He grinned. “Before we get to the doctor’s office, you remember the drill?”
“Yep.” She’d been briefed by Adam about what to say and given legitimate-looking identification to memorize.
“Name?”
“Summer Aestates.” The Latin word for summers, Jay had an odd sense of humor.
“My name?”
“Nix Aestates.” Literal translation—Snow Summers—fitting, considering he’d entered her life with the force of a squall.
“Relation?”
She looked at the gold band on her ring finger. “We’re married. Halia’s our daughter. You’re the big bad alpha in charge. Yada, yada, yada.” His one-handed grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turning white around the matching ring he wore. “And before you go all uber protector, Nix, I’m well aware this is a serious situation with a certain amount of risk involved. I promise to behave appropriately once we get there, but just so you know, joking around is how I sometimes relieve my anxiety.”
After taking a deep breath, he shocked her by plucking her hand out of her lap and entwining their fingers. “There’s no reason to be anxious. I’m not going to let anything happen to you or Halia.”
“Oh, I know.” Heart beating an irregular rhythm, she firmed her grip in his. A show of trust she felt he needed. “I’m not worried about you. I’m worried about myself. About saying something I shouldn’t. I mean, I’ve never given birth before, so if Doctor Baelish asks any questions about Halia’s delivery…”
“You say it was a normal vaginal delivery. No surprises. No complications. But if you feel any verbal diarrhea coming on, give me a deer-in-the-headlights look, and I’ll bail you out.”
“That’s disgusting. And also fitting.”
He squeezed her hand before letting go so he could turn into the parking lot of the office building housing the doctor’s practice, and she missed the warmth of his palm immediately. He jammed the transmission in park, cut the motor, released his seatbelt, and turned to face her. “You ready to be a happy family of three, buttercup?”
Her first time out in public since moving to the JTT’s ranch, she looked from him to Halia safely buckled into her car carrier in the back seat, and out of nowhere, a shot of panic seized her. She loved his little girl. Would do anything for her. Trade her own life if she had to.
Maybe Jamie was right. Maybe she’d been too stubborn. Had she truly considered what was best for Halia by insisting they stay with the JTT? His worldwasa dangerous place. Look at the circumstances of her birth. What if—
“Hey.” He gripped her chin and guided her face to his until his lips were within reach. “No need for panic. We’ve got this.”
Her blood rushed, and a tsunami of desire cut a path through her veins, burning her from the inside out. Hot. When did it get so hot in here? Her appetite for Jamie whet, she licked along the seam of her mouth.
He groaned, his nostrils flared, and squeezing his eyes shut tight, he filled his lungs to capacity. One long inhale culminating in a whispered, “Fuck me,” before his hand slid to the back of her neck, and his mouth crashed down on hers.
His tongue a command she was eager to obey, she parted her lips, and he invaded. Conquered. Plundered. He owned her with a wicked kiss, took what she gave, and demanded more.
More.She wanted more. Needed more. She leaned into him. Explored his mouth with her lips. Tasted him with her tongue. Her body trembled. Her pussy ached. Never. Never in her life had she reacted to a man the way she did with him.
“God damn, little squirrel. You’re killing me.” Her mouth still pressed against his, she felt the sharp pull of his hand fisted in her hair and liked it. A lot. With a groan, he tried to take his lips back.
She refused to let him go, and pushing forward, she begged him without words to have her. Take her virginity and fuck her good and hard. Once. That’s all she wanted. One time to know what it meant to belong to someone in every possible way.
“Stop.” The grip in her hair tightened, holding her in place, and with a last nip of her lower lip, Jamie put an end to her madness. “We can’t do this, Summer.” Chest heaving, she lifted her eyes to his. “Fuck. Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
He brushed his thumb over her lips. “Like you want to fuck me in broad daylight, on the front seat of a truck, in a parking lot full of people.”
“You started it,” she grumbled.
“And I’m finishing it. So be a good girl and get your ass moving. We have an appointment to get to.” He released her seat belt, and moving the strap off her shoulder, he leaned across her body to let it slide through his fingers back into place.
His hair fell across his cheek, and she brushed it aside with the tips of her fingers.
A second heartfelt curse later, and he kissed her again.
Gentler this time, but no less thoroughly.
