Redemption Road (Vicious Cycle #2)(81)

Once our pants and shoes were in a rumpled pile on the floor, Rev’s firm hands lifted me up to wrap my legs around his waist. He didn’t ease in. Instead, one powerful thrust had him filling my core. I gripped his shoulders hard, grinding my hips against him.

As he pounded in and out of me, we crashed back against one of the shelves, strewing boxes along the floor. Over and over, he surged into me. Each time he seemed to go deeper, reaching the perfect spot that caused me to moan and shudder. I gripped his shoulders tight, anchoring myself to him. He was always my lifeline—in and out of the bedroom.

Although I’d once had such a hard time coming with a man inside me, Rev knew exactly how to make me shatter around him. I cried out his name once again, burying my face in his neck. He began pumping harder and harder, and within a few moments, he was filling me with his warmth.

Once his hips stopped jerking, he stared at me intently. “I love you.”

I smiled. “I love you, too.”

He gave me a tender kiss. “I wish we could stay like this forever.”

“Locked in a dusty pantry?” I asked teasingly.

“Smart-ass,” he muttered as he playfully smacked my bottom. “I meant, I wish I could stay inside you like this. The two of us joined as one.”

He had a way of melting my heart with his words. Sometimes it was still hard to believe such sensitive and tender things could come out of his mouth. I swept his hair out of his face and stared into his soulful blue eyes. “There’s nothing I want more than to be with you. Always.”

We had just started kissing again when a knock came at the door. “Annabel? Are you in there?” Alexandra asked.

“Um, yeah.”

“We really need the rice.”

“One sec!”

Quickly, Rev and I went about getting dressed and smoothing down our mussed hair. When Rev opened the door and I thrust the box of rice at Alexandra, her eyes widened, and she appeared flustered. “Sorry,” I mumbled.

She took the rice and backed slowly away from me. “No, I’m sorry to have interrupted.”

I quickly ushered Rev out of the pantry and closed the door. After taking in Rev’s and my guilty faces, Kim busted out laughing. “Were you two just f*cking in the pantry?”

Rev and I were both so mortified we couldn’t reply. Kim patted my back. “Oh, honey, just about every one of us has f*cked in there at least once before. Most of the time, we didn’t even have the excuse of being on lockdown.” She jerked her chin at Alexandra. “I even got an eyeful of Deacon’s bare ass when he had her up against the racks.”

“Kim!” Alexandra hissed, her face turning crimson.

“What?” With a wink at me, she added, “It’s a mighty fine ass, too. Maybe I should get a look at Rev’s to compare.”

It was then that the absolute absurdity of the moment overcame me, and I burst out laughing. I found that I couldn’t stop, and I ended up bent over, with tears streaming down my cheeks. When I finally recovered, everyone else had joined in laughing with me.

After wiping my eyes, I wagged a finger at Kim. “Sorry to disappoint you, but no one but me gets to see Rev’s ass.”

Rev’s eyes flashed with pleasure at my comment, while Kim only grinned. “I get it, sister. You’ve staked your claim. I’ll just have to settle for flashbacks of Deacon I guess until I get a peek at Bishop’s.”

While slowly stirring rice in a giant boiler, Alexandra said, “I’ll be the first to admit that Deacon has a very nice ass.” She threw a wicked glance at us over her shoulder. “Very firm when you grab or spank it, not to mention being very lickable.”

Rev groaned. “Do you mind? The last thing I want to hear is a description of my brother’s ass.”

While Kim and I laughed, Alexandra grimaced. The stirring spoon in her hand fell to the floor as she clutched her stomach. At her whimper, Kim, Rev, and I rushed forward.

“What’s wrong?” Kim demanded.

“I . . . I think my labor might be starting,” Alexandra replied in a hoarse whisper.

“But you’re not due for another three weeks,” Rev argued.

“Have you been having any back pain?” I asked.

Alexandra nodded. “A little. Not a whole lot more than usual.”

Kim’s eyes looked concerned as she asked, “Any blood?”

“Maybe a little in my underwear this morning.”

“Oh shit, you had your bloody show,” Kim replied.

“My what?” Alexandra questioned.

“It means you’re in labor. Hell, you’ve been in labor. God only knows how far you’re dilated.” Kim grabbed hold of Rev’s shoulder. “Go call Breakneck. Tell him to get his ass here ASAP.” She then turned to me. “Go find Deacon.”

When Alexandra cried out in pain again, I knew we were in trouble. Her contractions were coming pretty quickly. Although my scientific knowledge of birth was limited to animals, I knew from a few early anatomy courses that labor could take days or mere hours.

“Come on. Let’s get you to bed,” Kim instructed.

Once she recovered from the pain, Alexandra shook her head. “I need to get to the hospital.”

“Besides the fact you’re progressing way too fast, we’re on lockdown, sweetheart. You’re having this baby here.”