Reilly's Wildcard (11 page)

The hand that wasn’t holding the beer patted her thigh. “It’s fine, sis. I know to keep my head down.”

Reilly came forward and sat on the other side of Lucy, then slung an arm over her shoulders. Lucy held back the giddiness of having Reilly so close. Would she always respond to the man with a flow of warmth anytime he came near? She suspected she would.

Annabelle cocked her head to the side and studied her a minute. “You know, you really don’t look very pregnant. How far along are you? Have there been any complications?”

“Not quite four months, and nope,” he answered for her. Reilly pressed a hand to her belly, and suddenly, Lucy’s heart filled with something very much like love.

“Had any odd cravings?” Annabelle asked. “Pickles and ice cream, for instance?”

She shook her head. “Nothing weird. Just a lot of morning sickness so far.”

Annabelle cringed. “Hopefully that part will be over soon.” She looked over at Reilly and winked. “And I’ll bet Reilly will keep you well supplied when the cravings do start up.”

She didn’t give Reilly a chance to reply. Lord only knew what the man would say to such a blanket statement. “Why would you say that?”

“I’ve seen your temper, Lucy. You’re not to be fooled with when you’re mad or hungry.”

She laughed. “Oh yeah, I’m so scary to a badass soldier like you.”

Annabelle started to say something, but Reilly spoke up, stopping them both in their tracks. “Lucy will have everything she needs. If she wants ice cream and pickles, she’ll get it.”

Annabelle cleared her throat, and her expression grew serious. “Yeah, I can see she’ll be well taken care of. But Lucy is my sister. Her husband walked all over her, and I won’t see it happen again.”

He smiled. “You can rest assured I’m not David, nor do I intend to repeat his mistakes.”

At that point, Lucy wanted to slap them both on the back of the head. She jerked up off the couch and shook her finger at them. “Get it straight, I don’t need either of you worrying about me and taking care of me. I can take care of myself.” She turned toward Reilly. “And if I want ice cream, I’ll get it myself.”

Annabelle laughed. “Good to see you’re still as mouthy as ever, sis.” She took one last swig of her beer and placed it on the coffee table, then got to her feet. “Thanks for the beer.” She took Lucy in her arms and pulled her in close. “Take care of my nieces or nephews, okay?”

Lucy kissed her cheek and asked, “Will I see you later?”

“Definitely. And I’ll bring Justin.” Annabelle’s smile lit up her face. “You’re going to love him. He’s really great.”

“As long as he treats you like fine china, then we won’t have a problem,” Lucy said, and it was no less than the truth. She wanted to see Annabelle happy and well loved, something neither of them had experienced with their own dad. Annabelle deserved to live happily ever after with the man of her dreams.

After her sister left, Lucy was left alone with Reilly. When their gazes connected, she shivered at the heat reflected in his eyes. “Reilly?”

He stalked her across the room. “Lucy,” he murmured, his voice dancing down her spine. “Do you know that I’m crazy about you? Crazy with desire, with lust, with need for you?”

She shook her head adamantly, continuing to walk backward and away from him. “I thought you were in a rush.”

He was a predator, and stalking his prey was second nature. When Lucy stumbled, Reilly was there, pulling her against his chest. “Nope, plenty of time.” Then his head came down, and his mouth latched on to hers. The kiss started out as a demand but quickly turned into searing heat.

Lucy had it in her to stop him, but her body betrayed her, going pliant against his massive frame. Her hands had a mind of their own as well, skating over the hard strength of his shoulders and back. Lucy moaned as she felt Reilly’s fingers through her shirt and bra drifting over her sensitized nipple. Her mind went blank and her legs quivered. All at once, her feet left the floor as Reilly lifted her into his arms. He never broke the kiss as he went to her bedroom and placed her on the bed. He angled his head and kissed her once more before lifting away. Her lips tingled and felt bereft without his touch. It scared her to think he’d gotten under her skin so fast. But he was tearing at his clothes, then hers, and within seconds, they were both naked. With swift elegance, he came down on the bed so that he lay parallel to her. His large, powerful hands grasped her around the waist, pulling her up and sitting her down on top of him in one smooth motion. At once Lucy felt exposed, and while she hadn’t gained much weight yet, she still felt thicker than she had before.

As if sensing her distress, Reilly murmured, “You’re beautiful, Lucy. Every inch.” She started to say something, anything, but Reilly hushed her with a finger to her kiss-swollen lips. “And being on top gives you the control. Wouldn’t you like that?”

She nodded, unable to speak around the lump in her throat, and felt his arousal pushing at the cleft of her bottom. A little thrill ran through her that she had the ability to bring him to such a state. She moved slightly, just a small wriggling of her hips. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from him. Reilly’s eyes turned to fire in an instant. His teeth gritted with restraint. He seemed determined to let her be the one in charge, but she could see that it cost him. He was such a sexual man, meeting his needs would be a major undertaking. She didn’t know if she had it in her to please him. And still he was letting her do as she wished.

It was time to see what she was made of.

Closing her eyes, Lucy began by moving slowly at first in little circles, enjoying his hard length nestled between her buttocks. Bracing herself on his chest, she rolled her hips back and forth, clenching her thighs around him. Reilly growled. “Fucking hell.”

Lucy moaned as whirls of sensation stimulated the delicate folds of her sex. She opened her eyes again and bent down far enough that her nipples grazed his chest hair. Pleasure rippled through her as the dark curls rasped them to taut peaks. Not able to stop herself, she lowered her mouth to his and licked at his full lower lip. God, no man should have a mouth so sinful, she mused. Her teeth nibbled at the skin, and his hands came up to her arms, crushing her to him. She felt herself spiraling out of control, felt Reilly’s instinctive need to dominate boiling to the surface.

Lucy rose up a fraction of an inch and looked beseechingly into his eyes. “Let me.” As if not trusting himself to speak, he nodded his consent. She smiled, feeling as if she were a woman on the brink of discovering something wonderful.

She lowered her head to his chest, tasting his salty skin, smelling his arousal. Her tongue darted out and laved his nipple; her fingers curled in his chest hair. She couldn’t get enough of him. Now she understood why he’d been so eager their first time. She shimmied down his body and kissed his flat stomach, running her hands over his chest, his arms, needing to touch him everywhere at once. Poised over his manhood, she looked up and saw him watching her, his entire body still and tense. She swept the heavy fall of her black hair back and lowered her head, never taking her gaze off his. She grasped him in her hand and squeezed. Reilly threw his head back and grunted. She let her tongue dart out, not able to resist tasting the tip of his cock. His gaze flew back to hers and feminine triumph surged through her at the pleasure on his face.

He moved then, burrowing both of his large hands in her hair and pulling her head down until Lucy had his entire cock inside the wet heat of her mouth. She sucked in, hollowing her cheeks in an uncertain effort to bring him gratification. Reilly cursed under his breath.

Suddenly, he pulled her upward until she was once again sitting on top of him. “Have mercy, sweetheart. Another second and I would have been unable to stop.”

Comprehension dawned, and she smiled. “I like knowing that.”

“I want to be inside you, so damn deep inside you. Don’t make me wait another second, woman. I’m begging here.”

She chuckled. “I ought to make you suffer longer. I’m certain you’ve never begged a day in your life.”

He shook his head. “Christ, you’re wicked.”

His need was hers; his urgency fueled her bravado. She raised her hips and took him in her hands, guiding him to her entrance. Lucy lowered herself onto him, taking her time, feeling every inch of his hard cock slide between her pussy lips. She closed her eyes and arched her back and pushed down all the way. “Yes, I missed that,” she moaned.

His voice was a scrape of gravel when he said, “You feel good. So damn warm and tight.”

Reilly wanted to change their positions. Wanted to be the one in control. But he was determined to allow her to have her way. To give her the tender loving she deserved. So he stayed put, satisfied to watch her learn what her body was capable of. He reached between their bodies and squeezed her clit between his thumb and forefinger, pumping and pulling at the little nub, encouraged by the small sounds that emanated from her throat. Her breaths quickened, and she moved even faster on top of him. He felt himself ever closer to the edge and stroked her once more, sending her flying over.

He removed his hand and clutched her hips. “Look at me, sweetheart.” Lucy’s lashes fluttered open, and he growled, “You belong to me.” Then he pushed her down. Hard. Impaling her completely, as if verifying his words.

His explosion came quick and furious, his come filling her. Lucy collapsed on top of him. Their breathing came in quick pants. Their hearts beat out of control, bodies slick with sweat. He wrapped his arms around her delicate rib cage and held her there. She was his, and somehow he needed to make her understand that. Already he could feel her attempting to pull away from him. She always attempted to maintain some sort of emotional distance, especially after sex, and it infuriated him.

Reilly shifted them so they lay spoon fashion. He pulled her in close, and she cozied her bottom against his groin. He smiled at the automatic gesture. She was becoming comfortable with him without even being aware of it. Reilly put a possessive arm over her still-flat stomach, binding her to him.

“We’re so going to be late to dinner at this rate.”

Because they were eating at the Blackwater, Reilly said, “It’s cool, I happen to know the owner.”

She laughed and cuddled closer. God, how Reilly wanted this moment to last. In the back of his mind, the ticking of a clock grew increasingly louder, as if his time with Lucy was fleeting. He wished like hell he could smash that damn imaginary clock.

Chapter Eight

They’d been back together for a little over five months, and Lucy was still no closer to figuring out if they were going to be an item once the babies were born or not. God, there were so many things to think about, and it overwhelmed her at times. One thing she’d decided not to worry about was a new and bigger apartment. Her place was going to have to do for now, because the thought of moving sent her into an anxiety attack. Her mind was so consumed with thoughts of Reilly. Like, would he want to be a part of both her and the babies’ lives?

They’d gotten into a comfortable routine. After work, they spent their evenings talking and making plans for the birth. On weekends, she sang at the Blackwater. It’d been rough at first, but the customers had quickly warmed up to her and she’d gotten more comfortable performing in front of a crowd. Her baby bump was a constant source of discussion. There was even some betting going on as to the sex of the babies. Lucy felt more and more at home with Reilly and his family.

It scared her to death.

When Reilly had her alone, he couldn’t keep his hands off her. Lucy certainly had no complaints when it came to their sex life. At over seven months pregnant, she would have thought Reilly would have lost interest in her by now. At least chilled a little. He hadn’t, despite the fact that her flat belly was a thing of the past. She feared her skinny jeans might never come out of storage. She wore maternity clothes all the time, which weren’t terribly flattering.

“Why do all maternity clothes look so…so cutesy? God, it’s enough to make me gag.”

Reilly chuckled. “I like you
cutesy
.” He stopped tucking in his shirt and came up behind her, staring at her in the dresser mirror. He kissed the top of her head. It was gentle and swift and so sweet that Lucy felt it clear to her toes. With his shirt half opened, his tanned chest and the sprinkling of dark hair peeked out. He appeared every inch a calendar model, mouthwateringly gorgeous. His big, strong body took up enough space that the room appeared to shrink around them.

“You’re sexy no matter what you wear,” he growled, then placed his hands protectively over her protruding abdomen. “Are you certain you should still be working?”

Lucy narrowed her eyes. “We’ve had this discussion. The doctor says I’m fine. There aren’t any problems with the babies, and working keeps me active and healthy. Quit being such a worrier.”

He grunted and caressed his way upward. Lucy halted his curious hands with one of hers. “I know where this is going, and we’ve both got to get moving. You’ve made me late as it is. Again.”

Reilly descended on her neck, licking and nibbling. “I didn’t hear you complain when you were coming. What was it, three times? I lost count.”

Lucy felt her face heat up. She was so damned sensitive lately. Every touch sent her libido into overdrive. “It’s this pregnancy. I can’t seem to get enough.”