Monroe, Marla - The Edge of Night [The Protectors 3](Siren Publishing Classic) (39 page)

“Please, Morgan. Please, please, please. I can’t stand it anymore.”

Amanda begged him as he circled her clit once again with his tongue. He smiled and nipped at it. She screamed, and for a minute, he thought he’d pushed her over, but she went back to thrashing about on the bed, her head rolling back and forth, begging him to let her come.

He searched for that special spot inside her hot pussy, and while gently applying pressure to her clit, he rubbed that spot over and over until she exploded around him. He watched as her face changed expressions from needy to euphoric, her eyes rolling back and her mouth going slack. Nothing pleased him more than watching her come for him.

He climbed up her body and lifted one leg so he could enter her in one smooth push. She accepted him without a word, and he feared at first she’d passed out, but when she opened her eyes and looked at him, he nearly pulled out and ran. He saw love there. For a few precious seconds, he saw it in her eyes before she closed them and lifted her pelvis to meet his thrusts.

He tunneled his cock in and out of her hot cunt. It squeezed him as the aftershocks of her orgasm continued with the added stimulation of his fucking her. He drew nearly all the way out and slammed back in, over and over, until he felt that electric current spreading from his spine to his balls. His cum boiled there, waiting to erupt.

With each thrust, he felt her pussy sucking on his dick, trying to keep it prisoner within its hot, wet walls. He wanted to stay there, but wanted to come more. He felt his balls tighten that little bit more, and he shot cum deep inside of her as he thrust hard three more times and held his body rigid within her.

As soon as he could breathe again, Morgan rolled over to the side and gathered her up in his arms. He pulled her close enough he could bury his face in her neck and breathe her in. God, he was going to miss her. He would miss so much about her, not just the sex either. He would miss snuggling up with her like this, her sassy mouth, and the way she held on to him on the bike. But he had to leave. He couldn’t stay. It wouldn’t be fair to either of them.

Morgan almost rolled away, but refused to give up what little time he had left with her. If he were a better man, he might be able to overlook the baby growing in her belly, but he wasn’t. He was a sorry excuse of a person. All he could think about was his own child and how he’d never had the chance to hold him. He didn’t even think of his wife as much now, and that added guilt to his already dirty soul.

Amanda deserved someone who would love her no matter what and provide for her and spoil her. He didn’t even have a job. All he did was work at odd jobs to pay his way through life. The house was paid for, and his savings were paying for the utilities. He didn’t care about the money. If it would help Amanda, that was fine. He wanted her to be happy, and she would be once he was gone and she forgot about him. She would be busy getting ready for, and then taking care of, her baby.

The ticking of the alarm clock next to the bed finally got to him, and he slipped into sleep, only to wake up again around three and make slow love to Amanda again. She fell asleep this time with her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. He lay awake for another hour just listening to her breath.

* * * *

Lunch was a boisterous affair as the men all gathered around the table and bar talking at once. Amanda sat between Tyler and Dodge with Morgan sitting across from her. He shifted his feet occasionally to bump against hers and smiled at her. They were okay. He knew she understood, though secretly she was crying inside. She wanted more than anything for him to stay so they could be a family, but she knew better. Instead of moping, she joined in the free-for-all of joking, laughing, and enjoying the moment. They were all leaving after lunch.

She would miss each and every one of them. She would even miss the twins, despite how scary they were to her. They’d proven to be good friends to Morgan and had treated her with nothing but respect.

“Do you have everything ready for work on Monday?” Dodge asked her.

“Yep. I’ve got a small bag to carry my lunch in and some extra fruit. I’ll probably take a book with me to read during lunch.”

“Don’t forget to eat your ice cream at night,” Tyler reminded her.

“I’m not likely to forget ice cream, Tyler,” she said with a smile.

“If you walk for exercise around here,” Morgan began, “remember to wear light-colored clothing so cars can see you.”

“Guys, I’m going to be fine. I’ve been by myself before.” Amanda wiped her mouth with her napkin. She’d eaten an entire chicken breast and helping of potato salad.

“I think everyone has their number programmed in your phone, so if you need anything, one of us can come help.” Morgan stood up and took her plate, along with his, to the trash.

“I’m not likely to need anything, but thanks, guys, for offering. You’re all welcome here anytime you want to crash.” She winced and looked at Morgan. “Well, it’s Morgan’s house, but if he doesn’t mind, I don’t.”

“It’s your house for as long as you want to stay here,” Morgan said.

“Come on, Jethro. Let’s clean up this mess and get on the road.” Justin grabbed empty plates and cups and took them to the trash.

Jethro helped Tyler clear the table as Dodge put away the condiments. Amanda didn’t have to lift a finger. She sat and watched as each of the men took care of the mess, even down to wiping off the table and bar.

Amanda got up and smiled at them. They were all good men. Just looking at them, you would probably have thought of them as hard-core bikers, but she’d come to know the real them beneath the tats, scars, and tough clothes. She would trust any of them with her life and that of her child, because she already had. They were the best.

Morgan wrapped his arms around her from behind and gently squeezed. She leaned back into him and smiled. He was going to miss her. She was sure of it—just not enough to want to stick around.

“Okay, everyone. Let’s mount up and ride,” Jethro called from the carport door.

Amanda followed them all out to the driveway, where two bikes and two trucks sat one behind the other. Jethro and Justin each gave her a quick one-armed hug, while Dodge kissed her cheek and squeezed her shoulders. Tyler wrapped his arms around her and buried his nose against her neck and whispered to call him for anything.

They all climbed into their trucks, with Tyler on his bike, and cranked their rides. Morgan waited until everyone had pulled out and started out before he pulled her into his arms and hugged her.

“You take care of yourself and little bit in there,” he said. “I’m going to miss you, Amanda.”

“I’m going to miss you too, Morgan. I can never thank you enough for—”

He interrupted her. “Don’t. Just be happy. That’s all I ask.”

“I’m happy, Morgan. I’ve got my whole life ahead of me and have five of the best men as friends that I could ever want. You be careful.” Amanda didn’t try to kiss him. She squeezed him hard, then stepped back and watched him climb onto his bike.

She stood on the driveway and watched as he turned the big bike around and rode down the street. He never looked back. She stood there for a few more minutes as if thinking he would turn around and come back any minute now. He didn’t.

Finally she walked back inside and began the rest of her life.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Amanda filled her days with learning her new job, and her nights with reading and going through the nursery. She cleaned and washed everything in the room. It was obvious they had been expecting a little boy, though most of the clothes were for either sex. Everything a baby could possibly want was in that room. She wouldn’t have to do anything but buy diapers when the supply they’d bought had been used.

She spent a lot of time reading up on babies and what to expect as her pregnancy progressed. She found that she had trouble with swelling in her feet and legs. She put them up on a stool at work while she was there and sat in the recliner when she was at home, but they continued to give her problems.

Mrs. Pullum checked in with her constantly and worried about her swelling as well. “You be sure that doctor looks at your feet when you go back to him next time,” she reminded her.

“Don’t worry. I don’t think he can miss it. My legs look like elephant’s legs.”

“I can remember when my daughter had her first child, she had trouble with her legs swelling, and the doctor put her on bed rest for a few weeks.”

“Let’s hope I don’t have to do that.” Amanda crossed her fingers.

She did not need to lose work time. She needed all the money she could save for when she couldn’t work after the baby got there. She had some savings left over, but it wouldn’t be enough, she was sure. She still had to make her payments on the delivery and hospital charges.

“Well, don’t you worry about it right now. Wait and see what the doctor says.”

Amanda visited a little longer with Mrs. Pullum before walking back across the street. She’d been without Morgan for nearly a month now and missed him terribly. There were nights she lay awake until early in the morning wishing he were there to hold her. It didn’t matter how many times she told herself to get past it, she still missed him.

The nights were beginning to cool off some now that summer was almost over. Soon it would be fall. That would help her a lot, she figured. Some of the swelling had to be from the heat. They kept it a little on the warm side for her at the office, but she didn’t complain. At home, she kept it just cool enough to make it easier for her to rest and used the ceiling fans to stir the air. She was afraid to run the utilities up too high.

She’d managed to gain seven pounds by her second appointment, and the doctor had been very happy with that. He urged her to keep it up but to try to stay within two pounds a week. So far she was averaging three pounds a week, but she figured a pound of it had to be fluid on her ankles and legs. If she could just get rid of the fluid, she would be doing fine.

Amanda pulled out her grilled chicken salad and left it on the counter to warm up to room temperature. She decided to lie down for a little while. Her head had been hurting off and on all day. Somewhere in her pregnancy books said having a headache was a sign of something. She would have to check it out when she got back up. It wasn’t long after she lay down that she fell asleep.

* * * *

Morgan pulled on his jeans and walked outside feeling disgusted with himself. Tyler could take care of Honey. He wasn’t in the mood. Hell, he hadn’t been “in the mood” in over a month. What the hell was wrong with him? He wished he smoked right then. He needed something to do besides drink. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to end right back in the shape he’d been in nearly four months ago.

“Man, you okay?” Tyler asked as he zipped up his pants.

“Hell, I don’t know. She leaves me cold.”

“Maybe we need to ride off on our own for a few days. I’m getting kind of tired of barhopping, if you want to know the truth about it.” Tyler leaned back against the motel door.

“Yeah, maybe that’s a good idea. I don’t know what in the hell is wrong with me. Maybe some wide open space will help clear my head.” Morgan scratched his chest and continued to look out over the nearly full parking lot of the little motel.

The place was only a few steps up from some of the dives he’d lived in when he’d been perpetually drunk all those months. This wasn’t him. He was better than this.

“Why don’t you go on to bed, Morgan? I’ll take Honey back to her place, and we’ll get up and ride tomorrow.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Morgan turned and looked at Tyler. “Thanks, man.”

Tyler just shrugged and opened the door. Morgan walked in and crawled into the empty bed and promptly fell asleep thinking about Amanda.

In his dream, she was round with his child, and they were planning a big party for their friends. Everything he suggested, she laughed at and added to the list. He loved hearing her laugh. He loved everything about her. She brightened his world just by being in it. She turned in to his arms and reached up to hug him to her. Her belly was between them, and something kicked out at him. He laughed and rubbed her belly to soothe his son.