out, and she’s fuming.

“What’s wrong?” Honor asks her sister.

They’re twins and Serenity’s cousins, though you’d never know it looking at them. They don’t look anything alike. Honor and Grace are both blonds, but where Grace is short and curvy, Honor is tall and willowy. My Serenity is also short, though not as curvy, and has dark auburn hair. They’re all beautiful.

“He broke the name rule,” Grace practically snarls.

Walker just smiles and wraps an arm her from behind. “Just means you can’t ever leave me.”

She doesn’t look the least bit mollified, but she also doesn’t break his hold. I worry about them sometimes. It would kill my brother if Grace ever left him and the woman has some serious commitment issues. We pay up and then head back towards our casino. Serenity takes my hand and the walk is much less tense this time. I pay more attention to my surroundings and don’t protest when she tugs my hand and we break off from the others.

“Where are we going?”

She points. “The Bellagio. I want to see the fountains.”

I want to get her alone, but I don’t argue. I spent ten years in prison so I’ve learned patience. She tests it, especially when I have her naked under me, but I can wait a little bit longer. We reach the fountains. She stands in front of me, her back to my chest, and I wrap my arms around her waist. Settle my hands protectively over her lower abdomen. Sighing, she relaxes, her hands covering mine. It’s a perfect moment. Despite the crowd I swear we are alone as we watch the fountains. It’s an intricate water dance that is oddly entrancing. I don’t know how long we stand there, don’t really care, but finally she tilts her head to look at me.

“Let’s head back,” she whispers but I can hear her, still caught in this weird little bubble that seems to surround us.

We take our time returning, pausing here and there to check something out. Sexual tension builds the whole time. By the time we push into our room it’s a pulsing need I don’t fight. As soon as the door latches behind us, I pick her up and carry her to the bed. Nudging her shoulder when she attempts to reach for me, I shake my head.

“Not tonight, baby. You touch me and there goes all my control.”

“So I get the untamable caveman tonight?” she asks solemnly, but I see the light in her eyes. Amusement and desire that matches my own. It makes my dick even harder.

Warning her not to move, I reach for one strappy blue sandal, slip it off, then remove the other. I slide my hands up bare legs to the hem of the dress she’d changed into for dinner. It is pretty and new, white with pale blue polka dots. It is tight over her breasts and the skirt flared out when she’d spun around for me. She called it retro. Whatever. As much as I like it, it has to come off. I let her up long enough to unzip the back and pull the dress over her head. She is left in only a skimpy pair of panties and I get rid of them. Then I take a moment a stare, notice the way her body is changing now that she carries my child. Her breasts fuller, the gentle rounding low on her stomach.

“So beautiful, wife,” I whisper before taking one hard nipple into my mouth.

Her hands tunnel through my hair, nails scratching just enough to drive me crazy, and she knows it. I reach up and move them, biting the inside swell of her breast hard enough to make her gasp and rock her pelvis against mine. I can feel her through my jeans, hot and wet and welcoming. But I’m not done teasing her yet. Not done tasting her, soaking up every moan and murmur and demand.

“Trace,” she complains when I kiss my way slowly to the center of her torso. “I want you inside me. Stop playing.”

“Not yet.”

I begin to kiss, lick, and nibble my way down her body. Then I spread her thighs wide and settle between them. She groans when I blow a hot breath over her exposed sex. Jerks when I flick my tongue over her clit.  Her hands twist in my hair, this time holding tight while I lick and suck.

This isn’t just sex, though just sex with Trace is beyond awesome. No, tonight he’s making a point. I can feel it in every touch, every stroke, every
lick
. Tonight he’s
claiming
me. More than ever before. And I love him for it. I give him everything. Take everything he gives back. His tongue strokes over the most intimate parts of me. His fingers thrust deep, curling to stroke against my G spot. He drives me to the edge of orgasm over and over again, only to leave me unfulfilled. Panting and desperate.

“Trace,” I manage to say. “Fuck me already.”

He stills. Levels a hard, steady gaze on me. “Not until I’m sure you know I’m not going anywhere.”

Before I can frame a response, his lips, his tongue and teeth are on my clit again and I explode. The orgasm is so intense I don’t notice him moving up my body until I feel his cock thrusting deep and hard and to the hilt. It is beyond perfect. I could live here in this perfect moment. And then his hand settles on my stomach.

“She’ll be beautiful and smart and tough and
ours
,” he says. “We will love her enough to overcome any obstacle.”

I know he’s talking about my fear of losing him again. And I know he’s right. I cup his face in my hands and rise up, pressing my lips to his.

“We will,” I whisper. “We’ll love her as much as we love each other.”

He grins in response, grips my hip as he thrusts deep. “Yes we will.”

MORE FROM ELLE WYLDER

Thank you for reading
Loving Serenity
! If you are interested in my other books and stories please visit
http://www.ellewylder.com
. If you’d like to be notified of new releases you can visit my website or join my
mailing list
.

OTHER TITLES BY ELLE WYLDER

Bad Boys of River City

Defending Serenity

Saving Grace

Claiming Honor

Keeping Faith (coming summer 2015)

Love In Uniform Short Stories

Bound By Love

Rules of Engagement

Damaged

Love In Uniform Box Set

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Copyrigh
t
2015 Elle Wylder

Cover Design by Dayna Hart

Discover other titles by Elle Wylder at

http://www.ellewylder.com/

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.