In Blood and Worth Loving 3 Kiss Cover (31 page)

She made a soft, pleased sound and rewarded him by tightening herself around him.

With his cock buried in her pussy, her blood flowing into his mouth, and his hand on her belly, he experienced a new and intense level of intimacy he
’
d never felt. Lost in the power of the new sensations, he came, blasting countless jets inside her before he sank back against the sofa, feeling totally content.

As he lay under her with his cock still inside her, he realized that Max was nearby, probably in the hallway.
Thanks for being there for her when I should have been, Max.

That
’
s what friends are for, Conner. But if you make it necessary for me to do it again, I
’
m going to take her from you.

In your dreams, Stoner.

In your nightmare, Redwolfe.
He laughed and left the vicinity.

Desi suddenly tilted her head to the side.
“
Was that Max?
”

“
Yes,
”
he said, frowning.
“
It was. How did you know?
”

“
I don
’
t know how I know. I just had a familiar feeling and thought of him.
”

He wondered if having a full-blood
’
s child growing inside her had given her some type of special perception. Or maybe because he was still inside her and feeling attuned to her, some of his cognitive ability had found its way to her. Not that it mattered. They had a lifetime ahead of them to explore
their effect on
each other.

She yawned.

Realizing she was probably tired, he eased his cock out of her and turned her so that they lay face to face with her on top of him. He slid his hands over her ass.
“
Are you all right?
”

“
I sure hope this isn
’
t a dream because I
’
ve never been happier.
”

“
If it is, it
’
s one we
’
re sharing together and will continue to share. And when the baby is born, it
’
s one we
’
ll
share with him.
”

“
Oh Conner
,
I love you so much.
”

“
And I
love
you.
”
Recalling the look of love and wonder in Adrian
’
s eyes when he
’
d held his son for the first time a week earlier, Conner decided he
’
d watch Adrian and learn from his example how to cherish the baby growing inside the only woman he
’
d ever loved so deeply and completely.

He kissed her hair and caressed the side of her stomach.
“
Both of you.
”

“
You sound as if you mean that.
”

“
I do. I
’
m sorry it took me so long to give you the support you need
ed
, but I
’
m finally onboard now. We
’
re having a baby and he
’
ll know the moment he
’
s born that we both love him.
”

“Then I can tell you that I’ve removed
Larry’s picture from my nightstand and replaced it with one of you riding Partner.”

Finally she was ready to be his without reservations. He knew he’d have to find a way to love and cherish her child, but for the first time, the thought didn’t seem so impossible.

He wasn’t sure who had told her the picture bothered him but he owed Max or Seb a favor.
“I appreciate the gesture.” He paused, sighed, and spoke before he changed his mind. “We can put it on the other
nightstand.”

She shook her head. “I’ll put it in my favorite scrapbook.” She burrowed into his arms
. “Thanks for not riding me for having his picture on my nightstand for so long.”

“I’ll do my best to be as deserving of your love and devotion as he clearly was.”

She shuddered and burst into tears.

He held her until she fell asleep. Then he rose and carried her into the bedroom.
With her lying on her back, h
e placed his hand on her stomach. Although he had not felt the baby move, he had heard the rhythm of his heartbeat and had been touched in a way he wouldn
’
t have thought possible.

Finally he was going to be a husband and a father. Confident that he was equal to the task of both roles, he curled his body against the back of hers and fell into a deep, totally contented sleep.

Full–bloods so rarely fathered children that each birth was celebrated by having family and close friends present for the
occasion
.
While originally turned off at the idea of anyone other than Conner or possibly Max being in the delivery room, Desire
e
eventually agreed to give birth
with those nearest and dearest to them present.

S
o
five and a half months later, s
urrounded by family and friends, Desi clutched Conner
’
s hand as she grunted and screamed in pain and joy as her son was born in the nursery of the home they
’
d moved into two months after their wedding.

Dr. Grinkolo, a full-blood doctor who commanded outrageous fees, who had delivered Brandi and Adrian
’
s son, gave a shout of satisfaction and lifted the baby from between her legs and into the towel his nurse held.

She slumped back against the bed, clutching Conner
’
s hand tighter and almost held her breath as
the doctor
examined the baby.

After what seem forever, he turned to look at her with a smile on his face.
“
He
’
s a half-blood and the image of his father.
”

Oh God! Why? Why? Why couldn
’
t you allow him to look like me instead
of Hartford
?
All the progress Conner had made towards accepting the baby had probably just been
shoot to hell
. Fighting back tears, she looked up at Conner.
Oh please hang in there with us.

But she feared having the baby look like Hartford was going to stem if not reverse the progress he
’
d made towards accepting the baby.

His jaw clenched but he smiled and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
I gave you my word I’d be good to him and I will.

Dr. Grinkolo looked at Conner.
“
Your son, Redwolfe.
”

Conner released her hand and accepted the baby. He stared down at him
for several moments before he stum
bled backwards.

Adrian flashed across the room and caught him as he started to fall with the baby clutched to his chest. He righted Conner and then stared down at the baby. Then he gave an almost bloodcurdling shout, lifted
him
from Conner
’
s arms and quickly crossed the room to place the baby in her arms.
“Your son honey.”

Desi
looked at the screaming baby placed in her arms
.

He abruptly stopped crying and his eyes opened.

She gasped
and instantly knew why she
’
d insisted on having
him
. He was the spitting image of his father
–
Conner
Redwolfe, complete with the Redwolfe blue eyes, dark hair, and skin tone.

She lifted her gaze towards the ceiling.
Thank you.
She cradled their son against her chest.
Go to sleep love with no fear. Your mommy and daddy will surround you with love.

Conner and Adrian hugged each other before Jayvyn joined them and the three brothers shared a hug.

She turned and smiled at Cay before locking gazes with Max. She extended her hand.

He crossed the room to take her hand in his and raise it to his lips.
“
Congrats honey.
”

“
Holding on until Conner came around w
ould have been so much harder
without you
r support
,
”
she whispered.

“
It was my pleasure.
And I want you to know that i
f he loses hi
s
mind again and you need help, you call and I
’
ll com
e
running
and take care of you both
.
”

“
That
’
s sweet but I
’
m sure you
’
ve had enough of me to last a lifetime.
”

He shook his head.
“
I mean it honey. You need me
; I
’
ll be there. Just call
a
nytime.
”

Oh. Damn. Did she detect more feeling in his
voice than she wanted to hear?
Before she could
decide,
Conner broke away
from Adrian and Jay to join them at the bed.

Max caressed the baby
’
s cheek
.
“
Conner
Redwolfe, Jr
?
”

She shook her head.
“
Conner Maxvillion Redwolfe.
”

“
If you need me for anything at all, call me honey.
”
He
kissed her fingers
again
before he turned to smile at Conner.
“
Congrats,
you
undeserving
dumb ass.
”

“
Thanks for all
your help, you
jealous
crazy
ass
bastard. Now step away from my wife and son.
”

“
Treat them both right
, Redwolfe
.
”

Conner frowned.
“
I will, but if I didn
’
t?
”

“
I
’
ll be waiting in the wings and
I think we both know what
will happen if you don
’
t.
”
He
slapped
Conner
’
s
cheek, winked at her, and left the nursery.

Desiree stared after him, a little unnerved by
the
cold
undertones of the exchange between Conner
and him
.
That had not felt like friendly banter.
The last thing she wanted or needed was Max feeling anything but platonic towards her.

She looked up at Conner.
“
Is he all right?
”

He shrugged.
“
If he
’
s not, he soon will be.
”
He
sat on the bed and buried his face against her neck.
“
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
”

“
For what?
”

He lifted his head to look at their son before meeting her gaze.
“
For being strong enough to say no when I insisted you do the unthinkable
. A
nd for being strong enough to walk away from me until I came to my senses.
”

He shuddered.
“
If not for your strength and resolve, I would have made a horrible mistake.
”

Seeing the anguish in eyes she was glad she
’
d always manage to resist the urge to berate and condemn him for having killed Jane and their child. While she might very well have been pregnant, no one would convince her that Conner had known. He would not have knowingly killed his own child.

“
Thank you for being strong enough for us both
, Desi
and for forgiving me yet again
.
”

She blinked, allowing the tears to roll down her cheeks. This was the man who had sang
Kiss
to her and made her
realize
she didn
’
t need to be a pale, thin beauty to turn him on. Yes, they
’
d had far more downs than ups lately, but this was the man she
’
d loved from the moment she saw him.

“
I have news for you, handsome. I can forgive you for almost anything.
”
She smiled.
“
Sometimes I
’
ll be strong. Other times you
’
ll be strong enough for all three of us. Together we can conquer any obstacle we face because we
’
re perfect together.
”

“
And we always will be,
”
he promised and put his arm around her shoulders.

And we always will be.
The promise held a warm, wonderful ring that filled her with joy and hope for the years ahead. Finally she had everything she wanted and needed to be happy. Life was good.

“
Very good,
”
he echoed and bent to kiss Conner junior
’
s fist.
“
More than good. Great.
”

More than good?
Yeah baby.