Love in the Light (Hearts in Darkness, #2)(58)

A long pause, and Makenna could imagine the hard-ass expression on Patrick’s face. Cop face, she always called it. “She deserves everything, Caden.” Makenna’s heart melted at her brother’s protectiveness.

“I couldn’t agree more. And I’m going to make sure she has it. That they both do,” Caden said. Just a few short hours ago, she’d worried she’d never hear Caden say something like that ever again. Now here he was, making amends with her family and holding his own. More proof of how far he’d come.

Another long pause, and she couldn’t hear what they were saying.

“Yeah, well, if I do, I’ll kick my own ass.” Caden’s voice, followed by laughter.

“You got a f*cking deal,” Patrick said.

A moment later, they returned to her room. “Everything okay?” she asked.

Caden and Patrick exchanged a look and a nod, and then Caden gave her a smile. “I’m here with you, Red. Everything’s finally perfect.”





CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR



“This is my favorite Valentine’s Day ever,” Makenna said, sitting in the rocking chair as Caden drove in the last screw on the baby’s crib. What could be more romantic than the father of her child whole-heartedly throwing himself into decorating the baby’s nursery? They’d been working on it for hours, both of them perfectly content to just be at home together on this day that was all about celebrating love.

They’d gone with a red, yellow, and light blue color scheme and a fireman and Dalmatian dog theme. Makenna’s guess had been right—they were having a boy. Caden had teared up upon seeing the ultrasound and learning the news—it was one of the sweetest things Makenna had ever seen.

Caden’s smile brought out his dimples. “Oh, yeah? Me too.”

She popped a piece of chocolate from a big box he’d given her into her mouth, and looked around at what used to be Caden’s spare bedroom. She’d moved into his house the week after she’d been released from the hospital. Caden had insisted, and Makenna had fallen in love with him even more for how much he’d been doting on her.

“There,” he said. “All done.” He rose and slid the crib into place against the wall, then settled the mattress inside.

“It’s coming together so nicely,” she said, looking up at the mobile with its hanging fireman’s helmet, Dalmatian, fire hydrant, and fire truck. “Such a cute room.”

“I have an idea.” Caden disappeared for a moment and returned with the stuffed bear she’d gotten him all those months ago. “I think this guy should go in here. The baby’s very first bear. A gift from his mom and his dad.”

“Have I told you lately how sweet you are?” she asked as he placed it in the crib.

He gave her a sheepish smile and knelt in between Makenna’s thighs. “Our son deserves everything.” He pressed a kiss to her belly—she wasn’t very big yet, but there was no mistaking that she was pregnant. “And so do you.”

She rubbed her hand over her short hair. “We all do,” she said. “And we have it.”

Leaning closer, Caden cupped her cheek and kissed her, a slow press of lips and a soft slide of tongues. “You taste f*cking delicious,” he said.

“I do?” she whispered, her arms wrapping around his neck.

He nodded and deepened the kiss. Then he tracked kisses from her cheek to her jaw to her ear.

“Watching you being all handy and domestic is really hot,” she said, smiling.

He chuffed out a laugh against her neck. “Like that, do you?”

“A lot,” she nodded.

“Any time you want me to hammer, drill, or screw, you just let me know,” he said.

Makenna laughed. “I want those all the time, Caden. Don’t you know?”

A mischievous grin on his face, he rose and pulled her up with him. Kissing her again, he walked them out of the nursery and into their bedroom. Boxes of her stuff lined one wall—slowly, but surely, they were getting her settled in. “Tell me what you want.” His dark eyes blazed at her.

“You,” she said, pulling her shirt over her head. “Just you.”

He kissed her shoulder, the swell of her breast, her nipple through her bra. “You have me,” he said. “You always have.” He unclasped her bra and flicked his tongue over one nipple than the other.

Before long, they were both naked and Caden was pressing her back onto the bed. He dropped to his knees and pushed her thighs apart. The look on his face was pure masculine hunger as he leaned in. He kissed her thighs, her hip bone, the skin just above her pubic hair, driving her crazy and making her need him even more. And then he pressed a firm kiss against her clit, and Makenna couldn’t help but thrust her hips.

“You want me to put my mouth on you here?” he asked, his breath ghosting over her most sensitive skin.

“God, yes,” she said, looking down her body at him. He was so f*cking sexy, his big shoulders filling up the space between her thighs, that harsh face peering at her with such intensity.

“Say it,” he said. “Tell me what you want.”

“I want you to make me come with your mouth,” she rasped.

“Fuck, yes,” he said, and then he was on her. Licking, sucking, relentless, driving her out of her mind. He penetrated her with one thick finger, then with another, his fingers moving inside her as he sucked hard on her clit and flicked it with his tongue. His lip piercing pressed against her flesh, a feeling that always drove her wild.