Waking up on my back, I stretched my arms above my head and yawned. Turning onto my side, I smiled as I caught sight of Josh. His hair was messy and dark stubble adorned his beautiful face as his thick black eyelashes rested on his cheeks. I almost had to pinch myself, still not quite believing he was finally mine. Shifting closer toward him, I felt a delicious sting between my legs, a reminder of the hot sex we’d had after returning from the restaurant. I lay staring at him for a few minutes, watching his chest rise and fall steadily as he slept.
We had until 12 to check out. Wanting to make the most of the beautiful room and the time alone, I sneaked out of bed, creeping through the double doors into the lounge area. Picking up the phone, I called down to reception and ordered room service for breakfast. Padding back through the bedroom, I grabbed my phone off the nightstand before glancing at Josh, who was still out cold.
Suddenly needing to pee, I headed for the bathroom. After using the facilities, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and winced. My hair was all over the place, and my eyes were rimmed with black from the mascara I’d failed to take off. Smiling again, I remembered why I hadn’t been able to remove my makeup—it mainly involved Josh holding me captive in bed the second we returned to the room. He’d spent what felt like hours showering my body with kisses and caresses, his hands and mouth bringing me untold pleasure.
I turned the faucet on, splashing my face with cold water. My lips were swollen from the night’s kisses, and as my eyes dropped to my chest in the reflection of the mirror, I gasped. Pulling my top down, I saw a large hickey at the top of my left breast. I had no idea when he had given it to me, but from memory, there would have been plenty of opportunities. Being pregnant, my breasts were incredibly sensitive, and Josh had quickly learned that I loved his mouth on them. I covered myself up and quickly brushed my teeth, raking my hands through my hair in an attempt to try to tame it.
Once I made myself look half decent, I reached for my phone. I was desperate to tell Lib about me and Josh but I didn’t know if she’d still be asleep, so I sent her a message rather than calling her.
Me: Hey Lib! Guess where I am??
I only had to wait a minute or so before my phone chimed with an incoming message.
Libby: No idea? Where?
Me: At the Four Seasons in Austin!!
Libby: What?? Who with??
Me: Josh!!!
My phone rang almost immediately, and I said hello to Libby with a smile. I spent the next 10 minutes filling her in on everything that had happened since I’d picked Josh up from the Brass Hall. She was excitedly repeating everything back to Mason, who must have been with her, and as I told her about our boat ride on the lake and the flowers Josh had arranged around the room, I heard her squealing and jumping up and down. She took great pleasure in reminding me that she had always said Josh wanted to be with me, and although she kept asking what had kept us apart, I didn’t want to break Josh’s confidence and managed to steer the conversation away from her questions.
Hearing a knock on the door, I promised to call her as soon as we were home. Hanging up, I rushed out of the bathroom and through the bedroom. I wanted to surprise Josh with breakfast in bed, and to do that I needed him to stay asleep for a few more minutes. Swinging open the door to the suite, I was greeted by a young waiter and a huge cart full of food. I watched as his eyes glanced down to my bare legs and I felt my face flush with heat. In my eagerness to open the door, I’d forgotten that all I was wearing was a pair of panties and one of Josh’s t-shirts.
“Erm…come in,” I stuttered, trying to shield my body behind the door; that worked until he was actually in the room. Then, after shutting the door, I had nowhere to hide.
“Are you here alone?” he asked with a smirk, his eyes roaming my body. “I could keep you company if you like.”
I put my hands on my hips and glared at him. “Are you this inappropriate with all the guests you wait on?” I asked, watching as the smirk fell from his lips.
“Only the ones who are asking for it,” he replied angrily, his voice getting louder.
“How dare you! I think you better leave, now!” I exclaimed, turning and opening the door.
“You stuck-up bitch!” he shouted, anger radiating off him.
“Oi, jackass!” I heard Josh shout from the bedroom door. “Don’t speak to my girlfriend like that! Get out, now!” He crossed the room and grabbed the waiter’s arm, dragging him toward the door. Josh was much bigger, and it took little effort from him to throw the waiter out.
“I’ll be speaking to your manager, and you’ll be lucky if you have a job when I’m done with you,” Josh exclaimed before slamming the door on him. Turning to look at me, his face was like thunder. “What were you thinking, opening the door dressed like that?” he snapped, looking me up and down.
“I was thinking I’d get you breakfast in bed,” I said, shocked that he seemed angry with me. I tried to push past him but he gently grabbed my arm.
“Stop,” he said, his voice softening. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you, I’m sorry. I just lost my shit when I saw that asshole looking at you.” I let him pull me into his arms and buried my face in his bare chest. To my horror, I felt tears pool in my eyes, and before I knew what was happening, I was crying. Lately, the smallest thing had me bursting into tears. Gently pushing me off his chest, Josh forced me to look at him. “God, you’re crying,” he whispered, pulling me back into his arms. “I swore I’d never be the reason you cried again, and here you are crying on our first date,” he mumbled into my hair, the devastation evident in his voice.
I shook my head and pulled out of his embrace. “I don’t know why I’m crying!” I exclaimed, taking a deep breath and forcing the tears to stop.
“I know why—it’s because I’m an idiot. I’m so sorry sweetheart. I never meant to shout at you, but you’re mine, and I don’t want anyone seeing you like that.”
“I didn’t even think when I opened the door, I was just excited to get you breakfast in bed.”
“Come on, let’s have breakfast and then I’ll show you my favorite thing to eat in bed,” he said with a wink, his lips brushing against mine. Heat pooled between my legs at his words and I bit down on my lip. He laughed, seeing my reaction. “Breakfast first, and then I’ll take care of you.”
“Promise?” I whispered.
“Always,” he whispered back, kissing me again before leading me back into the bedroom.
A couple hours later, we were heading back to Marble Falls. Breakfast was good, but not as good as the hour we spent in the walk-in shower. Josh kept his promise by showing me exactly what he liked to eat in bed, followed by what he liked to do in the shower. I smiled and squeezed his hand, which was wrapped around mine.
“Thank you for an amazing first date,” I shouted, the wind whipping around our heads as we drove with the top down. “I wish it didn’t have to end.”
“Me too baby…” He trailed off. “My parents are away for a few weeks, so what do you think about me staying at your place?” He looked nervous as he asked me, and I grinned at him.
“I’d love that!” I exclaimed. “But are you sure you want to be at my tiny cottage rather than at your place?” There was no getting away from the fact that my cottage was nowhere near as comfortable as his house.
“I want to be wherever you are Sav. We’ve wasted enough time being apart, I just want to be with you.” We’d hit some traffic and were stationary, so taking my chance while we weren’t moving, I flung my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
“I’ll take that as a yes then,” he said with a chuckle, and I nodded, sitting back in my seat. “We also need to talk about what happens when the baby comes. I want us to be a family Sav, one where we’re all together. I know this is pretty new between us, and I don’t want to rush you into something you aren’t comfortable with…we can talk about it when we don’t have to shout,” he said as the traffic cleared and he picked up speed. As I sat next to him, my mind raced—did that mean he wanted us to live together? Where would we live? I’d only just moved into the cottage, and I wanted to be by my parents when the baby came. As nice as it was to be riding in a convertible, I wished we weren’t so we could actually talk. I felt Josh squeeze my hand and I looked over at him.
“I can see your mind working overtime,” he shouted. “We’ll make it work.” I smiled at him and nodded. He’d said he didn’t want to rush me into something I wasn’t comfortable with, but I’d wanted to be with him for as long as I could remember. Now that I knew he wanted me and the baby, I couldn’t wait for the three of us to be a family.
We drove back in comfortable silence, my hand wrapped in Josh’s the whole way. An hour or so later, we arrived back at the ranch and parked in front of the house. I could see Brody working in the barn, and I glanced over at Josh, noticing that he too had seen him. “I think I need to go have a word with Brody, tell him about us,” Josh said, looking worried.
“I’ll come with you,” I told him, seeing his apprehension.
“I think I’d better go on my own, if you don’t mind?” His eyes were still fixed on Brody, whose back was to us so he hadn’t seen us yet.
“Oh, okay. He’s going to be fine though, I promise.” I was a little upset that he didn’t want me to go with him.
“You’re his little sister, and I’m his best friend—I think he’s going to have something to say about it.” He scoffed, his eyes leaving Brody and finding mine. He looked anxious and I tried not to laugh. “Glad you’re finding this amusing!” he exclaimed.
“I’m sorry babe, but this is Brody. He’s hardly going to punch you when he finds out, and I’ve talked to him about it. He knows how I feel about you, and he’s going to be happy,” I promised.
“I know you’ve talked to him, but knowing you liked me and us actually being together are two different things.”
“You’re worrying over nothing,” I whispered, leaning over and kissing him. He reached his hands up and into my hair, pulling me closer toward him. Deepening the kiss, he gently bit down on my lip and I opened my mouth to him, my tongue caressing his. A deafening thud startled us apart and looking up, I saw Brody standing in front of the car, his hands on the hood.
“Worrying over nothing huh?” Josh said, his eyes never leaving Brody’s annoyed face.
I jumped out of the car, marching straight to Brody. “What are you doing?” I cried, pulling him off the hood of the car. He turned to face me, his back to the car. He winked at me with a smirk on his face before quickly turning back to face Josh, who had now climbed out of the car and was making his way toward me. Josh reached for my wrist and gently tugged me behind him. Confused, I let him.
“Brody—”
“Why do you have your tongue down my baby sister’s throat?” Brody snapped, stepping closer to Josh. Josh took a step back and I moved with him. “Do you not remember my warning for you to stay away from her?”
“Brody, that was years ago. Look man, we’re together. I’m sorry you had to find out like that, I was just on my way to talk to you.”
“She isn’t one of your normal lays Josh, this is my sister!” Brody shouted, throwing his hands in the air. “My pregnant sister.”
“Brody!” I exclaimed, trying to get around Josh to him. Josh put his arm out to the side and gently pushed me back behind him. I could see that Brody had seen what Josh had done, and a small smile tugged on his lips.
“I’m fully aware that she’s pregnant Brody!” Josh exclaimed, seemingly not aware of Brody’s half-smile. I felt Josh reach for me, his arm going around my shoulder as I was pulled into his side. “I love her, okay! We’re friends Brody, best friends, but if you make me choose, I’ll choose Sav, every time.”
“And you love him?” Brody asked, looking at me and gesturing to Josh.
I nodded before looking up at Josh. “Yes, more than anything,” I said quietly, my eyes gazing into Josh’s. He smiled and I smiled back.
“Well it’s about time!” Brody exclaimed, stepping toward Josh and slapping him on the back.
“What?” Josh asked, looking from me to Brody.
“I was just messing with you!” Brody exclaimed, laughing.
“That was cruel!” I told him, stepping away from Josh and smacking Brody on the arm.
“I couldn’t be happier that you and Sav are together, although I have to admit, I never saw it coming. I found out recently that she liked you, but I had no idea you felt the same,” he said, winking at me again.
“You bastard!” Josh exclaimed. “I really thought I was going to end up punching you.” He laughed and shoved Brody, who stumbled backward, laughing. Brody shoved him back and I rolled my eyes at both of them.
“Obviously if you ever hurt her, we’re going to have a problem,” Brody said, the laughing suddenly stopping.
“We’re not going to have a problem, Brode. I’m not going to hurt her,” he assured him, smiling over at me.
“Good, because between me and Dad, we could do some serious damage!”
“Okay, okay,” I said, raising my hands. “I think we’ve had enough macho behavior today.”
“I better get back to work. I’ll catch up with you both later though, okay? I guess you’ll be around here more now then Josh.” Brody smirked.
“Try all the time,” Josh replied, grinning at me.
Brody smiled and shook his head. “Another one down.” He laughed. “First Mason, and now you!”
“You next then Brode.” I wriggled my eyebrows.
Laughing again, he shook his head. “No thanks! Why tie myself down to one when I can have many?”
“You man-whore,” I fired back at him. “When the right girl comes along, you’re not going to know what’s hit you.”
“Not me Sav. I’m pretty happy playing the field. I won’t be settling down any time soon,” he assured me.
“We’ll see,” I replied with a laugh.
“I’ll catch you both later,” he said, shaking his head. “Seriously though, congratulations. I couldn’t be happier for you two.” He walked off toward the barn, leaving us standing in front of the car.
“I really thought we were going to come to blows,” Josh said, dropping down and sitting on the hood of the car. I stood in front of him and he pulled me between his legs, his arms going around my waist while his forehead rested on my small bump.
“So did I for a minute,” I said quietly. “Did you really mean what you said about choosing me over Brody?”
He lifted his head and kissed my stomach before raising his eyes to mine. “Every time baby, every time.” He stood up and wrapped me in his arms. “Now where were we before we were rudely interrupted?” he whispered.
“Right about here, I think…” I muttered against his mouth, my lips brushing against his. He tightened his hold on me and let out a moan as I snaked my tongue into his mouth, deepening the kiss. I threaded my fingers around his neck, pulling gently on the hair at the base. I could kiss that man all day, and it would never get old.
“Put her down!” Brody shouted from behind us.
Breaking the kiss, Josh groaned and rested his forehead on mine. “I may have to kill your brother—you’d be okay with that, right?” he said, and I laughed.
“If he keeps interrupting us, I’m going to kill him myself!” I exclaimed, turning and giving Brody the finger. I heard him laugh behind me and I rolled my eyes. “We should get inside anyway, you don’t want my dad seeing us making out on the hood of your car.” I watched as Josh’s eyes went wide.
“I have to have the same conversation with him as I did with Brody don’t I?” He groaned.
“Yep! I think you are.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the cottage. “You’ll be fine, my dad loves you,” I assured him.
“Let’s hope so,” he mumbled, following me.